Araucano
/aɾau̯ˈkano/noun
A Spanish term historically referring to the Indigenous people and culture of south-central Chile, especially the Mapuche.
Did you know?Araucano is an exonym—an outside name—while many people historically labeled Araucanos identify more specifically as Mapuche; the original place-name’s exact derivation remains debated.
Etymological Timeline
Precolonial period
Mapudungun
ragko (proposed)
“A proposed source meaning “clayey water” or “muddy water”; the derivation is not certain.”
16th Century
Spanish
Arauco
“Spanish name for the region and its Indigenous inhabitants in south-central Chile.”
16th Century
Spanish
araucano
“An adjective or noun meaning belonging to, or a person from, Arauco.”
18th Century
Spanish
araucano
“A historical ethnonym used for the Mapuche people, especially in colonial and scholarly writing.”
18th–19th Century
English
Araucanian
“An English form used for the people, language, or region associated with Arauco.”
Modern Spanish
Spanish
araucano
“A historical or regional term, often replaced by the more specific name Mapuche.”
Explore more surprising origins