Yucatec
/ˈjuː.kə.tɛk/noun
Relating to Yucatán or to the Yucatec Maya language and people.
Did you know?The popular story that Yucatán means “I do not understand” in Maya is probably folklore; the name’s true pre-Hispanic origin remains uncertain.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Columbian period
Maya
[uncertain]
“The original Indigenous name or phrase behind Yucatán is not securely identified.”
16th Century
Spanish
Yucatán
“Spanish colonial form used for the peninsula; its precise source is disputed.”
16th–17th Century
Spanish
yucateco
“An adjective or noun meaning of Yucatán, especially referring to its people.”
19th Century
English
Yucatec
“An English form referring particularly to the Yucatec Maya people or their language.”
Modern English
English
Yucatec
“Relating to Yucatán, or specifically to the Yucatec Maya language and culture.”