Latin America Challenge 10

Question

In the last Latin America Challenge, many of the foods listed had names that originated in the languages of indigenous peoples, such as these examples derived from Nahuatl words:

• el tomate, from tomatl (tomato)
• el cacahuete, from tlalcacahuatl (peanut)
• el pozole, from potzolli meaning "foamy" (a kind of soup or stew)

Nahuatl is a group of languages and dialects spoken in Mexico and Central America, perhaps most famously by the Aztecs. There are many other indigenous languages in Latin America, including Quechua in Peru & Bolivia and Mapudungun in southern Chile & Argentina.

Today's Challenge: Find words in modern Spanish or English that originated from a language indigenous to Latin America.

Please list no more than five words per post, and include a photo or interesting fact if you like. Feel free use whatever resources you have available, and to post as often as you want to.

Aztec jaguar warrior (The word "jaguar" comes from the Amazonian Tupi word yaguareté meaning true beast.)

Answer 1

The words I found from the Quechuan language seem to have entered into the English language via Spanish.

Guano from the Quechuan wanu/huanu via Spanish guano

Jerky from the Quechuan ch'arki, via Spanish charquí

and

Quinine also from the Quechuan language kinakina, via Spanish quina

I have taken a ton of those flaming tablets. - ray76, Aug 18, 2011

Answer 2

"Chocolate" comes from the Aztec word "choclatl" which means "food of the Gods". The scientific name for the tree that cocoa beans come from is "Theobroma cacao" which also means "food of the Gods". Montezuma met Cortes with a hot drink of choclatl (a mixture of roasted cocoa beans and hot water with spices) when he entered Mexico City. The Aztecs even used cocoa beans as money!

La palabra "chocolate" viene de la palabra azteca "choclatl" que significa "comida de los dioses". El nombre scientífico para el árbol de cacao es "Theobroma cacao" que significa "comida de dioses". Moctezuma conoció a Cortés con una bebida de choclatl (una mezcla de cacao asado y agua caliente con especias) cuando entró en la ciudad de México. ¡ Las Aztecas se usan cacao para dinero!

Answer 3

Here are four closely related animals whose names come from Quechua:

llama

alpaca

vicuña

guanaco

Answer 4

Kaqchikel is spoken by the indigenous people in central Guatemala, i.e., the Maya. It is closely related to the K'iche' (Quiché) and Tz'utujil languages.

Corn

Kaqchikel = elote

Nahuatl = elotl

Quechua = choclo

Answer 5

From Taíno:

guayaba = guava

cacique = chief

comején = termite

Answer 6

canoe

canoa

from Carib Indian

Answer 7

More foods from Nahuatl: chile / chili, chocolate, aquacate (avocado), guacamole and chicle (chewing gum).

aguacate - Silvia, Aug 18, 2011

Answer 8

barbeque

la barbacoa

from Taino (Caribbean) meaning sacred fire pit

Answer 9

Here's a link with a comprehensive list of Spanish words with indigenous Latin American origins: Words

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread!