English
Maya
Maya comes from Spanish maya ‘Mayan (from Maya)’, and goes back to Yucatec Maya mayab ‘flat’.
- Yucatec Mayamodernmayab‘flat’
- Spanishc. 1500–presentmaya‘Mayan (from Maya)’
- EnglishtodayMaya
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Yucatec Mayamodernmayab‘flat’
- Spanishc. 1500–presentmaya‘Mayan (from Maya)’
- EnglishtodayMaya
Every English word from Yucatec Maya mayab
Another origin of Maya
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*méh₂tēr‘mother’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEμήτηρmḗtēr‘mother’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEΜαῖαMaîa
- EnglishtodayMaya
Today it means
noun A member or descendant of various peoples: a flourishing Mesoamerican civilization that existed in and around Guatemala from the 3rd century to the 9th century.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Yucatec Maya mayab / Maya