Languages of hunter-gatherers and their neighbors

deity/powerful spirit/culture figure

Semantic Field
culture-mythology
Part of Speech
Meaning Spanish
dios(es), deidad
Meaning Portuguese
divinidade, figura mítica

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 kivasaw (inal) great spirit, god unique does this have /kiva/ in it? compound, other complex Seiler & Hioki 1979
Cupeño chem-yu'at God inheritance *ya7u Uto-Aztecan Stubbs 2011 1803 -- easy to do metathesis across the *7 phrase, other complex our-head-ABS' Hill & Nolasquez 1973
Luiseño yuungawish God, Lord semantic shift *jungavish Cupan Isn't this the vulture/condor word??? Hill/Miller ju-12 other complex Elliott 1999
Gabrielino te-huv-soo-nar, hetekrungaiy 'el dios' (H"315)) (that which is above); $aho:vet H 061 God, good spirit inheritance *tu7apa Northern Uto-Aztecan Stubbs 2011 2570 maybe other complex Merriam 49:113
Serrano ny-'ajynu'ç god (literally, 'the one at my right') unique Merriam has tamyat < Ca. 48:191) derived, other complex K. Hill Dict.
Kitanemuk tüvač, nühpa god (poss) (t), chief (poss) (n), earth, world, etc. (t…) inheritance *tu7apa Northern Uto-Aztecan Stubbs 2011 2570 other complex Anderton 1988
Tübatulabal Pangattal God ("above the sun") unique CHM has man-nā'-sar 'the world maker, an old woman who had 5 brothers' (this is Gab manisar 'capitana' and maybe the manit woman 49:277 derived, other complex K. Hill Tb>Eng
Bankalachi Toloim missing missing
Kawaiisu tugu-bajaa-va7a-dy God unique probably neologism on Christian concept derived, other complex sky-in-?-ABS Zigmond et al. 1990
Chemehuevi missing missing
Southern Paiute tyvatstsI wolf, powerful one (as mythological being) inheritance *tu7apa Northern Uto-Aztecan Stubbs 2011 2570; also tuttukua-vI 'guardian spirit' 696 other complex Sapir
Southern Ute sinawavI Sinawav,God, Great Spirit unique "Wolf" under a different name from tyva7atsi other complex Charney
Tümpisa Shoshone missing missing
Big Smokey Valley Shoshone missing missing spirit helper poha-nym-ppyh??
Comanche Atsabi7 Creator, holy spirit (name of deity) unique other complex Robinson & Armagost 1990
Western Mono tYnitoobEbI the Creator unique so-ahp' (made the bedrock mortar holes) Merriam 45:319 compound, other complex Loether & Bethel 1993
Northern Paiute numu manumutoodu, manumutoopu Indian Creators unique sumatea Great Spirit, God (32) phrase Yerington 1987
Southern Sierra Miwok te:pani- creator loan Yokuts simplex Broadbent 1964
Central Sierra Miwok tín:y-T:i- supernatural being, "a great something" unique tin:y Pmis 'something' other complex Freeland & Broadbent 1960
Northern Sierra Miwok kuksuj-u- a one-legged man with feathers, fear of him can cause stupor and drowsiness (kuksu JHH) loan unknown %kuksu, widespread in California other complex Callaghan 1987
Plains Miwok missing missing
Lake Miwok 7oléenawa Old Man Coyote inheritance *ole:- Proto-Miwokan Callaghan 1970:94 compound Callaghan 1965
Maidu k'ódojape Earthmaker, the creator of Maidu mythology unique derived k'ódo 'district, country, area, place, time, year Shipley 1963
Nisenan 7ajk'at' creator unique 7aj- seems to have to do with thought simplex Uldall & Shipley 1966
Yokuts Yawelmani Thiphni7 supernatural being inheritance *Thiphni7, *chhiphni7 Proto-Nim-Yokuts simplex Golla 1964
Yokuts Yawdanchi Thiphni supernatural being inheritance *Thiphni7, *chhiphni7 Proto-Nim-Yokuts Merriam te-gah'-ah 'world maker' 44:197 simplex Golla 1964
Yokuts Palewyami missing missing
Washo detugíti7, detugítiwk God unknown derived d- nmlzr Washo Project Dictionary
Wintu missing missing
Yuki missing missing
Wappo missing missing
Mutsun trah-rah-tah groo-kah god or good spirit unknown phrase Merriam 39:111
Esselen missing missing
Salinan A k<enca:niL God unknown other complex k- stative Mason 1918
Salinan M missing missing
Chumash Obispeno missing missing
Chumash Ineseno mah-hoo-how' World Maker (NOT coyote) unknown derived ma- nmlzr Merriam 37:529
Chumash Barbareno šup earth, god inheritance šup Proto-Southern Chumash simplex Klar 1977
Chumash Ventureno missing missing
Iipay 'Aa chawp mythological spirit embodied in fire ball, meteor unknown Maayehaa 'God' (high water) simplex Couro & Hutcheson 1973
Cocopa kùkmá:T a Cocopa, and probably pan-Yuman, deity unknown derived Crawford 1989
Mojave missing missing
Yavapai missing missing
Kiliwa mt=ipaa Creator (earth-being) unique inherited elements compound Mixco 1985
Seri (Comcaac) Hant Caai creator of the world according to the Seri ancestors (lit. el que hizo el mundo) unknown phrase Moser & Marlett 2005
Kakua bè-ʔid bè-ʔid unknown Also: hũyu No info In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Nheengatu tupã (old word used to describe spirits causing thunder, but chosen later to describe Christian God.) tupã (old word used to describe spirits causing thunder, but chosen later to describe Christian God.) inheritance *tupã Reconstructs as 'thunder', but has both meanings in many TG languages; donor for Yucuna tupana, Kaingang topẽ; Simplex In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Waorani wǽ̨ŋǫ́ŋį (god) god unknown Unknown Similar forms appear in Carib (Makiritare wana:di); Hup also has this as an alternate term. Maybe from Arawak? In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Yanomam omama (WM99 - progenitor figure) omama progenitor figure unknown Simplex In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Ninam teus teus god loan Portuguese Also in Warekena Diutsu; Puinave dio; Ashuar jus Simplex In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Kotiria kohamaku kohamaku calque, direction unknown North Arawak? 'Bone-Son' Compare Arawak, 'bone' in culture figure name. Also: cohamaco (feminine) Compound bone-son' In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Cubeo jʉ̃menijicʉ hʉ̃mɛnihikʉ unknown Does NOT seem to derive from 'bone'. Classifier -kɨ In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Tukano õ'akɨ̃hɨ õ'akɨ̃hɨ calque, direction unknown North Arawak? 'Bone-Son' Compound õ'a-kɨ̃hɨ 'Bone-?' In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Hup g'æg=tæ̃h g'æg=tæ̃h Bone-Son calque ET 'Bone-Son' Compound bone son In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Dâw kegteè kægtæ̂ calque ET 'Bone-Son' In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Sikuani pumeníruwa, kajúyali (Melendez 2014: both Arawak loans) pumeníruwa, kajúyali (Melendez 2014: both Arawak loans) loan, loan Achagua In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Macaguan márat mythological personage, creator of the world unknown Simplex In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Pemon kate, potorito (means our father, god) (A1981); katɨ (E1980) kate, potorito (A1981); katɨ (E1980) inheritance; unknown Venezuelan (N. Amazonian) subgroup? Similar term Waiwai; maybe older. Alternate: potorito In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Akawaio paba paba semantic shift father' Maybe from 'father'? But referential kin term is distinct. In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Makushi paapa paapa god semantic shift father' Probably from 'father' In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Eñepa marʸewaka; ariyo', Var. riyo' (MM) marjewaka; arijoʔ, Var. rijoʔ (MM) unknown Alternate:marʸewaka In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Yukuna tupana, je'echú tupana, heʔetʃú loan; unique Nheengatu Simplex In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Tariana yapi-riku-ri yapi-riku-ri calque, direction unknown Tukanoan; 'one on bone' In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Wapishana tʰumĩĩkʰarɨ tʰumĩĩkʰarɨ unknown In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Baniwa iñápirrikuli iɲápirikuli calque, direction unknown Unknown Tukanoan; 'one on bone' In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Resígaro vakéǰo?thoónagí (kéǰo?tú 'create') vakédʒoʔtʰoónagí unique Bora Derived kéǰo?tú 'create', -gí gender marker In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Achagua kuwáihiri; [others: kutʃí kutʃí, makabani, kahuijali, purunaminali, kamáisani] kuwáihiri; [others: kutʃí kutʃí, makabani, kahuijali, purunaminali, kamáisani] inheritance In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Piapoco cuwáisàiri [others: dios mitico I. Calira. 2. Maachuludani. dios mitológico I. Capilyali. 2. Cuwai. 3. Chamana iweesabaa. 4. Chamani. 5. Chawaliwali. 6. Chunisai. 7. Macabali. 8. Munuani. 9. Macuuchuiri. ("No tiene muslo") kuwáisàiɾi In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Yavitero Napiruľi Napiruľi In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Wayuu maľeiwa In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Paresi ˈenore ˈenore unknown In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Baure vekiyiti (god) vekijiri (god) unknown In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Cha'palaa ['dʸus]; [dʸus]-'apa From Span. 'Dios'; 'Dios-father'. See Language page
Bora Píívyéébéé (piívye 'origin'), Mécáánií (me 'our' caanii 'father'), Niimúhe no discernable etymology) Pʰííβjéépéé, Mékʰáánií, Niimúʔe unique; unknown In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Muinane mócaani ('our father=God'); mohéédeebe (traditional deity) mókaani ('God'); moʔéédeebe (traditional deity) In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Apalai ritonõpo 'Deus' ritonõpo 'Deus' unknown In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Wayana kujuli (mythic creator hero) kujuli (mythic creator hero) loan Arawak, e.g. Achagua kawijali In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Carijona rioso (SM) loan Spanish In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Makiritare wanādi (IDS) (Means "God") wana:di unknown In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Mapoyo maiwaka, kaato (for the men) maiwaka, kaato (for the men) In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Wai Wai kaan kaan inheritance In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Waimiri Atroari makonaiama (god) makonaiama (god) In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Yukpa Máipor 'God' Máipor 'God' In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Northern Emberá ãŋkõré ãŋkõré In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Epena 'tači a'kʰõre Lit. 'our.incl.father'. See Language page
Cofán chiga (god, sun) tʃiga (god, sun) phonemic transcriptions are ESTIMATIONS In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Candoshi-Shapra apaarich (derived from father?) apaaɾitʃ semantic shift from 'father' In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Páez itáqui (Sun) itaki In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Tikuna tu3pa3na5 (A58) tupana loan Tupi-Guarani In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Urarina kwaaʉn kwa:ʉn unknown In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Pumé ɔtɛ 'God' (IDS); Kumanyi 'Creatress, principal deity' (Lin97) In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Puinave dio dio loan Spanish In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Ashuar yus jus In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Huambisa yuus (Spanish loan) ju:s In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Aguaruna apa-hui apa-hui semantic shift father' In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Matses icbo ('lord', dueño) ikbo ('lord', dueño) unknown In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Yaminahua ɔtɛ In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Yagua judenu xũndenu unknown In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Piaroa büoka bɨõka unknown In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Sáliva llipehaidi 'creator' dʒipeʔaidi 'creator' unknown In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Carapana poca pɔka In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Tuyuka kõ'ãbãkɨ̃ kõʔãbãkɨ̃ In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Siona riusu (Spanis loan) riusu (Spanis loan) loan Spanish In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Secoya maija'quë maihaʔkɨ In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Karitiana motỹnh motɨ̃ɲ unknown In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Wayampi [nios] [nios] loan Spanish In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Aché Apã waču unique In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Chiriguano tũpa; ɲaⁿde-ǰara inheritance In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Paraguayan Guaraní ɲaⁿde-'ǰara; tupã In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Sirionó [dioso] [dioso] loan Spanish In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Ocaina bucoome, jonhtúúgoma, xámon bɯkoome, hõʔtɯ́ɯ́goma, xámõ unknown In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Murui Witoto Jusiñamuì (God, creator) husiɲamuì (God, creator, B83) unknown In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Iquito cumáani (also 'father's brother'); p'ɨ-caquíha (lit. our father 'God') kumáani (also 'father's brother'); p'ɨ-kakíha (lit. our father 'God') semantic shift In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Záparo p+atsaw pɨatsaw In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Wari jam (also 'spirit') (Sousa2009) jam (also 'spirit') (Sousa2009) In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Araona baba Some names of gods are: baba-zoto; baba-wotesa; baba-bizosa; baba ewo-o; baba-c̷aha doc̷i; c̷ekʷa-esi; c̷ekʷa mala. See Language page
Ese Ejja/Huarayo e-dosi-kiana (listed under "God") e-dosi-kiana (listed under "God") In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Cavineña yoso; e-duči (G71) (both mean "God"; yoso is from Spanish "Dios") yoso; e-duči (G71) loan; inheritance? Spanish In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Central Aymara dyusa (Spanish loan) pačamama; wakˀa In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Cayuvava ko'dapapa ~ o'dapapa In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Itonama dihnamu In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Kwazá arikwãjũ arikwãjũ In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Mosetén-Chimané 'hen Introduced term for translating the Bible. See Language page
Movima [dios] [dios] In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Trumai atua; atua.nui; hā atua; atua.nui; hā unknown In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Kaingang topẽ topɛ̃; ɛ̃ŋ-yɔŋ məŋ In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Karajá [deušu] From Port. 'Deus'. See Language page
Djeoromitxi hotõ, karopsihi hotõ, karopsihi In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Chipaya [yooš] From Span. 'Dios'. See Language page
Mocoví ḳo-taʔa Traditional name for Supreme Being. Cf. 'father' 02.350. See Language page
Pilagá Inyapoŋ nitin (~ nitiŋ) In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Toba wiya In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Lengua [Dios] From Span. 'Dios'. See Language page
Sanapaná/Dialect Angaité [Tyos]; eŋyaapam In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Sanapaná/Dialect Enlhet [rios]; iβo In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Wichí Lhamtés Güisnay n-ila-'tah; [lios] From Span. 'Dios'. See Language page
Chorote, Iyojwa'ja -- In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Maca intata, Dios In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Nivaclé fic̷ɔkˀɔyič In RN region, frequently translates as 'Bone-Son', 'One on the bone', etc. See Language page
Ayoreo Du'paa-deʔ Also oo du'paa-de ihiʔ, means 'to make yourself a god'. See Language page
Mapudungun ŋɨne-če-n Ranquel form is ŋɨnečen; pɨta wenṭ͡ʀu; vɨta čao. See Language page
Qawasqar arḳac̷ewe-ḳc̷es From Ag. Cf. 'sky' 01.510. Also Ag records yema-arkac̷ewe-c̷kes, cf. 'white man' yema. Bo records arka-kerc̷es. See Language page
Lokono G. Harliwanli, v. C. Haliwalika, Halwanli, R. Hariwalli, B. Awawanili, Arawidi powerful diety to whom inanimate things and irrational beings are subject DeGoeje 1928:199
Kariña tamusi tamusi grandpa; God Yamada 2010:808