Language

Most Ecuadorians speak Spanish, though many speak Amerindian languages such as Kichwa, the Ecuadorian dialect of Quechua. Other Amerindian languages spoken in Ecuador include:

• Awapit (spoken by the Awá)
• A'ingae (spoken by the Cofan)
• Shuar Chicham (spoken by the Shuar)
• Achuar-Shiwiar (spoken by the Achuar and the Shiwiar)
• Cha'palaachi (spoken by the Chachi)
• Tsa'fiki (spoken by the Tsa'chila)
• Paicoca (spoken by the Siona and Secoya)
• Wao Tededo (spoken by the Waorani)

Though most features of Ecuadorian Spanish are universal in the Spanish-speaking world, there are several idiosyncrasies.

Costeños (people from the coast) tend to speak more quickly and louder than serranos (people from the mountainous regions), and most of them do so in a very informal way. A common term costeños use to call each other is mijo, a portmanteau of sorts for "my son" (mi hijo). Several such terms originate from their fast speech, and they have intricate language humour and jokes, difficult to translate or even understand in other regions. Also, each province has a different variety of accent with specific different terms.

Serranos usually speak softly, and very respectfully. Traditionally they are seen as more conservative, and use a number of Kichwa-originated terms in their everyday speech, often puzzling to other regions. A widely known example is the word güagüa, which means child in Kichwa. Their speech comes from their Incan Amerindian roots and can be seen as a variation of other Andean accents.