About Puerto Rico

Taíno Dictionary

*Words marked with asterisk are still used today in Puerto Rico

A

Agüeybana

One of the most important Caciques before the arrival of Juan Ponce de León whose name means “The Great Sun”.

Ara

People.

Areyto

A celebration consisting of telling a story accompanied by singing and dancing.

Atabey

Goddess of human fertility and fresh waters.

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B

Batey

Rectangular courts used for playing games and conflict resolution.

Batos

Ceremonial game played in the Batey using a solid rubber ball.

Borikén

Name given to Puerto Rico by the Taínos meaning “Land of the Valiant Lord”.

Bohío

Round shaped house.

Bohíque

Second highest social class in Taíno society reserved for priests and healers. Bohíques were advisors to the cacique.

Boria

Work.

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C

Cacique

Village chief and highest class within the Taíno society.

Cacica

Female tribal chief.

*Canoa

Canoe used for transportation.

Caona

Gold.

Casabe

A type of bread made out of yucca.

Cemí

Gods, spirits or ancestors. Also the name given to the physical representations, which were three-pointed sculptures.

Conuco

Name given to pieces of land dedicated to agriculture.

*Coquí

Tree frog native to Puerto Rico. The name comes from the sound it makes at night.

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D

Dujo

Throne or chair used only by the Cacique.

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G

Guanín

Gold medallion worn by the Cacique of each tribe denoting leadership.

*Guateque

Singing and dancing or to celebrate.

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H

*Higüera

The higüera fruit had many uses for the Taínos. When the fruit dries out, it becomes a hard shell and Taínos would make eating utensils, all sorts of containers such as bowls for drinking water, eating and storing food. Also used in the making of maracas.

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I

*Iguana

Lizard.

Igneri

Tribe of Arawak indians that inhabited Puerto Rico before the Taínos.

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J

Jamaca

Hammock used for sleeping or resting.

Juracán

God of chaos and disorder believed to cause mayhem through weather, particularly through hurricanes. The word for hurricane in Spanish huracán, is derived from the original Taíno term.

*Juey

Small mangrove-dwelling crab.

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K

*Kabuya

Rope.

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L

Lambi

Meaning conch, the snail on the inside was eaten and the shell was used in the confection of trumpet like instruments.

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M

Mabuya

Ghost or evil spirit.

*Macana

Wooden club.

*Maraca

Musical instrument composed of a round, hollowed out higüera shell filled with seeds and a stick for a handle used in religious rites and celebrations.

Magüey

Drum made out of hollowed out piece of wood.

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N

Naboria

Name used for the working class Taíno. Lowest of the social classes in Taíno society.

*Nagüa

Cotton skirt worn by married women.

Nitaíno

The second of the four Taíno social classes. Sub-chiefs and noblemen were considered nitaínos.

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P

*Piragua

Small canoe used for fishing.

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S

Sarobey

Term used when referring to cotton.

Sibucán

Small pouch made of palm tree filament used in the preparation of casabe bread.

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T

*Tereque

Name for the furniture that adorned the bohíos.

*Tiburón

Name used when referring to sharks.

Turey

Taíno word for the sky or heavens.

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U

Urayoán

Cacique who ordered the drowning of the Spanish soldier Diego Salcedo to prove if he was a god. Before this, Taínos believed the Spanish were immortal.

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Y

Yucayeque

Village.

Yukiyú

Also called Yocahú or Yucajú, Yukiyú was the primary god of the Taínos. The Taíno believed Yukiyú lived in the mountains of El Yunque tropical rain forest.

Yuké

Contrary to popular belief, the term yuké is actually the one responsible for El Yunque’s name. The term yuké, meaning white land, was used to describe the constant white rain clouds that surrounded the mountains and eventually evolved into Yunque.

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