"mapuche" ... sounds strange ... is that a bad word or

Question

an indian or native indigenous person from Chile

chileno would know

¿Cuáles son los indios, de otros países de América del Sur llamado? Las tribus indígenas que Brasil, Arg, y Col por ejemplo.

(What are indians from other countries in South America called? Indigenous tribes there in Brasil, Arg, y Col for example.

When I first saw this I thought racoon "mapache" - 00551866, MAY 6, 2013

No, is not a bad word, is like saying Sioux. - chileno, MAY 7, 2013

Sioux sounds like to Sue (Demandar, that is not good) - readytodictate, MAY 7, 2013

and the Nahua people of Central Mexico - readytodictate, MAY 8, 2013

I earned the popular "strange" question badge - readytodictate, MAY 8, 2013

Answer 1

mapu = 'tierra' y che = 'gente' - es decir, 'gente de la tierra'

The Mapuche are indigenous to Chile. There are many, many groups of indigenous all over Mexico, Central and South America.

This is a case where Spanish has adopted the indigenous word. - katydew, MAY 7, 2013

What do you mean by that? Spanish adopting an indigenous word? - chileno, MAY 7, 2013

nice explanation and photo ... "che" also means hey (Arg) - readytodictate, MAY 7, 2013

There are words that were incorporated into the Spanish language when they came upon things that had no Spanish word for it. That is what I meant. - katydew, MAY 7, 2013

¡Calmate! Vale Katy ... "che" is "that" in italiano y No te olvides ... "Che" Guevara - readytodictate, MAY 7, 2013

Ah ya... - chileno, MAY 7, 2013

Answer 2

Did more research on this ...

country, % of the population that are indigenous, referred to as ...

Bolivia - 55% Quechua and Aymara

Brazil - 1% Panara

Chile - 5% Mapuche

Ecuador - 25% Quichuas

Peru - 45% Matsés

Aquired from many sources and may not be totally accurate.

Some of the many in Mexico: Zapotec, Mixtec - Within each of these, their 1st language is not Spanish but their own dialect of indigenous language. They may live across the road from each other but don't speak each others languages. - katydew, MAY 7, 2013

You left out Argentina? - chileno, MAY 7, 2013

Sí hay mapuches en Arg tambien chileno - readytodictate, MAY 7, 2013

Answer 3

Mi esposa es de la tribu Cabécar de Costa Rica. Las otras http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_of_Costa_Rica

I know not South America, but I could'nt help myself. - 00551866, MAY 6, 2013

Answer 4

It is not a bad word. I have not heard people say that.

supe eso ahora pero many bad words start with "M" ... no sé por que - readytodictate, MAY 7, 2013