A lonko or lonco (from Mapudungun ''longko'', literally "head"), is a chief of several Mapuche communities. These were often Ulmen (Mapuche), ulmen, the wealthier men in the lof. In wartime, lonkos of the various local rehue or the larger aillarehue would gather in a koyag or parliament and would elect a toqui to lead the warriors in battle. ''Lonco'' sometimes forms part of geographical names such as the city of Loncoche (English: "head of an important person").

References

Mapuche Lonkos, History of Chile Indigenous leaders of the Americas, * Titles of national or ethnic leadership Mapuche words and phrases {{Chile-stub