Guyana
/ɡaɪˈɑː.nə/noun
A country located on the northern coast of South America.
Did you know?The name 'Guyana' derives from the indigenous Arawakan word for 'water', reflecting the importance of its rivers in local mythology and life.
Etymological Timeline
Arawakan
Arawak
guayana
“Land of many waters.”
16th Century
Spanish
Guayana
“Used to describe the region including present-day Guyana.”
17th Century
English
Guyana
“Adopted from Spanish to denote the territory in South America.”
Modern English
English
Guyana
“Officially recognized name of the sovereign state as of independence in 1966.”