Languages of hunter-gatherers and their neighbors

Nadëb/Rio Negro dialect

Family
Naduhupan
Region
South America
ISO 639-3
mbj
Location
-1.24°, -66.31°
Notes
Features
Basic Vocabulary
Flora Fauna Vocabulary
Cultural Vocabulary
Ethnographic Information
Data Sources
Barbosa, Jefferson Fernando. 2005. Descrição fonológica da língua Nadêb. Universidade de Brasília. (MA thesis). Martins, Valteir. 2005. Reconstrução Fonológica do Protomaku Oriental. University of Leiden. LOT Dissertation Series. 104. Utrecht: LOT. (Doctoral disseration). Martins, Valteir & Rudolf Senn. 1999. Nadëb wordlist. Weir, E. M. Helen. 1984. A Negação e outros Tópicos da Gramática Nadëb. Campin-as: IEL-UNICAMP. Universidaje Estadual de Campinas Ph.D. dissertation. (MA thesis).


Basic Vocabulary (191)
English Spanish Portuguese Semantic Field Part of Speech Orthographic Form Phonemicized Form Gloss as in Source Etymology Code Proto-Form Proto-Language Loan Source Wanderwort Status Etyma Set Etymology Notes General Notes Source
above encima, arriba acima location poŋ jé See Language page
and y e grammar See Language page
ash ceniza(s) cinzas environment Ɂɔ:j See Language page
at en, a em, a location See Language page
back espalda costas body See Language page
bad mal mal quality See Language page
belly barriga barriga body wog See Language page
below abajo, debajo abaixo location See Language page
big grande grande quality bog See Language page
black negro preto colour ʔcãm See Language page
blood sangre sangue body mɨ̃jɨːw See Language page
boil/pimple espinilla, granos espinha, borbulha body See Language page
bone hueso osso body kǝ̰ːh See Language page
breast pecho, seno peito body See Language page
child niño, niña criança human See Language page
cloud nube nuvem environment See Language page
cold frío frio quality See Language page
correct/true verdad, de veras verdade quality See Language page
day día dia time muwaŋ, ʔad ɨb See Language page
dirty sucio sujo quality See Language page
dingo/wolf fauna See Language page
dry seco seco quality See Language page
dull/blunt sin filo, mocho, desafilado, embotado, romo maçante, desamolado, não afiado quality See Language page
dust polvo poeira environment See Language page
ear oreja orelha body nabuːj See Language page
earth/soil tierra terra environment ɟʌk See Language page
egg huevo ovo fauna tɨb See Language page
eye ojo olho body matɨm See Language page
far lejos longe quality See Language page
fat/grease grasa gordura body ʃɨːj See Language page
father padre, papá pai kinship ʔɨb, ʔeːʔ See Language page
feather pluma pena fauna See Language page
fire fuego fogo environment tǝːg See Language page
flower flor flor environment ɉo̰:h See Language page
fog niebla, neblina nevoeira, bruma, neblina environment ɉɨ:g See Language page
fruit fruta fruta flora ʔag See Language page
good bueno bom quality naːw See Language page
hair (of head) cabello cabelo body See Language page
hand mano mão body ne mɔ̃ːh See Language page
3sg el/ella ele/ela grammar See Language page
head cabeza cabeça body nuːh See Language page
heavy pesado pesado quality jɨwɨk See Language page
how? como como grammar See Language page
1sg yo eu grammar ʔɨ̃h For pronouns: include bound/cliticized pronominal forms where significantly different from the free forms See Language page
if si se grammar See Language page
in/inside dentro, adentro dentro location See Language page
intestines intestinos intestinos body See Language page
lake lago lago environment See Language page
leaf hoja folha environment ga̰ːd See Language page
left/left hand izquierdo esquerdo location/body See Language page
leg/foot pierna perna body See Language page
lightning rayo, relámpago relampago environment See Language page
liver hígado figado body hoːh See Language page
long largo comprido, longo quality nɨwɨ:t See Language page
louse piollo, piojo piolho fauna naːm order Phtiraptera See Language page
man/male hombre homem human jɨ̰ːh, maɾahud See Language page
meat/flesh carne carne fauna dab See Language page
moon luna lua environment See Language page
mother madre, mamá mãe kinship ʔaʔɨ̃ːn See Language page
mouth boca boca body nɔːh See Language page
name nombre nome human hʌ̰ːd See Language page
near/close cerca de perto quality See Language page
nape base del cuello, nuca nuca body See Language page
neck cuello pescoço body See Language page
new nuevo novo quality See Language page
night noche noite time ɟǝm See Language page
no/not no não grammar See Language page
nose nariz nariz body See Language page
old viejo velho quality See Language page
one uno um number See Language page
other otro outro grammar See Language page
pain/painful/sick dolor, doloroso, enfermo dor, doloroso, doente body See Language page
person/human being persona pessoa human juhub See Language page
rain lluvia chuva environment du:ʃ See Language page
red rojo vermelho colour hiːɟ See Language page
right/right hand derecha direita location/body See Language page
road/path camino caminho manufacture tɨːw See Language page
root raíz raiz flora kɔm See Language page
rotten podrido podre quality See Language page
sand arena areia environment huːd See Language page
sharp afilado, filudo, filoso afiado quality See Language page
short corto curto quality See Language page
shoulder hombro ombro body See Language page
shy/ashamed tímido, vergonzoso timido, com vergonha mental See Language page
skin piel pele body bɨːh See Language page
sky cielo céu environment poh, wǝ:Ɂ See Language page
small pequeño pequeno quality See Language page
smoke humo fumaça environment See Language page
star estrella estrela environment See Language page
stick/wood palo pau, vara flora See Language page
stone piedra pedra environment pʌʔ See Language page
tail cola, rabo rabo body See Language page
that ese/esa esse grammar See Language page
3pl ellos/ellas eles/elas grammar See Language page
thick grueso, gordo, espeso grosso quality See Language page
thin delgado fino quality See Language page
this este/esta este grammar See Language page
2sg xx xx grammar ʔɔ̃m See Language page
throat garganta garganta body See Language page
three tres tres number See Language page
thunder truenos trovão environment naruk See Language page
bite morder morder body gǝʃ, gǝ:j See Language page
blow soplar soprar body pahu: j See Language page
breathe respirar respirar body hãg See Language page
burn quemar queimar environment hɔ̃:h See Language page
chew masticar, mascar mastigar body ɁawaɁ See Language page
climb subir subir motion See Language page
come venir vir motion See Language page
cook cocinar cozinhar impact See Language page
count contar contar mental See Language page
cry llorar chorar mental ʔo:t, ʔɔd See Language page
cut/hack cortar cortar impact hɔ̃̌k, hɔ̃g, ga kɨd See Language page
die/be dead morir morrer state See Language page
dig cavar cavar impact See Language page
dream soñar sonhar mental See Language page
drink beber, tomar beber body ʔɨŋ See Language page
eat comer comer body wɨh See Language page
fall caer cair motion See Language page
fear miedo medo mental See Language page
flow fluir fluir motion See Language page
fly volar voar motion See Language page
grow crecer crescer state ʃǝ̰:g See Language page
hear oír ouvir mental wǝʔ See Language page
hide esconder esconder motion jǝn See Language page
hit golpear, pegar bater impact See Language page
hold correr, asegurar, sostener segurar other See Language page
kill matar matar impact See Language page
know/be knowledgeable saber, conecer saber, conhecer mental paːh See Language page
laugh reír rir mental See Language page
lie down acostarse, echarse deitar motion gʌʔ, gǝ:ʔ See Language page
live/be alive vivir viver, morar body See Language page
open/uncover abrir abrir other See Language page
pound/beat machacar, golpear bater impact dɨ:k, dɨg, daʃ, da:j, wã:ʃ, gǝ See Language page
say decir dizer mental See Language page
scratch rascar rasgar impact ʃæ̰̃:d See Language page
see ver ver mental See Language page
shoot tirar, disparar, balear atirar impact See Language page
sit sentar(se) sentar state See Language page
sleep dormir dormir body ʔãːh See Language page
sniff/smell olfatear, oler cheirar body hã:k primarily transitive See Language page
spit escupir cuspir body ɉɔ:ʃ See Language page
split partir, dividir rachar, dividir, partir impact See Language page
squeeze estrujar, exprimir espremer impact See Language page
stab/pierce apuñalar, acuchillar apunhalar impact See Language page
stand estar de pié ficar em pé state gǝ̰:d See Language page
steal robar roubar other ɉǝ̰:k See Language page
suck chupar chupar body See Language page
swell hincharse inchar body pu:h See Language page
swim nadar nadar motion See Language page
think pensar pensar mental See Language page
throw tirar, lanzar atirar, jogar impact bo:h See Language page
tie up/fasten atar, amarrar amarrar impact See Language page
turn girar, volter, torcer virar other may be transitive or intransitive See Language page
vomit vomitar vomitar body hʌ:n See Language page
walk caminar, andar andar motion See Language page
work trabajar trabalhar other See Language page
yawn bostezar bocejar body ham See Language page
tongue lengua lingua body naga̰ːd See Language page
tooth diente dente body tǝg See Language page
two dos dois number See Language page
water agua agua environment naʔǝŋ See Language page
1pl.incl nosotros (inclusivo) nós (inclusivo) grammar no inclusive/exclusive distinction unless noted See Language page
1pl.excl nosotros (exclusivo) nós (exclusivo) grammar See Language page
wet mojado molhado quality See Language page
what? que, qué que grammar See Language page
when? cuando quando grammar See Language page
where? donde onde grammar See Language page
white blanco branco colour hawak See Language page
who? quien, quién quem grammar See Language page
wife esposa esposa kinship ʔɨ̃ːm See Language page
wind viento vento environment ho:d See Language page
wing ala asa body See Language page
woman/female mujer mulher human ʔɨ̃ːɲ See Language page
yellow amarillo amarelo colour ʔawa̰ːk See Language page
2pl ustedes vocês grammar See Language page
foot pie pé body ɟɨːm See Language page
again de nuevo, otra vez de novo grammar See Language page
all todo todos other See Language page
ankle tobillo tornozelo body See Language page
armpit axila, sobaco axila body See Language page
faeces heces, mierda, excremento, estiércol fezes body ja̰:h See Language page
lung pulmón pulmão body ʃa pu:w See Language page
sweat sudar suor, suar body See Language page
itch hormiguear, sentir comezón coçar body ɉu:g See Language page
bark corteza casca environment bɔ̱g See Language page
fingernail uña unha body See Language page
heart corazón coração body See Language page
sun sol sol time papãːj See Language page
mountain/hill montaña, colina, loma, cerro morro, serra environment See Language page
green verde verde quality maɾuːt See Language page
hot caliente quente quality juʔ See Language page


Flora Fauna Vocabulary (133)
English Spanish Portuguese Semantic Field Part of Speech Linnean Name Orthographic Form Phonemicized Form Gloss as in Source Etymology Code Proto-Form Proto-Language Loan Source Etymology Notes Wanderwort Status Etyma Set Range of Term Word Structure Word Structure Notes Classifier Classifier Notes Hypernym Source Association with Social Categories Ritual/Mythologically Significant Ritual Notes Food Source Food Notes Medicinal Medicinal Notes How Collected Who Collects How Prepared Psychotropic Psychotropic Notes Traded Trade Notes Distribution Habitat Dangerous Ethnobiology Notes Species Notes General Notes
bat murciélago morcego flora-fauna Chiroptera spp. wɤm See Language page
bird pajaro, ave passaro flora-fauna tɤwɤ:d See Language page
curassow mitu, montete (Peru), paujil/panjuil (Peru), paujil de Salvin (Peru for Mitu salvini) mutum flora-fauna Crax sp., Nothocrax sp. See Language page Amazonia
toucan tucán, pinsha (Peru) tucano flora-fauna Ramphastos sp. ʃaked See Language page Widespread Amazonia
gray-winged trumpeter Grulla, Trompetero Ala Gris jacamim flora-fauna Psophia crepitans See Language page Northern Amazonia (N of Solimões), not in northern Colombia; Dark-winged trumpeter is found south of Solimões
guan pava, pucacunga (Peru), pava de Spix (Peru) jacu flora-fauna Penelope sp. jɤ̰ːj See Language page Different types have different localized ranges
tinamou tinamu, perdiz, gallineta inambu, inhambu flora-fauna family Tinamidae See Language page Widespread Amazonia
hummingbird colibrí, picaflor (Peru) beija-flor flora-fauna family Trochilidae ɟiːp See Language page Widespread
kingfisher martín pescador, catalan (Peru) martim-pescador flora-fauna family Alcedinidae See Language page Widespread Amazonia
owl (large) búho, lechuza corujão flora-fauna order Strigiformes wo̰ːɾ See Language page Widespread
macaw ara, guacamaya Arara flora-fauna family Psittacidae; Ara sp. kawed (arara-vermelha See Language page Widespread Amazonia
parrot loro real, loro (Sp. form is a loan from Carib) papagaio flora-fauna Amazona amazonica ɟɔj See Language page Widespread
dove paloma pomba flora-fauna family Columbidae wawɛ̃hɛ̃h See Language page
hawk halcón, gavilán gavião flora-fauna family Accipitridae wowiːh See Language page
vulture buitre, gallinazo, rinahui (Peru) urubu flora-fauna family Cathartidae wʌːh See Language page Widespread South America
duck pato pato, marreco flora-fauna Anatidae family See Language page
great egret Garza Blanca, Guyratî Garça-Branca-Grande flora-fauna Ardea alba See Language page Widespread South America
woodpecker pájaro carpintero, carpintero pica-pau flora-fauna family Picidae See Language page Widespread Amazonia
dog (camp, domestic) perro cachorro flora-fauna Canis famililaris See Language page Not native; widespread
dog (wild; bush dog) sachaperro, Perro de Monte, Zorro Vinagre, Guanfando; Zorro Ojizarco, Zorro Negro, Perro de Orejas Corta cachorro-do-mato flora-fauna Speothos venaticus; Atelocynus microtis See Language page Widespread Amazonia
anteater oso hormiguero; tapia pelejo or pelejo chico for Cyclopes didactylus tamanduá flora-fauna Myrmecophaga tridactyla (giant anteater); Cyclopes didactylus (silky anteater) ʔihuːn See Language page Widespread Amazonian lowlands
armadillo armadillo, carachupa (Peru), yangunturi (Peru for Giant armadillo) tatu flora-fauna family Dasypodidae; e.g. Priodontes maximus (Giant armadillo), Dasypus novemcinctus, Dasypus kappleri wḛːɟ (tatu-galinha) See Language page Widespread in Amazonia
sloth pereza, pelejo (Peru), perezoso (Peru) macaco preguica flora-fauna Choloepus sp., Bradypus sp. See Language page Widespread Amazonia
alligator, black caiman babilla; cachirre jacaré flora-fauna Melanosuchus niger, Caiman schlerops; Paleosuchus sp. See Language page Throughout Amazonia Port term reportedly borrowed from Tupi
electric eel anguila eléctrica poraquê flora-fauna Electrophorus electricus See Language page
fish (generic) pez peixe flora-fauna See Language page
pacu fish palometa, garopita, garopa, curhuara (Peru) pacu flora-fauna Mylossoma sp. See Language page
pirana piraña, caribe piranha flora-fauna subfamily Serrasalmidae See Language page Widespread Amazonia
tigerfish taraira, guabina, huasaco (Peru) traíra flora-fauna Hoplias sp. See Language page Widespread Amazonia
mandi catfish maparate (used in Peru for some types of catfish, including Auchenipterus sp.), cunchi (used in Peru for some types of catfish), bagre (catfish) mandi flora-fauna Auchenipterus sp. See Language page Widespread Amazonia
speckled catfish surubí, pintadillo surubim, sorubim flora-fauna Pseudoplatystoma sp. See Language page Widespread Amazonia
toad sapo sapo flora-fauna order Anura ɟapɤːh See Language page
iguana iguana, garipiares (Colombia) camaleão flora-fauna Iguana sp. See Language page iguana' is reportedly from Arawak iwana
small lizard lagartija calango flora-fauna order Squamata See Language page
stingray (generic) rayas látigo, raya arraia flora-fauna Potamotrygon sp. See Language page
crab cangrejo caranguejo flora-fauna infraorder Brachyura See Language page
anaconda anaconda, boa, boa acuática grande sucuri flora-fauna genus Eunectes See Language page Widespread Amazonia
boa boa; mantona (red-tailed boa); boa de altura jiboia flora-fauna family Boidae, subf. Boinae See Language page
snake (generic) culebra, serpiente cobra flora-fauna See Language page
snake (poisonous generic) or rattlesnake víbora (Peru), jergón (Peru), yarara jararaca flora-fauna Bothrops jararaca/atrox bʌːw See Language page Widespread South America
tortoise (red foot, yellow foot/giant) tortuga, morrocoy, motelo jabutí, tartaruga flora-fauna Yellow-footed: Geochelone denticulata; Red-footed: Geochelone carbonaria See Language page Widespread
Amazon dolphin bufeo, delfín, tonina (del Orinoco) boto cor-de-rosa flora-fauna Inia geoffrensis See Language page Downstream of major rapids and waterfalls
mushroom champiñón, hongo cogumelo flora-fauna (any edible generic) pǝm See Language page prioritize generic term that includes any edible species
black palm bacaba, mapora, pusui, patabá bacaba flora-fauna Oenocarpus bacaba ʃɯwɯːm See Language page Mature forests of Rio Negro and Upper Amazon may be confused in some entries with O. bataua
açai palm huasí (Peru), asahi, manaca (Ven), asaí, palmiche (Colombia) açaí flora-fauna Euterpe sp. manag See Language page floodplains, swamp; esp. northern Amazonia
miriti palm moriche (Col, Ven), aguaje (Col, Peru), achual, miriti buriti flora-fauna Mauritia flexuosa ɟʌ̰ːk̚ See Language page Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela; in and near swamps trunks contain sago-like starch
palm for roof thatch pui, irapay, hoja de irapay, caraná caraná flora-fauna Mauritiella armata OR Lepidocaryum tenue (irapay), Mauritius carana tapɔːɲ See Language page Mauritia carana is limited principally to the Rio Negro and Upper Orinoco regions; dry catinga forests palm
paxiuba palm pona, huacrapona, cashapona, macanilla, pachiuba paxiuba flora-fauna Iriartea exorrhiza OR Iriartea deltoidea See Language page Widespread Amazonia palm
peach palm, pejibaye palm chontaduro (Col, Ecuador); pipire (Col); pijuayo (Peru), pijiguao (Ven); tembe (Bol) pupunha flora-fauna Bactris gasipaes jɯːh See Language page
seje palm ungurahui (Peru), palma de seje, milpesos, patabá patoá, patuá flora-fauna Jessenia bataua, aka Oenocarpus bataua wʌk See Language page mostly north of Equator; common in Amazonia may be confused with O. bacaba - compare entries
coca coca coca flora-fauna Erythroxylum coca See Language page secondary scrub vegetation. lower alt. of eastern Andes plant
cotton algodón algodão flora-fauna Gossypium (barbadense: long fibers; hirsutum: short fibers) kawad, ʃɯwɯk See Language page secondary scrub vegetation plant; some sources may confound with kapok Ceiba pentandra (esp. if a single gloss for 'cotton' is given')
kapok ceiba, huimba, lupuna (Peru for Ceiba sp.) sumaumeira flora-fauna Ceiba pentandra See Language page northern South America and central America; common in disturbed areas tree
hot pepper ají, pimentón/pimiento rojo, pucunucho (Peru), charapilla (Peru) pimenta flora-fauna Capsicum sp., principally chinensis and frutescens pɔ̰ːh See Language page secondary scrub vegetation, indigenous garden plant
peanut maní (may be loan from Taino Arawak), cacahuete amendoim flora-fauna Arachis hypogaea See Language page plant
pineapple piña abacaxi flora-fauna Ananas comosus mawãːd See Language page plant
arrow cane, wildcane caña flecha, caña brava, caña isana cana para flechas, frecheira, Cana-do-rio flora-fauna Gynerium sagittatum See Language page tropical regions, especially river banks plant
banana, plantain banano, banana, cambur, bellaco, variedad de plátano banana flora-fauna Musa sp. maseːɾ, pãnãːɾ See Language page Names for banana/plantain may be derived from bastard plantain by semantic shift.
beans frijoles, frejol, caraotas (negras, rojas, blancas) feijão flora-fauna Phaseolus spp. See Language page plant
grass hierba, pasto capim, grama flora-fauna (generic) See Language page
maize, corn mazorca, maiz milho flora-fauna Zea mays See Language page widespread, esp. in river floodplains plant
tobacco tabaco tabaco flora-fauna Nicotiana tabacum hũːt See Language page plant
tree árbol arvore flora-fauna tǝ:g See Language page
achiote, anatto achiote urucum flora-fauna Bixa orellana hɤːw See Language page secondary scrub vegetation and indigenous gardens shrub
inga guaba, guamo, guama, shimbillo (Peru) inga flora-fauna Inga spp. gupiʔixuna See Language page Secondary scrub vegetation and indigenous gardens. North and South America (Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Suriname, Colombia)
avocado palta, aguacate abacate flora-fauna Persea americana See Language page secondary scrub vegetation and indigenous gardens tree
bitterwood tortuga caspi, pretina (Peru for tree and tumpline); carahuasca (Peru) envira flora-fauna Duguetia sp. OR Fusaea longifolia OR Guatteria chrysopetala See Language page secondary forests, native to Brazil tree
brazil nut castaña castanha do para (B. excelsa); castanha de cutia (C. edulis) flora-fauna Bertholletia excelsa [cf. Couepia edulis 'castanha do cutia'] See Language page 1) Couepia: restricted area within Brazil, Rio Purus basin and middle Solimões. 2) Bertholletia: elev: consistently about 200m; mature forests. Widely distributed from Peru, E. Colombia, Brazil to Nicaragua. tree
cashew anarcado, castaña de cajú, nuez de la India, marañon, cajú, merey (Venezuela) caju flora-fauna Anacardium occidentale / giganteum See Language page secondary scrub vegetation and indigenous gardens tree; most sources will not distinguish between occidentale and other varieties
genipap jagua, majagua - Colombia, caruto, xagua - Venezuela, bigrande - Bolivia, huito, yaguayagua - Peru, ygualti - Nicaragua, maluco - Mexico genipapo, jenipapo flora-fauna Genipapa americana See Language page widespread lowland SA shrub
japurá oreja de murcielago japurá flora-fauna Erisma japura wak See Language page large tree
rubber tree (sorva) caucho, siringa, shiringa seringa, borracha flora-fauna Hevea sp. See Language page Widespread Amazonia tree
ucuqui yugo, caimitillo del monte (Peru) ucuqui flora-fauna Pouteria ucuqui mʌ̃ʔ See Language page native to NW Amazonia, found primarily in Vaupes and Caqueta regions other species of Pouteria exist and have much-used edible fruit; these can be subsituted where relevant
Amazon tree-grape uva de monte, uvilla (Peru), puruma, caime, caimarona (and variants; Col.) cucura flora-fauna Pourouma cecropiifolia ʃaɾapuːʔ See Language page grows wild in Western Amazon basin; cultivated in Colombia since pre-Colombian times a tree; not a true grape
manioc (bitter or generic) yuca brava mandioca flora-fauna Manihot esculenta See Language page not generally cultivated in western (subAndean) Amazon. Arroyo-Kalin (2010) argues for a correlation with distribution of dark earths, mostly formed after 1AD, and the modeled-incised pottery tradition. Provides more starch and is more pest-resistant than the sweet variety, but requires much processing. Arroyo-Kalin (2010) proposes that bitter type was developed from sweet through post-ceremic agricultural intensification (motivated by high starch yield
manioc (sweet) yuca, caribe macaxeira flora-fauna Manihot esculenta See Language page Primary staple in western/subAndean Amazonia, less important elsewhere No processing required, but lower starch yield and pest resistance than bitter variety
potato papa batata flora-fauna Solanum tuberosum See Language page secondary scrub vegetation compare entries for sweet potato
potato, sweet potato camote, batata dulce, batata, cumara batata-doce flora-fauna Ipomoea batatas See Language page plant
cará tuber, purple or white camote, sachapapa cará roxo, branco flora-fauna Dioscorea sp. ʔɯːn See Language page secondary scrub vegetation; forest clearings plant
tannia, yautia huitina (Peru), ñame taioba branca flora-fauna Xanthosoma spp. See Language page
bottle-gourd (vine) or calabash (tree) calabazo, calabaza; auyama (Dominican Republic and Venezuela), ayote (parts of Central America), zapallo (parts of South America), tutumo/totumo/totuma (Cresc tree), huingo (Peru for Crescentia cujete), tapara cabaça flora-fauna Crescentia cujete (round variety - tree); (Cucurbita) Lagenaria siceraria (bottle variety - vine) See Language page indigenous gardens plant; tree
squash calabaza, calabacines, auyamas, zapallos, huingo (Peru) abóbora flora-fauna Cucurbita sp. See Language page plant
cipó vine tamishi, bejuco, yare cipó flora-fauna Heteropsis spp. See Language page secondary forest, floodplain vine
fish poison, barbasco barbasco, matapez (Colombia) timbó flora-fauna Lonchocarpus spp. dṵːj See Language page secondary forests and secondary srcrub vegetation shrub/tree
hallucinogenic vine, banisterium, ayahuasca ayahuasca, yage ayahuasca, caapi flora-fauna Banisteriopsis caapi See Language page semi-domesticated, native to Amazonian basin, esp. NW vine
hallucinogenic snuff vilca, cebil, yopo paricá, yopo flora-fauna Anadenanthera sp. or virola See Language page
insect (generic) insecto insecto flora-fauna generic See Language page
ant (generic) hormiga formiga flora-fauna Formicidae See Language page
bullet ant, lesser giant hunter ant conga, hormiga yanabe (Colombia), isula (Peru), Hormiga Veinticuatro tocandira flora-fauna Paraponera clavata wɯːw See Language page
leaf-cutter ant Colombia: zampopo, hormiga arriera; Venezuela: bachaco; Peru: curuhuinse saúva flora-fauna Atta sp. wɤk̚ See Language page
honeybee abeja abelha flora-fauna Apis mellifera; Tetragonisca angustula; Trigona amazonensis hiːh See Language page
cockroach cucaracha barata-do-mato flora-fauna order Blattaria kamataɾ See Language page
firefly, lightning bug lampírido, luciérnaga (Peru), añañahui (Peru), cocuyo (attributed Taino origin) vagalume flora-fauna fam: Elateridae, Fengodidae, Lampyridae huːj See Language page
butterfly, moth mariposa borboleta flora-fauna order Lepidoptera See Language page
moth mariposa nocturna, polilla mariposa flora-fauna order Lepidoptera See Language page
angleworm lombriz minhoca flora-fauna order Opisthopora See Language page
centipede ciempiés centopéia flora-fauna class Chilopoda See Language page
scorpion escorpión; alacran escorpião flora-fauna order Scorpiones ʃaj See Language page
cicada cigarra, chicharra cigarra flora-fauna super fam. Cicadoidea See Language page
flea pulga pulga flora-fauna order Siphonaptera See Language page
blowfly/housefly mosca mosca flora-fauna Diptera See Language page
cricket saltón, grillo grilo flora-fauna family Gryllidae See Language page
edible palm-dwelling larva (palm weevil) suri, mojojoy larva, broca-do-coqueiro, aramandaiá flora-fauna Rhynchophorus sp. See Language page
praying mantis, stick insects mantis religiosa louva-a-deus flora-fauna order Mantodea, family Mantidae See Language page
mosquito mosquito, zancudo mosquito, carapana flora-fauna Anopheles sp. See Language page
termites, white-ants comején (Peru), termitas cupim flora-fauna order Isoptera See Language page
tick garrapata carrapato flora-fauna superfam Ixodoidea gɯɾɯ̰ːb See Language page
wasp avispa; specific type: ronzapa/ronsapa caba flora-fauna order Hymenoptera, sub: Apocrita See Language page
snail caracol, churo (Peru) caracol flora-fauna class Gastropoda See Language page
spider araña aranha flora-fauna Arachnidae, Araneae ʃanejoːh See Language page
jaguar yaguar, yaguareté, jaguar, otorongo (Peru), tigre (Peru) onca flora-fauna Panthera onca See Language page
manatee vaca marina, manatí peixe-boi flora-fauna Trichechus sp. See Language page
brown woolly monkey Mono Lanudo Común, Choro, Churucu, mono choro (Peru), mono lanudo cafe, barrigudo de Humboldt macaco barrigudo flora-fauna Lagothrix lagothricha See Language page
howler monkey (red-handed) mono aullador, mono coto (Peru) guariba flora-fauna Alouatta belzebul [or other Alouatta sp.] See Language page
tufted capuchin monkey mono negro (Peru), Machín Negro, Maicero Cachón, mono maicero macaco prego flora-fauna Cebus apella jawʌ̰ːj See Language page
white-fronted capuchin Machín Blanco, mono blanco, Maicero Cariblanco, mono blanco (Peru) Caiarara flora-fauna Cebus albifrons ʃamãːj, hɤːw See Language page
white-fronted spider monkey Machin Blanco, Mono Araña de Vientre Amarillo, maquisapa (Peru), braceadora (Colombia) macaco aranha, coatá, quatá flora-fauna Ateles belzebuth/paniscus See Language page
opossum zarigüeya, rabipelado, zorro, zorrillo mucura flora-fauna family Didelphidae ɟawaːj See Language page
giant otter Lobo Grande de Río, nutria gigante, lutria ariranha flora-fauna Pteronura brasiliensis See Language page
neotropical otter (small) Nutria, Lobo de Agua, lobito de rio, perro de agua (Colombia) lontra flora-fauna Lontra longicaudis ʔajɔ̰ːg See Language page
collared peccary sajino, pecarí de collar, jabalf, Javelina, Saíno, Pecarí de Collar caititu, caetitu flora-fauna Pecari tajacu, Tayassu tajacu See Language page
white-lipped peccary Chancho de Monte, Cariblanco, Huangana queixada flora-fauna Tayassu pecari toːh See Language page
porcupine puerco espín, erizo (Peru), casha cushillo (Peru) cuandu, porco-espinho flora-fauna family Erethizontidae kakuːʃ See Language page
cotamundi, coatimundi Coatí, Tejón, Achuni, zorro guache quati flora-fauna genus Nasua See Language page
agouti (black agouti, black-rumped agouti) Guatusa Negra, Añuje, Agutí (black-rumped), picure, jochi colorado cutia flora-fauna Dasyprocta spp. mijãːw See Language page
capybara Capibara, Carpincho, Ronsoco capivara flora-fauna Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris See Language page
green acouchi Guatín, Punchana, curi, picurito rabudo, picurito rabilargo cutiara flora-fauna Myoprocta pratti See Language page
paca (lowland) Guanta, Paca, Majaz, majás (Peru), labba (Guyana) paca flora-fauna Cuniculus paca (Agouti paca is sometimes used as well although cuniculus is the correct term.) nepaːʔ See Language page
mouse, rat ratón camundongo, rata flora-fauna Mus musculus See Language page
squirrel ardilla, danta (Ven) serelepe, quatipuru, esquilo flora-fauna family Sciuridae See Language page
tapir sachavaca, danta anta flora-fauna Tapirus terrestris tʌ̰ːk See Language page
deer venado veado, cariacu flora-fauna family Cervidae, esp. Odocoileus virginianus See Language page
horse caballo cavalho flora-fauna Equus caballus See Language page


Cultural Vocabulary (97)
English Spanish Portuguese Semantic Field Part of Speech 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
basket (general) canasta, canasto, cesta cesto culture-material bɯːj See Language page
basket, small canasta, canasto, cesta cesto pequeno, tampado culture-material See Language page
bead abalorio, mostacilla, cuenta, gota, puca; necklace=collar miçanga culture-material See Language page
bed cama cama culture-material See Language page
hammock hamaca, chinchorro rede culture-material jag See Language page
bench, seat banco, silla, asiento banco culture-material See Language page
canoe canoa canoa transport ho̰ːh See Language page
drum (large signal) tambor, manguaré, maguaré (Colombia) tambor culture Used to be used by Tukanoan peoples (and others?), sound carried for long distances See Language page
drum tambor tambor culture-mythology See Language page
shaman, healer chamán, brujo xaman, pajé, feiticeiro culture-mythology In RN region, there is typically one person per village (if that) who is a full-fledged 'shaman'. He is very much a specialist and has considerable power to cure, as well as power to curse. He is respected and feared. Shamans are thought to turn themselv See Language page
healer curandero benzador, curandeiro, kumu (Tukano) culture-mythology Refers to a lower-level healer; in RN region, most older men in a village have this capacity, and command a repertoire of healing spells. Power is primarily for good, whereas the true shaman is capable of malignant acts as well. See Language page
broom escoba vassoura culture-material See Language page
clothing ropa roupa culture-mythology See Language page
fence, palisade cerco cerca other may be related to defense/warfare? See Language page
firewood leña lenha other See Language page
Curupira (spirit type) Curupira, Madremonte Curupira culture-mythology malignant forest spirit, covered with long hair, feet turned backward; in Upper Rio Negro region See Language page
ghost (of dead person)/evil spirit espíritu malo, espíritu maligno, fantasma, demonio espirito culture-mythology See Language page
deity/powerful spirit/culture figure dios(es), deidad divinidade, figura mítica culture-mythology In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
flute flauta, quena (Peru) flauta culture-mythology multiple types? japurutu, deer-bone, etc. See Language page
panpipe carrizo, zampoñas, flautas de pan, rondadora caniço, flauta de pã culture-mythology See Language page
hollow log/trough for beer-making canoa para chicha cocho de caxiri narcotics See Language page
ritual song cycle (kapiwaya) kapiwaya capiwaya culture-mythology See Language page
knife cuchillo faca culture-material See Language page
machete machete facão culture-material See Language page
axe/stone axe hacha (de piedra) machado (de pedra) subsistence tool especially for clearing fields See Language page
arrow flecha flecha subsistence tool hunting, warfare See Language page
spear lanza lança subsistence tool See Language page
bow arco arco subsistence tool kaɾabaʔ arco See Language page
paddle/oar remo remo transport See Language page
plate plato prato culture-material See Language page
pot olla, pote panela, vasilha subsistence tool ʃeɾeːj See Language page
basin/bowl tazón, plato hondo, taza tijela culture-material See Language page
griddle for cooking flatbread tiesto (Colombia), budare (Venezuela), tortera (Peru) forno para beiju subsistence tool agriculture? See Language page
rattle matraca, maraca marico, chocalho culture-mythology See Language page
resin resina, brea, copal resina, brea, breu subsistence tool See Language page
wax cera cera other j'a: (Martins 1999) See Language page
honey miel mel food only gathered in wild throughout Amazonia? See Language page
stone for lighting fires piedra para hacer fuego pedra para acender fogo culture-material See Language page
rope/string mecate, cuerda, soga corda culture See Language page
tattoo tatuaje, tatu tatuagem culture-mythology See Language page
thatch/roof crisneja palha, caraná culture-material See Language page
yurupari, jurupari (or any flutes forbidden to women) yurupari jurupari culture-mythology a ritual complex in various parts of Amazonia involving sacred flutes/trumpets, forbidden to women. See Language page
fetish, charm fetiche, encanto, filtro de amor, pusanga feitiço, puçanga culture-mythology See Language page
feather headdress plumaje, corona de plumas enfeite/capacete de penas culture-mythology See Language page
paint body, body paint pintura corporal pintura corporal culture-mythology See Language page
afterworld, land of dead, Heaven tierra do los muertos terra dos mortos culture-mythology See Language page
school escuela escola acculturation See Language page
bottle botella garrafa acculturation See Language page
paper papel papel acculturation See Language page
dream sueño, soñar sonho, sonhar culture-mythology See Language page
chicken gallina galinha acculturation See Language page
grave tumba, sepultura, sepulcro sepultura, sepulcro, cova culture-mythology See Language page
pipe for tobacco pipa cachimbo other See Language page
sugarcane/sugar azúcar, caña de azúcar açucar (de cana) acculturation See Language page
skirt falda, saya, fustan, pollera saia culture-material See Language page
shoes zapatos sapatos dress See Language page
policeman polícia policía acculturation See Language page
soldier soldado soldado acculturation See Language page
cat gato gato acculturation See Language page
gun arma, escopeta espingarda, fusil acculturation See Language page
hat sombero chapéu dress See Language page
chief/leader jefe, cacique chefe culture-mythology See Language page
club garrote, cachiporra clava, porrete subsistence tool kawi.daɾo See Language page
loincloth taparrabos, guayuco, pampanilla tanga, tapa-sexo dress See Language page
fireplace hogar lareira other See Language page
fishing line cordel/cuerda p/ pescar, sedal, tanze linha de pesca subsistence tool kɨ:k' (Martins 1999) See Language page
salt sal sal food juki:ɾ (Martins 1999) See Language page
song (generic) canción, canto canção culture-mythology See Language page
blowgun cerbatana, pucuna (Peru) zarabatana subsistence tool ʃo̰ːw currently limited to certain groups (favoring h-g orientation, e.g. Nadahup) within RN region See Language page
dart (blowgun) dardo, birote (Peru), bala (Peru) dardo, seta subsistence tool hunting and warfare See Language page
fan abanico abanador, abano subsistence tool esp. for fanning a cooking fire See Language page
fish (with line) anzuelear, pescar con linea pescar (com linha) food See Language page
fish (with fish-poison) pescar con barbasco, barbasquear pescar com timbó; tinguijar food See Language page
hunt cazar caçar food See Language page
game animal caza, animal de caza caça, animal de caça food Interesting correlation to 'fish' in Tukanoan languages See Language page
gourd (dipper/bowl) cucharón, pate (Peru), totomo, totuma, totumo cuia subsistence tool ʔɤk, ʃawaʃab, wen ('small cuia'), höka See Language page
grater rallador, rallo ralador, ralo subsistence tool hɯ̃b esp. for grating manioc, but can be used for other things as well See Language page
grid of sticks for smoking meat or placing objects (shelf) barbacoa jirau subsistence tool See Language page
mortar mortero pilão subsistence tool See Language page
pestle pilón, mano de mortero, mazo, moledor mão de pilão subsistence tool See Language page
fermented drink masato, chicha caxiri, chicha culture ɾɤkɤʔ̚ prioritizes manioc beer where distinction is made See Language page
flour/meal from manioc fariña, mañoco (Venezuela); harina farinha food mĩʃuːk agriculture See Language page
flat bread, cassava bread pan de yuca, casabe/cazabe beiju food usually manioc; agriculture, but also can be made from certain wild seeds/fruits See Language page
starch (tapioca, other) almidón goma de tapioca food nuːh See Language page
tapioca drink, mingau cahuana, caguana mingau food agriculture See Language page
tipiti (manioc squeezer) tipiti, matafrio, sebucán, exprimador, prensa para yuca tipiti food word of Tupi origin; agriculture: specifically for squeezing poison out of manioc See Language page
tripod for washing manioc trípode tripé subsistence tool agriculture See Language page
venom for darts, poison veneno curare subsistence tool hunting, currently is falling out of use in Vaupés region, associated primarily with h-g groups (but this may be recent?) See Language page
woven strainer/sieve colador tejido, cedazo (Peru), cernedor (Peru) peneira, cumatá subsistence tool nãpiːd̥̚ agriculture? commonly used for sifting dry manioc flour See Language page
bait for fishing cebo, carnada para pescar, empate (Peru) isca subsistence tool can refer to worms; more generic See Language page
fishtrap trampa de peces, trampa matapi, cacuri subsistence tool See Language page
bottom grinding stone manufacture if different word from top grinding stone See Language page
digging stick subsistence tool See Language page
top grinding stone metate, mano; piedra de moler metate, mano manufacture use word for top grinding stone if different from bottom stone See Language page
boomerang/throwing stick (generic) subsistence tool See Language page
spearthrower subsistence tool See Language page
house other mɨ̃ːj, tɔb See Language page


Ethnographic Information
Current Population (speakers) Former Population Estimate Subsistence Preference Density Sedentism Ecotome Marriage Pattern Notes Source
small HG low mobile Interfluvial