Words that do not appear to exist?

Question

Today's word of the day is: 'huipil'

I have looked at on-line translation, and they do not have the word 'huipil'.

Where did you find this term?

welcome to the forum, :) - 006595c6, Jul 9, 2017

According to the Rae.es, that word doesn't esist. The spelling is wrong. - rac1, Jul 10, 2017

Answer 1

The word of the day is exquisite. The word you have found is used for a colourful item of female clothing traditionally worn in Mexico. If you Google you will find images. It is from Nahuatl. As you know there are many words that have their roots in Nahautl and are now used extensively in Spanish. They tend to be words for food, drink, animals and plants that the Spanish conquistadores had no word for. I know in Mexico the word for corn is elote which is from Nahuatl. I remember at a language school having a few lessons of Nahautl and in Merida a guide speaking Mayan to us. Clearly the word is used in Mexico and Central America. The people who own/ manage the site, not the mods choose the words. However I haven't seen the word you mentioned on the site.

It should be exquisito my system autocorrected without me noticing - Mardle, Jul 9, 2017

Answer 2

Check here - Rae.es

That page is offline on my screen. - NKM1974, Jul 10, 2017

I hope you don't mind, I just made it clickable. :) - rac1, Jul 10, 2017

I can see it fine. - rac1, Jul 10, 2017

I highlighted it, previously, but "This site can't be reached" on my screen. Now, it's online. Thank you! - NKM1974, Jul 10, 2017

Answer 3

I am with you, enigma, nice name

I have never heard "huitil" in my life...and trust me, it does not exist in Spain.

But it is in the DRAE, which is why I offered the link. That's the definitive place to find out whether the word "exists" in Spanish or not. - Gekkosan, Jul 9, 2017

This word exist in the Spanish dictionary, huipil. This one doesn't because I googled & found this word on the Linux/Mac computer forums, huitil. - NKM1974, Jul 10, 2017

Here's the link from this page: http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/huipil - NKM1974, Jul 10, 2017

(traditional embroidered blouse) (El Salvador) (Guatemala) (Honduras) (Mexico) - rac1, Jul 10, 2017

Answer 4

I found this in the Rae.es.

huipil Tb. güipil en acep. 1, El Salv., Guat., Hond. y Nic.

Del náhuatl huipilli.

1. m. El Salv., Guat., Hond. y Méx. Especie de blusa adornada propia de los trajes indígenas.

2. m. El Salv. Enagua o falda que usan las mujeres indígenas.

Notice the spelling.

The questioner spelt it correctly but Heidita mistyped a letter - Mardle, Jul 10, 2017

Answer 5

Other examples of words that do not appear to exist are " " and " ". Notice the similarity of spelling. If they do appear in a dictionary, I would guess that they precede "A".

Mardle is correct. Many words may be coined in a particular area and "everyone" knows what they mean, but those same words don't appear in a dictionary because their use is so esoteric. Terms for food, particularly as pointed out by Mardle, is an excellent example.

I found it on word Reference. I assume she meant it wasn't on the dictionary on this site. - Mardle, Jul 9, 2017

Interesting. (traditional embroidered blouse) (El Salvador) (Guatemala) (Honduras) (Mexico) - rac1, Jul 10, 2017