Saramaka
/ˌsɑːrəˈmɑːkə/noun
A name for a Maroon people of Suriname and French Guiana, and for their English-lexified creole language.
Did you know?The Saramaka are one of Suriname’s Maroon peoples, communities formed by Africans who escaped Dutch plantation slavery and preserved distinct languages, traditions, and political identities.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-colonial period
Indigenous South American languages
Saramaka
“The ultimate Indigenous source and original meaning of the name remain uncertain; proposed explanations are not securely established.”
17th Century
Dutch colonial usage
Saramacca
“A Dutch spelling associated with the Saramacca River and the surrounding region of Suriname.”
18th Century
Saramaka
Saramaka
“A name used for a Maroon community that established autonomous settlements in Suriname’s interior.”
19th Century
Dutch and English sources
Saramacca / Saramaka
“Colonial and scholarly sources used varying spellings for the people, their river region, and their creole language.”
20th–21st Century
Saramaka / Saamaka
Saamaka
“A widely used contemporary self-designation, alongside Saramaka and Saramaccan in English-language writing.”
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