AUDAZ REVISTA
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Seven Latin American traditions kept their indigenous names. Five of those words are missing from the 50,000 commonest Spanish word forms.
01 / 09
895
Spanish terms Wiktionary lists from six indigenous languages of the Americas. Nahuatl gives the most, with 407.
Arabic alone gives 922. Counts pulled 17 September 2026, place names included.
02 / 09
tianguis
A Mexican street market that sets up on a fixed day of the week. From the Nahuatl tianquiztli.
One form for both numbers: el tianguis, los tianguis. Never tianguises.
03 / 09
temazcal
A traditional Mesoamerican steam bath. The Nahuatl source joins the words for pouring water and house.
Mexico's dictionary also accepts the spelling temascal.
04 / 09
barbacoa
It began as a Taíno frame of sticks. In Mexico it now means mutton or goat cooked in a heated pit.
A Spaniard means a garden grill. Same word, different lunch.
05 / 09
pachamanca
Meat roasted between hot stones in Ecuador and Peru. The sources split on its roots, Quechua or Aymara.
Both agree that pacha means earth.
06 / 09
minga
Neighbours working together for free. From the Quechua mink'a.
A separate RAE entry marked vulgar means penis. Use it only in a sentence plainly about shared work.
07 / 09
mate
Argentina's national infusion under Ley 26.871. The RAE traces the word to the Quechua mati, little gourd.
Mexico's own dictionary lists only matte and checkmate. No drink.
08 / 09
tereré
Yerba mate with cold water and crushed Pohã Ñana herbs. UNESCO inscribed the Paraguayan practice in 2020.
The word comes from Guaraní.
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Learn the place
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Check the regional label in the dictionary before you use it elsewhere.
Tap through for all seven words, the subtitle ranks and the full method.