Taino words in Dominican Spanish

[Mirador]

Many of the words we currently use and assume are Taino in origin, were actually assimilated into the Taino language from other sources, like Nahuatl, Guaraní, Quecha, Arawak, Tupi, Maya, Aymara, Miskito, and others. Just like tourism flourishes now in the DR, before the Conquest the island of Hispaniola was a favorite travel destination for both South American, Central American, and even North American people. Many place names (rivers, mountains,...), plants, foodstufs, animals are derived from other Amerindian languages. (Remember, this island has always had sunny beaches, fun, maybe even sankies/sankiettes ;-) Also, the island was shared between different aboriginal groups, the Tainos, Macorís, Ciguayos, Caribes, with different customs, languages, and even physical traits.

I suspect the expression "pariguayo" is a shortened version of "parece-un-Ciguayo", which shortened in pronounciation to "paré-ciguayo", to "parí-guayo", to reflect a particular simpleton characteristic of the Ciguayos' personality.

In the South "maíz" (corn) is pronounced "mají" and plural "majise", which sounds closer to the Taino "maisi"

[Chirimoya]

My comments in italics:


Guagua = n: Bus or Car, a form of transit. I would have thought this was an omno-whatsit, you know, when the word derives from the sound associated the object, in this case a horn. Interesting that it is also the Quechua word for baby, probably for a similar reason.

Batata = n : Sweet Potato. I always thought this was Arabic but as potatoes came from this side of the globe it is also likely that the name originated here/ Whatever the origin, this is the derivation of the English word for potato.

Many of the other words have not just filtered into Dominican Spanish, they are internationally recognised words in Spanish everywhere, and are well-known in English and other languages for that matter.

Barbacoa = n : A Stand, a four legged stand, made of sticks, used in the cooking process of roasting meat. Origin of the English barbecue.

Canoa = n : Small Boat. Canoe.

Hamaca = n : Hanging Bed. Hammock.

Iguana = n : Large Green Lizard. Same in English.

Manati = n : Sea Cow. Also known as Manatee in English.

Sabana = n : Big Valle or Large Plain. English Savannah.

Tabacu = n : Tabacco. Tobacco.

The rest are definitely Dominican Spanish words, although some are well-known in other parts of the Spanish speaking greater Caribbean, like jaiba (Colombia), jibaro (PR) and arepa (Venezuela and Colombia). Aji for pepper is used as further afield as Ecuador, and tiburon is the standard Spanish word for shark.

This is fascinating. I've seen such lists at the Museo del hombre (sic) Dominicano and the Centro Leon, together with a list of African and archaic Spanish words in common use in the DR.

[NALs]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

My comments in italics:


Guagua = n: Bus or Car, a form of transit. I would have thought this was an omno-whatsit, you know, when the word derives from the sound associated the object, in this case a horn. Interesting that it is also the Quechua word for baby, probably for a similar reason.

Batata = n : Sweet Potato. I always thought this was Arabic but as potatoes came from this side of the globe it is also likely that the name originated here/ Whatever the origin, this is the derivation of the English word for potato.

Many of the other words have not just filtered into Dominican Spanish, they are internationally recognised words in Spanish everywhere, and are well-known in English and other languages for that matter.

Barbacoa = n : A Stand, a four legged stand, made of sticks, used in the cooking process of roasting meat. Origin of the English barbecue.

Canoa = n : Small Boat. Canoe.

Hamaca = n : Hanging Bed. Hammock.

Iguana = n : Large Green Lizard. Same in English.

Manati = n : Sea Cow. Also known as Manatee in English.

Sabana = n : Big Valle or Large Plain. English Savannah.

Tabacu = n : Tabacco. Tobacco.

The rest are definitely Dominican Spanish words, although some are well-known in other parts of the Spanish speaking greater Caribbean, like jaiba (Colombia), jibaro (PR) and arepa (Venezuela and Colombia). Aji for pepper is used as further afield as Ecuador, and tiburon is the standard Spanish word for shark.

This is fascinating. I've seen such lists at the Museo del hombre (sic) Dominicano and the Centro Leon, together with a list of African and archaic Spanish words in common use in the DR.

At the very least, let's leave Guagua as suspect.

The rest simply shows to the extent the Taino culture has reached international spheres, though much of the world knows nothing of them, let alone the origins of those words in English, from Spanish, from Taino, and as Mirador posted, from other native groups!

Wow, this thread is turning out nicer than I previously thought!

[carina]

Maní is taino.

One of the Gods, Jurakán, was perpetually angry and ruled the power of the hurricane and the evil. (alternative spelling: huracan )

[carina]

Wow, this thread is turning out nicer than I previously thought!

Indeed, an interesting topic!
Keep it coming, and a really good thought of you!

[andrea9k]

Just checked ají, taíno word. I must report its usage extends southern Ecuador. At least Perú and almost sure Chile (the southest country in South America) use this word for hot pepper.

Jess

[asopao]

Originally Posted by Nal0whs

The truth about the word "guagua" is that nobody truly knows where it came from.

More often than not, its included in Taino vocabularies because its similar to the multitude of Taino words, in other words, blends in very well.

However, guagua is also used in other Spanish speaking countries, but it has different meaning.

Perhaps, this is speculation here, the word was of Taino origin, quickly became part of the Spanish being used by the Conquistadors and they dispersed the word to other regions of the Americas, with time changing the meaning.

But, that is only speculation and one thing I don't like to do is speculate, but take it for what its worth.

In any case, I include it on this list because its often cited as a Taino word.

guagua is not Taino. guagua is a Guanche word, from the native people of the Canary Islands. It was brought over by the influx of Canarios that went to Cuba, DR and Puerto Rico during colonial times.

[carina]

And the most common is I think what you wrote above,

The term guagua is used in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea and Puerto Rico to refer to a city bus.
At the turn of the 20th century, the term referred to a horse-drawn wagon, and viajar de guagua meant `to ride for free.'
The same term is found in the Canary Islands, with identical meaning, and is used even in the most remote regions, on all seven islands.
Most analyses of Canary Spanish attribute this term to Cuban influence, brought back by returning islanders who had lived in Cuba.
The use of guagua in Equatorial Guinea (formerly Fernando Poo) has also been attributed to the Cuban exile and slave population which was sent to the island in the mid 1800's (González Echegaray 1959: 64).

The form, however, bears the characterstic shape of Guanche words, and the existence of this word among the Isleños of Louisiana, whose ancestors left the Canary Islands in the late 1700's, suggests the opposite route of transfer. The general absence of the word in the Spanish of Venezuela, where the Canary Island presence was also strong, adds to the confusion concerning the origins of guagua.

[Stodgord]

Originally Posted by Nal0whs

Mabi = n : A Fruit tree.

I thought this was the fermented drink made from the bohuco plant or palo indio. Also used in Puerto Rico to despict this beverage.

[NALs]

Originally Posted by Stodgord

I thought this was the fermented drink made from the bohuco plant or palo indio. Also used in Puerto Rico to despict this beverage.

That is the name for that drink as well.