Spanish Words of Guarani Origin

Quick Answer

In this article, we’ll discuss Spanish words of Guarani origin, such as tucán(tucan) and pororó(popcorn).

Questions This Article Answers

What is guaraní?

Where is Guarani spoken?

Examples of Spanish words of Guarani origin?

popcorn

Guarani Influence on Spanish

Guaraní(Guarani) is a lengua tupí-guaraní(Tupi-Guarani language) currently spoken primarily in Paraguay(Paraguay) and parts of Argentina(Argentina), Bolivia(Bolivia), and Brasil(Brazil). It is an official language in Paraguay, Bolivia, and the Corrientes(Corrientes) province in Argentina.

Guarani has been in contact with Spanish since the arrival of the españoles(Spaniards) in the 16th century. Many of the words that made their way into Spanish from Guarani are related to flora and fauna.

Adaptations, Calques, and Loanwords

A linguistic adaptación(adaptation) is a word or phrase taken from another language but adapted to the target language for phonologic, lexical, or syntactic reasons. For example, breeze is an adaptation of the Spanish word brisa.

A calco(calque) is a word or phrase translated literally into another language. For example, roadrunner is a calque of the Spanish word correcaminos (correr: to run + caminos: roads).

A préstamo lingüístico(loanword) is a word or phrase taken from another language and used in its original form. For example, patio is a loanword taken from Spanish.

Spanish Words of Guarani Origin

The following words are guaranismos(words of Guarani origin adapted to Spanish).

Guarani	Spanish	English
abá guariní	guaraní	Guarani
aka'iu (1)	cajú	cashew
ana-i	Anahí	Anahi
caba atí	camoatí	camoati wasp
chahã	chajá	Southern screamer
chipa	chipá	corn cake
guara-ná	guaraná	guarana
jakare	yacaré	jacare caiman
jarara	yarará	lancehead
ka’i	cay, caí	gracile capuchin monkey
kapi’yva (1)	capibara, carpincho	capybara
karaku	caracú	bone marrow
katinga	catinga	funk
kua'ti	coatí	coati
macang	macá	grebe
mandiog	mandioca	cassava
maraka’nã	maracaná	macaw
mbaracá	maraca	maraca
mbaraka’ya (1)	maracayá	ocelot
naná	ananá, ananás	pineapple
ngiri	gurí	kid
paka	paca	paca
para gua y	Paraguay	Paraguay
paranã	Paraná	Paraná river
sapukái	sapucai, sapucay	exclamation of joy
tapira (1)	tapir	tapir
tatu	tatú	armadillo
tukã	tucán	toucan
tupi	tupí	Tupi
umbú	ombú	ombu
uru gua y	Uruguay	Uruguay
urubu	urubú	buzzard
yacarandá	jacarandá	jacaranda
yaguará (1)	yaguareté	jaguar
yataí	yatay	yatay palm
ygûasu	Iguazú	Iguazu

1. Of Tupi origin. Iguazú Falls

examples
En el zoológico vimos tucanes y capibaras. We saw tucans and capybaras at the zoo.
Viajé a Paraguay con Anahí. I traveled to Paraguay with Anahi.
Plantaron jacarandás y ombúes. They planted jacarandas and ombus.

Tucan

Guarani Loanwords in Spanish

The following list shows Guarani préstamos lingüísticos(loanwords) used in Spanish.

aguará	maned wolf
avatí	corn
caburé	pygmy owl
caráu	limpkin
carayá	howler monkey
manguruyú	gilded catfish
ñandú	rhea
pororó	popcorn
sariama	seriema
surubí	catfish
tacurú	termite or ant mound
tapera	dilapidated house
tereré	iced maté beverage
yaguané	skunk
yapú	crested oropendola

examples
Los ñandúes están bebiendo agua. The rheas are drinking water.
¡El pororó está listo! Veamos la película. The popcorn is ready! Let's watch the movie.
Se refugiaron de la lluvia en una tapera. They took shelter from the rain in a dilapidated house.