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The taínos were the biggest tribe of native people living in the Caribbean before the
Spanish came. The taínos had their own language.
Many words in Spanish and in English actually come from taíno words. This is a good
example of how the taínos have affected our lives today.
Algunas palabras taínas
The taínos were handy with wood, and expert seamen.
They used the
majestic ceiba tree to make their kanawas.
That’s the origin of the
Spanish word
canoa…
…and of the English word
canoe.
canoe.
la canoa…
The taínos were skillful weavers.
They used cotton to make fishing nets and hanging beds…
hamacas
That’s the origin of the Spanish word hamaca
…and of the English word hammock
hammock
hamaca
The taíno religion had many gods or cemíes.
One cemí controlled strong, destructive winds.
He was called Juracán.
That’s the origin of the Spanish word
huracán…
…and of the English word
hurricane
hurricane
huracán…
The taínos used the fruit of the higüera tree to
make a rattle-like musical
instrument.
They called them maracas. That’s the origin of the Spanish and English word,
maracas.
They used a hollowed out squash to make a special percussion instrument. The taíno
name for the instrument is now an English and a Spanish word...
el güiro
The taínos hunted a large gray sea mammal they
called…
manatí.
That’s the origin of the English word
manatee…
…and the Spanish word, manatí.
Las islas del caribe had many reptiles including one the taínos called… iguana
That’s the origin of the Spanish and English word,
iguana
The taínos also harvested fruits and vegetables that at the time were unknown in Europe. The words they used for these fruits and vegetables also became part of the Spanish and English
languages. For example:
maíz
Spanish/ taíno English
maize / corn
la papaya
Spanish/ taíno English
papaya
Another important taíno crop was a leaf that they would chew or smoke, often as
part of their religious ceremonies.…
Spanish/ taíno English
tabaco tobacco
Preguntas de discusión
• Can you remember some of the taíno words that became Spanish words and then English words?
• Why do you think these taíno words survived and others did not?
James D. FernándezKing Juan Carlos I of Spain Center
New York University2002
Developed with support from the Coca-Cola Foundationand an anonymous foundation.
Fin.
