AraucanĂa
/aÉžaukaËnia/noun
A region of south-central Chile historically associated with the Mapuche people.
Did you know?The name is connected to Arauco and Araucano, but the ultimate Mapudungun origin is disputed; a popular proposal links Arauco with ragko, âclayey water.â
Etymological Timeline
Pre-16th Century
Mapudungun
Possible *ragko
âOften proposed as a source of Arauco, possibly meaning âclayey waterâ; this derivation remains uncertain.â
16th Century
Spanish
Arauco
âThe name used by Spanish colonists for a territory and people in south-central Chile.â
16th Century
Spanish
araucanos
âSpanish plural referring to the Indigenous people whom the colonists encountered in the Arauco region.â
17th Century
Spanish
AraucanĂa
âA geographical name formed from Araucano, designating the broader Mapuche-held region.â
Modern English
English
AraucanĂa
âA historical and geographical name for south-central Chile, especially the region associated with the Mapuche.â
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