Languages of hunter-gatherers and their neighbors

Mosetén-Chimané

Family
Isolate (SAM)
Region
South America
ISO 639-3
cas
Location
-14.64°, -67.84°
Notes
Features
Basic Vocabulary
Flora Fauna Vocabulary
Cultural Vocabulary
Data Sources
Patiño 1960, citing: Boso, Jose Maria. 1922. Viaje hecho al partido de Larecaja por el doctor... (de Lima) el 2 de septiembre de 1821, en que se han descrito varias plantas particulares botanicamente. In Valdizan, Emilio and Maldonado, Angel (eds.), La Medicina Popular Peruana. Lima. Pérez Diez, Andrés A. 2007. Mosetén. Intercontinental Dictionary Series, ed. Mary RItchie Key. http://lingweb.eva.mpg.de/ids/


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 čeʔe'we See Language page
and y e grammar See Language page
ash ceniza(s) cinzas environment čim See Language page
at en, a em, a location See Language page
back espalda costas body mœrehri'ka See Language page
bad mal mal quality ham 'hemdsi (f.) Lit. 'negative good'. 'Ugly' is aat'čis; 'mean, aggressive' is fa'koi; atčiyi. See Language page
belly barriga barriga body tere'buč See Language page
below abajo, debajo abaixo location mu'ix'ya Also means 'under' 12.070. See Language page
big grande grande quality 'dersi See Language page
black negro preto colour c̷in'katč; c̷in'kas See Language page
blood sangre sangue body češ Cf. 'vein' 04.151 See Language page
boil/pimple espinilla, granos espinha, borbulha body ɲop'yeʔ See Language page
bone hueso osso body hin See Language page
breast pecho, seno peito body eefe See Language page
child niño, niña criança human mi'ki-t See Language page
cloud nube nuvem environment erubu'ye See Language page
cold frío frio quality he'tis Cf. 'winter' 14.740. See Language page
correct/true verdad, de veras verdade quality 'kœc̷is (f.) See Language page
day día dia time mayẽ'dʸeʔ Cf. 01.510. See Language page
dirty sucio sujo quality aʔ'tči Cf. 'stinking' 15.260. See Language page
dingo/wolf fauna See Language page
dry seco seco quality 'čaɲe ~ 'c̷œɲe Cf. 14.770. See Language page
dull/blunt sin filo, mocho, desafilado, embotado, romo maçante, desamolado, não afiado quality mœ'nes Local Span. uses 'muto'. See Language page
dust polvo poeira environment pœ'dai; 'hak See Language page
ear oreja orelha body 'čuiɲ See Language page
earth/soil tierra terra environment yuči'haʔ; 'hak See Language page
egg huevo ovo fauna fen See Language page
eye ojo olho body beh See Language page
far lejos longe quality 'mutč See Language page
fat/grease grasa gordura body 'čœye See Language page
father padre, papá pai kinship 'tata; 'ata See Language page
feather pluma pena fauna paiɲ Cf. 'fishscale' 03.653. See Language page
fire fuego fogo environment 'c̷ih See Language page
flower flor flor environment haa'me See Language page
fog niebla, neblina nevoeira, bruma, neblina environment yikbaba-'dʸeʔ See Language page
fruit fruta fruta flora weš; 'tatu See Language page
good bueno bom quality 'hem; hemd'si See Language page
hair (of head) cabello cabelo body 'fin See Language page
hand mano mão body uɲ See Language page
3sg el/ella ele/ela grammar mœ; mo Respectively: male and female. See Language page
head cabeza cabeça body xuʔ'no Also means 'skull' 04.202. See Language page
heavy pesado pesado quality hauh'ki See Language page
how? como como grammar 'hoiɲka Cf. 'why?' 17.690. See Language page
1sg yo eu grammar yo'ẽ For pronouns: include bound/cliticized pronominal forms where significantly different from the free forms See Language page
if si se grammar hwih'ya See Language page
in/inside dentro, adentro dentro location ok'haɲ See Language page
intestines intestinos intestinos body wo'koh See Language page
lake lago lago environment See Language page
leaf hoja folha environment 'šan Cf. 'green' 15.680. See Language page
left/left hand izquierdo esquerdo location/body 'kim kim-'w̃e is 'left hand'. See Language page
leg/foot pierna perna body xœɲœk See Language page
lightning rayo, relámpago relampago environment 'perere See Language page
liver hígado figado body na'kač See Language page
long largo comprido, longo quality mot'ča-tk; mot'ča-s Respectively: masc.; fem. See Language page
louse piollo, piojo piolho fauna 'c̷ix order Phtiraptera See Language page
man/male hombre homem human 'c̷oɲ See Language page
meat/flesh carne carne fauna šœš Also means 'flesh' 04.130. See Language page
moon luna lua environment 'iwa Also means 'month' 14.710. See Language page
mother madre, mamá mãe kinship 'nonoʔ See Language page
mouth boca boca body čõ Also means 'beak' 04.241. See Language page
name nombre nome human tic̷; tih See Language page
near/close cerca de perto quality 'tčei'ỹaʔ See Language page
nape base del cuello, nuca nuca body tœh See Language page
neck cuello pescoço body tœh; be'kaʔ See Language page
new nuevo novo quality 'maikit; 'maisis Respectively: masc.; fem. See Language page
night noche noite time c̷edʸẽ'dʸeʔ See Language page
no/not no não grammar See Language page
nose nariz nariz body 'hoi See Language page
old viejo velho quality 'išo Masc. form. See Language page
one uno um number yi'ris See Language page
other otro outro grammar See Language page
pain/painful/sick dolor, doloroso, enfermo dor, doloroso, doente body hapak-'ui See Language page
person/human being persona pessoa human 'mointki See Language page
rain lluvia chuva environment a'ɲe See Language page
red rojo vermelho colour heih'natč; heih'nas See Language page
right/right hand derecha direita location/body 'tak tak-'w̃e is 'right hand'. See Language page
road/path camino caminho manufacture 'mahmi See Language page
root raíz raiz flora iri'bin See Language page
rotten podrido podre quality fo'koi 'Stinking'. See Language page
sand arena areia environment ha'maiɲ See Language page
sharp afilado, filudo, filoso afiado quality mo'taksi See Language page
short corto curto quality 'taknis; mi'kias Respectively: masc.; fem. See Language page
shoulder hombro ombro body bih'bi See Language page
shy/ashamed tímido, vergonzoso timido, com vergonha mental ninak'dʸe See Language page
skin piel pele body šu'paʔ Animal skin. Also means 'leather' 06.290; 'bark' 08.750. See Language page
sky cielo céu environment mãye'dʸeʔ Cf. 'day'14.410. See Language page
small pequeño pequeno quality mi'ki-tk; mi'ki-s Respectively: masc.; fem. See Language page
smoke humo fumaça environment hiʔi'sa See 'fireplace' 07.310. See Language page
star estrella estrela environment õrõ'taʔ Cf. 'light' 01.610. See Language page
stick/wood palo pau, vara flora ['tabra] From Span. 'tabla'. See Language page
stone piedra pedra environment 'mix See Language page
tail cola, rabo rabo body ko'dih; pih Respectively: of a cow; of a fish. See Language page
that ese/esa esse grammar See Language page
3pl ellos/ellas eles/elas grammar mœ'ʔin; mo'ʔin Respectively: male and female. See Language page
thick grueso, gordo, espeso grosso quality ma'bet ~ mba'bet See Language page
thin delgado fino quality oroi'koč; oroi'kos Respectively: masc.; fem. See Language page
this este/esta este grammar See Language page
2sg xx xx grammar mi See Language page
throat garganta garganta body tæræ'reč See Language page
three tres tres number tči'bin See Language page
thunder truenos trovão environment behna'yi See Language page
bite morder morder body ka'rau'heʔ See Language page
blow soplar soprar body puh'ye See Language page
breathe respirar respirar body pœh'yi; hœ'ki Respectively: 'breath' and breathe'. See Language page
burn quemar queimar environment mii'tiʔ See Language page
chew masticar, mascar mastigar body karaub-'he; ka'raub-ka'raub-'he See Language page
climb subir subir motion 'boxwi Also means 'rise' 10.210. See Language page
come venir vir motion a'c̷ih; a'yih Respectively: masc.; fem. See Language page
cook cocinar cozinhar impact hemi'tih; hemi'tiʔ Respectively: masc.; fem. See Language page
count contar contar mental 'c̷ik See Language page
cry llorar chorar mental 'tari Also means 'sad' 16.320. See Language page
cut/hack cortar cortar impact 'tœc̷he See Language page
die/be dead morir morrer state sæ'ɲi; i'hak The former also means 'corpse' 04.770. The latter, 'killed'; cf. 'murder' 21.420. See Language page
dig cavar cavar impact fa-'dʸe See Language page
dream soñar sonhar mental tami'ñi See Language page
drink beber, tomar beber body tk'yei See Language page
eat comer comer body sakse-'ha See Language page
fall caer cair motion hõ'čai Also means 'drop' 10.160. See Language page
fear miedo medo mental 'noiye-dʸeʔ See Language page
flow fluir fluir motion ča'ĩ See Language page
fly volar voar motion 'ɲai See Language page
grow crecer crescer state pa'ɲi See Language page
hear oír ouvir mental tči'kaksi Also tči'kæ. See Language page
hide esconder esconder motion hihmœsi'ti See Language page
hit golpear, pegar bater impact 'tœhɲe Means to hit with ax. See Language page
hold correr, asegurar, sostener segurar other See Language page
kill matar matar impact i'hai; i'hak-si Respectively: generic term; to kill people. Cf. 'dead' 04.750. See Language page
know/be knowledgeable saber, conecer saber, conhecer mental tči'yæ See Language page
laugh reír rir mental dʸi'si See Language page
lie down acostarse, echarse deitar motion čuden'yi See Language page
live/be alive vivir viver, morar body bœ'yi; c̷aa'ki Respectively: 'live' and 'living'. See Language page
open/uncover abrir abrir other wa'nakheʔ See Language page
pound/beat machacar, golpear bater impact khatʔ'hẽ See Language page
say decir dizer mental he'yaki See Language page
scratch rascar rasgar impact See Language page
see ver ver mental ka'be See Language page
shoot tirar, disparar, balear atirar impact 'tohyi See Language page
sit sentar(se) sentar state bœʔ'dʸi Also means 'live' 04.740. See Language page
sleep dormir dormir body ko'ši ~ ku'ši See Language page
sniff/smell olfatear, oler cheirar body hœʔ'seʔ primarily transitive See Language page
spit escupir cuspir body čopi'yi See Language page
split partir, dividir rachar, dividir, partir impact 'četheʔ ~ čee'teʔ See Language page
squeeze estrujar, exprimir espremer impact 'sumʔ'he See Language page
stab/pierce apuñalar, acuchillar apunhalar impact 'pothe'te See Language page
stand estar de pié ficar em pé state oroikoh'kõi See Language page
steal robar roubar other ši'ʔai See Language page
suck chupar chupar body c̷iʔ'yi See Language page
swell hincharse inchar body ɲya'biʔ See Language page
swim nadar nadar motion 'naiki See Language page
think pensar pensar mental 'yihyi See Language page
throw tirar, lanzar atirar, jogar impact fa'raheʔ See Language page
tie up/fasten atar, amarrar amarrar impact 'sapheʔ See Language page
turn girar, volter, torcer virar other may be transitive or intransitive See Language page
vomit vomitar vomitar body 'čai See Language page
walk caminar, andar andar motion fue'rih; mi'ʔi See Language page
work trabajar trabalhar other karih'taki; karihtakiʔ Respectively: masc.; fem. See Language page
yawn bostezar bocejar body hah'ki; ha'ki See Language page
tongue lengua lingua body 'nem See Language page
tooth diente dente body mu'dʸin See Language page
two dos dois number pæ'ræʔ See Language page
water agua agua environment uh'ɲi Also means 'river' 01.360. See Language page
1pl.incl nosotros (inclusivo) nós (inclusivo) grammar 'c̷uɲ no inclusive/exclusive distinction unless noted See Language page
1pl.excl nosotros (exclusivo) nós (exclusivo) grammar See Language page
wet mojado molhado quality saʔ'mai; sa'ma See Language page
what? que, qué que grammar ha'tahyĩka Also he'dʸeʔ. See Language page
when? cuando quando grammar hund'siʔ See Language page
where? donde onde grammar ha'naʔ See Language page
white blanco branco colour haiʔ'batč; haiʔ'bas See Language page
who? quien, quién quem grammar tki'ka See Language page
wife esposa esposa kinship he'yeye; 'pheɲ The latter also means 'woman' 02.220. See Language page
wind viento vento environment kiʔ'ma See Language page
wing ala asa body pa'wah See Language page
woman/female mujer mulher human 'pheɲ See Language page
yellow amarillo amarelo colour kutči-'kutči-'dʸes Derived from the name of the tree with yellow flowers called kutči-'kutči. See Language page
2pl ustedes vocês grammar mi'ʔin See Language page
foot pie pé body yœh See Language page
again de nuevo, otra vez de novo grammar 'hambi Also means 'still, yet'. See Language page
all todo todos other e'rehtum See Language page
ankle tobillo tornozelo body po'po ~ kuti'kaɲ See Language page
armpit axila, sobaco axila body c̷a'kaʔ See Language page
faeces heces, mierda, excremento, estiércol fezes body wæsæ-'ki 'Excrement' is wæš. See Language page
lung pulmón pulmão body šaba'bač See Language page
sweat sudar suor, suar body hœin'hoi See Language page
itch hormiguear, sentir comezón coçar body ye'c̷ic̷i See Language page
bark corteza casca environment 'šoʔpaʔ ~ šu'páʔ Also means 'skin' 04.120; 'leather' 06.290. See Language page
fingernail uña unha body 'patki Also means 'claw' 04.345. See Language page
heart corazón coração body 'kohki See Language page
sun sol sol time 'c̷œɲ Cf. 'noon' 14.450. See Language page
mountain/hill montaña, colina, loma, cerro morro, serra environment mœ'kæ See Language page
green verde verde quality šan-'dʸes šan is 'leaf' 08.560. See Language page
hot caliente quente quality ha'pak See Language page


Flora Fauna Vocabulary (134)
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
horse caballo cavalho flora-fauna Equus caballus See Language page
horse caballo cavalho flora-fauna See Language page
bat murciélago morcego flora-fauna Chiroptera spp. c̷i'ɲiʔ [Aymara loan] See Language page Also 'yihmi, 'vampire bat'.
bird pajaro, ave passaro flora-fauna haiht'ki 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. 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. 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 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 oʔbo'yoʔ See Language page Widespread
macaw ara, guacamaya Arara flora-fauna family Psittacidae; Ara sp. See Language page Widespread Amazonia
parrot loro real, loro (Sp. form is a loan from Carib) papagaio flora-fauna Amazona amazonica ku'c̷ibi; ut'ki; awa'rõ; twa; i'yaʔ See Language page Widespread Respectively: small parrot; large parrot; larger parrot; red macaw (paraba); blue macaw (paraba).
dove paloma pomba flora-fauna family Columbidae oʔo'toʔ; fwa'ye; fwehf'weʔ See Language page Respectively: large; small; and medium doves.
hawk halcón, gavilán gavião flora-fauna family Accipitridae See Language page
vulture buitre, gallinazo, rinahui (Peru) urubu flora-fauna family Cathartidae ši'ʔe See Language page Widespread South America
duck pato pato, marreco flora-fauna Anatidae family [pa'to] See Language page From Span. 'pato'.
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 ač'yo 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) 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 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 ta'bedʸe 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 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 kušifu're See Language page
stingray (generic) rayas látigo, raya arraia flora-fauna Potamotrygon sp. i'sinœ 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 'nas See Language page
snake (poisonous generic) or rattlesnake víbora (Peru), jergón (Peru), yarara jararaca flora-fauna Bothrops jararaca/atrox 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 me'meʔ; kih'bo See Language page Widespread Respectively: river; land turtle.
Amazon dolphin bufeo, delfín, tonina (del Orinoco) boto cor-de-rosa flora-fauna Inia geoffrensis xebaba-'dʸe See Language page Downstream of major rapids and waterfalls Refers to river dolphin, 'bufeo'.
mushroom champiñón, hongo cogumelo flora-fauna (any edible generic) bi'tatu See Language page prioritize generic term that includes any edible species
black palm bacaba, mapora, pusui, patabá bacaba flora-fauna Oenocarpus bacaba 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. See Language page floodplains, swamp; esp. northern Amazonia
miriti palm moriche (Col, Ven), aguaje (Col, Peru), achual, miriti buriti flora-fauna Mauritia flexuosa 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 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 buey buej Guglielma insignis Patiño 1960: 40
seje palm ungurahui (Peru), palma de seje, milpesos, patabá patoá, patuá flora-fauna Jessenia bataua, aka Oenocarpus bataua 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) 'bahnaʔ 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 taʔ 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 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. peʔ're 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. ko'riši See Language page plant
grass hierba, pasto capim, grama flora-fauna (generic) bi'ruruʔ See Language page
maize, corn mazorca, maiz milho flora-fauna Zea mays 'tara See Language page widespread, esp. in river floodplains plant
tobacco tabaco tabaco flora-fauna Nicotiana tabacum kos See Language page plant
tree árbol arvore flora-fauna de'reʔ See Language page Also means 'forest' 01.410.
achiote, anatto achiote urucum flora-fauna Bixa orellana See Language page secondary scrub vegetation and indigenous gardens shrub
inga guaba, guamo, guama, shimbillo (Peru) inga flora-fauna Inga spp. 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 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 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 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 oʔ'yi 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 ka'ʔi See Language page plant
cará tuber, purple or white camote, sachapapa cará roxo, branco flora-fauna Dioscorea sp. 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. 'sobo ~ 'šobo 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. či'tuʔ 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 kastkit'ki; ki'kiki See Language page Respectively: small, red, biting ant; large black
bullet ant, lesser giant hunter ant conga, hormiga yanabe (Colombia), isula (Peru), Hormiga Veinticuatro tocandira flora-fauna Paraponera clavata a'yuša See Language page
leaf-cutter ant Colombia: zampopo, hormiga arriera; Venezuela: bachaco; Peru: curuhuinse saúva flora-fauna Atta sp. kya'ki See Language page
honeybee abeja abelha flora-fauna Apis mellifera; Tetragonisca angustula; Trigona amazonensis ku'ruma See Language page Also means 'honey' 05.840.
cockroach cucaracha barata-do-mato flora-fauna order Blattaria ša'bo See Language page
firefly, lightning bug lampírido, luciérnaga (Peru), añañahui (Peru), cocuyo (attributed Taino origin) vagalume flora-fauna fam: Elateridae, Fengodidae, Lampyridae [koyo'yoʔ] See Language page
butterfly, moth mariposa borboleta flora-fauna order Lepidoptera batak'tak See Language page
moth mariposa nocturna, polilla mariposa flora-fauna order Lepidoptera See Language page
angleworm lombriz minhoca flora-fauna order Opisthopora he'saʔ See Language page
centipede ciempiés centopéia flora-fauna class Chilopoda se'wa'yaʔ See Language page
scorpion escorpión; alacran escorpião flora-fauna order Scorpiones ihki'ki See Language page
cicada cigarra, chicharra cigarra flora-fauna super fam. Cicadoidea See Language page
flea pulga pulga flora-fauna order Siphonaptera miix See Language page
blowfly/housefly mosca mosca flora-fauna Diptera heroh'ro 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. õ'toʔ See Language page
termites, white-ants comején (Peru), termitas cupim flora-fauna order Isoptera See Language page
tick garrapata carrapato flora-fauna superfam Ixodoidea See Language page
wasp avispa; specific type: ronzapa/ronsapa caba flora-fauna order Hymenoptera, sub: Apocrita 'c̷ib See Language page Local term is 'peto'.
snail caracol, churo (Peru) caracol flora-fauna class Gastropoda wo'ont See Language page
spider araña aranha flora-fauna Arachnidae, Araneae ohto'ko; mi'kis ohto'ko See Language page Respectively: medium-size greyish spider; [lit.] 'small spider'. Also i'c̷ik.
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 See Language page
white-fronted capuchin Machín Blanco, mono blanco, Maicero Cariblanco, mono blanco (Peru) Caiarara flora-fauna Cebus albifrons 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 wa'riši 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 See Language page
collared peccary sajino, pecarí de collar, jabalf, Javelina, Saíno, Pecarí de Collar caititu, caetitu flora-fauna Pecari tajacu, Tayassu tajacu ki'ʔti See Language page
white-lipped peccary Chancho de Monte, Cariblanco, Huangana queixada flora-fauna Tayassu pecari See Language page
porcupine puerco espín, erizo (Peru), casha cushillo (Peru) cuandu, porco-espinho flora-fauna family Erethizontidae 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. 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.) See Language page
mouse, rat ratón camundongo, rata flora-fauna Mus musculus 'čošo; ča'maʔ See Language page Respectively: 'mouse'; 'rat'.
squirrel ardilla, danta (Ven) serelepe, quatipuru, esquilo flora-fauna family Sciuridae See Language page
tapir sachavaca, danta anta flora-fauna Tapirus terrestris See Language page
deer venado veado, cariacu flora-fauna family Cervidae, esp. Odocoileus virginianus bačyo'na; ɲe See Language page Local term for the latter is 'guaso'.


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 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 hi'biʔ See Language page
hammock hamaca, chinchorro rede culture-material See Language page
bench, seat banco, silla, asiento banco culture-material bœʔya'kis See Language page
canoe canoa canoa transport 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 rikah-ri'ka Refers to the box-shape of drum. See Language page
shaman, healer chamán, brujo xaman, pajé, feiticeiro culture-mythology farahtak'siʔ Refers to a harmful shaman. A 'curer' is piɲitak'siʔ 04.870; 'shaman' is ko'kohsi. 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 si'nakiti See Language page
clothing ropa roupa culture-mythology koft'yi-t; kis'ye Respectively: men's and women's clothing; the latter also means 'cloth' 06.210. Also sa'rasa, 'cloth'. See Language page
fence, palisade cerco cerca other 'sope may be related to defense/warfare? See Language page
firewood leña lenha other 'c̷ih Same as 'fire' 01.810. 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 'hen Introduced term for translating the Bible. See Language page
flute flauta, quena (Peru) flauta culture-mythology buɲe-'dʸeʔ 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 [kučiɲo ~ kučino] From Span. 'cuchillo'. See Language page
machete machete facão culture-material See Language page
axe/stone axe hacha (de piedra) machado (de pedra) subsistence tool pha'kiyeʔ especially for clearing fields See Language page
arrow flecha flecha subsistence tool ih'meʔ Means an arrow with chonta point'. Also ko'mura; 'tõn, made of 'tacuara'; and 'yaʔasi, without feathers, used for fishing. See Language page
spear lanza lança subsistence tool ['ransa] From Span. 'lanza', but no longer used. See Language page
bow arco arco subsistence tool kwin'dʸeʔ arco See Language page
paddle/oar remo remo transport ko'rak-'dʸeʔ See Language page
plate plato prato culture-material pi'hiʔ See Language page
pot olla, pote panela, vasilha subsistence tool ta'dʸič 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 [ma'traka] From Span. (?) 'matraca'. Also šaka-šaka-'yis. See Language page
resin resina, brea, copal resina, brea, breu subsistence tool See Language page
wax cera cera other iix'pe See Language page
honey miel mel food ku'ruma ~ ko'roma Also means 'bee' 03.820; and 'sugarcane'. 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 tĩ'dʸeʔ See Language page
tattoo tatuaje, tatu tatuagem culture-mythology See Language page
thatch/roof crisneja palha, caraná culture-material kaʔtap'haʔ Also means 'roof' 07.510, made of 'palma jatata'. 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 ma'yedʸeʔ ~ maye'dʸeʔ Also means 'sky' 01.510. See Language page
school escuela escola acculturation See Language page
bottle botella garrafa acculturation See Language page
paper papel papel acculturation [pa'per] From Span. 'papel'. See Language page
dream sueño, soñar sonho, sonhar culture-mythology tami'ñi See Language page
chicken gallina galinha acculturation mi'ki-t a'taba Lit. 'little (child) hen' 02.270 + 03.540. See Language page
grave tumba, sepultura, sepulcro sepultura, sepulcro, cova culture-mythology eruyætk'hin See Language page
pipe for tobacco pipa cachimbo other See Language page
sugarcane/sugar azúcar, caña de azúcar açucar (de cana) acculturation wi'ro See Language page
skirt falda, saya, fustan, pollera saia culture-material See Language page
shoes zapatos sapatos dress [sa'pato] From Span. 'zapato'. See Language page
policeman polícia policía acculturation See Language page
soldier soldado soldado acculturation [son'daro] From Span. 'soldado'. See Language page
cat gato gato acculturation ['miši] Similar term used throughout the Americas. See Language page
gun arma, escopeta espingarda, fusil acculturation -- See Language page
hat sombero chapéu dress [šomero'ro] From Span. 'sombrero'. See Language page
chief/leader jefe, cacique chefe culture-mythology ['hefe] From Span. 'jefe'. Also [ka'siki], from Span. (?) 'cacique'. Also ko[ka'sik]č (m.), from 'cacique'. See Language page
club garrote, cachiporra clava, porrete subsistence tool we'kitč 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 ['rinya] From Span. 'línea'. Also [naihe'ro], made of 'nylon'. See Language page
salt sal sal food hii'ko See Language page
song (generic) canción, canto canção culture-mythology hi'maki See Language page
blowgun cerbatana, pucuna (Peru) zarabatana subsistence tool 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 fi'fit 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 dæ'ræi See Language page
game animal caza, animal de caza caça, animal de caça food hebak-'dʸe Interesting correlation to 'fish' in Tukanoan languages See Language page
gourd (dipper/bowl) cucharón, pate (Peru), totomo, totuma, totumo cuia subsistence tool See Language page
grater rallador, rallo ralador, ralo subsistence tool 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 yuʔta'kis See Language page
mortar mortero pilão subsistence tool ta'ko Widely used term in Spanish also. See Language page
pestle pilón, mano de mortero, mazo, moledor mão de pilão subsistence tool ko'čakis See Language page
fermented drink masato, chicha caxiri, chicha culture 'čukye ~ šokdʸeʔ Local term is 'chicha'. See Language page
flour/meal from manioc fariña, mañoco (Venezuela); harina farinha food 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 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 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 sa'hiʔ Local Span. form is 'saqueador'. 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 aʔka See Language page