Lima
/ˈliːmə/noun
The capital and largest city of Peru.
Did you know?The city name Lima is commonly traced to a local indigenous toponym, often linked to the Quechua river name Rímac, showing how colonial spelling can preserve older sacred geography.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Columbian
Indigenous
Rímac
“A local place or river name in the central Andean region, later associated with the area of modern Lima”
16th Century
Spanish
Lima
“Spanish colonial spelling for the newly founded city”
16th-17th Century
Spanish
Ciudad de los Reyes / Lima
“Colonial city name used alongside the indigenous toponym”
Modern English
English
Lima
“The capital city of Peru”