Cemí
/seˈmiː/noun
A sacred spirit, deity, or ritual object among the Taíno peoples of the Caribbean.
Did you know?Spanish chroniclers reported that Taíno cemís could represent ancestors, natural forces, or deities and were consulted in rituals involving prophecy and healing.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Columbian Caribbean
Taíno
cemí
“A sacred spirit, supernatural being, or material embodiment of spiritual power”
1490s
Taíno
cemí
“A sacred figure or object encountered and recorded during Spanish contact with Hispaniola”
16th Century
Spanish
cemí / zemí
“An idol or image worshiped by Indigenous Caribbean peoples”
17th–19th Centuries
Spanish and English
cemi / zemí
“A Taíno religious image, spirit, or ritual object discussed in colonial and scholarly writings”
Modern English
English
cemí
“A sacred Taíno spirit or ritual representation”