Some Taino Language for Everyone!

Posted by David on October 16, 2008 at 2:05pm

View David's blog

Hello, Hola, Mabuwika, Tau!

I had previously posted this on the Language Group. I decided to post it here to reach more
people. I've been working on this paticular vocabulary for a few months now. I actually have it
on a blog at http://tainolanguage.blogspot.com
It actually looks nicer at this blog because it has the bold letters and italics, lol. Forgive me , but
I'm new at this blog stuff so I'm still learning how to get around.

I'd love to hear some feedback! And if you have any questions, feel free to ask...

A Taino Vocabulary

The following vocabulary is not an exhaustive linguistic study of the Tano language. I am not a
linguist (as of yet), but rather an aficionado and an enthusiast. The objective of this list is to take
a short step back into our ancestral consciousness and awaken those sweet words spoken by the
Tano. These words were used and many are still in use, in the vernacular Spanish of the Greater
Antilles and abroad. The greater part of Tano terms that were passed on over generations speak
of the flora and fauna of our environment, in addition to household items, food, place names,
personal names and a multitude of other miscellaneous words; some are even used with
idiomatic expressions in Caribbean Spanish! There are also occurrences where over time Tano
words have evolved to mean something other than its original meaning. For example, in some
parts of Kiskeya (Dominican Republic), children are referred to as kakona or derivatives of this
word. Hundreds of years ago Las Casas recorded the same word meaning objects; trinkets of
worth or something of value. Today, the word kayuko which is a type of small canoe has come to
refer to the trough used to hold food or water for animals because it looks just like a kayuko. In
Kiskeya the word kayuko is also the name of a cactus. In the spirit of linguists Manuel Alvarez
Nazario, Jos Juan Arrom, Douglas Taylor and Julian Granberry the following Tano words are
written with a clearer understanding of the orthographies in which they were documented. For
example, the letter /x/ in archaic Spanish was used to represent the /sh/ sound as in shoe or
shower. As late as the 15th century during the conquest of the Caribbean, Spanish chroniclers
documented native words as they heard them and used the /x/ to represent this sound- ax /a-shi/,
bixa /bi-sha/, komexn /ko-me-shen/ /, warionx /wa-ri-o-nesh/ or xaraw /sha-ra-wa/. Presently
these words are sounded with an aspirated /h/ when originally they were sounded as /sh/. So
today you will hear ah and komehn instead. Another spelling convention that is commonly
used in Spanish is /gua/. The use of /gua/ in words such as guaraguao, guab, higuaka, guatiao,
himagua and guare is actually a spelling system used by Spanish speakers to convey the /wa/
sound! So the words just mentioned above were actually heard as warawao, wab, hiwaka,
watiao, himawa and ware by Las Casas, Pan and other chroniclers. For Spanish speakers the
/wa/ sound can prove difficult to pronounce. Therefore in the 15th and 16th Century Spanish
chroniclers used /gua/ when writing Tano words to better approximate the /wa/ sound that they
heard. Father Raymond Breton, a 17th Century French missionary who learned to speak the
Karifuna language that was spoken in Witukubul (Dominica) recorded words that were similar
if not the same in Tano which included words that possess the /wa/ sound, for example: watiaon
our friend, walpana soursop and yawla species of palm in Karifuna all correspond to
watao, wanbana and yawa in Tano with the same meaning! But just dont take my word for it;
the above mentioned linguists have all written extensively on this. Comparative studies of other
related Arawakan languages such as Lokono, Karifuna (an Arawakan language of the Lesser
Antilles incorrectly labeled Island Carib) and Garifuna (modern Karifuna) akin to Tano, has
shed much light on the meaning of words and has enhanced our understanding of Tano
phonology. Karifuna was the language spoken by the present day Kalnago (also known as
Island Carib) of the Lesser Antilles. Another great resource that I recommend for information on
Karifuna and other Arawakan languages is a website by linguist K. Marie Josephs at
www.cariblanguage.org! At the end of this paper I will refer you to a number of voluminous
Tano Dictionaries complied by renowned authors such as Emiliano Tejera, Alfonso Zayas and
Luis Hernandez Aquino to name a few. I want to acknowledge Jos Boriwx Laboy a scholar
and mentor whose insightful and profound knowledge of Tano has always inspired me.

Notes:

Related vocabulary in other Arawakan languages will be given at times to show the similarities
with Tano.
Occasionally I will give the Latin name of the Flora and Fauna after the word. You can use the
Latin name to search the internet and possibly view a photo and get background information on a
particular species.
In some instances Tano words will have an accent mark placed over the vowel that is stressed.
For example in the word Tano /ta-i-no/- emphasis or stress of the word will fall on the second
syllable of the word; and Borikn /bo-ri-ken/ Puerto Rico- emphasis or stress of the word will
fall on the last syllable.
The vowels are pronounced as you would in Spanish and the consonants as in English except
for /d/, /r/ and /x/. The letter /d/ has a softer sound as used in Spanish. The /r/ is slightly rolled as
in Spanish and the /x/ is sounded as /sh/ as in the words shoe or shower.
The cedilla // is a letter that was used in archaic Spanish and still used in some French words
to represent the /ts/ sound. To make this sound you start with /t/ and then follow immediately
with /s/.
The letter /h/ is aspirated as in the English word house.
When the letter /n/ comes at the end of a word, the vowel preceding the /n/ is nasalized.

PARTS OF THE BODY

In most Arawakan languages including Tano the names of body parts are always spoken with a
possessive pronoun, for example dako /da-ko/ eyes; literally my eyes. Some other nouns as
well are spoken with a possessive pronoun and not independently. In this list some words are
written with a hyphen in front or at the end indicating that this is a root and is not usually said
without a prefix or an affix attached.

-ako: eye(s); In Karifuna ku, Garifuna -gu and Lokono akssi eye(s).
Xeti kako: black, dark colored eyes; xeti black + ka- attributive, having + -ako eye(s)
Buti kako: blue, light colored eyes; buti blue + ka- attributive, having + -ako eye(s)
-ahi-: tooth, teeth
Mahite: toothless; literally meaning without teeth; ma- without + -ahi- tooth + -te noun-
designator
-arima: anus, buttocks; end; In Karifuna rima with the same meaning.
im: means the front or face of something; e.g. Kayim the beginning of or front of the
Island; kayo island + im front; beginning; face of.

SOME ISLAND NAMES

Adamanai, adamanei: The Island of Saona; located southeast of the Dominican Republic.
Amona: Island presently named Mona; a territory of Puerto Rico; located off the Western coast
between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. In Tano, mona means land
Ay-ay: Island of St. Croix.
Bieke: Vieques
Bimin: a small island north of kuba and east of the Florida peninsula; according to Granberry
bimini means twins.
Boho: name of the entire island shared by Hait and the Dominican Republic; boho means
house or home.
Borikn: Puerto Rico
Kiskeya: name that still refers to the Dominican Republic; According to Julian Granberry this
word does not follow Tano phonology, but rather is related more to the Tol language of Central
America.
Kuba: Cuba; According to Jos Juan Arrom da-kuban my field in Lokono contains the word a-
koba, a-kuba and u-kuba all meaning field, ground. The initial vowel a- or u- is not part of the
root word but a prefix that denotes the general character of the word. In Tano Kuba signifies
land; homeland or province; In Lokono Kuba can mean plot or tract of land or territory.
Witukubul: Dominica; this is a Karifuna word meaning Tall Is Her Body.
Wanahan: the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas; Stress falls on the last syllable of the
word Las Casas.
Xamaika: Jamaica

FLORA

Anakawita: /petiveria apetala / Panama tree

Anam: garlic weed, congo root
Ara: tree, wood; In Lokono ada means tree
Auyama: pumpkin
Ax, ah: capsicum, red pepper; today it is pronounced with an aspirated /h/, ah /a-hi/
Ayraka: reeds, rush
Hikako: coco plum; In Karifuna ikku.
Hobo: /spondias mombin L/; In Karifuna bu and in Lokono hbo with the same meaning.
Kouba: name referring to the outer covering of a kernel of the corn.
Man: peanut; In Karifuna Mnli.
Papaya: papaya; In Karifuna abbai and in Lokono papaya.
Tabonko: resinous tree; the substance or resin that exudes from this tree is also called tabonuko;
it was used to repair damages on canoes and as incense; today it is still used as incense as well as
in ceremonies.
Tusa: the cob of the corn.
Wahana: the top part or crown of a corn-stalk.
Wanbana: soursop; In Karifuna walpana and in Lokono warafana with the same meaning.
Wayaba: guava
Xawa: /Sha-wa//Genipa americana/ a tree that can grow up to a height of sixty feet whose fruit,
with the same name, is used to make a refreshing drink popularly called mab de jagua; The sap
from the tree produces a black dye that can be used to tint cloth; it was also commonly used for
body painting. In Witukubul (Dominica), Father Raymond Breton recorded the same word in
Karifuna, written in 17th century French as Chaoa pronounced Shwa. Today in the Greater
Antilles it is pronounced with an aspirated /h/, hagua.
Yawa: a native Caribbean palm tree also known in Spanish as palma real; In Karifuna yawla
and Lokono awra with the same meaning.

GEOGRAPHY, SURROUNDING ENVIORNMENT AND WEATHER

Arabuko: forest, woodland; According to Julian Granberry the suffix -buko means a large area
of land. The word for tree in Tano is ara; you can see the same word for tree in Karifuna arbu
forest, as well as, in Lokono ada tree.
Babiny: a murky or muddy lagoon.
Baguada: a storm or bad weather coming in from the sea; this word can still be heard today. It is
still in use by the older generation. Baguada is composed of the Tano word bawa meaning sea
with the Spanish suffix ending da.
Bawa, bahawa: sea; In Karifuna barwa with the same meaning.
abana: savannah; Stress falls on the second syllable Las Casas.
iba: rock, stone
ibanko: rough-uneven rocky land.
Hobin: copper; any type of reddish metallic.
Hurakn: hurricane
Kamy: sun
Kaona: gold
Karaya: moon
Kaya: Island; In Karifuna akera and in Lokono kari with the same meaning.
Kayo: a very small Island; islet.
Konuko: cultivated fields; In Arawak knnuku forest.
Maniwa: heavily forested area covered in shrubs, behuko vines and underbrush.
Maw: fertile lowland; Stress given to the last syllable of the word -Las Casas.
Mawna: small fertile lowland; According to Las Casas the addition of the suffix na to maw
fertile lowland acts as a diminutive, indicating that something is small or smaller- mawna.
Mona: land
Sao: land that is generally covered in lots of thicket and underbrush.
Tabuko: land covered mostly in thicket and underbrush.
Tibe: hard and smooth river rock; these rocks have been used by locals to sharpen their
machetes.
Tury: sky
Wad: garden
Xara: /sha-ra/ according to Granberry, this word means lake.
Xawy: a natural sink-hole found amongst coastal rocks where deposits of fresh water collect;
the word is also associated with caves and grottos. Breton recorded the same word in Karifuna
written in 17th century French as Chaoai pronounced Shaway. Today it is pronounced with an
aspirated /h/, hagey.

SOME GRAMMAR POINTS

-abon, -abo: current; river; The indigenous name of many rivers end in this suffix. E.g. usabn a
good river; Usabn is the name of a river that flows through Aibonito and Barranquitas, Puerto
Rico; In Lokono the root san means good.
-abo: a suffix indicating an abundance of something; For example, if there was a hill with some
Hobo trees it would be called Hobabo place of many Hobos; Mayabo place of many Mayas;
Maya is the name of a plant.
-ao: suffix indicating an abundance of e.g. Kaonao Place where there is an abundance of gold.
Kaona means gold in Tano.
-buko: large area of land; e.g. arabuko= ara tree(s) + -buko means forest, woodland.
Da-: I; my; mine
Daka: I am
Datiao: my friend; da- my + -tiao friend
-el: son of; e.g. yayael son of yaya
ka-: an attributive prefix meaning to have; with.
Nakn: middle (of a place); In Lokono anaka or anakan; both mean in the middle or in the
center.
Watiao: our friend; wa- our + -tiao friend.
Waib: /wa- we + -ib go/ Let us leave, lets go; in karifuna wiba with the exact same
meaning!

CURRENT NAMES FOR BIRDS

Maubeka: /parra colodris/ American Golden plover

Gincho: (gween-cho) /falco carolinense/American Osprey
Hu: (hwee) /myarchus antillarum/ Antilliean Stolid Flycatcher
Kereket, kerekek: /chordeiles minor vicinus/ Bahaman Common Nighthawk; a migratory bird
that dwells in Puerto Rico April thru September; It is eight inches in length and feeds on insects
at sunset. It is also known in Spanish as gaspayo or capacho.
Yaboa, guanab: Black crowned Night Heron
Kolibr, sunsn: Hummingbird
Hiwaka: /Amazona vittata/ Parrot
Biahan: /columba passerine/ Common Ground Dove; One of the smaller species of doves in the
Greater Antilles, being six to seven inches in length with dark brown feathers. It is also known in
Spanish as rola or rolita.
Watibir, pitirre: /tyrannus dominicensis/ Grey Kingbird
Mkaro, taiba: Owl; Fray Ramn Pan recorded the descriptive name of a em named baibrama
which contains the root word aiba- . According to Jos Juan Arrom -aiba- is a word related to
the Tup meaning bad. Taiba is one of the names given to the owl.
Warawao: Red-tailed Hawk
Wanana: /chen atlantica/ Snow Goose; The wanana is a migratory- marine bird that visits Puerto
Rico during the winter months. It is also known in Spanish as ganso blanco.
Kao: Species of Crow
Kura: /phalacrocorax olivaceus/ Cormorant
Bihirita: /dendroica Adelaide/ species of Warbler
Wanaho: Turkey
Yaguasa: /deudrocygna arboreas/ West Indian Great Blue Heron; originally this word was most
likely pronounced as yawasa.
Inrir: /melanerpes portoricensis/ woodpecker
Chirira: West Indian tree duck
Tigua: /colymbus dominicus dominicus/ West Indian Least Grebe; an aquatic bird; eight to
fifteen inches in length that resides in fresh water lagoons; originally this word was most likely
pronounced as tiwa.

FAUNA

Aon: /a-on/ dog

Burukena: /Epilabocera cubensis; Erphia gonagra/ fresh water crab that is dark brown almost
black in color. They are abundant in ravines and rivers. It is edible, but not as appealing as the
huey.
Gimo: /gwee-mo/ a rodent; guinea pig
Hikotea: /pseudemys palustris; decorata/ edible fresh water turtle whose size varies, averaging
thirty centimeters.
Huey: /hwey/ /Cardiosoma guanhumi/ edible land crab; they are also found in mangroves. There
is another species of huey called huey ciguatero /gecarcinus lateralis/ that is poisonous.
Iwana: iguana; In Karifuna iwna.
Kahaya: /carcharias glaucus/ a species of shark
Kaimn: crocodile
Kakata: species of poisonous spider.
Kakoneta: a species of shark in which a variety are found in the waters of Puerto Rico.
Kakuse, kaky: names given to the firefly in the small town of Duey in San German, Puerto
Rico.
Kary: /chelonia imbricate/ species of sea turtle; the shell of the kary has been used as a
household item and in the past used in adornments and to make combs, etc.; its eggs are highly
esteemed for food; they are now a protected species.
Katuan, katua: land turtle
Kawama: /chelonia caretta/ a species of sea turtle; its shell is less durable than that of the Kary:
(another species of sea turtle) and in the recent past its eggs were more esteemed than its meat; In
Kalina (mainland Carib) Kahuame, with the same meaning; they are now a protected species.
Kokola: /callinectes sp. / species of salt water crab, blue in color.
Kokuyo, kukuyo: /pyrophorus luminosus/ a species of firefly; In Karifuna kguyu.
Kor, kur, kuriel: mouse; In Karifuna kli and in Lokono kri; both with the same meaning.
Kuiko: name given to the gimo, a rodent; guinea pig, in the North West region of Puerto Rico
kukubano: /pyrophorus noctilicus/ a species of firefly
Kus: species of edible worm
Nimita: name used in Kiskeya to refer to a smaller species of firefly; when seen at night it is said
that they are the eyes of children that have passed on.
Siwa: sea snail; In Karifuna shwa.
Tiburn: /Carcharias glaucus/ another more commonly used name for the shark .
Tinapa: sardines; this word is still used today; it is of Carib origin.
Tonna: dolphin; this word was recorded off the lips of Puerto Rican fisherman in the late 1980s
early 90s.
Wab: /phrynus palmatus/ spider that closely resembles the tarantula whose bite is very painful;
today it is pronounced guab.
Wahino: the runt of a litter of piglets; today it is pronounced as guahino.
Xexn: /culicoides furens/ gnat; small mosquito; abundant on coastal beaches; today it is
pronounced with an aspirated /h/ hehn.

MISCELLEANEOUS

Areto: dance, song; Songs and poetry recited in memory of ancestors and recalling creation
myths; an areto also celebrated births, marriages and coming of age. According to Las Casas,
when pronouncing the word, emphasis falls on the letter .
Arike: mooring cord made from yawa palm.
Baira: the name for the bow used to shoot arrows.
Batea: manioc trough; deep tray used for various purposes; the batea is still made in Kiskeya; In
Karifuna batya with the same meaning.
Baty: the central plaza in a town or any open ground that is in front or in back of ones house.
The baty was also used to play a native Caribbean sport using a rubber ball. This sport is being
played by various groups in Kiskeya Dominican Republic, who would like to see the revival of
the game.
Behike: doctor, shaman
Behuko: vine; there are numerous species of behuko that can be used for medicinal purposes; the
fruit of some behuko can be dried out and made into an instrument called a guiro /gwee-ro/.
Butaka: rocking chair
Dita: cup, dish or dipper made from dried calabash cut in half; In Karifuna rita with the same
meaning.
Duho: ceremonial seat
Hamaka: hammock
Kanari: a bowl, pot or vase made of clay.
Kanoa: canoe; In Karifuna kawna and Lokono Kanoa; all with the same meaning.
Karakuri: a piece of jewelry made of gold used to adorn the nose; nose-ring.
Kayuko: a small-one person canoe; Today kayuko has also come to mean the trough used to hold
food or water for animals. One can see how this word has by extension been applied to a trough
that is a long, narrow hollow, open container resembling a small canoe.
Kotisa: flip flops
Kutara, Kotara: sandals; also recorded as gutara by Oviedo (page 527, Tomo I); this word is
composed of Lokono kuti foot + -ara bark; skin.
Makuto: a sleeve-like woven basket with an opening on top; some having lids
Maraka: gourd rattle; In Garifuna maraga.
Matuko: a rustic stick that serves as a cane.
Nahe: a paddle; In Karifuna nhene and in Lokono nahlle with the same meaning.
Nawa : womans loin cloth; In Guajiro (an Arawak language) nawa has the same meaning.
Tawawa: earrings
Tbana: this word has multiple meanings: feather; liver; house; the root of this word is bana
and bana. It is a common suffix in many Arawakan languages and can be heard in the
Caribbean names for trees and fruits such as kbana, kohbana and wanbana.
Tbano: cigar
Ture: a low lying chair; a stool
Wairo: a craft or boat with a sail, sailboat; this word was in common use in the 19th Century
pronounced also as guairo. Today it is in disuse.
Wann: a medallion made from low grade gold consisting of an alloy of gold, silver and copper;
it was recognized by its copper scent.
Wayo: a grater; today it is pronounced guayo; it is also used as the verb guayar to grate.
Wita: string, twine; today it is pronounced guita.
Yari: necklace, jewelry; In Karifuna yari and in Lokono -ydi .
Yukayke: town; village

NUMBERS

Heket: one; Stress falls on the last syllable of the word Las Casas
Yamok: two; Stress falls on the last syllable of the word Las Casas
Kanokm: three; Stress falls on the last syllable of the word Las Casas
Yamonkbre: four; Stress falls on the second to last syllable of the word -Las Casas

WORDS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Borikua: This Tano word is commonly used by many Puerto Ricans to refer to themselves;
someone whose ancestry is from Puerto Rico; In a document dated 1518 the name Buriqua
appears for a women whose other given name was Isabelica, whom under the leadership of a
local leader named Kawax was one of many that labored on plantations overseen by Spaniards.
Garata: a brawl
Himawa: one of two words that refers to twins; today it is pronounced himagua.
Hohoto: insipid, rotten or hardened; used in reference to fruits and tubers; by extension can also
mean rundown or useless when applied to a person.
Kakona: trinkets; objects of some worth to the individual such as beads, shell necklaces, stone
art, etcToday kakona is used in some parts of kiskeya to refer to ones children.
Sanako: dumb; stupid
Sanano: dumb; stupid; a gullible person.
Soko: short posts that hold up the floor of the house.
Soroko: a person who is missing an arm or part of an arm.
Soruka: an argument that turns into a fight.
Susubano: a condition of frailty or feebleness in an individual caused by any illness; symptoms
include sluggishness and weakness in the limbs.
Tereke: any object or household item that is of little value; rendered valueless.
Motete: a pile of clothes or belongings.
Ware: word that refers to twins; today it is pronounced guare.
Wareto: refers to fruits that grow attached or conjoined to each other; today people usually say,
Oh, look at those fruits, they are guareto!
Wayuko: originally referred to a mans loincloth; today the word is used to refer to a worn pair
of pants used mostly for farm work; presently it is pronounced guayuko.
Wanime: rolled cornmeal tapered at both ends, 4 to 5 inches in length and 1 to 1 1/8 diameter in
thickness; it is wrapped in banana leaves folded at both ends and tied with cotton string; boiled in
salted water.

RESOURCES

Arrom, Jos Juan

2000 Estudios de Lexicologa Antillana. Segunda Edicin, Universidad de Puerto Rico.

Granberry, Julian and Vescelius, Gary S.

2004 Languages of the Pre-Columbian Antilles. The University of Alabama Press Tuscaloosa,
Alabama.

Hernandez Aquino, Luis

1993 Diccionario de Voces Indgenas de Puerto Rico. 3rd ed. Editorial Cultural, Ro Piedras.

Nazario, Manuel Alvarez

1996 Arqueologa Lingistica: Estudios modernos dirigidos al rescate y reconstruccin del
arahuaco tano. Universidad de Puerto Rico.

Rat, J. N.
1898 The Carib Language as Now Spoken in Dominica, West Indies. Journal of the
Anthropological Institute of Great Britian and Ireland 27:293-315.

Tejera, Emiliano
1977 Indigenismos. 2 vols. Editora de Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo

Taylor, Douglas M.
1969 A Preliminary View of Arawak Phonology. International Journal of American Linguistics
35:234-238.
1977 Languages of the West Indies. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

Zayas, Alfredo y Alfonso

1931 Lexicografa Antillana: Diccionario de voces usadas por los Aborigenes de las Antillas
mayores y algunas de las Menores y consideraciones acerca de su significado y de su formacin.
Segunda Edicin, Tomo II, Habana.
Share

Share

6 Comments

waribo taino Comment by waribo taino on October 19, 2008 at 5:15pm

wow i would love to learn
waribo taino Comment by waribo taino on October 19, 2008 at 5:16pm
wowi would love to learn any tutors
tainoray Comment by tainoray on October 20, 2008 at 9:38am
Mi Pana Guatiao

Nanu just used the word "menjunje" when she said

"As for the blood mixes, in PR at least, I have no doubt that we are mixed. The Spanish,
under fifedom rule, made sure that they had the first night of a pairing and took the
children to raise them "properly" if the appearance was white. Besides having the
freedom to "take" any female they wanted. Add the pairings that occurred by choice and
you have a nice little menjunje"

Is that like sanchocho ?

David Comment by David on October 20, 2008 at 6:56pm
Hola,

The word "menjunje" could describe a Sancocho. It actually means a combination or

mixture of anything. It can refer to clothes, objects, people, food etc...

This word is most likely of Spanish origin, but has been "creolized" by us in the
Caribbean.
David Comment by David on October 20, 2008 at 7:02pm
Hola Waribo,

As far as I know, there aren't any Taino language classes being conducted at the moment.
As for personal tutors, I haven't met any.
Ayesart Comment by Ayesart on October 25, 2008 at 5:47pm
Hi David:

There is one word that is mysterious, its not a Taino word but a Guanahuatabey word"

Jagua

Any think in the book as far as a definition? Ayes