Languages of hunter-gatherers and their neighbors

ghost (of dead person)/evil spirit

Semantic Field
culture-mythology
Part of Speech
Meaning Spanish
espíritu malo, espíritu maligno, fantasma, demonio
Meaning Portuguese
espirito

Languages

Language Orthographic Form Phonemicized Form Gloss as in Source Etymology Code Proto-Form Proto-Language Loan Source Wanderwort Status Etyma Set Etymology Notes Word Structure Word Structure Notes General Notes Source
Cahuilla tewlavel spirit of the dead, deceased person inheritance *tywi- Takic Stubbs 1799 other complex tew- see corpse Seiler & Hioki 1979
Cahuilla tewlavel spirit of the dead, deceased person inheritance *tywi- Takic Stubbs 1799 other complex Seiler & Hioki 1979
Cupeño pi'mukish ghost, spirit, devil unique contains *muk 'die' compound, other complex pi7 'bewitch', muk 'die sg' Hill & Nolasquez 1973
Cupeño pi'mukish ghost, spirit, devil unique compound, other complex pi7 'bewitch' muk 'die' Hill & Nolasquez 1973
Luiseño toowish 'alaxwish evil spirit inheritance *tywi- Takic Yok-Utian WW %7el Stubbs 1799 phrase Elliott 1999
Luiseño toowish spirit, ghost, deceased person inheritance *tywi- Takic Stubbs 1799 other complex Elliott 1999
Gabrielino she-soo Devil or bad spirit loan unknown should be added to list of substratal vocab in Gab. simplex Merriam 49:113
Gabrielino ah-ni't ghost unique other complex Merriam 49:113
Serrano tyīt death spirit, devil inheritance *tywi- Takic Stubbs 1799 other complex
Serrano tyīt death spirit, devil inheritance *tywi- Takic Stubbs 1799 other complex K. Hill Dict.
Kitanemuk tüy-t spirit, ghost, person that has died, 'diablo' inheritance *tew Takic other complex Anderton 1988
Kitanemuk tüy-t spirit, ghost, person that has died, 'diablo' inheritance *tywi- Takic Stubbs 1799 other complex Anderton 1988
Tübatulabal āpawwinal devil, ghost, soul unique other complex K. Hill Tb>Eng
Tübatulabal āpawwinal ghost unique other complex K. Hill Tub>Eng
Bankalachi Toloim ah-bo-oo-nat devil or bad spirit unique Same as Tub but these are really same lg other complex Merriam 49:201
Bankalachi Toloim tow-tah a dead person inheritance *tywi- Takic Stubbs 1799 other complex Merriam 49:199
Kawaiisu 7yny-pi spirit, ghost inheritance *yny- Numic Stubbs 2011 2116 other complex Zigmond et al. 1990
Kawaiisu 7yny-pi spirit, ghost inheritance *yny- Numic Stubbs 2011 2116 other complex
Chemehuevi 7ynypI spirit inheritance *yny- Numic Stubbs 2011 2116 other complex
Chemehuevi 7ynypI spirit (spirit, ghost in Press 1979) inheritance *yny- Numic Stubbs 2011 2116 other complex Harrington Chemehuevi Noun List (K. Hill 1969)
Southern Paiute 7yny-G evil spirit, devil, ghost inheritance *yny- Numic Stubbs 2011 2116 simplex Sapir
Southern Paiute 7yny-G evil spirit, devil, ghost inheritance *yny- Numic Stubbs 2011 2116 simplex Sapir
Southern Ute 7yry-cI ghost, evil spirit, monster inheritance *yny- Numic Stubbs 2011 2116 other complex Givon
Southern Ute 7yry-cI ghost, evil spirit, monster inheritance *yny- Numic Stubbs 2011 2116 other complex Givon
Tümpisa Shoshone tsoapittsi ghost, spirit. Devil, whirlwind inheritance *co7aC Numic Stubbs 2011 2114 W. and Central Numic, a loaN?? other complex Dayley 1989
Tümpisa Shoshone tsoapittsi ghost, spirit. Devil, whirlwind inheritance *co7aC Numic Stubbs 2011 2114 W. and Central Numic, a loaN?? other complex Dayley 1989
Big Smokey Valley Shoshone co7a-ppiccih ghost, monster (mythological creature) inheritance *co7aC Numic Stubbs 2011 2114 W. and Central Numic, a loaN?? other complex Crapo 1976
Big Smokey Valley Shoshone co7a-ppyh, co7a ghost, spirit of dead person inheritance *co7aC Numic Stubbs 2011 2114 W. and Central Numic, a loaN?? other complex Crapo 1976
Comanche Tuhkwasi taiboo7 Satan, devil unique phrase Robinson & Armagost 1990
Comanche pye tyjaii7 ghost, evil spirit inheritance *ja7ay Numic Stubbs 2011 656; has the *ty- element too like towish, etc. phrase R
Western Mono missing missing
Western Mono tso7Ape ghost, daddy-long-legs spider inheritance *co7aC Numic Stubbs 2011 2114 W. and Central Numic, a loaN?? other complex Loether & Bethel 1993
Northern Paiute tsa7abu evil spirit inheritance *co7aC Numic Stubbs 2011 2114 W. and Central Numic, a loaN?? other complex Yerington 1987
Northern Paiute tah-ko-hub ghost unique tsa7aby L. 748 other complex Merriam 46:459 (Lone Pine, Big Pine)
Southern Sierra Miwok jamlo- devil loan Spanish WW %diablo also tijawlo-; jamlo- probably an earlier loan simplex Broadbent 1964
Southern Sierra Miwok hu:leh- ghost inheritance *şu:les- Proto-Sierra Miwok Callaghan 1971:19 simplex Broadbent 1964
Central Sierra Miwok missing missing
Central Sierra Miwok lé:ši-ško-, šu:le-ško- ghost inheritance *şu:les- Proto-Sierra Miwok Callaghan 1971:19 other complex Freeland & Broadbent 1960
Northern Sierra Miwok jalmycyT:i- monster, big scary thing loan Spanish WW %diablo other complex jalmycy- dangerous, scary Callaghan 1987
Northern Sierra Miwok su:lehko-, su:lesko- ghost (of a dead person); devil; will-o'-the-wsp inheritance *şu:les- Proto-Sierra Miwok Callaghan 1971:19 other complex Callaghan 1987
Plains Miwok jawlu- devil, Night Rider loan Spanish simplex Callaghan 1984
Plains Miwok 7ël7i7ko- ghost, skeleton inheritance Yok-Utian WW %7el Callaghan 1997:58 other complex suffix -ko 'personal'?? Callaghan 1984
Lake Miwok missing missing
Lake Miwok wuTe to be wild, ghost unknown note Mie wyt:a 'to wail for the dead' simplex Callaghan 1965
Maidu by/dem májdy evil spirit, diet of snakes only unique phrase byde 'evil, bad, weird, criminal'; májdy 'person' bear??? Shipley 1963
Maidu kulúm májdy spirit person, ghost; lit. "darkness person" unique ŭs-ki-im spirit after leaving body Merriam 41:287. ŭs-wal-loo-loo phrase Shipley 1963
Nisenan 7ys devil inheritance Proto-Maiduan 7ys 'devil' in Maidu simplex Uldall & Shipley 1966
Nisenan missing missing
Yokuts Yawelmani hiT'wa:yu7 Evil One inheritance Proto-Nim-Yokuts Merriam confirms 44:197; also at Porterville Merriam 44:459; note Yawdanchi hitcwaiu 'ghost' Kroeber 275 derived Newman 1944
Yokuts Yawelmani hitwaia-n ghost (objective) inheritance Proto-Nim-Yokuts derived verbal noun in -a(7)?? Kroeber 1907
Yokuts Yawdanchi missing missing
Yokuts Yawdanchi hitcwa/iu ghost inheritance Proto-Nim-Yokuts note Yawelmani hiT'wa:yu7 'Evil One' in Newman; Merriam gives yem-tah' witch-e 'spirit after leaving body' 44:197; ā-yum'-che' 'ghost' 44:197. me-tri'-ah 44:355 derived verbal noun, see Yawl. Kroeber 1907
Yokuts Palewyami el-lit'R devil or bad spirit inheritance Yok-Utian WW %7el Callaghan 1997:58; compare Cupan 7elel7ish 'bad' and I think this is other places too, find simplex Berman 2002
Yokuts Palewyami elit ghost (Kroeber) inheritance Yok-Utian WW %7el Callaghan 1997:58 simplex Callaghan 1997:58
Washo dewYú7li7 devil unknown derived d- prefix, and somehow from yuli 'die' Washo Project Dictionary
Washo dewYúli spirit of the dead, ghost, skeleton unknown derived d- Washo Project Dictionary
Wintu tewismet devil, Devil inheritance *tewe Proto-Wintun Shepherd 2000:127 'to fly, go up' includes sense of 'dangerous' derived tew 'dangerous' Pitkin 1985
Wintu Les shade, shadow, ghost, spirit inheritance *Les Proto-Wintun Shepherd 2006:120 simplex might be from LE 'to be transformed' Pitkin 1985
Yuki yaw'-mŭ devil or bad spirit, ghost loan Spanish WW %diablo simplex Sawyer & Schlichter 1984
Yuki hulk'ilal ghost inheritance *hulk'ilal Proto-North Yukian compound includes "eye" (Schlichter 1985:48) Schlichter 1985
Wappo missing missing
Wappo 7unuchápa ghost, spirit unknown also k'á7k'a7 'ghost, spook' simplex My guess is that it's compound but parts unidentifiable Sawyer 1965
Mutsun hewe:pa devil (or bad spirit CHM) unknown also khukhsu 'devil' , in O's phonology chapter early-15?? simplex Merriam 39:111, Okrand 1977 313
Mutsun yu-mep-pook ghost unknown nossow 'soul' Okrand 1977:104 compound Merriam 39:111
Esselen tu+mas-atc-hâ-pa devil or evil spirit (tumas 'dark'??) unknown Henshaw; also hatcox-pa, atchâ-pa 'you are a devil' compound, derived really guessing here but see Shaul 1995:216 for suffix -pa. Kroeber 1902
Esselen missing missing
Salinan A lōsh-ně evil spirit or bad spirit unknown simplex Merriam 38:407
Salinan A šo:n ghost unknown simplex Turner 1987
Salinan M Samt'iL diablo unknown Harrington lists as "M.", from Rosario Cooper simplex Harrington
Salinan M missing missing
Chumash Obispeno tquLmitsi7 L is barred l devil unknown derived Harrington
Chumash Obispeno missing missing
Chumash Ineseno lewlew supernatural being inheritance Yokuts WW %lewasip really nasty in Barb; B lewlew 'proper name of a mythological creature' (Beeler); Merriam 37:529 gives no-nah-shush (see other lgs, where is 'devil') reduplicated Applegate 1972
Chumash Ineseno missing missing
Chumash Barbareno nunašiš animal, beast, devil inheritance Proto-Central Chumash also yowoyow, devil, proper name of mythic creature, Beeler 1978:190; also lewlew Ono 1996:87 derived Beeler 1978
Chumash Barbareno 7ahaš, 7ahašiš axa7š Wash 2001:17 heart, ghost, spirit inheritance *-haš Proto-Chumashan Klar 1977:73 derived Beeler 1978
Chumash Ventureno nunašïš devil inheritance Proto-Central Chumash derived Mamet 2008
Chumash Ventureno 7enhešeš ghost, spirit unknown also alcinaxkuhu Lex 10 derived Applegate 1973 ms
Iipay 'Aa 7echillich devil, ghost, spirit (lit. bad heart) unique WW %7el derived iichih his chest, heart, lungs Couro & Hutcheson 1973
Iipay 'Aa 7echillich devil, ghost, spirit (lit. bad heart) unique Yok-Utian WW %7el derived Couro & Hutcheson 1973
Cocopa lxwacáq nYšuLY s7uLY devil unknown phrase ghost tail arrow Crawford 1989
Cocopa lxwacáq ghost, television unknown derived xcaq 'be bad' Crawford 1989
Mojave nyavdii ghost, devil unknown derived Munro et al. 1992
Mojave nyavdii ghost, devil unknown derived Munro et al. 1992
Yavapai myē(:) ghost, (bad) spirit unknown simplex Shaterian 1983
Yavapai myē(:) ghost, (bad) spirit unknown simplex Shaterian 1983
Kiliwa t-kw+hiiy-p devil, evil spirit, goat unknown derived Mixco 1985
Kiliwa t+hiy spirit, ghost unknown derived perhaps from *hi-y, see hi 'omen' Mixco 1985
Seri (Comcaac) hai quiita an evil spirit that sounds like a child crying (lit. el que tiene el viento como madre) loan Spanish phrase Moser & Marlett 2005
Seri (Comcaac) ziix quinej ghost (lit. cosa vacia) unknown phrase Moser & Marlett 2005
Yir-Yoront wangarr ghost inheritance *wangarr pPNy Poss. a Wanderwort, not pPNy (NE Arnhem & CYP only)
Gumatj baḻirrpaḻirr unique
Nyulnyul banbalk doubtful inheritance
Nimanburru banbalk doubtful inheritance
Jabirr-Jabirr banbalk doubtful inheritance
Yawuru bilyorr inheritance
Yan-nhangu birrimbirr inheritance
Dhay’yi birrimbirr semantic shift
Warrwa bulliŋun unique
Burarra -gubuwupa unique
Yulparija ku:rti inheritance
Nyangumarta malpu loan Western Desert
Rembarrnga maramara semantic shift
Djinang mirri unique
Ritharrngu mokuy inheritance
Gupapuyngu mokuy inheritance
Ngumbarl <ngarree> inheritance
Dhuwal ŋa:ṉuk unique
Bardi ŋa:rri inheritance
Mangala palaŋan inheritance
Karajarri palaŋan inheritance
Nyikina pilyorr inheritance
Dhangu waŋa inheritance
Ngarluma warruka unique
Walmajarri kukurr inheritance
Mudburra kaya inheritance
Jaru warrityki inheritance
Gurindji kaya inheritance tyanpa is different kind of spirit tyanpa is different kind of spirit
Gooniyandi pirlirr unknown
Bunuba mamu loan direction unknown WW %mamu perhaps from Western Desert perhaps from Western Desert
Gajirrabeng marnten unknown also white man Miriwung jarinyin
Djapu ŋa:rnuk unique
Kija tyuwarri loan Ngarinyin WW %tyuwari Ngarnyin tyuwaru ghost
Jingulu warrityki inheritance
Miriwung tyumung inheritance Gaj. Tyumeng; also tyarinyin
Wardaman marnten unknown
Achagua wawáʃi wawáʃi unknown shared Piapoco See Language page
Piapoco wàwasimi wàwasimi See Language page
Yukuna jiñá pechu hiɲá petʃu inheritance? See Language page
Tariana ɲámu 'espírito, curupira' ɲámu 'espírito, curupira' inheritance See Language page
Baniwa íñaimi íɲaimi inheritance See Language page
Resígaro ižo iʒo unknown See Language page
Yavitero a'meľ̥ami 'soul, espirit', ka'c̷imehe a'meľ̥ami 'soul, espirit', ka'tsimehe See Language page
Bare mawaɻi mawaɻi See Language page
Wapishana uia-ʔu durunai uia-ʔu durunai unknown See Language page
Wayuu yoľuhaa See Language page
Yine samenɨ See Language page
Paresi kayaˈla nitseˈkore kajaˈla nitseˈkure unknown See Language page
Ignaciano kunare See Language page
Baure wopičon wopitʃon unknown See Language page
Waurá yuwežɨ-ku-wi; apapaatai juwežɨ-ku-wi; apapaatai unknown See Language page
Cha'palaa 'uh-mu See Language page
Bora naavéne, chítyawáyu naaβéne, tʃʰítʰjakwáju unique See Language page
Muinane gáija (W97) gáixa See Language page
Akawaio kuuikta kuɪʔta inheritance See Language page
Wayana jolok jolok unknown See Language page
Carijona amorehə (SM) unknown See Language page
Tiriyó (wï)rïpë (wɨ)rɨpǝ unknown See Language page
Eñepa mahtikiri; tukuəik; kocham (M.M.); koičamun (JP) mahtikiri; tukuəik; kɔtʃam, kɔitʃamun inheritance See Language page
Makiritare kahūšawa (IDS) kahu:ʃawa inheritance See Language page
Makushi ekaton (SM) ekaton (SM) inheritance See Language page
Mapoyo ñëni-'bë ñɛni-'bɛ See Language page
Pemon orodan (A1981); kookoi (E1980); spirit: yaukkuarɨ (E1980) oroda (A1981); kokɔɪ (E1980); ʎaʊʔkʊarɨ (E1980) unknown; inheritance See Language page
Wai Wai spirit: ekatɨ spirit: ekatɨ inheritance See Language page
Yabarana nopehera See Language page
Yukpa terepko, yorampsi terepko, jorampsi See Language page
Northern Emberá nee háure nee háure See Language page
Epena 'haure kʰa'čia Lit. 'spirit bad'. See Language page
Guayabero dẽep (R18), phɛhmác̶ (Keels) unknown See Language page
Macaguan chópinʉ, kayén tʃópinɨ, kajén unknown See Language page
Sikuani ainawi (3), dowatji (2)(not necessarly bad, but it can be), jumape (3)(soul or image); dubate (R18) aínawi, dowátji unknown See Language page
Cofán cocoya kokoja phonemic transcriptions are ESTIMATIONS See Language page
Candoshi-Shapra kaniizi kaniiʂi unknown See Language page
Taushiro yei´tus, a'ta'ca'tua jɨiʔtus, aʔtaʔkaʔtua See Language page
Páez taaΦiy; eč taaΦiy; eč See Language page
Tikuna tchoina-báiguê (Alv44) tʃoinaʔbáige unknown See Language page
Urarina aãsaj aãsaj unknown See Language page
Andoke koé (spirit, not necessarily evil) koé (spirit, not necessarily evil) unknown See Language page
Waorani wę́næ (devil) unknown See Language page
Hodï ǫ́nowóka (soul, spirit generic term); yue 'spirit'; aweila 'soul, spirit' unknown See Language page
Pumé yarɨka See Language page
Puinave mo-wei-hin mo-wei-hin unknown See Language page
Ashuar pasé wakan pasé wakan See Language page
Huambisa pasun ('evil spirit'), wakan ('spirit') pasun ('evil spirit'), wakan ('spirit') See Language page
Aguaruna wa'kan ('ghost') wa'kan ('ghost') inheritance See Language page
Kakua henaʔ-huj-ka-ni [?-listen-neg-advjz?] unique See Language page
Hup baktɨb', nɨm baktɨb', nɨm unknown See Language page
Dâw mâáç mə̌c unknown See Language page
Nadëb/Roçado dialect ʃaw'ə:ŋ.pa:h (Martins dict) unknown See Language page
Matses madu cudu, shedo madu kudu, ʃedo unknown See Language page
Katukina yočĩ See Language page
Chácobo yošini (also means "wind") yošini (also means "wind") inheritance See Language page
Yagua bayantu bajantu unique See Language page
Southern Pastaza Quechua udiyu udiju See Language page
Ingá kuku kuku See Language page
Napo Lowland Quichua supai supai See Language page
Quechua Ayacuchano manchachikuq 'ghost' (CP94) mantʃatʃikuq See Language page
Sáliva õhwaĩhdi ẽdi tãdofaidi õʔwaĩʔdi ẽdi tãdoɸaidi unknown See Language page
Cubeo põedecocʉ ('person-image-MSC); ũme põedekokɨ ('person-image-MSC); ũme unique See Language page
Carapana jõcõrõrĩ xɔ̃k̃ɔɾ̃ɔɾĩ See Language page
Desano sĩporã (ghost, heart) sĩpoɾã semantic shift heart' See Language page
Kotiria ~wati ~wati inheritance See Language page
Makuna ghost: rʉ̃mʉ; ʉsi; ghost of a dead person: wʉjo ɾɨ̃mɨ; ɨsi; wɨxo unknown See Language page
Tukano wẽrî'kɨ wãti wẽrî'kɨ wãti inheritance See Language page
Tuyuka wã'tĩ wã'tĩ See Language page
Maihiki aico ago (demon) aiko ago unique See Language page
Koreguaje vati bati inheritance See Language page
Siona huati, ahuë wati, awɨ inheritance See Language page
Karitiana pysãmẽn pɨsãmẽn unknown See Language page
Nheengatu mira angá (mira=forest, anga=spirit); urupari (old expression, redefined to mean Christian devil, "Um mau espirito da mata para os Indios tupi, assimilado mais tarde ao Deus dos Indios tucanos), angá, yurupari (from Christian demon?) mira aŋgá (mira=forest, anga=spirit); urupari (old expression, redefined to mean Christian devil, "Um mau espirito da mata para os Indios tupi, assimilado mais tarde ao Deus dos Indios tucanos) aŋgá (in dictionary, it is listed under both soul and spirit) inheritance See Language page
Kokama mai mai unknown See Language page
Wayampi ãŋɛ ãŋɛ inheritance See Language page
Aché ãǰãwe unknown See Language page
Chiriguano tau unknown See Language page
Paraguayan Guaraní 'pora See Language page
Sirionó aba čekʷayã i̯kʷã (Literally "person invisible bad") aba ǩekʷajã i̯kʷã unique See Language page
Ocaina foonhun, fonhúúnm̈a, núúrama ɸõõʔhũ, ɸõʔɯ̃'ɯ̃'m̵a, nɯ́ɯ́rama unique See Language page
Murui Witoto joreño (soul), dusisiño (spirit of dead) horɛɲo (soul), duθiθiɲo (spirit of dead) (B83) unique See Language page
Ninam hikalapək (ids) hikalapək (ids) unknown See Language page
Yanomam xapiri (generic spirit WM99) ʃapiɾi inheritance See Language page
Yanomami yai jai inheritance See Language page
Sanumá sai dɨbɨ sai dɨbɨ inheritance See Language page
Iquito nahu+yíni (spirit of dead person); sihuaára (demonio de la selva) nawɨjíni (spirit of dead person); siwaára (demonio de la selva) inheritance? See Language page
Záparo tsamaraw tsamaraw See Language page
Wari jam (Sousa2009) jam (Sousa2009) See Language page
Ese Ejja e-kʷikia unknown See Language page
Cavineña ihawa (also means "fox") ihawa semantic shift? fox'? See Language page
Central Aymara supaya supaja See Language page
Cayuvava da'bɨkɨe See Language page
Movima kaini-wawa kaini-wawa See Language page
Trumai aitu; ma.hoi aitu; ma.hoi unique See Language page
Kaingang kãnhmèg nɛn-nɛ̃ we See Language page
Karajá uni See Language page
Djeoromitxi kanõnõ, honĩtĩ kanõnõ, honĩtĩ See Language page
Mocoví n-kiʔi Lit. 'prefix-representation/ See Language page
Pilagá yikok See Language page
Lengua haŋak This word is used to speak of a person's soul (16.110), usually after death. See Language page
Sanapaná/Dialect Angaité mowheem See Language page
Sanapaná/Dialect Enlhet yošĩ See Language page
Wichí Lhamtés Güisnay to-ɬah-wuʔ See Language page
Chorote, Iyojwa'ja axnawoʔ; peyluki See Language page
Ayoreo oo're gaa'tee See Language page
Mapudungun pɨlʸɨ See Language page
Tehuelche 'mayp Also means 'shade, shadow' 01.630. See Language page
Lokono mahui mahui evil spirit DeGoeje 1928:200
Kariña ahkaho akaho ghost Yamada 2010:707