Guaraní
/ˌɡwɑːrəˈniː/noun
A member of an Indigenous people of South America, their language, or the currency of Paraguay.
Did you know?Guaraní is one of Paraguay’s official languages and remains widely spoken in everyday life, making Paraguay exceptionally distinctive in the Americas.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Colonial Period
Guaraní
guaraní
“An Indigenous ethnonym; its precise original meaning is uncertain.”
16th Century
Spanish
guaraní
“Spanish colonial records used the term for an Indigenous people and their language in the Río de la Plata region.”
17th Century
Guaraní
avañe’ẽ
“The Guaraní name for the language, literally associated with the speech or language of the people.”
19th Century
Spanish
guaraní
“The term continued as the established name for the people and language of Paraguay and neighboring regions.”
1943
Spanish
guaraní
“Guaraní became the name of Paraguay’s national currency.”
Modern English
English
Guaraní
“An English loanword referring to the people, language, or Paraguayan currency.”