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/nava

1ictionary
&
cPhrasebook

M aya-E n g l is h

E n g l is h - M aya

John M ontgom
D ic tio n a r y & P h r a se b o o k s

Albanian Lao Romanized


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MAYA-EN GLISH
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New York
Overview of Maya Grammar 23
S entence S tructure 23
V erb F orm s 24
INTRODUCTION
Aspect 24
Pronominal Affixes 25
Set A 25
Set B 26
Set C 27
Incompletive Intransitives 27
Incompletive Transitives 30 W h e n I lecture on Maya culture and Pre
Completive Intransitives 32 columbian civilization someone almost always
Completive lYansitives 34 asks m e what happened to the Maya people.
Subjunctive Verbs 36 There seems to be a notion among segments of
Passive Verbs 37 the public that when the civilization vanished, so
Irregular Verbs 37 did the Maya, erased along with their lost world
Auxiliaries 38 of jungle-shrouded pyramids.
Stative Verbs 40 N othing could be farther from the truth.
Have Verbs 41 Approximately ten million Native Americans still
N oun P h rases 41 speak Mayan, one of the largest continuous blocks
Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases 42 of indigenous people on the American continents.
Plurals 43 Some thirty to thirty-four separate versions of
Demonstratives 43 Mayan are still spoken over large areas of Mexico,
Possessives 44 including the modern states of Chiapas, Tabasco,
Re q uests 45 Vera Cruz, Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatn.
Q u e s t io n s 45 Mayan is also spoken in the Central American
P h rase M arkers 46 countries of Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras.
D is c o u r s e M arkers 46 The present dictionary and phrasebook offer
Q u a n t if ie r s 47 a selection of the m ost com m on words and
N u m e r ic a l C l a s sifie r s 47 useful phrases in what linguists generally call
Yucatec Maya, probably the largest group of
Maya-English Dictionary 49 Mayan speakers. The book also includes a broad
range of items of interest to travelers, students,
English-Maya Dictionary 87 and scholars. Spoken over virtually the entirety
of Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatnthat
Phrasebook 137 is, the Yucatn Peninsulaand isolated areas
of Belize, as w ell as neighboring El Petn in

VI M aya- E nglish / E n glish - M aya (Y u catec ) D ictionary & P hrasebook 1


Guatemala, Yucatec Maya constitutes the lan and m ost useful way possible. While a complete
guage generally referred to as Maya for histor explanation of grammar lies outside the scope of
ical reasons. Actually Maya, both culturally and the presentation, I do discuss the basic rules
linguistically, derives from a sixteenth-century offering something of a refresher for those
application of M ayathan or Mayataan, who have experience with the language, making
meaning literally, Maya language (m aya + intelligible why the language works the way it
t aan language). What early Europeans failed does for beginners, and as a quick reference.
to understand was that Maya referred to the However, a number of complicated issues have
language spoken by the group of people with been omitted or greatly simplified in the interest
whom they were then in contact, and that it bore of ease o f use.
only an affinity with other languages spoken in Each Maya word or phrase includes its pho
nearby areas. Each of these languages identifies netic pronunciation, plus the Spanish equivalent,
itself by its own singular name: Quiche, Tzotsil, since most communication in Mexico and Central
Tzeltal, and so on. It was linguists who perpetu America takes place in that language. This book
ated the name Mayan in reference to all of assumes some prior knowledge of Spanish, so
these related groups. these entries lack pronunciation guides.
Strictly speaking, then, Maya refers only to Maya arises out of an incredibly rich cultural
Mayataan, the language linguists call Yucatec. tradition, one that holds a great deal of interest
For clarity, this book will use Maya only for for people from outside the Maya world. From
that branch, while identifying others as Quiche ancient pyramids to unique cuisine to personal
Maya, Cakchiquel Maya, and so on, with the relationships, many different experiences make
understanding that Mayan refers to the larger this area one of the most interesting in Latin
language group. The main thing to remember is America. It is hoped that the present dictionary
that Maya means Yucatec, Mayan the language and phrasebook will help facilitate those experi
group as a whole. ences, and promote a more lasting appreciation
To my knowledge, this is the first combination of Mayataanthe Maya language.
dictionary/phrasebook in Maya/English and Eng
lish/M aya ever published. (See M ethods o f
Learning Maya.) As such, it allows for the use of
Maya in most contexts where Spanish would nor
mally be used, although such opportunities are
rare for most travelers. Essentially, this book
offers Maya in a nutshell, distilling the essence
of the language and focusing on areas of general
interest. The goal is to present essential informa
tion about the language in the simplest, clearest,

2 M aya- E nglish / E n glish - M aya (Y u catec ) D ictionary & P hrasebook Introduction 3


A BRIEF HISTORY
OF THE
MAYAN LANGUAGE GROUP

A n c ie n t a n d W r it te n M ayan

Archaeologists have found evidence of farming


villages on the Yucatn Peninsula dating back to
at least 1200 b . c . , and we know that even before
that date primitive hunter-gatherers foraged for
jungle and coastal resources. Whether these were
Mayan speakers remains uncertain. Linguists
argue that, based on sound changes among the
various branches of Mayan, there was a single
dominant language as early as 2000 B .C ., called
Proto-Mayan, which began to evolve into several
major divisions not long afterwards. Yucatec, or
Maya, emerged as a separate branch of this
larger language family by around 1000 b . c . Today
the Yucatecan branch includes Yucatec proper,
or Maya, as well as Lacandon, Itz, and Mopan.
Certainly Yucatec Maya has a continuous history
of at least three thousand years.
Mayan speakers created the high Precolumbian
civilization of the Classic Period, which flourished
from about a . d . 250 to 900. Whatever dialect they
spoke, they were responsible for perhaps the
greatest intellectual achievement of Native Amer
ican historythe invention of a fully developed
written script, or Maya hieroglyphic writing. While
scholars long have believed the glyphs record

5
predominantly a Cholan Maya language, speakers various social changes and introduced features of
of Yucatec Maya w ere writing in books made from material culture.
bark paper when Corts and his Spanish conquis E ven before this a variety of peoples had
tadors arrived in the early sixteenth century, and penetrated the Maya area from central Mexico
the closely related Itz Maya were still main and elsewhere, establishing political control in
taining books as late as 1697. Clearly, Mayan some cases over local populations. Overall, what
written in its own native systemhas a longer resulted were sundry borrowings from the
history than either written English (eighth century Mexican Nahuatl language (or one of its variants),
a . d . ) or Spanish (eleventh century a . d .) .
as well as intermarriage between these distinct
Following the Spanish conquest, a few Mayan groups o f people.
speakers wrote their language with European Through Nahuatl new personal names were
characters, producing works of epic literature introduced to the Maya, as w ell as words for
and chronicles. The manuscripts known as things and places (for exam ple, m asew al
Indian, Maya, from Nahuatl macehuali, free
the books of Chilam Balam constitute some of the
commoner).
best-known literature of the latter type, detailing
Spains conquest of the New World in the six
great epochs in Maya history. This series of doc
teenth century inevitably destroyed much of
uments was widely published in both Spanish
Native American civilization, and although fero
and English translations. In more recent years,
ciously resistant, the Maya also succumbed. With
epigraphers, or decipherers of hieroglyphs, have
the wholesale introduction by the conquerors
reintroduced to native speakers the original of new foods, m ethods of cooking, clothing,
hieroglyphic system, a renaissance taken up with weapons, and social and political institutions, the
alacrity by speakers of different branches of the Maya were forced to adapt in different ways. They
Mayan language group. did so not least by employing Spanish words for
things of which they had no experience, and even
for som e fam iliar things. Exam ples include
N ah u a tl a n d S pa n ish L o a n w o r d s asu kaar, from the Spanish a z ca r sugar,
amigoh from the Spanish amigo friend, and
With the collapse of Classic Maya civilization in paapah, from the Spanish pap father.
the ninth and tenth centuries a .d ., widespread Spanish continues to encroach on the Maya
cultural change took place throughout Pre world (and almost as importantly, English now
columbian America. Eventually the Aztec empire does so as well). Most Maya men have to be bilin
em erged as the most powerful civilization in gual because of contacts beyond their villages,
Precolumbian history. Speakers of the Aztec and they can switch back and forth between
language, which is called Nahuatl, ranged far Spanish and their own language in the middle of
down the coasts of Honduras and Panama. They conversation, a process called code-shifting.
were mostly traders and merchants who brought However, pronunciation of Spanish tends to be

6 M a y a - E n g lis h /E n g u s h - M a y a ( Y i c a t e c ) D ic tio n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k A BriefHistory o f the Mayan Language Group 7


Mayanized by lengthening the vowels, changing
the location of accents, adding the characteristic
Maya singsong tonality and pitch, and substi METHODS OF
tuting Maya sounds for Spanish ones not found LEARNING MAYA
in Maya. At the same time Maya speakers retain
traditional Spanish pronunciation for technical
terms. In particular, Spanish proper and personal
names remain a prominent feature of todays
spoken Maya.

A s with any language, the process of learning


M o d e r n M aya Maya may seem at first overwhelming. Unfa
miliar sounds can strike the ear of the beginner as
Ancient Maya and Colonial Maya from the six im possibly complex, especially when spoken
teenth and seventeenth centuries differ consider rapidly. Difficulty in distinguishing where one
ably from Modern Maya, and many terms and word begins and another ends can hopelessly
conventions regularly used in the past have fallen confuse the student, even a vigilant one.
away. Moreover, because modem Maya for the In contrast, like languages everywhere around
most part remains a spoken language as opposed the world, Maya becomes far easier to learn when
to a written one, and because speech constantly the student listens and familiarizes his- or herself
changes and adapts, Maya lacks uniformity w ith the sound of the language. Familiarity
among its several million speakers. There really breeds affinity, even endearment, with the spoken
is no such thing as pure Maya or standard language, while the minds inner ear and subcon
Maya. The historical tendency of the Maya to scious quietly absorb what we learn, often with
seek isolation and independence led to numerous much greater depth than the conscious mind real
sub-dialects, and just about every Maya has his izes. The true seat of language belongs to the sub
or her own way of speaking. Regional variations con sciou s, w hich stores inform ation about
exist as well. Speakers of Maya can readily under language very much like an automated dictionary
stand each other (although not necessarily other and grammar.
branches of Mayan such as Quiche or Tzotsil), but Anyone interested in learning Maya can choose
the situation poses some difficulty for speakers from several approaches, depending on what goal
of Maya as a foreign language. Changes in the he or she has in mind. An informal conversational
language from one village to another and from command of Maya for personal reasons probably
one area to the next can be very confusing for can best be achieved through total immersion.
the beginner. On the other hand, a more scholarly interest
might require formal classroom instruction or
the use of language tapes. Certainly all serious

8 M aya- E n g l ish / E n glish - M aya (Y lca tec ) D ictionary & P hrasebook 9


students will master spoken Maya most thor F o b m a l C l a ssr o o m I n s t r u c t io n
oughly by availing themselves of every resource
that time and money allow. Highly efficient but more formally organized and
structured than either total immersion or one-on-
one contact with an instructor, formal classroom
T otal I m m e r sio n instruction offers an extremely valuable resource,
especially when conducted by native speakers
To totally absorb the language, the student should or where native speakers serve as teacher assis
visit the Yucatn Peninsula and live among the tants. A main disadvantage is that students may
Maya for as extended a period as possible. Total not receive enough personal attention or may fail
immersion involves living, eating, and sleeping to keep up with the classroom pace. Duke Uni
with a Maya family. Daily routine and habitual versity provides the best-known program, con
exposure to the language immerses the student ducted for four weeks during the summer months
in all things Maya. Such an approach probably through the Institute of Latin American Studies.
offers the quickest and most surefire way to learn The program offers an optional two-week field
the language, but will probably cost more than school with one-on-one instruction and total
other methods. Generally students can simply immersion, conducted on the Yucatn Peninsula.
approach individual Maya or their families and
hire them as teachers. Language schools, usually
operated out of Mrida, often place students with
L an g u ag e T apes/ C D s
Maya families to supplement one-on-one instruc
Language tapes offer a key tool for anyone wanting
tion through trained teachers.
to learn Maya. They allow students to listen to and
learn Maya outside the classroom and without
live native speakers. With this method, personal
O n e - o n - O n e F o rm al E d u c a t io n ized learning can take place in a variety of set
tings, for example, while driving an automobile or
Probably the second quickest (and second most in the privacy of the home. Currently only one
reliable) method involves the pairing of students complete audio language course exists, Spoken
with a native Maya speaker who acts either as an (Yucatec) Maya by Robert Blair and Refugio Ver-
informal teacher or trained instructor. Usually mont-Salas, which was produced in the 1960s. A
language academies offer this kind of instruction, xeroxed transcription of the tapes can be ordered
generally in Mrida but also elsewhere on the separately from the University of Chicago Library
peninsula. Virtually any Maya speaker willing to (Microfilm Collection of Manuscripts on Amer
teach will suffice, although professionally trained ican Indian Cultural Anthropology, numbers
teachers often prove more valuable for students 65-66, Series X). The tapes are available from the
seeking academic knowledge of the language. Universitys language library.

10 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D i c ti o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Methods o f Learning Maya 11


I >l< T I O NIA NIKS

PRONUNCIATION AND
Dictionaries and grammars provide crucial
resources for any student, and students should
SPELLING GUIDE
develop a reference library with as many pub
lished and privately printed resources as pos
sible. Gary Bevingtons M aya For Travelers and
Students: A Guide to Language and Culture in
Yucatan (University of Texas Press, Austin, 1995)
provides the most valuable and accessible com IVlaya and other members of the Mayan language
pendium of modern Maya, including Maya-to- family use letters from the Spanish alphabet, omit
English and English-to-M aya d ictionaries. ting ones for which Mayan has no sounds and
Bevingtons volume also comes with a separate adding combinations of letters for the Mayan
language tape that provides introductory mate sounds that Spanish lacks. However, at the time
rial, although the tape and dictionary are some of the Spanish conquest Spanish itself lacked
times packaged together. A Dictionary o f the consistency or even rules for basic punctuation,
Maya Language As Spoken in Hocab, Yucatan, and a large degree of variation resulted. Modem
compiled by Victoria Bricker, Eleuterio Poot linguists transcribing Maya into English com
Yah, and Ofelia Dzul de Poot, offers another pounded the problem.
extensive if academic resource (University of Worse, todays spelling conventions among
Utah Press, Salt Lake City, 1998). Many addi speakers of both Maya and Spanish vary tre
tional locally published dictionaries can be mendously. Spanish alone presents something
found in bookstores in Mrida and other towns of a nightmare; consider alternative spellings of
on the peninsula, although these usually pro cowvaca versus bacaor Jimnez versus
vide Maya-to-Spanish entries. Ximnes. (Even English includes similar and
confusing spellings or pronunciations, as for
The best approach that any student can take is example cock, meaning rooster, versus the
to combine the above resources into one system appelative Coch or Koch).
atic course of study. Accordingly, anyone seriously The problem increases exponentially with
interested in learning Maya should live with Maya, because certain sounds have no equivalent
native speakers while undertaking one-on-one either in Spanish or English. A survey of dictio
instruction, and then should follow with formal naries and maps turns up a confused array of
classroom instruction and the regular use of lan spellings, as in tsib, tz ib, and dzib for the word
guage tapes. writing.
Recently, native language academ ies have
introduced a uniform alphabet, a system taken up

12 M aya - E nglish / E n g u s h -M aya (Y ucatec ) D ictionary & P hraserook 13


by decipherers of Maya hieroglyphs and exem linguists sometimes glottalize other consonants,
plified in the massive Maya/Spanish dictionary for exam ple b , but these make no difference
published in Mexico, known as the Cordemex. in meaning. The present dictionary ignores the
Although often used inconsistently, the system glottalization of consonants except the frve listed
has an advantage of fairly wide acceptance. The above.
present dictionary follows the Cordemex with the
exception that it retains traditional spellings for
personal and place names used in the Maya area V ow els
and on maps (for example, Dzibalchaltun instead
of Tzibalchaltun), and it distinguishes long and Maya uses the same vowels as Spanish, but dis
short vowels.
tinguishes between long and short ones. Length
ening the vowel changes the meaning of a word.
The present book doubles long vowels when these
G lo ttal S t o p s
make a difference in meaning, for example k a
Like the click sounds made in certain African two versus kaa again. Short vowels should be
languages, the glottal stop poses a distinct pronounced as follows:
problem for non-native speakers. In the alphabet
used to write Maya, represents the sound made A The sound of a in father
in stopping the breath which is similar to the E The sound of a in fate
stoppage of air in English uh-oh or in button I The sound of ee in feet
when spoken rapidly. Pronounced simultaneously 0 The sound of o in go
with the vowel or consonant that it accompanies, U The sound of o in who
the glottal stop gives a characteristic pop to the
sound. Long vowels incorporate a system of tonality
Glottal stops might pose little problem if they that differentiates meaning. The present dictio
carried no meaning, but the distinction between nary renders high-toned long vowels by adding an
kab (without the stop) and k ab (with the stop)
accent over the first vowel, while it leaves low-
represents an important difference. The one
toned long vowels unmarkedfor example, a
means bee, the other manual labor. This is
simar to the difference between sweet and sweat (high tone) and aa (low tone).
in English. The glottal stop changes everything.
Any vowel can be glottalized, but Maya includes
only five glottalized consonants where the glottal C o n so n a n t s
stop changes the meaning.
Maya employs nineteen consonants, with all but
ch k p t tz six consonants pronounced like their Spanish

14 M a y a - E n g lis h /E n g lis h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D i c ti o n a r y & P h ra s e b o o k Pronunciation and Spelling Guide 15


counterparts. Note that Maya lacks d ,f, or v. For TZ Sounds like ts in English lets or toots
the most part r remains exceptionally rare. TZ Like ts in English lets but with
breath-stream stopped at the same time
B Sounds like the b in bed but somewhat
softer between vowels; often weak or X Sounds like English sh in shoe
unpronounced at the ends of words W Like Spanish or English w
CH The sound of ch in church Y Sounds like English y in yes
CH The sound of ch in church but with
breath-stream stopped at the same time
S ynco pated V ow els
H Unlike h in Spanish, which is always
silent; instead, sounds like English h in and C o n so n a n ts
house; but unlike English it can occur
before other consonants, as in hmeen In certain instances when adding suffixes to
shaman verbs, Maya drops unglottalized short vowels in
the middle of words, not unlike English when
R Sounds like English hard c in caught adding -ing to sicken or label, which results in
or cat sickning and tabling. In a variation of this, long
R Sounds like English hard c but with vowels becom e shortened, depending on the
breath-stream stopped at the same time sounds that follow. In these instances aa becomes
a. Words with b and I at the end regularly drop
L Like Spanish or English I but often weak these consonants. However, in certain words the
or ini pronounced at the ends of words final b and I and long vowels with an internal
M Like Spanish or English m glottal stop (for example ee) must be pronounced.
In addition, in normal to rapid speech native
N Like Spanish or English n speakers of Maya often ignore glottal stops.
P Like Spanish or English p
P Like Spanish or English p but with the S t r e ss a n d I n t o n a t io n
breath-stream stopped at the same time
S Like Spanish or English 5 Modulation of tone and pitch gives Maya a
marked singsong quality best learned by imita
T Like Spanish or English t tion. This rhythmic, melifluous characteristic
T Like Spanish or English t but with the makes Maya one of the most attractive Native
hreath-stream stopped at the same time American languages spoken today. In general,

16 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D ic ti o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k
Pronunciation and. Spelling Guide 17
three types of observations can be made regarding ee = eeh (pronounced as eh but with vowel
pitch and tone: elongated)
Example: beel (beehl)
1) Pitch rises toward the ends of words
2) Vowels last or second to last rise in pitch in e = eh (pronounced as eeh but with
many words initial raised in tone)
3) The long vowels in some words, even Example: keh (keh)
towards the beginning of the word, form a
peak in overall pitch i = ee (pronounced as in the English word
see)
Example: pik (peek)
S pe l l in g C o n v e n t io n s U se d f o r
V o w els in P r o n u n c ia t io n G u id e s ii = eee (pronounced as ee but with vowel
elongated)
In the Maya-English Dictionary, English-Maya Example: piitz (peeetz)
Dictionary, and Phrasebook sections of the pre
sent book, the pronunciation guides (given in i = ee (pronounced as ee but with initial
parentheses after individual Maya words and sen raised in tone)
tences) use the following conventions to repre Example: pim (peem)
sent vowels.
o = oh (pronounced as in the English
a = ah (pronounced as in the English exclamatory expression oh!)
exclamatory expression ah!) Example: toh (toh)
Example: sak (sahk)
oo = ooh (pronounced as oh but with vowel
aa = aah (pronounced as ah but with vowel elongated)
elongated) Example: toon (toohn)
Example: saak (saahk)
o = oh (pronounced as ooh but with
ah = ah (pronounced as aah but with initial raised in tone)
initial raised in tone) Example: ton (tohn)
Example: sal (sahl)
u = o o (pronounced as in the English word
e = eh (pronounced like ay in English pay) zoo)
Example: kex (kehsh) Example: lu (loo)

18 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g u s h - M a v a ( Y u c a te c ) D i c ti o n a r y & P h ra s e b o o k Pronunciation and Spelling Guide 19


uu = ooo (pronounced as oo but with vowel
elongated)
Example: luuk (loook) ABBREVIATIONS
u = oo (pronounced as oo but with initial
raised in tone)
Example: lub (loob)

adjective adj.
adverb/adverbial adv.
auxiliary aux.
completive com.
conjunction conj.
demonstrative dem.
English Eng.
first person 1st p.
imperative imper.
incompletive incom.
interrogative inter.
intransitive in.
noun n.
participle par.
phrase phr.
plural pi.
preposition prep.
pronoun pron.
reflexive refl.
second person 2nd p.
singular s.
Spanish Sp.
third person 5rd p.
transitive tr.
verb V.

20 M a ja - E n glish / E n glish - M aya (Y uca tec ) D ictionary & P hrasebook 21


OVERVIEW OF
MAYA GRAMMAR

S en ten ce S tructure

S entences with subjects only (intransitive): In


Maya the subject can either lead or follow the
verb or predicate, but most cOmm only in Maya
the subject follows the verb. Hence an intransi
tive sentence is either VERB-SUBJECT (VS) or
SUBJECT-VERB (SV).

English: As fo r John, he is sleeping.


Maya: either
Juanetan u wenel (SV)
or
t/ian u wenel Juan (VS)

S en ten ces w ith both ob ject and su bject


(Iransitive): As in intransitive sentences, the sub
ject in transitive sentences can either lead or
follow the verb, with the object placed after the
verb. In Maya, however, the subject most com
monly follows both the verb and object. Hence,
most transitive sentences are VERB-OBJECT-
SUBJECT (VOS).

English: John saw Peter


Maya: either
Juane tu yilah Pedro
or
Tu yilah Pedro Juan
(equivalent to saw Peter John)

23
Placing the subject before the verb highlights indicate aspect depend on whether the action is
the subject, with the highlighted subject often completed at the time of the utterance (comple
presented as new information. tive) o r ongoing (incompletive; resembles the
infinitive in English). For all intents and purposes
Maya lacks a future tense, but the future can
V erb F orm s still be expressed through the use of the auxilhary
verb h eel will.
Verbs express action. Maya has three basic verb
forms (transitive, intransitive, and passive), plus Completive: Can be thought of essentially as
three aspects (completive, incompletive, and
past tense, in other words as afinished action.
subjunctive). For purposes of simplification the
discussion ignores both passive and subjunctive
tin haantah le waaho = I ate that tortilla
forms. Overall, Maya includes four qualities that
need to be taken into consideration when forming
Incompletive: Indicates an action that either
verbs: 1) transitive/intransitive; 2) completive/
incompletive; 3) singular/plural; and 4) first, was or is ongoing, not unlike the English infinitive
second, or third person. In addition, most verb where the verb ends in -ing. Also used with verbs
forms have three basic elements of construction: where the activity is repetitive or habitual.
1) a verb root that includes a postfix differenti
ating transitivity as well as aspect; 2) usually an tin haantik waah = I was/am eating tortillas
auxiliary verb; 5) and pronominal affixes (pre
fixes, suffixes, and infixes). P ronom inal Affixes
While sentence structure depends on the pres
ence of a subject or object, verbs incorporate Pronouns differentiate person and number, as in
root words that must be inflected depending on I/we said it (first person), you said it (second
whether the verb is transitive (subject plus object) person), and he/she/they said it (third person).
or intransitive (subject only). Maya incorporates three distinctive sets of pro
nouns: Set A, Set B, and Set C. These are attached
han = eat either to the verb stem or to another component
tin hanal - I am eating (intransitive) of the sentence.
tin haantik = I am eating it (transitive)

Set A:
Aspect
Pronouns from Set A, called the Ergative Set,
Aspect can be thought of more or less as tense mark the subjects of transitive verbs and the pos
in English or time relationships. Affixes that sessors of nouns. Ergative refers to the function

24 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g u s h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D i c ti o n a r y & P h r a s e r o o k Overview of Maya Grammar 25


of the pronoun to indicate the agent or instrument The following table lists the various pronouns
of an action (the subject). from Set B.
When singular pronominal affixes from Set A
precede a root word beginning with a vowel, the Singular Plural
root takes w prefixed to it after the pronouns in or
Ist person -een -oon
a. However, if a word already begins with a vowel
and calls for the third-person pronoun u, the
2nd person -eech -eex
third-person pronoun affix changes to y and the
initial vowel of the root is often dropped (both
with verbs and possessed nouns). 3rd person -ih* -oob

u baak = his/her bone *Technically not a pronoun but rather the completive
marker. Present when the pronoun marks the subject
yotoch = his/her house
and the verb is the last word in the sentence. Otherwise
the third-person singular has a silentmarker (f), oran
The following table lists the various pronouns
invisibleand unpronounced affix.
from Set A in singular and plural forms. Note that
pronoun forms can both begin and end the root,
the latter indicated by . Set C:

Singular Plural Pronouns from Set C use pronouns from Set B, but
combine these with the preposition ti, meaning
1st person in k to (ti also means at, in, on, and with).
ino on
keex Singular Plural

2nd person a aeex Ist person teen (to me) toon

3rd person u uoob 2nd person leech (to you) teex

3rd person leeti (to him/her) leetioob


Set B:
tie (to him/her) tio ob(e)
Also called the Absolutive Set, Set B consists
exclusively of pronominal affixes attached to the
end of the verb root (as opposed to those in Set A,
Incompletive Intransitives
which can occur both at the beginning and end). In addition to pronominal inflection, an incom
Set B pronouns occur with some incompletive pletive intransitive verbal construction will take
transitive constructions and with completive Ihe suffix -vl, where v stands for a changeable
intransitives to mark the subject. vowel and I provides the final consonant. When

26 M a y a - E n g lis h /E n g lis h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D i c ti o n a r y & P h ra s e b o o k


Overview of Maya Grammar 27
the verb is simple, rather than complex, then 2nd Person:
vowels used in the final -\l suffix reflect the same Singular
vowel used in the root word. Otherwise v = a.
k > a > han-al
Incompletive intransitives also take an auxil
aux. 2nd p. s. -verb stem eat
iary, a wide variety of which may be used. Two Set A -+ incom. in. suffix
variations of intransitive verbal constructions dis
tinguish this category: 1) Set A pronoun affix > IVanslation: ka hanal you eat
stem > suffix (relatively rare); and 2) auxiliary >
Set A pronoun > stem > suffix.

1st Person: Plural


Singular k > a > han-al > -eex
aux. 2nd p. s. verb stem eat . 2nd p. pi.
k > in > han -al
Set A + incom. in. suffix Set A
aux. 1st p. s. verb stem > incom. in.
Set A eat suffix
'IVanslation: ka hanaleex you all eat
Translation: kin hanal I eat

ir d Person:
Plural Singular
k > in > han-al > -oon k > u > han-al
aux. 1st p. s. verb stem eat lstp.pl. aux. 3rd p. s. verb stem eat
Set A + incom. in. suffix Set A Set A + incom. in. suffix

Translation: kin hanaloon w e eat Translation: ku hanal he/she eats

Plural (alternate) Plural


k > han-al > -ee x k > u > han-al > -oob
aux. verb stem eat 1st p. pi. aux. 3rd p. s. verb stem eat 3rd p. pi.
+ incom. in. suffix Set A Set A + incom. in. suffix Set A

Translation: k hanaleex we eat Translation: ku hanaloob they eat

28 M a y a - E n g lis h /E n g u s h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D ic ti o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Overview of Maya Grammar 29


Thus the inflectional paradigm of incompletive Ilural (alternate)
intransitives may be characterized as: k > in > hatz > -ik > -o on
mix. 1st p . s. verb stem incom.tr. lstp .p l.
Singular kin hanal = I eat Set A hit suffix Set A
ka hanal = you eat
IVanslation: kin hatzikoon we hit it/him/her
ku hanal = he/she eats

Plural kinhanaloon = we eat 2 n d P e rso n :


k hanaleex Singular
khanal
k >a > hatz > -ik
ka hanaleex = you all eat mix. 2nd p. s. verb stem incom. tr.
ku hanaloob = they eat Set A hit . suffix

IVanslation: ka hatzik you hit it/him/her


Incom pletive Transitives
Verbs marked as incompletive transitives take the
I'lural
suffix -ik plus an auxiliary verb, in addition to Set
A and Set B pronouns, where Set B pronouns can k >a > hatz > -ik > -eex
mix. 2nd p. s. verb stem incom. tr. 2nd p. pi.
be added to the end of the verbal construction or Set A hit suffix Set A
to mark the object.
IVanslation: ka hatzikeex you all hit it/him/her
1st P erso n :
Singular
f r d P erson :
k > in > hatz -ik
aux. 1st p. s. verb stem > incom. tr.
Singular
Set A hit suffix k > u > hatz > -ik
aux. 3rd p. s. verb stem incom. tr.
Translation: kin hatzik I hit it/him/her (period Set A hit suffix

ically in the present)


'IVanslation: ku hatzik he/she hits it/him/her

Plural
Ilural
k > hatz > ik > -eex
k > u > hatz > -ik > -oob
aux. verb stem incom. tr. 1st p. pi. aux. 3rd p. s. verb stem incom. tr. 3rd p. pi.
hit suffix Set A Set A hit suffix Set A

IVanslation: k hatzikeex we hit it/him/her 'IVanslation: ku hatzikoob they hit it/him/her

30 M a y a - E n g lis h /E n g lis h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D i c ti o n a r y & P h ra s e b o o k Overview of Maya Grammar 31


To specify exactly who or what was hit in all of Ilural
the above examples, simply add a name or noun han > -oon
phrase at the end, as in kin hatzik Juan (I hit verb stem 1st p. pi.
Juan) and ku hatzik le pako (She/he hits the SetB
w all). You can also add the Set B pronouns
(except -i) to the end of these forms, except that IVanslation: hanoon we ate
the singular/plural markers must not be doubled.
Examples of the latter include kin hatzikeech I 2nd Person:
hit you, and ka hatzikeen you hit me. Singular
The inflectional paradigm of incompletive
han > -eech
transitives may be characterized as: verb stem 2nd p. s.
Set B
Singular kin hatzik = I hit it
ka hatzik = you hit it 'IVanslation: haneech you ate
ku hatzik = he/she hit it

Plural kin h atzikeex = we hit it Plural


k hatzikoon han > -eex
verb stem 2nd p. pi.
k hatzik
Set B
ka hatzikeex = you all hit it
ku hatzikoob = they hit it 'translation: haneex you all ate

Com pletive Intransitives


ir d Person:
Completive intransitive verbal constructions Singular
require no auxiliary, but they take Set B pronouns han > -ih
to mark the subject. All that completive intransi verb stem 3rd p. s.
tives require is the verb root and a Set B suffix. Set B

IVanslation: hanih he/she ate


1st Person:
Singular
Plural
han > -een
han > -oob
verb stem 1st p. s.
verb stem 3rd p. pi.
ate* Set B Set B

Translation: haneen I ate 'IVanslation: hanoob they ate

32 M a y a - E n g lis h /E n g u s h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D i c ti o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Overview of Maya Grammar


The inflectional paradigm of completive intran- 2nd Person:
sitives may be characterized as: Singular

Singular haneen = I ate I > a > hatz > -ah


haneech = you ate mix. 2nd p. s. stem com.tr.
hanih = he/she ate S et A hit suffix

Plural hanoon = we ate 'iranslation: ta hatzah you hit it (in the past)
haneex = you all ate
hanoob = they ate
Ilural
Com pletive Transitives I > a > hatz >-ah > -eex
Just as incompletive intransitives take the suffix aux. 2nd p. s. stem com. tr. 2nd p. pi.
Set A hit suffix Set A
-al and incompletive transitives the suffix -ik, so
too completive transitives add the suffix -ah. They
also use the auxiliary t-, together with Set A pro Translation: ta hatzaheex you all hit it (in the
nouns, while Set B pronouns mark the object. past)

1st Person:
Singular frd Person:
t > -in > hatz > -ah Singular
aux. 1st p. s. stem com.tr.
I > u > hatz > -ah
Set A hit suffix
aux. 3rd p. s. stem com. tr.
Set A hit suffix
Translation: tin hatzah I hit it (in the past)
iranslation: tu hatzah he/she hit it (in the past)
Plural
t > hatz > -ah > -eex
aux. stem com. tr. 1st p. pi.
Plural
hit Set A t > u > hatz > -ah > -oob
aux. 3rd p. s. stem com.tr. 3rdp.pl.
Translation: t hatzaheex we hit it (in the past) Set A hit suffix Set A

'IV-anslation: tu hatzaho oh they hit it (in the past)


Plural (alternate)
t > -in > hatz' >-ah > -oon
aux. 1st p. s. stem com. tr. 1st p. pi.
Set A hit suffix Set A

Translation: tin hatzahoon we hit it (in the past)

34 M a y s - E n g lis h /E n g u s h - M a v a ( Y u c a te c ) D i c ti o n a r y & P h r a s e r o o k Overview o f Maya Grammar 35


The inflectional paradigm of completive intran
Passive Verbs
sitives may be characterized as:
Verbs rendered in the passive voice indicate that
Singular tin hatzah = I hit it the subject o f the sentence undergoes the action
ta hatzah = you hit it of the verb, without direct reference to an object,
tu hatzah = he/she hit it as in the English example, the ball is carried.
For all intents and purposes the present dictio
Plural th a tzaheex = we hit it nary and phrasebook avoids entries in the pas
tin hatza hoon sive voice.
ta hatzaheex = you all hit it
tu hatzahoob = they hit it Passive C om pletive: Transitive verb stem
marked by the suffix -ab, with-pronominal suffix
from Set B added as subject.
Subjunctive Verbs
Subjunctive verbs appear in the context of subjec Passive Incompletive: Transitive verb stem
with the suffix -aal, prefixed by the optional aux
tive, doubtful, hypothetical, or grammatically
iliary tan and Set A pronominal affix in.
subordinate statements and are thought of as
expressing a mood of uncertainty. For simplifica
tion, the present dictionary and phrasebook Irregu lar Verbs
avoids subjunctive entries.
Maya incorporates speciai classes of verbs that
must be conjugated in ways that differ from
Subjunctive Transitive: Set A pronominal
the paradigms given above. For example, not
affix followed by the transitive verb stem, with all incompletive intransitive verbs take the -v/
Set B pronouns suffixed when required as object ending, although otherwise they are inflected
pronouns. according to the regular pattern. Such verbs add a
suffix to the stem before adding any Set B pro
Subjunctive Intransitive: Intransitive verb nouns, with the suffix commonly consisting of a
stem followed by the suffix -vk, with v deter consonant followed by -ah (as in -nah). Excep
mined by the vowel of the stem, followed in turn tions include the verbs bin go and taal come,
by a Set B pronominal suffix except when third as in tin bin I am going, and taleen I came.
person singular. Another class of irregular verbs consists of
intransitives ending in -tal, w hich express a
Subjunctive Passive: Transitive verb stem fol meaning of becoming or the process of getting
lowed by the suffix -a ak, together with Set B to a particular state or condition. Examples
pronominal suffix. include sastal become light and nokoytal

3 6 M aya- E nglish / E nglish - M aya (Y uca tec ) D ictionary & P hrasehook


Overview o f Maya Grammar 37
becom e overcast. In the com pletive -chah ina: The negative particle meaning no or not.
replaces the -tal suffix, and Set B pronouns are Negative sentences endin -i, so that m a_______ V
added, as in kalchaheech you got drunk. almost always frames the verb stem.

ina + in = min
Auxiliaries ina+ a - ma
Auxiliaries consist of a wide variety of supple m a+ u = mu
mental elements that mark incompletive transi
tive, completive transitive, and intransitive verbs. min woohli = I dont know
When verbs take auxiliaries, a Set A pronoun muk ahoteeni = she/he doesnt
always immediately follows the auxiliary form. recognize me
Sometimes auxiliaries contract or combine with
the following pronoun, not unlike the contraction
in English of words such as cant (for can not). taak: Expresses desire. Never contracts with the
pronoun.
tan: Denotes activities as processes, like the pro
gressive -ing form in English. Sometimes, but not taak in kanik le = I want to learn
always, contracts in the following ways: m ayat a ano Maya

tan in = tin hoop/ h ok: An inceptive auxiliary meaning to


tan a = tan initiate or begin something. Can be used, along
tan u = tun with appropriate endings, as a regular verb. Hok
tan k - tank
serves as an auxiliary variant in Quintana Roo.

Example: tin haantik waah Im eating tortillas


hoopu hanal = she is beginning
to eat
k: Kind of a default auxiliary of vague meaning
and origin. Common in questions that ask for
information. Also used in sentences describing
k abet: An auxiliary that indicates necessity or
habitual or repeated action.
obligation.
tuux ka bin = where do you go?
baa x ka w a alik = what did you say? k abet in antik le = Ive got to help that
Juane ku konik si = John sells firewood nohoch mako old man

3 8 M aya- E n glish / E n glish - M aya (Y u catec ) D ictionary & P hrasebook


Overview of Maya Grammar 39
yan: An auxiliary that expresses need or necessity, addition, nouns can be converted to stative verbs,
but associated with volition and intention. Often as with wttnik I am a man (wiinik = man,
an expression of future time. In addition, yan has person), and som e statives can be used to form
a completed formyanhiused as an equivalent sentences all by themselves, for example k eeleen
to the English had to. cold/I am cold. Statives can also have associated
subjects:
yan in antik le Im going to help
nohoch m ako' the old man k ohaan = sick
I should help the k ohaan Juan = sick is John
old man Jnane k o haan = John is sick
yanhi in antik le I had to help the
nohoch m ako old man
To speak about I, we, you, and so forth, simply
add the appropriate Set B pronoun:
tz ok: A terminative auxiliary that focuses atten
tion on the end or completion of something. Used k ohaaneen = I am sick
with incompletive verb forms although it focuses
on the end of something. Sometimes contracts
with the singular pronoun from Set A, and can be H ave Verbs
used with k we. Speakers of English use the word have to
inquire about things, as in do you have any
tz in money? In Maya, as in Spanish, the speaker also
tz a inquires about something by asking about its exis
tz u tence in conjunction with the have verb yaan:
yaan teech taakin? do you have any money?
When the thing inquired about involves alienable
tzok in hanal Im done eating possession, as with things that can be disposed of
tzok in k atik Ive already asked by sale, abandonment, or loss, yaan combines
for it with a C Set pronoun (yaan + tio ob).

S tative Verbs
N o u n P hrases
Stative verbs express states of being, as in keeleen
I am cold. Not all verbs that express states func Noun phrases, consisting of the subject phrase
tion as statives, but rather, statives function as the dominated by a noun, take additional elements
equivalent of adjectives in English or Spanish. In that modify the subject. Determinatives, which

40 M a y a - E n g u s h / E n g li s h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D ic ti o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Overview of Maya Grammar 41


consist of articles and elements that substitute Plurals
for articles, function as the most basic set of
noun modifiers, and include demonstratives As with Spanish and English, plural forms in
(this/that) and possessives (my/your). Other Maya take a single suffix, in this case -o ob (che
modifiers include: tree, versus cheo ob trees). However, when
context makes it obvious that something involves
more than one thing, the plural marker may be
Prepositions and dropped (as in the imperative ak! turtle!when,
P repositional Phrases for example, sighting a bevy of turtles along the
beach). The word for tortilla (w aah ) never
Locatives: Include the all-purpose preposition in
takes the plural suffix, and as a rule, nouns are
Maya, ti, and indicate general direction or loca
rarely pluralized after numbers and quantifiers.
tion: to, from, in, on, at. When the article le or
pronominal affixes in, a, or u follow ti, typically in
their possessive function, the two contract: te, tin, D em onstratives
ta, and tu. In addition, Set C pronouns resemble Demonstratives emphasize a noun, as in the Eng
contractions of ti with Set B pronouns, as in teen lish examples the tree, this tree, and that
to me, teech to you, teex to you (plural), tree. The most common Maya demonstrative
to on to us, leeti to him/her, and leetio ob to simply adds the determinative article le to the
them. To express to him/her/it you use ti by beginning of the noun and the suffix -oat the end.
itself, marked with clause-final -e tacked on:
le cheo = that tree
tie = to him/her le cheo obo = those trees
tio ob(e) = to them

To say this or these simply add -ainstead of -o:


Other prepositional forms include:
le chea = this tree
lecheo oba = these trees
yetel = with
utia a l = for
yokol = over, above To say a or an (as in English a tree or an
yanal = under hour), add hun one before the noun together
tu = beside with a numerical classifier (something that marks
chumuk = in the middle the counting of or number of a particular class
of things, for example to mark animate versus

42 M a y a - E n g ijs h /E n g u s h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D i c ti o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Overview o f Maya Grammar 43


innanimate things). Indefinite plurals lack an R eq u ests
article.
Korins that express requests, or imperatives, differ
hunkul che = a tree for transitive and intransitive verbs. Transitives
cheo ob = trees include simply the verb stem, with all aspectual
suffixation stripped away. Sometimes e and h can
be added.
Possessives
Nouns take Set A pronouns to form the possessive, tasik = bring (incom. t.)
and -il or -v/ may be added as an optional suffix, las ten humpel = bring me a (cup of)
where v stands for vowel and corresponds to siish a hot water
hanteh = eat it (from haantik)
the vowel of the noun stem.
chupeh = fill it (from chupik)
nah = house
in nahil = my house Intransitives are formed by removing any aspec
a nahileex = your (pi.) house tual suffix and adding the imperative suffix -en.

Special rules apply to possessives. The -il/\t hanal = eat


suffix comes before any other suffix. In addition, hanen = eat!
the plural suffix always precedes the -eex part,
as in nahilo beex your (pi.) houses. Lastly, only
one -oob suffix can be used, as in u nahiloob, Request forms of bin and taal become xen go and
which serves to designate h is/h er h ouses, kooten come. All command forms can be plurai-
their house, and their houses. Some nouns ized by adding -eex: kooteneex you all come.
are always possessed, for example, body parts
and family relatives: a n i your nose and a
Q u e s t io n s
taatah your father. Names or descriptive nouns
that possess something take u as prefix and Questions in Maya generally incorporate words
sometimes the -il/yl suffix, together with the that end in x and that occur at the beginning of a
nam e of the possessor: u nahil Juan Johns sentence. The primary exception is the word
house. U can also be used to form the equiva makalmak, meaning which?
lent of English o f:
baax = what?
chumuk = middle maxi = who?
u chumuk = its middle bix = how?
u chumuk le kaaho = the middle of town tuux = where?

44 M a y a - E n g lis h /E n g lis h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D ic ti o n a r y & P h r a s e h o o k Overview of Maya Grammar 45


The word kux serves to ask the sane question a Juan tun wenel = John is sleeping
second time but about a different person or object. Juane tun wenel = as for John, h e s
sleeping
ba a x taak a ukul? = what do you want
to drink?
kux teech? = and you? Suffixes -ih and -e used as term inals:
Function like punctuation marks at the end of
verbs, and include -e after the preposition ti (tie
P h rase M arkers to him) and -ih after completive intransitives
(binih he went).
Phrase markers bracket or sandwich a noun or a
noun and an adjective.
Q u a n t if ie r s
Le + -o or -a :
le peeko oba these dogs Quantifiers consist of words used to express rela
le nukuch peeko obo those big dogs tive amounts. They may or may not include a
plural marker, in w hich case the quantifier
M a + -i appears redundant.
m a in woohli I dont know
min woohli I dont know y a ab = a lot, much
y a a b h a = a lot of water
y a a bach = many
D isc o u r se M arkers y a ab mak = a lot of people
y a abach mak(oob) = many people
Suffix -V:
Tacked onto the end of question words when
these are used alone:
N u m e r ic a l C lassifiers

When counting something, numbers take special


baax = what?
suffixes called numerical classifiers. Classifiers
b a a xi = what is it?
differ depending on what the speaker counts.
For example, -pel follows the number when
counting inanimate things, -tziit follows when
Suffix - e counting slender, long things, -kul follows when
Added to the subject to focus the subject when it counting trees, and -tul follows when counting
appears before a verb. people or animals.

46 M a y a - E n g lis h /E n g lis h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D ic ti o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k


Overview of Maya Grammar 47
If hun one and kan four take the classifier
-pel, then the n in the stem word changes to m MAYA-EN GLISH
(for example, humpel).
The use of numerical classifiers has declined DICTIONARY
over the years, and many Maya speakers simply
use the -pel suffix with all inanimate objects,
rather than using -kul and -tztit.

A
ii (nil) Set A pron. second-person singular; second-person
plural together with suffix -eex
it a bit (AH-beet) n. grandchifd; nieto
niich (aahch) n. spur, goad, sting; espuela, ramal,
picadura
Bilk (aahk) n. grass;yierba
link (ahk) n. turtle; tortuga
itiikan (AH-kahn) n. snort, bellow, groan; bufido,
gemido
a k tu n (AHK-toon) n. cave; cueva
aak (ahk) n. tongue; vine; lengua-, bejuco
lak (ahk) adj. fresh, green (immalure);./reseo, verde
(immaduro)
riukab (AHR-ahb) n. night; noche
rtakabtal (ahk-AHB-tahf) in. v. to become night;
anochecer
aakal (AAHK-ah) n. fagoon, spring, swamp, tank,
reservoir; laguna, cinega, pantano, tanque, embalse
lak b ak (AHK bahk) n. fresh meat; carne fresco
aakn ai (AAHR-naht) n. green com; m az verde
aksa (AHK-sah) n. green com gruel, fresh maize
gruei; atole de m az tierno, atole nuevo
aat (aahl) n. son, daughter; weight; hijo, hija; peso
aalak (AAHL-ahk) n. pet, domestic animaf; animal
domstico
aalaktik (aahf-AHR-teek) tr. v. domesticate, grow;
criarlo, crecerlo
alkab (AHL-kahb) in. v. run, do something very fast;
correr, hacer algo de prisa
atkab m eyah (AHL-kahb MEHY-ah) in. v. phr. work
rapidly; trabajar muy rpido
aal kab (aahf kahb) n. finger; dedo

48 M a y a - E n g lis h /E n g lis h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D i c ti o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k


49
aalnook (AAHL-noohk) n. doll; mueca liat (baht) n. ax, hatchet; hacha
aal ook (AAHL oohk) n. toe; dedo de pie haatz (baahtz) n. m onkey (howler); mono chilln,
am igoh (ah-MEE-goh) n. friend; Sp. loanword; amigo saraguate
aanis (AAHN-ees) n. commercial cane liquor; btaxal (BAHSH-ahl) in. v. joke, play; bromear, jugar
Sp. loanword; ans, aguardiente biiaxat (BAHSH-ahl) tr. v. amuse; entretener, divertir
aa n ta h (AAHN-tah) n. helper; ayudante bitaxal taa n (BAHSH-ahl TAAN) n. joke, pun;
a n ta h (AHN-tah) in. v. help; ayudar chiste, retucano
antik (AAHN-teek) tr. v. help; ayudarlo biiaxtik (BASH-teek) tr. v. play, toy with; use;
aanyo (AAHN-yoh) n. year; Sp. loanword; ao
jugarlo; usarlo
aasta (AAHS-tah) prep, until; Sp. loanword; hasta
bab (BAHB) n. crab; cangrejo
aax (aahsh) n. wart; verruga
Itabahkil (BAHB-ahk-eel) adj. crowded; inflamed;
ayin (AAHY-een) n. crocodile, caiman, alligator;
slocked (well-); atestado; hinchado; bien surtido
cocodrilo, caimn
bokal (BAHK-ahl) n. corncob; hueso del maz,
abal (AHB-ahl) n. plum; ciruela
tusa (de maz)
ah al (AH-hahl) adj. awake; despierto
bak (bahk) n. meat; carne
ah al (AH-hahl) in. v. awaken; despertarse
bakel lit (BAHK-ehl EEET) n. buttock, rump; nalga
ah al (AH-hahl) tr. v. awaken; despertarlo
ak (ahk) adj. last; ltimo l>at (baht) n. hall; (piedra de) granizo
ak (ahk) n. clitoris; clitoris baal (bah-ahl) n. thing; cosa
alux (AH-loosh) n. forest spirit, guardian of a cornfield; haalche (BAH-AHL-che) n. animal (wild); anim al
duende del bosque, guardin de la milpa silvestre, bruta, bestia
am (ahm) n. spider; araa l>aate/b aateel (BAH-AH-teh/ BAH-AH-teh-ehl) n.
asben/asbeen (AHS-behn/AHS-beh-ehn) adj. light; problem; pelea; problema
secondhand, used; de medio uso baax (BAH-ahsh) inter, what?; qu?
asu k aar (ah-SOO-kaahr) n. sugar; Sp. loanword; azcar baax kiin (BAH-ahsh KEEEN) inter, when (what day)?;
atan (AH-tahn) n. wife; esposa cundo (qu da)?
aw al (AH-waht) n. shout; grito baax o orah (BAH-ahsh OOHB-ah) inter, w hen (what
ay (ahy) general expression of pain or disgust; ay, dios! hour)?; cundo (qu hora)?
ayikal (ahy-EEK-ahl) adj. rich, wealthy; rico baax te n (BAH-ahsh-tehn) inter, why?; por qu?
aal(ik) (AH-AHL-[eek]) tr. v. say, tell; decir beech (beehch) n. quail; codorniz
beel (beehl) n. affair, matter; road; asunto; camino
beetik (BEEH-teek) tr. v. do, make; hacer
B beey w ale (beehy WAHL-eh) adv. perhaps it is so!;
tal vez es posible!
baab (baahb) n. piece (continuous); pedazo (continuo) behlaak (BEH-lah-ahk) adv. earlier today, today
bab (bahb) in. v. swim; nadar (earlier); hoy anteriormente
baach (baahch) n. chachalaca (bird, Ortalis vetula)-, behla(e) (beh-LAH-[eh]) n. nowadays, today; hoy
pjaro que se llaman chachalaca bekech (BEH-kehch) adj. slender, thin; delgado
b aak (baahk) n. bone; horn; hueso; cuerno beoorah (beh-OOH-rah) adv. immediately;
b alam /balan (BAAH-lahm/BAH-lahn) n. jaguar; Sp. loanword; en seguido
jaguar, tigre beya (BEH-yah) adv. like this; as
balche (BAAHL-cheh) n. fermented honey beer, beyo (BEH-yoh) adv. like that; as
flavored with bark; balche bix (beesh) inter, how?; cmo?
b aan d a (BAAHND-ah) n. area, place; banda, lugar bin (been) in. v. go; irse

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bin k a akabtal (been kah AHK-ahb-tahl) n. dusk, cliiin cheel (CHAHN cheehl) n. redheaded child,
sunset; anochecer blond child; nio gero
bis(ik) (BEES-[eek]) tr. v. take; llevarlo cha (chah) tr. v. free, loosen, release, allow, let;
bolon (BOH-lohn) (hypothetical) n. nine; nueve dejar libre, desatar, soltar, dejar, permitir
bonik (BOHN-eek) tr. v. paint; pintarlo rlidan (chah-ahn) re. spectacle, show; espectculo
boch (boohch) n. shawl; rebozo, chal cheba (CHEHB-ah) n. beer; cerveza
book (boohk) n. odor, smell; olor ehcem (cheehm) n. canoe; boat; washtub; canoa;
boon (boohn) n. dye, paint; tinta, pintura barco; cuba de lavar
boonol/boon (BOOHN-ohl/BOH-ohn) adj. painted; che (cheh) n. pole, stick; wood; tree; palo, vara;
pintado madera; rbol
box (bohsh) n. Ups; labios cheeh (cheh-eh) n. laughter; risa
box (bohsh) adj. black; negro clieeh (cheh-eh) in. v. laugh; rerse
b oxha (BOHSH-hah) n. coffee; caf cliich (cheech) adj. strong; tough;/krte; duro
boot(ik) (BOH-OHT-[eek]) tr. v. pay (for); pagarlo chichan (CHEECH-ahn) adj. httle, small; pequeo, chico
boox (BOH-ohsh) n. buttocks; nalgas vhichiik (CHEECH-eeek) n. hurricane, storm;
booy (BOH-ohy) n. shade, shadow; sombra huracn, tempestad, temporal
b u lu k (BOO-look) (hypothetical) n. eleven; once chiich (cheeech) re. grandmother; abuela
b u tik (BOOT-eek) tr. v. pack, stuff, fill; embutirlo, cliiinah (CHEEE-nah) n. orange (sweet); naranja dulce
llenarlo cliiinah p ah (CHEEE-nah PAH) re. orange (sour);
b u u h (booo) n. owl; possible Sp. loanword; bho naranja agria
(tecolote) chiin w ol (CHEEEN wohl) re. tarantula; tarntula
b u k in tik (boo-KEEN-teek) tr. v. dress, put on chikoop (CHEE-koohp) re. bat (vampire); murcilago
clothes; vestirse, ponerlo ropa de vampiro
b u u tz (boootz) n. smoke; humo chikin (CHEE-keen) re. west; oeste, occidente, poniente
b u ul (BOO-ool) n. bean,frijol rh ilankabil (chee-lahn-KAHB-eel) re. relative-,pariente
chiltal (CHEEL-tahl) in. v. he down; acostarse, echarse
(en el suelo)
CH chi (chee) n. edge; mouth, opening; orilla; boca
chiibal (CHEE-EE-bahl) in. v. bite; hurt; morder; doler
ch ak (chahk) re. rain; lluvia chiik (chee-eek) re. coatimundi (Nasua narica
chaam pal (chaahm-PAHL) n. baby, child; nio/nia, beb yucatanica); coatimundi
chaanbeel (CHAAHN-beehl) adj. slow; despacio, lento chiikam (CHEE-EE-kahm) n. jicama (edible plant);
chab (chahb) n. anteater; oso hormiguero jicama
cha(ik) (CHAH-[eek]) tr. v. allow, permit; permitirlo, chokoh (CHOHK-oh) adj. hot; caliente
dejarlo chokokuntik (choh-koh-ROON-teek) tr. v. heat;
ch ak (chahk) adj. red; colorado, rojo calentarlo
chakika t (chahk-EEK-aht) n. hurricane, cyclone; chokotal (chohk-oh-TAHL) in. v. become hot;
huricn, cicln calentarse
chakm ool (chahk-MOH-OHL) n. jaguar (Felis onca)-, chokw il (CHOHK-weel) re. fever; calentura
jaguar, tigre chooch (choohch) re. intestines; intestinos, tripas
ch ak n u l (chahk-NOOL); adj. naked; desnudo chow ak (CHOH-wahk) adj. long; largo
chakposeen (chahk-poh-SEH-ehn) adj. pink; rosado chow akil (CHOH-wahk-eel) n. length; largura,
chakxich (CHAHK-sheech) adj. blond; fair; gero longitud
ch an (chahn) adj. little, small; pequeo, chico chu k aan (CHOO-kah-ahn) adj. captured; capturado

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chukbesik (CHOOK-beh-seek) tr. v. complete, finish; ch eel (cheehl) adj. fair; blond; redheaded; gero;
completarlo, terminarlo rubio; pelirrojo
ch ukik (CHOOR-eek) tr. v. catch; attain; alcanzarlo; cheel (cheehl) n. magpie; urraca
pescarlo cheeh (cheh-eh) adj. noisy, loud; ruidoso, bullicioso
chu k p achtik (chook-PACH-teek) tr. v. overtake, cheen (CHEH-ehn) n. cistern, well; cisterna, pozo
pursue, catch up with someone; alcanzar, alcanzar chih aan (CHEE-hah-ahn) adj. old; viejo
l que va adelante, alcanzar alguien chich (cheech) n. bird; ave, pjaro
ch u n ch u m u k (choon-CHOO-mook) adj. fifty-fty; chiih (cheeeh) tr. v. m ake old, age; hacer viejo
mitad y mitad chiihil (CHEEE-eel) adj. grown; crecido
ch u n p ah al (choon-PAH-hahl) in. v. get started; chilib (CHEEL-eeb) n. toothpick; twig; palillo de
dientes; ramita
empezarse, comenzar
ch upik (CHOOP-eek) tr. v. fill; llenarlo, hincharlo chinik (CHEEN-eek) tr. v. throw; throw stones (at);
tirarlo; tirar piedras a
ch u h (chooh) n. bottle gourd (legonaria siceraria),
choom (choohm) n. vulture; buzzard; zopilote; busardo
canteen; calabaza para llevar agua, calabaza
chop (choohp) adj. blind; ciego
vinatera
choy (chohy) n. bucket; cubeta, cubo
c h u k (chook) n. charcoal; carbn
cho (choh) n. mouse; rat; ratn; rata
ch u k aan (CHOOK-ah-ahn) adj. complete, finished;
chu h u k (CHOO-hook) adj. sweet; dulce
completo, terminado chu h u k (CHOO-hook) n. candy; dulce
ch u m u k (CHOOM-ook) n. center, middle;
chukik (CHOOK-eek) tr. v. loosen; wrinkle; desatar;
centro, medio arrugarse
ch u m u k akab (CHOOM-ook AAHK-ahb) n. chul chahtal (chool CHAH-lahl) in. v. become wet;
midnight; media noche mojarse
ch u m u k kiin (CHOOM-ook KEEEN) n. noon; chulik (CHOOL-eek) tr. v. moisten; drench; mojarlo;
media da remojarlo
ch u u n (chooon) n. base, stem, trunk; beginning, ch u k (CHOOK) in. v. spy; espiar
origin; raz, principio, tronco; origen chu u l (choool) adj. moist, wet; mojado
ch u u n ik (CHOOON-eek) tr. v. begin; empezarlo, chuyul (CHOOY-ool) in. v. hang (fruit); colgarse
comenzarlo fruta
ch u u p (chooop) adj. full, swollen; lleno, hinchado chuytal (CHOOY-tahl) tr. v. hang, suspend; colgarlo
ch uupul (CHOOOP-ool) adj. filled; hinchado chu (choo) n. epiphyte; espilladero, epfita
chuuy (choooy) in v. sew; costurar

E
CH
eek (eehk) n. star; estrella
chaik (CHAH-eek) tr. v. seize, take; use; agarrarlo, ek (ehk) adj. dirty; black; sucio; negro
llevarlo; usarlo em el (EHM-ehl) in. v. descend; bajarse
chak ik (CHAHK-eek) tr. v. cut with a blow; cortarlo ensik (EHN-seek) Ir. v. lower; bajarlo
con un golpe et (eht) aux. v. equal; same; igual; mismo
cham ak/chom ak (CHAH-mahk/CHOH-mahk) n. eex (eehsh) n. pants; underwear; pantaln; calzn
coyote; fox; coyote; zorro eh ocheen (eh-HOHCH-eh-ehn) adj. dark; oscuro
chaiik/chaik iik (CHAH-eeek/CHAH-eek EEEK) eh (eh) n. file, edge-, Jilo
tr. v. breathe; respirar elel (ehl-ehl) in. v. bum; quemarse, arderse

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eesik (EH-EHS-eek) tr. v. show; mostrarlo huykin taan (hahy-KEEN-tah-ahn) adj. dried; seco
eesk u bah (EH-EHSK oo BAH) refl. v. show oneself; haykintik (hahy-KEEN-teek) tr. v. dry (in th e sun);
mostrarse secarlo en el sol
lia (hah) n. lake; rain; w ater (in general); laguna;
lluvia; agua (en general)
H liaab (hah-ahb) n. year; ao
haabil (u) (HAH-AHB-eel [oo]) n. age; edad
h (h) nominal honorific denoting masculine names, he liaas (hah-ahs) n. banana; pltano
of; honorfico denotando nombres masculinos, l de heban/hean /h eik (heh-BAHN/heh-AHN/heh-EEK)
h aah (haah) adj. true; verdadero adj. open; abierto
h aah (haah) adv. yes; s hcbik (heh-BEEK) tr. v. open; abrirlo
haahil (HAAH-eel) n. truth; verdad heeb (heehb) in. v. open; abrirse
hal (hahl) n. base; edge, side; raz; orilla heel (heehl) adj. different; other; diferente; otro
haaleb (HAAHL-ehb) n. paca, spotted cavy (kind of liclaan (HEH-lah-ahn) adj. different, distinct, strange;
rodent, cuniculus paca); tapescuintle diferente, distinto, extrao
hanil (HAHN-eel) adj. clean, clear (of objects); hetzaan (HEHTZ-ah-ahn) adj. firm, seated, secured,
limpio fixed, settled;,/irme, sentado, asegurado, fundado
h aa n tik (HAAHN-teek) tr. v. eat; comerlo he (heh) n. egg; huevo
haay (haahy) adj. thin (paper, clothes); papel o ropa heel(a)/(o ) (HEH-EHL-a/o ) dem. here/there it is!;
delgado aqu/all est (a = close, o = further away)
hay (hahy) adj. cloak, cape (article of clothing); heelel (hehehl-EHL) in. v. rest; descansar
napkin; capa; servilleta lieele (HEH-EHL-eh) adv. indeed, yes, to be sure;
hach (hahch) adv. very; m uy s, claro
hach kaas u b in (HAHCH kaahs oo BEEN) adj. hee m ax (heh-eh MAHSH) pron. whoever, anyone;
dangerous; peligroso quien, cualquier persona
hach yaab (HAHCH yah-ahb) adj. a lot, much; heesik u b a (HEH-EHS-eek oo bah) refl. v. rest
enough, too much; mucho; bastante oneself; descansarse
h ach ik (HAHCH-eek) tr. v. chew; mascarlo he u b eetaale (heh ooh BEEH-tah-ahl-eh) adj.
hahalkil/hoholkil (hah-hahl-KEEL/hoh-hohl-KEEL) possible (if); si se puede
adj. slippery, smooth; liso, resbaloso hm een (ah-MEEHN) n. herbalist, shaman, curer;
h ak olal (hah-KOHL-ahl) adj. surprising, yerbatero, curandero
frightening; sorprendente, con susto hochik (HOHCH-eek) tr. v. harvest; cosecharlo
h an al (HAHN-ahl) n. food, meal; comida hom a (HOH-mah) n. gourd (large); calabaza/jicara
h an al (HAHN-ahl) in. v. eat; comer grande
hatzik (HAHTZ-eek) tr. v. divide; diminish; leave; take hooch (hoohch) in. v. harvest; cosechar
away; dividirlo, partirlo; disminuir; dejarlo; quitarlo hokol (HOHK-ohl) in. v. come out; go, leave;
hatzkab kiin (hahtz-kahb KEEEN) adv. early; manifestarse; salir
morning; temprano; la maana hool (hoohl) n. entrance; hole, opening; entrada;
hatzik (HAHTZ-eek) tr. v. beat, hit, whip, strike; hoyo, hueco
golpearlo, azotarlo, pegarlo hol (hohl) adj. all; todo
hatzutz (HAHTZ-ootz) adj. beautiful, nice, very good; hoykeep (HOHY-keehp) n. lazy man; hombre flojo
hermoso, bonito, bello, m uy bien ho (HOH) n. five; cinco
hatzutzil (HAHTZ-ootz-eel) n. beauty; goodness; ho kal (HOH kahl) (hypothetical) n. one hundred;
belleza; bondad cien, ciento

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ho lah u n (HOH LAH-hoon) (hypothetical) n. fifteen; liuuh (hoooh) n. iguana; lizard; iguana; lagartija
quince liuum (hooom) n. noise, sound; ruido, sonido
hool (hoh-ohl) n. head; hair; cabeza; pelo liu chabale (hoo CHAHB-ahl-eh) aux. v. may;
hoolheyak (HOH-ohl-HEH-yahk) n. yesterday; ayer se puede, se perm ite
hoosik (HOH-OHS-eek) tr. v. take out; extract; sacarlo hu u biitaale (hooh oo BEEE-tah-AHL-eh) adj.
h ta m an (ah-TAH-mahn) n. goat, kid; sheep; chivo, possible (it is); es posible
cabro; borrego liuu n (hoo-oon) n. book; letter; paper; libro; carta;
hto o t (ah-TOOHT) n. mute person; persona muda papel
htzo (ah-tzoh) n. turkey (male); pavo (macho) hw aach (ah-WAAHCH) n. Mexican (male); mexicno
htzaak (ah-TZAAHK) n. male doctor, physician; liw ay (ah-wahy) n. wizard; brujo
doctor, mdico
h tu u p (ah-TOOOP) n. brother (youngest); hermano
menor I
h u ch i (HOOCH-ee) imper. scram! (to pigs, chickens,
etc.); vete! (a puercos, pollos, etc.) ich (eech) n. eye; face; ojo; cara
h u ch (hooch) n. com dough; m az molido ichil (EECH-eel) prep, in, inside, within; dentro
h u ch bil (HOOCH-beel) adj. ground; molido ichkil (EECH-keel) in. v. bathe; baarse
h uchik (HOOCH-eek) tr. v. grind; molerlo iib (eeeb) n. bean (lima),frijol de lima
h u ch k uum (HOOCH koo-oom) tr. v. grind icham (EECH-ahm) n. husband; marido, esposo
(lime-soaked com); moler nixtamal/masa ichak (EE-chahk) n. fingernail, claw; ua
h u h u m pitil (HOO-hoom PEET-eel) adv. little by iik (eeek) n. chile, pepper; chile, aj
little; poco a poco iik (eeek) n. air, wind; aire, viento
h u m ch ak (HOOM chahk) n. thunder; trueno im (eeem) n. bosom, breast, teat; seno, pecho, teta
h u m puli (hoom POO-lee) adv. completely, totally; ipil (EEEP-eel) n. dress (native w om ans); hupil
completamente, totalmente iis (eees) n. yam, sweet potato; camote
h u m p el (hoom PEHL) adj., pron. a (thing), one iit (eeet) n. anus; bottom, base; ano; base
(thing); uri(a) (cosa) iitz (eeetz) n. sap, resin; rust; resina o leche de rbol;
h u m p it (HOOM peet) n. bit (a), little (a); un poco, oxidado
pocos itzin (EETZ-een) n. brother (younger), sister
h u n (hoon) adj., n. single; one; solito, solo; uno (younger); hermano/a menor
h u n b ak (HOON bahk) (hypothetical) n. four hundred; ileh (EEL-eh) imper. see it!; vlo!
cuatrocientos ilik (EEL-eek) tr. v. see; verlo
h u n k u l (hoon-KOOL) adj., pron. a (tree), one (tree); ixbal (EESH-bahl) in. v. break out in a rash; tener
un(a) (rbol) roncha
h u n kal (HOON kahl) (hypothetical) n. twenty; iin ah (EE-EE-nah) n. seed com; semilla para
veinte sembrar maz
h u n p ik (hoon PEEK) (hypothetical) n. eight thousand;
ocho mil
h u n t u l (hoon-TOOL) adj., pron. a (person or K
animal), one (person or animal); un(a) (persona o
animal) kaab (kaahb) n. bee; honey; earth; world; abeja; miel;
huntzit (hoon-TZEET) adj., pron. a (long thing), tierra; mundo
one (long thing); un(a) (cosa larga) kaabal (KAAHB-ahl) adv. below; low; abajo; bajo

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k aach aal (kaah-CHAH-ahl) adj. broken, busted; split; luiak at(e) (KAH-AH-kah-t[e]) adv. afterward; later;
fractured; quebrado; hendido; fracturado soon; al rato; u n poco despus; ms tarde
k aah (kaah) n. place; town; lugar; pueblo, pobladon kaan (kah-ahn) n . heaven; sky; cielo
kahsik (KAH-seek) tr. v. begin; comenzarlo kaanal (KAH-AHN-ahl) adj. up; above; high;
k aah tal (KAAH-tahl) n. place; ranch; lugar; rancho arriba; alto
k aah tal (KAAH-tahl) in. v. live, reside; vivir Uuanal (KAH-AHN-ahl) adv. up; above; arriba
kaal (kaahl) n. neck; throat; voice; cuello; garganta; voz kaanal (KAH-AHN-ahl) prep, up; above; arriba
kaltal (KAHL-tahl) in. v. become drunk; kuanal (KAH-AHN-ahl) in. v. tire; cansarse
emborracharse kuan aan (KAH-AH-nah-ahn) adj. tired; cansado
k aan (kaahn) n. snake; worm; culebra; gusano kaan ch e (KAH-AHN-che) n. altar; raised seedbed;
k aanilha (kaahn-eel-HAH) n. eel; anguila altar; planto elevado
kap eh (KAH-peh) re. coffee; caf kaansah (KAH-AHN-sah) n. teacher; maestro
kaax (kaahsh) n. chicken; pollo kuansik (KAH-AHN-seek) tr. v. teach; ensearlo
kachlk (KAH-cheek) tr. v. to break, split, fracture (long kaap u l (KAH-AH-pool) adv. twp times, twice;
things); quebrar, hender, fracturar (cosas largas) dos veces
kalaan (KAH-lah-ahn) adj. drunk, intoxicated; kaap el (KAH-AH-pehl) adj., pron. two (inanimate
borracho things); dos (cosas)
kaldo kaax (KAHL-doh KAAHSH) n. consum kaat u l (KAH-AH-tool) adj., pron. two (people or
(chicken); Sp. + Maya; caldo de pollo animals, animate things); dos (personas o animales)
k am pel (kahm-PEHL) adj., pron. four (inanimate ka b ak (KAH bahk) (hypothetical) n. eight hundred;
things); cuatro (cosas) ochocientos
k an (kahn) n. four; cuatro ka kal (KAH kahl) (hypothetical) re. forty; cuarenta
k an an tik (KAHN-ahn-teek) tr. v. care for (take care kechtik (KEHCH-teek) tr. v. deceive, fool, trick;
of); cuidarlo embaucarlo
k anik (KAHN-eek) tr. v. ieam ; aprenderlo keh (keh) n. deer; venison; venado; cam e de venado
k an kal (KAHN kahl) (hypothetical) n. eighty; kelem bal (KEH-lehm-bahl) n. shoulder; hombro
ochenta kcnsa bixi (kehn-sah BEE-shee) adv. who knows;
k an lah u n (kahn LAH-hoon) (hypothetical) n. quien sabe
fourteen; catorce ketik (KEH-teek) tr. v. start (a fight); accept (a
k an t u l (kahn-TOOL) adj., pron. four (people or proposition); comenzar (una pelea); aceptar
animals, animate things); cuatro (personas o (una proposition)
animales) kex (kehsh) conj. although; aunque
kaxtik (KAHSH-teek) tr. v. find; look for, seek; hallarlo, keel (keh-ehl) adj. cold (m e te o ro logi ca I); fro
buscarlo kib (keeb) re. candle; candela, vela
kay (kahy) n. fish; pescado kih (kee) re. agave; hemp; maguey; henequin
k aab eh (KAH-AHB-eh) n. day after tomorrow; kiik (keeek) re. older sister; hermana mayor
la maana siguiente kimil (KEE-meel) in. v. die; morir
k aac h (kah-ahch) adv. earlier, previously; kiiritz (KEEER-eetz) re. v. grime (around collar);
antiguamente, entonces mugre
k aah (kah-ah) adv. again; otra vez, de nuevo kiis (keees) n. flatulence; pedo
k aa h (kah-ah) conj. and; that; when; y; que; cuando kiis (keees) in. v. break wind; echar pedos
k a'ah (kah-ah) n. metate, saddle quern, grinding kim en (KEE-melin) adj. dead; muerto
stone; two; metate; dos kinbesik (keen-BEH-seek) tr. v. hurt; herirlo

60 M a y a - E n g lis h /E n g lis h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D i c ti o n a r y & P h ra s e b o o k Maya-English Dictionary 61


k inpahal (keen-PAH-habl) in. v. hurt (oneself); herirse K
kinsik (KEEN-seek) tr. v. kill; matarlo
kisin (KEES-een) n. devil; diablo kaab /k aa (ka a h b /k aah) n. broth; juice; caldo; jugo
kltam (REE-tahm) n. boar; collared peccary (Pcari kaaba (RAAHB-ah) n. name; nombre
tajacu)-, jabal; coche del monte U'aab china (k aahb CHEE-nah) n. orange juice;
ki (kee) adj. tasty; sabroso jugo de naranja
kiichpam (KEE-EECH-pahm) adj. good-looking, k'ah (kah) adj. bitter; amargo
pretty; hermoso, guapo, bonito kak (kahk) n. ftre-,fuego
kiim ak ol (KEE-EE-mahk OHL) adj. content, kualal (RAAHL-ahl) adj. closed, locked; cerrado
happy; contento ka n (kahn) n. hammock; hamaca
koh (koh) n. beak; tooth; puma; pico; diente; pum a kan ch e (KAHN-cheh) n. stool; banqueta para
konik (ROHN-eek) tr. v. sell; venderlo sentarse
koch (kohch) adj. broad, wide; ancho kaas (kaahs) adj. bad; malo
kok (kohk) adj. deaf; sordo kaas (kaahs) n. evil; mal, maldad
kaas w ayak (kaahs WAHY-ahk) . nightmare;
kool (koohl) n. personal cornfield (milpa); milpa
m al sueo, pesadilla
kolik (ROHL-eek) tr. v. pull; jalarlo
kiat (kaht) in. v. (I) want; quiero
koolnal (ROOHL-nahl) n. farmer, milpa tiller;
k'aatal (RAAH-tahl) adj. crossed; cruzado
campesino, milpero k'atik (RAHT-eek) tr. v. ask for; pedirlo, preguntarlo
kom (kohm) adj. narrow; short; estrecho; corto k'ax (kahsh) adj. angry; hateful; enojado; odioso
koonol (ROOHN-ohl) n. vendor (male), salesman; kax (kahsh) n. brush, weed, forest, jungle;
vendedor monte, bosque
koos (koohs) n. falcon; halcn kaay (kaahy) n. music, song; cancin
kopik (ROH-peek) tr. v. coil (rope), roll, twist, screw; kaay (kaahy) in. v. sing; cantar
enrollar soga kab (kahb) n. arm; hand; branch; brazo; mano; rama
kooh (koh-oh) adj. expensive; caro kab et (RAHB-et) adj. necessary; necesario
koolel (ROH-ohl-EHL) n. woman; mujer kahol (RAH-ohl) tr. v. know (someone); conocerlo
koo ten (KOH-OH-tehn) imper. come!; ven! kaholtik (RAH-ohl-TEER) tr. v. recognize;
ko'ox (koh-osh) imper. lets go!; vmanos! (vamos) reconocerlo
k u ch ik (ROOCH-eek) tr. v. carry (on the back); kalik (KAHL-eek) tr. v. close; cerrarlo
cargarlo (en la espalda), llevarlo kam ik (RAHM-eek) tr. v. receive; recibir
kulaan (koo-LAH-ahn) adj. seated; sentado kan (kahn) adj. ripe; yellow; maduro; amarillo
kultal (ROOL-tahl) in. v. sit down; sentarse kas (kahs) n. somewhat; de una parte, un poquito
k u p ahtal (koo PAH-tahl) in. v. can (able to); kas keel (KAHS keh-ehl) adj. cool; medio Jrio
se puede kas kfilkab (kahs REEL-kahb) adj. muggy;
medio sudando, hmedo
k u u ch (koooch) n. burden, load; obligation; carga;
kat (kaht) n. clay; barro
obligacin
kaxab n ak (RAHSH-ahb nahk) n. belt, strap;
k u k (kook) n. elbow; codo
cinturn, faja
k u u tz (koootz) n. wild oscelated turkey (Agriocharis kaxik (RAHSH-eek) tr. v. tie; amarrarlo
ocellata); pavo del monte kaam (RAH-ahm) adj. harsh; strong; recio; fuerte
k u x aan (ROO-shah-ahn) adj. alive, living; vivo kaan aan (RAH-AH-nah-ahn) adj. important,
k u x tal (KOOSH-tahl) n. life; vida necessary; importante, necesario
k u u k (ROO-ook) n. squirrel; ardilla k'aatik (RAH-AH-teek) tr. v. grill, roast; asarlo

62 M a y a - E n g lis h /E n g u s h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D ic ti o n a r y & P h ra s e b o o k M aya-English Dictionary 63


k aTail (KAH-beel) adj. grilled, roasted; asado ku h i (ROOL-oo) n. raccoon; mapache
k 'abil b ak (RAH-beel BAHR) adj. grilled (meat); k u m (koom) n. pumpkin, squash; calabaza
(came) asada kuutz (koootz) n. m arijuana; tobacco; marijuana;
k eb an (KEH-bahn) adj. wrong, sin; pecado tabaco
k eken (REH-kehn) n. pig; puerco kuxu (ROO-shoo) n. annatto (red food dye); achiote
k ew el (REH-wehl) n. hide, leather, skin; piel, ku (koo) n. nest; nido
pellejo, cuero kuukum (koo-ook-OOM) n. feathers; plum as
k eexel (REEHSH-ehl) adj. changed, exchanged,
substituted; cambiado, trocado
kexik (REHSH-eek) tr. v. change; exchange; L
substitute; cambiarlo, trocarlo
k eyem (KEH-yehm) n. gruel, posol; pozole Ia h (lah) adj. all; todo
k eyik (REHY-eek) Ir. v. reprimand, scold; reprenderlo, lak (lahk) adj. other; otro
reirlo lak (lahk) n. parent; relative; spouse; pariente,
kilkab (REEL-kahb) adj. hot (weather), humid miembro de familia; esposo
(weather); perspiration; (hace) calor, hmedo; sudor laktzil (LAHR-tzeel) n. true sibling; hennano(a)
k iin (keeen) n. day; sun; time; da; sol; tiempo verdadero(a)
kinal (REE-nahl) adj. heated up; hot; lukewarm; lal (lahl) n. nettle; ortiga, chichicasta
tepid; calientado; tibio layli(e) (lahy-LEE-[eh]) adv. always; siempre
k in an (in) hool (REEN-ahn een HOH-OHL) n. phr. lahkaa (LAH-kah-ah) (hypothetical) n. twelve; doce
headache; dolor de cabeza lahun (LAH-hoon) (hypothetical) n. ten; diez
kiwi (REE-wee) n. annatto (red food dye); achiote lah u n kal (LAH-hoon KAHL) (hypothetical) n. two
kiik (kee-eek) n. blood; sangre hundred; doscientos
k iin am (REE-EE-nahm) n. pain; dolor lakin (LAH-keen) n. east; este, oriente
kiix (REE-eesh) n. thorn; espina le b eetik (leh BEEEH-teek) adv. therefore; por eso
kiix pech ooch (REE-EESH pehch OOHCH) n. le k aa pelil (leh kah-ah PEEH-leel) adj.,prep.
porcupine; cuerpo espin possibly; posible
kohaan (ROH-hah-ahn) adj. sick; enfermo lela (LEH-lah) pron. this (one); ste, sta
kohaanil (koh-HAH-AHN-eel) n. illness; enfermedad lelo (LEH-loh) pron. that (one); se, sa
kohaan tal (koh-HAH-AHN-tahl) in. v. ill (to le (leh) n. leaf; hoja
become); enfermarse likil (LEEER-eel) in. v. arise, rise; levantarse
ko nooch (ROH noh-ohch) n. chin (literally double liisik (LEE-EES-eek) tr. v. raise; levantarlo
chin); barbilla liisik u b a (LEE-EES-eek oo BAH) refl. v. ready
kooben (ROOH-behn) n. hearth; kitchen;/o^ra; cocina (oneself); prepararse
kol (kohl) n. broth; stew; caldo; guiso lisik (LEE-seek) tr. v. make ready, prepare; alistarlo,
kosik (ROHS-eek) tr. v. cut with scissors; cortarlo prepararlo
con tijera loob (loohb) n. accident, misfortune; injury, wound;
koxol (ROHSH-ohl) n. mosquito; mosquito, mosco accidente, infortunio; dao, herrida
k oox (ROH-ohsh) adj. wild; bravo, salvaje, cimarrn lob (lohb) n. digging stick; coa
kubik (ROOB-eek) tr. v. deliver; entregarlo loobil (LOOHB-eel) n. wound; blow; herida; golpe
ku bul (ROOB-ool) n. oriole; oriol lool (loohl) n. flower, rose; flor, rosa
k u ch u l (ROOCH-ool) in. v. arrive; llegar loxik (LOHSH-eek) tr. v. punch (with fist); pegarlo con
k uhoob (ROO-hoh-ohb) pi. n. gods, saints; dioses, puo cerado
santos lubul (LOOB-ool) in. v. fall; caerse

64 M a y a - E n g lis h /E n g u s h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D i c ti o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Maya-English Dictionary 65


lu u ch (loooch) re. gourd (from a tree); jicara, calabaza maalob (mah-AHL-ohb) adj. good, OK, well; bien,
de rbol bueno, adecuado
lu k u m (LOOK-00111) adj. fine, nice, delicate; //>io, maa ta an (MAH-AH taahn) adv. wont; no
bueno, delicado m aa tech (MAH-AH tehch) adv. never; jams
lu k ul (LOOK-ool) in. v. leave; quitarse m aax (mah-ahsh) n. monkey; mono
lu u k (loook) in. v. swallow; tragar ma koohi (MAH koh-oh-hee) adj. cheap; barato
lub (loob) n. league (measure); legua m a teeni (mah TEEHN-ee) adv. not me; yo no
lu (loo) n. catfish; bagre ma tu p ah tal (m ah too PAH-tahl) in. v. cannot;
luum (loo-oom) n. dirt, earth, soil; suelo, tierra no se puede
ma u chaTjal (m ah 00 CHAH-bahl) aux. v. m ay not;
no se permite
M ma yaabi (MAH y ah -ah-bee) adj. little, not much;
no mucho, poco
m ak (mahk) n. man, person; hombre, persona m ekik (MEH-k-eek) tr. v. embrace; abrazarlo
m ak alm ak (MAHK-ahl-MAHK) inter, which?; m eerech (MEEHR-ehch) n. lizard (species of);
cul? lagartija (una especie)
m ak an (MAH-kahn) n. arbor, bower; enramada inehen (MEH-hehn) adj. little, small; pequeo, chico
m aam (maahm) n. mother; madre inentik (MEHN-teek) tr. v. make; hacerlo
m an (mahn) in. v. pass by; pasar ineyah (MEH-yah) n. work; trabajo
ineyah (MEH-yah) in. v. work; trabajar
m asew al (mah-SEH-wahl) n. Indian, inferior;
ineex (meh-ehsh) n. beard, moustache; barba, bigote
indgena, mazehual, inferior
iniis (meees) n. cat; gato
m askab (MAHS-kahb) n. iron; machete; hierro-,
inis (mees) n. broom; escoba
machete
inistik (MEES-teek) tr. v. sweep; barrerlo
m askabil x am ach (mahs-KAHB-eel SHAH-mahch)
ininaan (MEE-nah-ahn) adv. there isnt/there arent;
n. griddle (iron); comal de hierro
no hay
m ax (mahsh) pron. who; quien mix b aal (meesh BAH-ahl) pron. nothing; nada
m axi (mahsh-EE) inter, who?; quin? mix b ikin (meesh BEE-keen) adv. never; nunca
m achik (MAHCH-eek) tr. v. grab, grasp; agarrarlo mix m ak (MEESH m ahk) pron. no one; ninguno,
m ach (mahch) tr. v. flatten (something); allanar, nadie
aplanar, aplastar mix t a n u b eetaale (meesh TAHN 00 beeh-tah-
m a h a n tik (MAH-hahn-teek) tr. v. lend, loan; AHL-eh) adj. not possible; no es posible
prestarlo mix tu ux (MEESH too-oosh) re. nowhere; en ninguna
m ah an (MAH-hahn) adj. borrowed; prestado parte
m a h an yuum (MAH-hahn YOOOM) n. stepfather m ootz (moohtz) n. root; raz
(borrowed father); padrastro m o (moh) n. macaw; guacanmyo
m ak an tik (MAH-kahn-TEEK) tr. v. make (by hand); m ukik (MOOK-eek) tr. v. bury; enterrarlo, sepultarlo
prepare; hacerlo a mano; prepararlo m u(n)yal (MOO[N]-yahl) re. cloud; nube
m aldisyontik (MAHL-dees-yohn-TEEK) tr. v. curse; m u t (moot) re. bird; ave, pjaro
(Sp. + Maya) maldecirlo m uuch (moooch) n. frog, toad; rana, sapo
m a n ik (MAHN-eek) tr. v. buy; comprarlo m u u k (moook) adj. iotce{\i\;juerte
m ansik (MAHN-seek) tr. v. pass; pasarlo m u u k (moook) re. strength;/'rsc;
m a (m ah) adv. no, not; no m uul (moool) re. hill; pyramid; cerro; pirmide
m aa k aal (MAH-AH kaahl) adj. hoarse; ronco m uxbil (MOOSH-beel) adj. ground (into meal); molido

66 M a y a - E n g lis h /E n g u s h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D i c ti o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Maya-English Dictionary 67


N nokol (NOHK-ohl) n. w orm ; gusano
noohoch(il) (NOOH-hohch- [EEL]) n. boss; jefe
n a ch (nahch) adj. distant; lejos nokoy (NOHK-ohy) adj. cloudy, overcast; nublado
nachil (NAHCH-eel) n. distance; distancia nokoytal (NOHK-ohy-tahl) in. v. overcast
n aap u l (NAAH-pool) adv. direct, directly; directo, (to become); nublarse
inmediato nook (noohk) n. clothes, clothing; dress; ropa; Jalda
n aa p u la k (naah-POOL-ahk) adv. immediately, right nooh (noh-oh) n. right side; lado derecho
away; en seguido nu k u ch (NOO-kooch) adj. larg e (pi.), big (pi.); grandes
n aatz (naahtz) adj. near; cerca n uuk b esah (noook-BEH-sah) tr. v. adjust; ajustar,
n aatzal (NAAHTZ-ahl) in. v. approach; acercar arreglar, componer
n aatzik (NAAHTZ-eek) tr. v. approach; acercarlo nukik (NOOK-eek) tr. v. answer; contestarlo,
nay (nahy) in. v. dream; soar responderlo
n a h (nah) n. house; casa n u u k ta k (NOOK-tahk) adj. big; grande
n ah il (NAH-eel) n. building, home; edificio, casa n u u m (nooom) adj. ignorant, stupid; lazy; estpido;
n a h (nah) n. mother; madre perezoso
n a k (nahk) n. abdomen, stomach, belly; barriga, nuxiib (NOO-sheeeb) adj. old man; hombre viejo,
panza, estmago anciano
n a k (nahk) tr. v. abandon; abandonar nuu k u l (NOO-OOK-ool) n. reason; explanation;
n al (nahl) n. com (ear of); elote utensil, tool; razn; explicacin; instrumento,
n ap tzah (NAHP-tzah) tr. v. become accustomed to; herramiento, utensilio
acostumbrarlo, habituarlo
n aakal (NAH-AHK-ahl) tr. v. climb; subir
n aatik (NAH-AH-teek) tr. v. understand; entenderlo. O
comprenderlo
n e n (nehn) n. mirror; espejo och k aan (OHCH kaahn) n. boa constrictor; culebra
n eek (neehk) n. seed; semilla, pepita
tipo de boa
n eh (neh) n. tail; cola, rabo
oheltik (oh-HEHL-teek) tr. v. understand, notice,
nix (neesh) n. incline, slope; cuesta, ladera,
know; reconocerlo, notar
inclinacin
okaan kiin (oh-KAH-AHN keeen) n. evening; tarde
niixil (NEEESH-eel) adj. tilted; inclinado
n ik te (NEER-teh) n. flower, frangipani;JZor, oklik (OHK-leek) tr. v. steal; hurtarlo, robarlo
Jrangipaniero okol (OHR-ohl) in. v. enter; entrar
nixik (NEESH-eek) tr. v. tilt; inclinarlo okom (OHK-ohm) n. pillar, post; pilar, horcn, poste
ni (nee) n. nose; nariz oksik (OR-seek) tr. v. introduce, insert; introducirlo,
n o hoch (NOH-hohch) adj. big, large; old; gran, meterlo
grande; viejo okol (OHK-ohl) in. v. cry, weep; llorar
nohochil (noh-hoh-CHEEL) n. size; tamao okot (OH-koht) in. v. dance; bailar
n ohoch koolel (NOH-hoch koh-ohl-EHL) n. old ooch (oohch) n. fox; weasel; zorro; comadreja
woman; vieja oohel (OOH-hehl) tr. v. know; saberlo, conocerlo
n ohoch taat(ah ) (NOH-hohch TAAHT-[ah]) n. ook (oohk) n. foot; pie
grandfather; abuelo ookol (OOHK-ohl) in. v. steal; hurtar, robar
n ohoch w inik (NOH-hoch WEEN-eek) n. old man; ookolbil (OOHR-ohl-BEEL) adj. stolen; robado,
viejo hurtado
nohol (NOH-hohl) n. south; sur okot (OH-koht) n. dance; baile

68 M a y a - E n g u s h /E n g ljs h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D i c ti o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Maya-English Dictionary 09


ol (ohl) re. heart; will; energy; spirit; corazn; ganas; pak (pahk) n. masonry, w all (of masonry);
energa; espritu rnamposteria
o on (oohn) n . avocado\ aguacate Imkal (PAHK-ahl) n. citru s fruit, sour orange tree;
op (ohp) n. soursop (custard apple); anona ctricos, naranja agria; naranjo agrio
o op (oohp) n. toast; tostada pakach (PAHK-ahch) in. v. make tortillas; tortear
otzil (OHTZ-eel) adj. poor; pobre pakachtik (PAHK-ahch-teek) tr. v. make tortillas,
ox (ohsh) re. three; tres pound; tortearlo, machacarlo
ox kal (OHSH kaahl) (hypotlietical) n. sixty; pakal (PAHK-ahl) n. plant;planta
sesenta pakal (PAHR-ahl) in. v. sow, plant; sembrar
ox lahun (ohsh LAH-hoon) (hypothetical) n. pukaan (PAHK-ah-ahn) par. sown; sembrado
thirteen; trece pakik (PAHK-eek) tr. v. sow, plant; sembrarlo
oxpul (OHSH-pool) adv. three times; tres veces pak'il n a h (pahk-eel NAH) n. stone house; casa
oxpel (OHSH-pehl) adj., pron. three (inanimate de piedra
things); tres (cosas)
payik (PAHY-eek) tr. v. cali; llamar
oxtul (OHSH-tool) adj., pron. three (people or
paykab (PAHY-kahb) in. v. wave, signal (by hand);
animals, animate things); tres (personas o animales)
sealar, seal
otoch (oh-tohch) n. home; hogar
pay w akax (pahy WAHK-ahsh) rt. bullfight; torear,
oxoontik (OHSH-oh-ohn-TEEK) tr. v. shell com;
corrida de toros
desgranarlo
paat (pah-aht) in. v. wait; esperar
ooch (OH-ohch) n. tortilla, food; tortilla, comida
paatik (PAH-AHT-eek) tr. v. expect, wait for; esperarlo
paik (PAH-eek) tr. v. break; romperlo, quebrarlo
P pechech (PEH-chehch) n. spindle; winch; malacate;
huso
p aach (paahch) n. back; espalda, lomo peech (peehch) re. tick (insect); garrapata
p a h ta l (PAAH-tahl) adj. be able to; poder pek (pehk) re. movement; movimiento
p a k (pahk) in. v. clear, weed; chapear, desherbar pek (pehk) in. v. move; throb; wiggle; moverse;
pak tik (PAAHK-teek) tr. v. cut brush, weed; palpitarse; menearse
chapearlo, desherbarlo peksik (PEHK-seek) tr. v. move, shake; moverlo,
p ak am (PAAHK-ahm) n. cactus (prickly pear); sacudirlo
nopal, tuna peek (peehk) re. dog; perro
paal (paahl); n. infant, child, minor; son; nio(a), pepem (PEHP-ehm) re. butterfly; mariposa
menor, hijo peetz (peehtz) re. snare, trap; trampa
p a n ik (PAHN-eek) tr. v. dig, scrape; cavarlo pekaan (PEH-KAH-ahn) adj. flat; lying (on the
p ap (pahp) adj. hot, spicy; picante ground); llano; tirado/hechado en el suelo
p a a p ah (PAAH-pah) n. father; Sp. loanword; pap, petzik (PEHTZ-eek) tr. v. crush, smash; detain;
padre apretar, destrozar; detener
paapil (PAAHP-eel) adj. biting; sharp; picante pibil kaax (PEEB-eel kaahsh) re. chicken (baked);
p a ta l (PAHT-ahl) adj. be able (to be able to); poder polio pibil
payooch (PAHY-oohch) n. skunk; zorillo pibil keken (PEEB-eel keh-kehn) re. pork (baked,
p aytik (PAHY-teek) tr. v. pull; jalarlo roasted); conchinita pibil
p a h (pah) adj. acidic, sour; cido, grio pichi (PEECH-ee) re. guava; guayaba
p ak teh (PAHK-teh) imper. look at it!; mrelo! pich (peech) re. thrush (bird); tordo (cantor),
p ak tik (PAHK-teek) lr. v. look (at); mirarlo zorzal (ave)

70 M a y a - E n g u s h /E n g lis h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D ic ti o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Mava-Engtish D ictionary 7


pib (peeb) n. cooking pit (bar-b-que pit); barbacoa, patik (PAHT-eek) tr. v. leave; dejarlo
homo, pib peekaan (peeh-KAH-AHN) par. hated (with agent);
pim (peem) adj. thick; grueso, gordo aborrecido, abominado
piitoh (PEEE-toh) n. flute, whistle; Sp. loanword; pektik (PEHK-teek) tr. v. hate, dislike, detest; odiarlo
pito, flauta pisik (PEES-eek) tr. v. m easure, weigh; medirlo,
piitor(l)eeyaal (PEEE-to-r[l|eeh-yaahl) n. toucan; pesarlo
Sp. loanword; pitoreal pisikan (PEES-eek-ahn) n. land, mecate (unit of 20 x
piitz (peeetz) n. cotton (combed); algodn desmotado 20 m; unit of land); mecate
pix (peesh) n. case; cover; knee; caja, tapa, vaina; pok (pohk) n. hat; sombrero
rodilla poaal (POH-ah-ahl) adj. washed; lavado
p ik (peek) n. bedbug; chinche poik (POH-eek) tr. v. wash; lavarlo
pitik (PEE-teek) tr. v. disrobe; scoop up excrement; pu chik (POOCH-eek) tr. v. beat (with a stick), flail,
desnudarse, quitar la ropa; sacar excremento thresh; golpearlo con palo, desgranar
con cuchara pu uch (poooch) in. v. beat, flail (grain or fruit),
pixaan (PEESH-aahn) n. soul, spirit; alma, espritu thresh; batear, desgranar
pokbil (POHK-beel) adj. roasted; toasted; asado; pu u h u l (POOO-hool) adj. angered, frightened,
tostado bothered; enojado, espantado, molestado
pok chuk (POHK chook) n. grilled (meat); asado (carne) pu uhsik (POO-OO-seek) tr. v. bother, scare;
polok (POHL-ohk) adj. fat, thick; gordo, grueso
alborotarlo, molestarlo, espantarlo
pool (poohl) n. head; cabeza
puukil iit (POO-OOK-eel EEET) n. buttock, rump;
poolkil (POOHL-keel) n. thickness; gordura
nalga
poos (poohs) adj. faded, pale, palid; hollow;
descolorido, plido, desteido; waco
popoxkan (poh-pohsh-KAHN) n. ant (biting); hormiga
que muerde
s
potik (POHT-eek) tr. v. pass through, penetrate;
transpasarlo, penetrarlo sabin (SAAH-been) n. weasel; comadreja
p u ch ik (POOCH-eek) in. v. mash, crush, bruise; sab u k aan (SAH-boo-kaahn) n. bag, sack; bolsa,
magullar, despachurrar, moler morral
p u h (poo) n. pus; pus, materia de llaga saahkil (SAAHK-eel) n. fear; miedo, temor
puksiikal (POOK-see-eek-ahl) n. heart; corazn saak (saahk) n. itch/itching; comezn
p u u k (poook) adj. cloudy (liquid); muddy; turbio sak (sahk) n. cigar; locust; cigarra; langosta de
p u u k (poook) adj. scrambled; revueltos tierra, saltamontes
p uul (poool) adv. all at once; todo una vez sal (sahl) adj. light (weight); ligero, no pesado
p u u t (pooot) n. papaya; papaya sam (sam) adv. already; ya, listo
putz (pootz) n. needle; aguja sam al (SAH-mahl) n. tomorrow; maana
putzul (POOTZ-ool) in. v. escape, get away; saam pol (SAAHM-pohl) n. tayra (Tayra barbara)-,
escaparse oso colmenero, perico ligero
sansam al (SAHN-sah-mahl) adv. daily; diario,
cada da
P sas (sahs); adj. clear; claro
sasil (SAHS-eel) n. light; luz
paak (paahk) n. tomato; jitomate, tomate sastal (SAHS-tahl) in. v. dawn; light (to become);
patal (PAAH-tahl) in. v. remain, stay; quedarse amanecer

72 M a y a - E n g lis h /E n g lis h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D ic tio n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Maya-English D ictionary 75


saatal (SAAH-tahl) adj. lost; perdido sis (sees) adj. cold, cool;./ho
sabak (SAH-bahk) n. soot; tizne siskuntik (SEES-koon-teek) tr. v. freeze; enfriarlo
sa h ah k uns (SAH-hah-koons) tr. v. frighten, scare; slit (seeet) n. reed, straw; popote
asustarlo, espantarlo slit (seet) in. v. bounce, jump; saltar, brincar
sahkab/saskab (SAHK-ahb/SAHS-kahb) n. white earth sikil (SEEK-eel) n. pumpkin seeds, squash seeds;
(used in mortar); roca calcrea deleznable, sascab pepitas de calabaza
sak (sahk) adj. white; bianco n1 (see) n. firewood; lea
sak an (SAHK-ahn) n. com dough; masa sohol (SOH-hohl) n. debris (from plants), trash; basura
sak bok (SAHK bohk) n. heron (white); garza blanca de hojas secas, basura
saksa (SAHK-sah) n. atole (com gruel); commeal srtol (sohl) n. bark (tree); husk, shell; corteza;
beverage; atole; atole con cscara carapacho, cscara
sam (sahm) adv. rather, slightly; apenas, un poco sootz (soohtz) n. bat; murcilago
satp ah al (saht-PAH-hahl) in. v. disappear, get lost; soosook (SOH-OH-soh-ok) adj. tangled (in several
desaparecerse places); bagasse (short fiber residue of henequin);
satik (SAHT-eek) tr. v. lose; perderlo enredado; bagazo
satzik (SAHTZ-eek) tr. v. extend, stretch; estirarlo soosook (SOH-OH-soh-ok) n. bagasse (short fiber
sayab (SAHY-ahb) n. fountain, spring, source; fuente, residue of henequin); bagazo
ojo de agua suhuy (SOO-hooy) adj. intact; virgin; intacto; virgen
sayap h a (SAHY-ahp HA) n. well, spring; pozo, suhuy kax (SOO-hooy KAHSH) n. virgin forest;
ojo de agua monte virgen (nunca labrada)
sa (sah) n. atole (com gruel); commeal beverage; atole suhuy paal (SOO-hooy paahl) n. maiden; muchacha
seb (sehb) adv. quickly; rpido sukuu n (SOO-koo-oon) n. older brother; hermano
seb (sehb) in. v. hurry; estar de prisa mayor
sebak (SEHB-ahk) adj. quick; rpido supaan (SOO-pah-ahn) adj. blocked (with poles);
seb u m eyah (SEHB ooh MEHY-ah) adj. diligent; cerrado (con palos)
diligente supik (SOOP-eek) tr. v. block (a road); close; fence in
sekuntik (SEH-koon-teek) in. v. hurry; estar de prisa (with poles or posts); tapar (un camino); cerrarlo;
sen (sehn) adv. very (evaluates quantity); -simo, mucho cercar con postes o palos
senbesah (sehn-BEH-sah) tr. v. adom; adornar, sutik (SOO-teek) tr. v. retum ; devolverlo
ornamentar su u k (soook) adj. tame; accustomed; manso;
sen m a'alob (sehn MAH-AHL-ohb) adj. super, very acostumbrado
good; buensimo sukin bah (SOO-keen BAH) in. v. abstain;
sen utz (SEHN ootz) adj. very nice; buensimo, m uy bien abstenerse
seen (seh-ehn) n. cold, catarrh; catarro suum (sooom) n. lasso, rope; lazo, soga
seen ik (SEH-EHN-eek) tr. v. cough (dry); toser suut (sooot) in. v. return; regresar
sihbil (SEEB-eel) n. gift, present; regalo sulak (SOO-lahk) adj. ashamed, embarrassed;
sihik (SEE-heek) tr. v. give (as a gift); regalarlo avergenzada
sihil (SEE-heel) in. v. bom (to be); nacer sutal (SOO-tahl) n. dignity; dignidad
sim (seem) n. mucus; moco suuk (soo-ook) n. grass, hay; zacate
sinaa n (see-NAH-AHN) n. scorpion; escorpion suu tal (SOO-OO-tahl) n. em barrassment, shame;
sinik (SEEN-eek) n. ant; hormiga vergenza
siip/siip(il) (SEEEP/SEE-EEP-[eel]) n. error, fault; sin; suu tal (SOO-OO-tahl) in. v. be returned; thicken,
error, yerro, culpa, pecado become dense; devolver; espesar

74 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a se b o o k Maya-English D ictionary 75


T leech (teehch) 2nd p. s. pron. you; t
leen (teehn) 1st p. s. pron. I; m e ; jo; m e
ta ah a l (TAAH-hahl) adj. sliced; rabinado ten (tehn) prep. phr. to m e (contraction of ti and teen);
ta a k (taahk) aspect marker anxious; ansioso a mi
ta a k (taahk) in. v. want; querer, tener ganas le (teh) adv. here; all
ta ak in (TAAH-keen) n. gold; money; oro; dinero leela (TEH-EH-lah) adv. rig h t here; all
ta a k in al (TAAH-keen-ahl) adj. rich; rico leelo (TEH-EH-loh) adv. rig h t there; all
taal (taahl) in. v. come; venir llliil (TEE-heel) in. v. dry; secarse
ta am (taahm) adj. deep; low; profundo; hondo lilisik (TEE-seek) tr. v. dry; secarlo
t am a n (TAHM-ahn) n. liver; hgado IIII (teet) in. v. shake; sacudirse
t a n (tahn) n. frontafrente lilik (TEET-eek) tr. v. shake; sacudirlo
t a n (tahn) prep, before; delante, enfrente likin (TEE-keen) adj. dry; seco
tan il (TAHN-eel) prep, in front of; enfrente de lin tzel (TEEN tzehl) prep. phr. beside me (to my
taasik (TAAHS-eek) tr. v. bring; traerlo side); al lado de m
ta at(ah ) (TAAHT-[ah]) n. father; padre Ii (tee) prep, in, on, with, to; en, con, a
t ax (tahsh) adj. flat, smooth; llano, plano I ial (TEE-ahl) in. v. belonging to; for; suyo; para
ta h (tah) in. v. mature, ripen; cook (as in beans); (li) nooh ([tee] NOH-oh) re. phr. right (to the);
madurarse, sazonarse a la derecha
ta h al (TAH-hahl) in. v. bake; boil; cook; cocer por li teex (tee TEH-EHSH) prep, to you all; a ustedes
homo; hervir; cocer Ioh (toh) adj. direct, straight; derecho, recto, directo
tah al (TAH-hahl) tr. v. bake; boil; cook; cocerlo por lohol (TOH-hohl) re. price, value;precio
homo; hervirlo, cocerlo Iok (tohk) in. v. burn; quemar
tah ik (tah-eek) tr. v. slice; rabanar lokik (TOHR-eek) tr. v. lean; inclinar
ta k (tahk) prep, until; from; hasta; de, desde
tok tu u n ich (tohk TOOON-eech) re. flint, hard stone;
ta k dom ingo (tahk doh-MEENG-goh) prep, until
pedernal, piedra dura
Sunday; hasta el domingo
lokik (TOHK-eek) tr. v. bum ; quemarlo
tak an (TAH-kahn) adj. cooked; mature, ripe; cocido;
lolok (TOH-lohk) re. small lizard; lagartija pequea
maduro
loon (toohn) re. penis; pene, picha, verga
ta m an (TAH-mahn) n. cotton; algodn
lotkok (TOHT-kohk) re. deaf-mute; sordomudo
tam ax chi (TAH-mahsh CHEE) n. omen,
prognostication; agero loik (TOH-eek) tr. v. cover, wrap; cubrirlo
tanili (tahn-eel-EE) adv. already; ya, desde entonces, loon (toh-ohn) lstp. pi. pron. us, we; nosotros
antes de ahora luklik (TOOK-leek) tr. v. think; pensarlo
ta (tah) n. excrement, droppings; excremento, mierda lulakal (too-LAHK-ahl) adj. all; todo
ta ab (tah-ahb) re. salt; sal lum en (TOO-mehn) conj. because; by; porque; por
taabik (TAH-AHB-eek) tr. v. salt; salar lu nkuluch (toon-koo-loo-CHOO) re. owl; tecolote,
taakik (TAH-AHK-eek) tr. v. care for (take care ol), bho; spelled alternatively tu n k u ru ch
protect, hide, keep; cuidarlo, esconderlo, guardarlo (tu) p aach ([too] paahch) prep, behind; detrs de
taan (tah-ahn) re. lime (calcium carbonate, tupik (TOO-peek) tr. v. extinguish, put out (fire, light);
whitewash); cal kill; apagarlo; matarlo
ta aytak (TAH-AHY-tahck) prep, almost, about to, on lus beel (TOOS beehl) re. errand; encargo
the verge of; ya mero, inminente, casi Ius beel (TOOS beehl) tr. v. commission; comisionarlo
taik u bah (TAH-eek oo bah) refl. humiliate oneself; lusbeltik (toos-BEHL-teek) tr. v. order; mandarlo,
defecate on oneself; defecarse ordenarlo

76 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g u s h - M a y a ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Maya-English Dictionary 77


tusik (TOOS-eek) tr. v. lie (to someone), deceive tubik (TOOB-eek) tr. v. sink, submerge; hundirlo,
(someone); mentirle, engaarlo sumirlo
tu u c h a (TOOOCH-ah) re. monkey; mono tu u b u l/tubukbal (TOOO-bool/TOO-book-bahl)
tu u k u l (TOOOK-ool) n. thought, reason; razn, adj. submerged, sunken; hundido, sumido
pensamiento tu u p (tooop) n. little finger; dedo meique
tu u k u l (TOOOR-ool) in. v. think; pensar tuul (TOO-ool) re. rabbit; conejo
tu m b en (TOOM-behn) adj. fresh, new;fresco, nuevo
t u n (toon) adv. then; entonces
tu u n ich (TOOON-eech) n. rock, stone; piedra TZ
tu u n k u y (TOOON-kooy) n. heel; tacn, taln
t u n k ul (TOON-kool) n. drum (horizontal); tambor tzaatz (tzaahtz) re. fat, grease; unto, lo gordo de la carne
horizontl tzak aan (tzah-RAAHN) re. rattlesnake; culebra tipo
tu u s (tooos) n. falsehood; mentira de cascabel
tu u s (tooos) in. v. lie; mentir tzahbil (TZAHB-eel) adj. fried;frit
tuus (tooos) tr. v. deceive-, Jingir, engaar tzahik (TZAH-heek) tr. v. fry;/rerlo
t u x tik (TOOSH-teek) tr. v. send; enviarlo tzakbesah (tzahk-BEH-sah) tr. v. add; agregar, aadir,
tu 'u b (too-oob) in. v. forget; olvidar sumar
tu ubsik (TOO-OOB-seek) tr. v. forget; olvidarlo tzayneh (TZAHY-neh) tr. v. follow; seguirlo
tu ubul (TOO-OOB-ool) in. v. forget; olvidarse tzel (tzehl) re. side; lado
tu ux (too-oosh) inter, where?; dnde? tzeentik (TZEEHN-teek) tr. v. feed; rear, nourish,
support; darle la comida; criar, mantener, apoyar
tzimin (TZEE-meen) re. horse; caballo
T Izikbal (TZEER-bahl) tr. v. chat; platicar
tzikbatik (TZEER-baht-eek) tr. v. chat, discuss,
taah am (TAAH-hahm) n. callus, corn (on the body);
recount, tell; show; platicarlo, recontarlo; mostrarlo
callo
tzolik (TZOHL-eek) tr. v. explain; put in order;
taa n (taahn) re. language, speech, tongue; word;
explicarlo; ordenarlo
idioma, lengua; palabra
tzootz (tzoh-ohtz) re. hair; pelo
taan (taahn) in. v. speak; hablar, decir
tabik (TAHB-eek) tr. v. ignite, light; encenderlo, tzub (tzoob) re. agouti (Dasyprocta punctata); agut
incendiarlo
tan ik (TAHN-eek) tr. v. say; hablarlo, llamarlo
teel (teehl) re. comb (cocks); rooster; cresta del ave; TZ?
gallo
tiinil (TEEEN-eel) adj. extended; tense, stiff; tenso, tzaak (tzaahk) n. medicine; medicina
tieso tzaak seen (tzaahk SEH-ehn) re. cold medicine;
tokik (TOHR-eek) tr. v. cut (as in cutting fruit or medicina para catarro
leaves off a stem); gather; uproot; cortarlo (como de tzakik (TZAHR-eek) tr. v. heal; curarlo
cosecharfruta o cortar hojas de un palo); recoger, tzaay (TZAH-ahy) re. fang; colmillo
bajarlo; arrancarlo tzib (tzeeb) re. writing; escritura
ton (tohn) re. calf (of the leg); pantorilla de la pierna tzib (tzeeb) in. v. write; escribir
toxik (TOSH-eek) tr. v. distribute, share; repartirlo, tz'iboltik (TZEEB-ohl-teek) tr. v. imagine; wish,
distribuirlo desire; imaginarlo; desearlo
tool (toh-ohl) re. spine; espinazo tzibtik (TZEEB-teek) tr. v. write; escribirlo

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tzik (tzeek) tr. v. give; place, put; darlo; ponerlo ukah (OO-kah) adj. thirsty; tener sed
tzih kab (TZEE kahb) n. left hand; mano izquierdo ukul (OOK-ool) in. v. breakfast; drink; have;
tzis (tzees) in. v. copulate (dirty or crude desayunar; tomar
connotation); copular u pool n ah (oo POOHL nah) n. roof; techo
tzikaan (tzee-KAH-ahn) adj. shaven; afeitado us (oos) n. gnat; zancudito, jejn
tzikik (TZEEK-eek) tr. v. shave; afeitarlo ustik (OOS-teek) tr. v. blow (with mouth); soplar algo
tzokaan (TZOHK-ah-ahn) adj. done, ended, finished; con la boca
hecho, terminado, acab u ta kaax (0 0 tah KAAHSH) n. droppings (chicken);
tzokaan beel (TZOHK-ah-ahn beehl) in. v. married excremento de pollo
(to be); ser casado u ta m iis (oo tah MEEES) n. droppings (cat);
tzonik (TZOHN-eek) tr. v. shoot; hunt; dispararlo, excremento de gato
tirarlo; cazar u ta m iis (ooh tah MEES) n. sweepings; basura
tzon n al (TZOHN nahl) n. hunter; cazador barrida
tzonoot (TZOH-noh-oht) n. sinkhole; cenote utz (ootz) adj. good, just; bueno, justo
tzook (tzoohk) n. end, the last; leftover; elfin, utzkintik (ootz-KEEN-teek) Ir. v. improve, repair;
el ltimo; sobrante mejorarlo, repararlo
tzoon (tzoohn) n. firearm, gun, shotgun; arma de u ch b en (OOCH-behn) adj. old, ancient; antiguo
fuego, escopeta u chih (OOCH-ee) adv. long ago; anteriormente
tzoyaan (tzoy-AH-AHN) adj. skinny;^aco u ch u l (OOCH-ool) in. v. happen; pasar, suceder
tzookol beel (tzoh-OHK-ohl BEEHL) in. v. marry;
ulum (OO-loom) n. turkey (domesticated); pavo
casarse
urich (OOft-eech) n. snail (land); caracol de tierra
tzooksik (TZOH-OHK-seek) tr. v. finish; terminarlo
u yaal kab (oo YAAHL kahb) n. his/her nger;
tzoom (tzoh-ohm) n. brains; marrow; pith; sesos;
dedo de el/ella
medula
u yeh (oo yeh) n. blade; poinl^/i/o, afilado; punto
tzu n u u n (TZOO-noo-oon) n. hummingbird; colibr
u yeh kuchiiyoh (oo yeh koo-CHEEE-yoh) n. his knife
tzu u l (tzoool) n. foreigner, stranger; w hite m an/
blade; Sp. + Way-, filo de cuchillo
woman; extranjero; ladino
tzuutz (TZOO-ootz) in. v. kiss; smoke; suck; besar; u yeel toon (oo yeh-ehl-TOOHN) n. testicles; cojones,
fum ar; chupar testculos
tzuutzik (TZOO-ootz-eek) tr. v. kiss; smoke; suck; u uyik (OO-OOY-eek) tr. v. feel; hear, listen; perceive;
besar;fumarlo; chupar sentirlo; orlo, escucharlo; percibirlo
tzu uy (TZOO-ooy) adj. hard, leathery, tough;
correoso, duro
tzuuy pool (TZOO-OOY poohl) adj. dumb, stupid; w
estpido, tonto
w aach (waahch) n. soldier; soldado
w aah (waah) n. bread, tortilla; pan, tortilla
u w ah (wah) inter, if; si, en caso de
w ah . . . w ah (wah . . . wah) inter, either . . . or;
u hatzil chak (oo HAHTZ-eel CHAHK) n. lightning, o ... o
lightning bolt; relmpago, rayo, rayo de cielo w ah b aax (wah BAH-ahsh) n. something; algo
u hool n ah (oo HOH-OHL nah) n. roof; techo w ah m ax (wah MAHSH) n. someone; alguien
u k (ook) (hypothetical) n. seven; siete w ah tu ux (wah TOO-oosh) n. somewhere;
uk (ook) n. louse; piojo algn lugar

80 M a y a - E n g u s h / E n g l is h - M ay a ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Maya-English Dictionary 81


w aakal (WAAHK-ahl) adj. burst; exploded; reventado
X
w ayhel (WAAHY-hehl) n. animal counterpart, spirit
substitute; nahual, espritu
x (eesh) nominal honorific denoting feminine names,
w ach ik (WAHCH-eek) tr. v. untie; desatarlo, soltarlo she of; honorfico denotando nombres femeninos,
w ak (wahk) (hypothetical) n. six; seis ella d e ___
w ak (wahk) tr. v. offer, expose; ofrecer, exponer xiache (SHAHCH-eh ) n. comb; peine
w akax (WAHK-ahsh) n. bull; cattle; cow; ox; toro; xiachtik (SHAHCH-teek) tr. v. brush (ones hair);
ganado; vaca; buey comb; peinarse (el pelo)
w akik (WAHK-eek) n. net hammock; hamaca de red xaak (shaahk) n. basket (small); canasta pequea
w akik (WAHK-eek) tr. v. weave; tejer xantal (SHAHN-tahl) in. v. stick around; delay, tarry;
w ale (WAH-leh) adv. maybe, perhaps; tal vez, quiz tardarse, demorarse
w atzik (WAHTZ-eek) tr. v. bend ears of com; xam ach (SHAH-mahch) n. griddle (for tortillas); comal
doblar el maz xam an (SHAH-mahn) n. north; norte
w axak (WAH-shahk) (hypothetical) n. eight; ocho xam an k aan (shah-mahn KAH-AHN) n. north wind;
w ayak (WAHY-ahk) n. dream; sueo cierzo, viento del norte
w ayak (WAHY-ahk) in. v. dream; soar xan (shahn) adv. also; tambin
w aye (WAH-yeh) adv. here; aqu xanab (SHAH-nahb) n. footwear, sandal, shoe; zapato,
w ayile (wahy-EEL-eh) n. phr. local, native; es de aqu guarache
w aak (wah-ahk) tr. v. offered; ofrecido xanal (SHAHN-ahl) in. v. late (to be); tardarse
w aak u bah (WAH-AHK oo bah) refl. v. stand; pararse xaak tik (SHAH-AHK-teek) tr. v. mix up, jumble;
w aal (wah-ahl) in. v. stop; stand up; pararse; mezclarlo, revolverlo
ponerse de pie xaan (shah-ahn) n. palm thatch; palmo para techo,
w aalen (WAH-AHL-ehn) imper. stop!; alto! prale! guano
w aaltal (WAH-AHL-tahl) imper. stand up!; pongase xaanil n ah (SHAH-AHN-eel NAH) n. thatched house;
de pie! casa de paja
w abal (WAH-bahl) adj. walking (on foot); still (not xaanil pook (SHAH-AHN-eel POOHK) n. straw hat;
moving); stopped; de pie; inmvil; parado sombrero de paja
w eech (WEEHCH) n. armadillo; armadillo xch u p (eesh-CHOOP) n. woman; mujer
w eehel/w eekel (WEEH-hehl/WEEH-kehl) adj. spilled; xchupal (eesh-CHOOP-ahl) n. girl; muchacha, nia
derramado xch upul xib (eesh-CHOOP-ool SHEEB) n. gay
w ekik (WEH-keek) tr. v. spill; derremarlo m an (homosexual); homosexual; maricn
w ekik ha (WEH-keek HAH) tr. v. spill (water); (derogatory), waco
derramar agua xeen (sheehn) imper. go!; vaya!
w enel (WEHN-ehl) in. v. sleep; dormir xeen teelo (sheehn TEH-EH-loh) imper. beat it!,
w iinik (WEEEN-eek) n. man, person; hombre, persona scram!; vyate!
w inkil (WEENK-eel) n. body; cuerpo xet (sheht) n. bit, piece, portion; pedazo
wiix (weeesh) n. urine; orina xeh (sheh) n. vomit; vmito
wiix (weeesh) in. v. urinate; orinar xeh (sheh) in. v. vomit; vomitar
xiib (sheeeb) n. male, man; varn, macho, hombre
wiih (WEE-ee) adj. hungry; tener hambre
xiibil (sheeeb-eel) n. penis; pene
wolis (WOHL-ees) adj. roimd; redondo
xiibil tzootz (sheeeb-eel TZOH-OHTZ) n. m ans
w ol a kab (wohl AH kahb) n. fist; puo
hairstyle; pelo de macho
w utzik (WOOTZ-eek); tr. v. bend, fold; plegarlo,
xiich (sheeech) n. tendon, sinew; nerve; tendn; nervio
doblarlo
xiik (sheeek) n. armpit; wing; sobaco; ala

82 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k
Maya-English D ictionary 83
xim bal (SHEEM-bahl) in. v. go, walk; andar, caminar xiiux (shooosh) re. wasp; avispa
xim batik (SHEEM-BAHT-eek) tr. v. visit; visitarlo xiiux (shoosh) re. basket (large); canasta grande
xiw (sheew) n. herb (medicinal); hierba (medicinal) xuuxub (SHOOO-shoob) in. v. w histle; chiflar, silbar
xikik (SHEEK-eek) tr. v. break; crack; reventarlo, xuuk (shoo-ook) re. landm ark, marker stones; comer
quebrarlo, romperlo of eye; mojn, mojones; rincn del ojo
xikin (SHEE-keen) n. ear; oreja xuupi (SHOO-OO-pee) adj. u sed up; gastado
xikin kaak (shee-keen KAAHK) re. spark; chispa xuupi (SHOO-OO-pee) par. u sed up; se gast
xiik (shee-eek) in. v. might go; vaya xw aach (eesh-WAAHCH) re. Mexican (female);
xiim (shee-eem) n. com; m az mexicna
xiipal (SHEE-EE-pahl) n. boy, youth; muchacho, joven xway (eesh-WAHY) re. witch; bruja
x kaax (EESH-kaahsh) n. hen; gallina xyaaxkach (eesh-YAH-AHSH-kahch) n. housefly;
xkoonol (eesh-KOOH-nohl) n. vendor (female), mosca
saleswoman; vendedora
xkan h o ol (eesh-RAHN-hoh-ohl) n. folded cloth
used as pillow; almohada de tela doblada Y
xm a (EESH-mah) prep, lacking, without; faltando, sin
xm a nook (EESH-mah nook) adj. naked; desnudo
ynah (yaah) re. hurt, pain; dolor
x n u u k (eesh-NOOOK) ti. old woman; vieja
y aakuntik (yaah-ROON-teek) tr. v. love; amarlo
xok (shohk) tr. v. count; contar
yaan (yaahn) adv. there is/there are; hay
xokik (SHOHK-eek) tr. v. count, read, study; contarlo
yaan (yaahn) in. v. have; tener
xook (shoohk) tr. v. read; leer
yianal (YAH-nahl) adv. below, beneath; abajo,
xotik (SHOH-teek) tr. v. cut, slice; cortarlo
xotik si (SHOH-teek see) tr. v. cut firewood; cortar lea debajo de
xtab ay/xtabay (eesh-TAH-bahy/eesh-TAH-bahy) yitanal xiik (YAH-nahl SHEEEK) re. armpit; sobaco
n. female demon, female ghost; duende feminino, yiax (yahsh) prep, first; prior; primero; previo
demonio feminino, maligno feminino yiaxil (YAHSH-eel) adj. first; primero
xtu u p (eesh-TOOOP) n. sister (youngest); last female yah (yah) adj. difficult, hard; painful; difcil, duro;
child in family; hermana menor; ltima nia doloroso
del fam ilia ya (yah) re. sapote; zapote
xtu u t (eesh-TOOOT) re. parrot; loro, perico yaab (yah-ahb) adj. lot (a), much, many; mucho(s)
xtzaa k (eesh-TZAAHK) re. female doctor, physician; yaaboob (YAH-AHB-oh-ohb) phr. they are many;
doctora, mdica son muchos
x u n a n (SHOO-nahn) re. foreigner (female), stranger, yaakach (YAH-AH-kahch) adj. many; muchos
w om an (foreign); lady; white woman; extranjera; yaax (yah-ahsh) adj. blue; green; azul; verde
ladina yeeb (yeehb) re. mist; fog; dew; neblina, roco
x u k u m (eesh-OO-koom) re. mourning dove; palorrui ytfetel (YEH-tehl) prep, with; together; core; juntos
xuul (shoool) re. end; cabo, fin yeex koolel (yeehsh KOH-OHL-ehl) n. underpants;
xul (shool) re. stick (for planting), seeder; coa, pantaletas, calzones
sembrador yih (yeeh) adj. ripe (for the picking); sazonado
x u u lab (SHOOO-lahb) re. ant (army); hormiga soldado yihtal (YEEH-tahl) tr. v. ripen; sazonarse
x u u n (shooon) re. dear (what a husband calls his wife); yon (YOHN) re. foam; espuma
cario yoom (yoh-ohm) adj. pregnant; embarazada
x u u p ul (SHOOO-pool) adj. consumed, used up; yoom chahtal (yoh-ohm-CHAH-tahl) in. v. pregnant
se gast (to become); embarazarse

84 M a y a - E n g l is ii/ E n g l is h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Maya-English Dictionary 85


yuntzil (YOON-tzeel) pi. n. forest spirit, invisible
spirits; dueo del monte, espritus invisibles
yuuk (yoook) n. deer (small); fawn; venado pequeo; ENGLISH-MAYA
cervato
yultik (YOOL-teek) tr. v. polish, rub; bruirlo,
DICTIONARY
frotarlo
yuum (yooom) n. father; gentleman; lord; man; god;
owner; padre; caballero; seor; hombre; dios; dueo

i (long thing) adj. huntzit (hoon-TZEET); una)


(cosa larga)
a (person or anim al) adj. huntul (lioon-TOOL);
un(a) (persona o animal)
a (thing) adj. hum pel (hoom-PEHL); un(a) (cosa)
a (tree) adj. hunkul (hoon-KOOL); un(a) (rbol)
ab andon tr. v. nak (nahk); abandonar
abdom en n. nak (nahk); barriga, panza, estmago
ability n. pat (paht); habilidad, capacidad
able, to b e able to adj. patal (PAH-tahl); poder
about to prep, taaytak (TA H-AH Y-tahek); y a mero,
inminente
above adv., prep, kaanal (KAH-AHN-ahl); arriba
abstain in. v. sukin bah (SOO-keen BAH);
abstenerse
accept (a proposition) tr. v. ketik (KEH-teek); aceptar
(una proposicin)
accident n. loob (loohb); accidente
accustom ed adj. suuk (soook); acostumbrado
accustom ed to (becom e) tr. v. naptzah (NAHP-tzah);
acostumbrarlo, habituarlo
achiote (red food dye; an n atto ) n. kiwi (KEE-wee),
kuxu (KOO-shoo); achiote
acidic adj. pah (pah); cido
add tr. v. tzakbesah (tzahk-BEH-sah); agregar,
aadir, sumar
adjust tr. v. nuukbesah (noook-BEH-sah); ajustar,
arreglar, componer
adorn tr. v. senbesah (sehn-BEH-sah); adornar,
ornamentar
affair n. beel (beehl); asunto

86 M ay a - E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M a y a ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k 87
afterw ard adv. kaakat(e) (KAH-AH-kah-t[e]); an te a te r n. chab (chahb); oso hormiguero
al rato, un poco despus, ms tarde anus n. iit (eeet); ano
again adv. kaah (kah-ah); otra vez, de nuevo anxious aspect m arker taak (taahk); ansioso
agave n. kih (kee); maguey anyone pron. h ee max (heh-eh MAHSH); cualquier
age n. (u) haabil ([oo] HAH-AHB-eel); edad persona
age in. v. chiih (cheeeh); hacer viejo approach in. v. naatzal (NAA \ iTZ-ah l); acercar
agouti (D asyprocta p u n cta ta ) n. tzub (tzoob); agut appro ach tr. v. naatzik (NAAHTZ-eek); acercarlo
air n. iik (eeek); aire arb o r n. m akan (MAHK-ahn);enramada
alive adj. kuxaan (KOO-shah-ahn); vivo are a n. baanda (BAAHND-ah); banda
all adj. hol (hohl), lah (lah), tulakal (too-LAHR- arise in. v. likil (LEEK-eel); levantarse
ahl); todo arm n. kab (kahb); brazo
alligator n. ayin (AAHY-een); cocodrilo arm adillo n. weech (WE E HCII); armadillo
allow tr. v. cha (chah), cha(ik) (CHAH-[eek]); dejar, arm pit n. xiik (sheeek); sobaco
permitir arrive in. v. kuchul (KOOCH-ool); llegar
alm ost adv. asab (AH-sahb); casi, por poco asham ed adj. sulak (SOO-lahk); avergenzada
alm ost prep, taaytak (TAH-AHY-tahck); ya mero, ask for tr. v. katik (KAHT-eek); pedirlo, preguntarlo
inminente, casi at prep, ti (tee); en
a lot adj. hach yaab (HAHCH yah-ahb); mucho atole (co m gruel) n. sa (sah), saksa (SAHR-sah);
already adv. sam (sahm);ya, listo atole; atole con cscara
already adv. tanil (tahn-eel-EE);ya, desde entonces, attain tr. v. chukik (CHOOR-eek); alcanzarlo,
antes de ahora conseguir
also adv. xan (shahn); tambin
avocado n. oon (oohn); aguacate
altar n. kaanche (KAH-AHN-cheh), tem (tehm); altar
aw ake n. ahal (AH-hahl); despierto
although conj. kex (kehsh); aunque
aw aken in. v. ahal (AH-hahl); despertarse
always adv. layli(e) (lahy-LEE-[eh]); siempre
aw aken tr. v. ahal (AH-hahl); despertarlo
am use tr. v. baxal (BAHSH-ahl); entretener, divertir
ax n. bat (baht); hacha
ancient adj. uchben (OOCH-behn); antiguo
an d conj. kaah (kah-ah), yetel (VEil-Lehl); j
angered adj. puuhul (POOO-hool); enojado
angry adj. kax (kahsh); enojado
B
anim al (dom estic) n. aalak (AAHL-ahk); animal
domstico baby n. chaampal (chaahm-PAHL); nio/nia, beb
anim al (wild) n. baalche (BAH-AHL-che); animal back n. paach (paahch); espalda, lomo
silvestre bad adj. kaas (kaahs); malo
anim al cou n terp art n. wayhel (WAAHY-hehl); bag n. sabukaan (SAAH-boo-kaahn); bolsa, morral
nahual, espritu bagasse (short fiber residue of heneq u in ) n.
an n atto (red food dye; also achiote) n. kiwi soosook (SOH-OH-soh-ohk) bagazo
(KEE-wee), kuxu (ROO-shoo); achiote bake in. v. tahal (TAH-hahl); cocer por horno
answ er tr. v. nukik (NOOK-eek); contestarlo, bake tr. v. tahal (TAH-hahl); cocer por horno
responderlo ban an a n. haas (hah-ahs); pltano
an t n. sinik (SEEN-eek); hormiga bar-b-que p it n. pib (peeb); barbacoa, hom o
an t (arm y) n. xuulab (SHOOO-lahb); hormiga soldado bark (tree) n. sol (sohl); corteza
an t (biting) n. popoxkan (poh-pohsh-KAHN); hormiga base n. chuun (chooon), hal (hahl), iit (eeet); raz,
que muerde principio; base

88 M aya- E n g u s h / E n g l is h - M a y a ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Mava Dictionary 89


basket (sm all) n. xaak (shaahk); canasta pequea beside m e (to my side) prep. phr. tin tzel (TEEN
basket (large) n. xux (shoosh); canasta grande tzehl); al lado de m
bat n. sootz (soohtz); murcilago big adj. nohoch (NOH-hohch), nuuktak (NOOOK-tahk);
bathe in. v. ichkil (EECH-keel); baarse gran, grande
bat (vam pire) n. chikoop (CHEE-koohp); murcilago big (pi.) adj. nukuch (NOO-kooch); grandes
de vampiro bird ti. chich (cheech), m ut (moot); ave, pjaro
be able to adj. patal (PAH-tahl); poder bird (chachalaca) n. bach (bahch); pjaro que se
beak n. koh (koh); pico llaman chachalaca
bean n. buul (boo-oo]);/riyo/ bit n. xet (sheht); pedazo
bean (lima) n. iib (eeeb),frijol de lima bit (a) n. hum pit (HOOM peet); un poco
beard n. m eex (meh-ehsh); barba bite in. v. chiibal (CHEE-EE-bahl); morder
beat tr. v. hatzik (HAHTZ-eek); golpearlo, azotarlo, biting adj. paapil (PAAHP-eel); picante
pegarlo bitter adj. kah (kah); amargo
b eat in. v. puuch (poooch); batear black adj. box (bohsh); ek (ehk); negro
beat it! imper. xeen teelo (sheehn-TEH-EH-loh); blade n. u yeh (oo yeh);.//o, afilado
vyate! blind adj. chop (choohp); ciego
beat (w ith a stick) tr. v. puchik (POOCH-eek); block (a road) tr. v. supik (SOOP-eek); tapar
golpearlo con palo (un camino)
beautiful adj. hatzutz (HAHTZ-ootz); hermoso, blocked (w ith poles) adj. supa an (SOO-pah-ahn);
bonito, bello cerrado (con palos)
b eau ty n. hatzutzil (HAHTZ-ootz-eel); belleza blond adj. chakxich (CHAHK-sheech), chel (chehl);
because conj. turnen (TOO-mehn); porque gero
becom e accustom ed to tr. v. naptzah (NAHP-tzah); blond child n. chan chel (CHAHN chehl); nio gero
acostumbrarlo, habituarlo blood n. kiik (kee-eek); sangre
bedbug n. pik (peek); chinche blow ti. loobil (LOOHB-eel); golpe
bee n. kaab (kaahb); abeja blow (w ith m outh) tr. v. ustik (OOS-teek); soplar algo
b eer n. cheba (CHEHB-ah); cerveza con la boca
b eer (ferm ented honey) n. balche (BAHL-cheh); blue adj. yaax (yah-ahsh); azul
balche blue jay n. chel (chehl); arredajo
before prep, tan (tahn); delante, enfrente boa constrictor n. och kaan (OHCH kaahn); culebra
begin tr. v. chuunik (CHOOON-eek), kahsik (KAH- tipo de boa
seek); empezarlo, comenzarlo boar n. kitam (KEE-tahm);/a>aZ, puerco del monte
beginning n. chuun (chooon); raz, principio, origen (Pcari tajacu)
behind prep, (tu) paach ([too] paahch); detrs de boat n. cheem (cheehm); barco
belly n. nak (nahk); barriga, panza, estmago body n. winkil (WEENK-eel); cuerpo
belonging to in. v. tial (TEE-ahl); suyo boil in. v. tahal (TAH-hahl); hervir
below adv. kaabal (KAAHB-ahl), yanal (YAAH-nahl); boil tr. v. tahal (TAH-hahl); hervir
abajo bone ti. bak (bahk); hueso
belt n. kaxab nak (KAHSH-ahb nahk); cinturn book n. huun (hoo-oon); libro
bend tr. v. wutzik (WOOTZ-eek); plegarlo b o m (to be) in. v. sihil (SEE-heel); nacer
bend (ears of com ) tr v. watzik (WAHTZ-eek); borrow ed adj. m ahan (MAH-hahn); prestado
doblar el maz bosom n. iim (eeem); seno, pecho
ben eath adv. yanal (YAH-nahl); debajo de boss ti. noohoch-(il) (NOOH-hoch-[EEL]); jefe

90 M aya- E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya Dictionary 91


b o th e r tr. v. puuhsik (POO-OO-seek); alborotarlo, bull n. wakax (WAHR-ahsh); toro
molestarlo bullfight n. pay wakax (pahy WAHR-ahsh); torear,
b o th ered adj. puuhul (POOO-hool); molestado corrida de toros
bottle gourd (Legonaria siceraria) n. chuh (chooh); bu rd en n. kuuch (koooch); carga
calabaza para llevar agua, calabaza vinatera b u m in. v. elel (ehl-ehl), tok (tohk); quemarse, arderse
b ottom n. iit (eeet); base b u rn tr. v. tokik (TOHR-eek); quemarlo
bounce in. v. sit (seet); saltar, brincar burst in. v. w aakal (WAAHR-ahl); reventar
bow er n. m akan (MAH-kahn); enramada burst tr. v. xikik (SHEER-eek); reventarlo
boy n. pal (pahl); xiipal (SHEE-EE-pahl); nio; bury tr. v. mukik (MOOR-eek); enterrarlo, sepultarlo
muchacho busted adj. kaachaal (kaah-CHAH-ahl); quebrado
brains n. tzoom (TZOH-ohm); sesos butterfly n. pepem (PEHP-ehm); mariposa
b ran ch n. kab (kahb); rama bu tto ck n. bakel iit (BAHR-ehl EEET); pu ukil iit
b rea d n. w aah (waah); pan (POO-OOR-eel EEET); nalga
b reak tr. v. paik (PAH-eek); xikik (SHEEK-eek); buy tr. v. manik (MAHN-eek); comprarlo
romperlo, quebrarlo; reventarlo buzzard n. choom (choohm); busardo
breakfast (to have) in. v. ukul (OOR-ool); desayunar by conj. turnen (TOO-mehn); por
b rea k (long things) tr. v. kachik (RAH-cheek); quebrar
cosas largas
b rea k o u t (in a rash) tr. v. ixbal (EESH-bahl); tener c
roncha
b reak w ind in. v. kiis (keees); echar pedos cactus (prickly pear) n. pakam (PAHK-ahm);
b reast n. iim (eeem); seno, pecho nopal, tuna
b reath e tr. v. chaiik/c h aik iik (CHAH-eeekV caim an n. ayin (AHY-een); caimn
CHAH-eek EEER); respirar calf (of the leg) n. ton (toohn); pantorilla de
b ring tr. v. chaik (CHAH-eek); taasik (TAAHS-eek); la pierna
traerlo call tr. v. pay (pahy); llamar
b road adj. koch (kohch); ancho callus n. taaham (TAAH-hahm); callo
b roken adj. kaachaal (kaah-CHAH-ahl); quebrado can in. v. ku pahtal (koo PAH-tahl); se puede
broom n. miis (mees); escoba candle n. kib (keeb); candela, vela
broth n. kaab/kaa' (kaahb/kaah), kol (kohl); caldo candy n. chuhuk (CHOO-hook); dulce
b ro th er (older) n. sukuun (SOO-koo-oon); hermano cane liquor (com m ercial) n. aanis (AAHN-ees);
mayor Sp. loanword; ans, aguardiente
b ro th er (tru e sibling) n. laktzil (LAHR-tzeel); cannot in. v. m a tu pahtal (mah too PAH-tahl);
hermano verdadero no se puede
b ro th er (younger) n. itzin (EETZ-een); hermano canoe n. chem (chehm); canoa
menor can teen (bottle gourd) n. chuh (chooh); calabaza
b ro th er (youngest) n. htuup (ah-TOOOP); hermano para llevar agua, calabaza vinatera
menor cape (article of clothing) adj. hay (hahy); capa
bruise in. v. puchik (POOCH-eek); magullar cap tu red adj. chukaan (CHOO-kah-ahn); capturado
brush n. kax (kahsh);yerba, monte, bosque care for (take care of) tr. v. kanantik (RAHN-ahn-
b rush (ones hair) tr. v. xachtik (SHAHCH-teek); teek), taakik (TAH-AHR-eek); cuidarlo, guardarlo
peinarse (el pelo) carry (on th e back) tr. v. kuchik (ROOCH-eek);
bucket n. choy (chohy); cubeta, cubo cargarlo (en la espalda), llevarlo
building n. nahil (NAH-eel); edificio case n. pix (peesh); caja, vaina

92 M aya - E n g l ish / E n g u s h - M a ya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya Dictionary 95


cat n. miis (meees); gato clear (of objects) adj. hanil (HAHN-eel); limpio
ca ta rrh n. seen (seh-ehn); catarro (de objetos)
catch tr. v. chukik (CHOOK-eek); alcanzarlo, pescarlo climb tr. v. n aakal (NAH-AHK-ahl); subir
catch up (w ith som eone) tr. v. chukpachtik (chook- clitoris n. ak (ahk); clitoris
PACH-teek); alcanzar alguien cloak adj. hay (hahy); capa
cat droppings n. u ta mis (oo tah MEES); excremento close tr. v. kalik (KAHL-eek), supik (SOOP-eek);
de gato cerrarlo
catfish n. hi (loo); bagre closed adj. kaalal (KAAHL-ahl); cerrado
cattle n. wakax (WAHK-ahsh); ganado clothes, clothing n. nook (noohk); ropa
cave n. aktun (AHK-toon); cueva cloud n. mu(n)yal (MOO[N]-yahl); nube
cavy (spotted) (rodent, Cuniculus paca) n. haaleb cloudy adj. nokoy (NOHK-ohy); nublado
(HAAHL-ehb); tapescuintle cloudy (liquid) adj. puuk (poook); turbio
cen ter n. chumuk (CHOOM-ook); centro coatim undi (N asua n arica yu ca ta n ica ) n. chiik
change tr. v. kexik (KEHSH-eek); cambiarlo (chee-eek); coatimundi
changed adj. keexel (KEEHSH-ehl); cambiado, cob n. bakal (BAHK-ahl); hueso del maz, elote
trocado coffee n. boxha (BOHSH-hah), kaapeh (KAAH-peh);
charcoal n. chuk (chook); carbn caf
ch a t tr. v. tzikbal (TZEEK-bal), tzikbatik (TZEEK- coil tr. v. toik (TOH-eek); rollarlo
baht-eek); platicar, platicarlo coil (rope) tr. v. kopik (KOH-peek); enrollar soga
cheap adj. m a koohi (MAH koh-oh-hee); barato cold adj. sus (sees)\fro
chew tr. v. hachik (HAHCH-eek); mascarlo cold n. seen (seh-ehn); catarro
chicken n. kaax (kaahsh);polio cold m edicine n. tzaak seen (tzaahk SEH-ehn);
chicken (baked) n. pibil kaax (PEEB-eel kaahsh); medicina para catarro
polio pibil cold (m eteorological) adj. keel (keh-ehl);,/h'o
chicken droppings n. u ta kaax (OO tah KAAHSH); com b n. xache (SHAHCH-eh); peine
excremento de pollo com b (cocks) n. teel (teehl); cresta del ave
chicken (fried) n. tzahbil kaax (TZAHB-eel KAAHSH); com b tr. v. xachlik (SHAHCI I-teek); peinarse
(el pelo)
polio frito
come! imp. kooten (KOH-OH-tehn); vengase!
child n. chaampal (chaahm-PAHL), paal (paahl);
com e in. v. taal (taahl); venir
nio(a), beb, menor
com e o ut in. v. hokol (HOHK-ohl); manifestarse
chile n. iik (eeek); chile, aj
com m ission tr. v. tus beel (TOOS beehl); comisionarlo
chin n. ko nooch (KOH noh-ohch); barbilla
com plete adj. chukaan (CHOOK-ah-ahn);
chocolate n. chukwa (CHOOK-wah); chocolate
completo
cigar n. sak (sahk); cigarra
com plete tr. v. chukbesik (CHOOK-beh-seek);
cigarette n. chamal (CHAHM-ahl); cigarro, cigarrillo
completarlo, terminarlo
cistern n. cheen (CHEH-ehn); cisterna com pletely adv. hum puli (hoom POO-lee);
citrus fruit n. pakal (PAHK-ahl); ctricos completamente
claw n. ichak (EE-chahk); ua consum (chicken) n. kaldo kaax (KAHL-doh
clean adj. hanil (HAHN-eel); sak (sahk); limpio KAAHSH); Sp. + Maya; caldo de pollo
clean tr. v. mistik (MEES-teek), utzkintik (OOTZ-keen- consum ed adj. xuupul (SHOOO-pool); gastarse
teek); limpiarlo co ntent adj. kiimak ol (KEE-EE-mahk OHL);
clear adj. sas (sahs); claro contento
clear tr v. pak (pahk); chapear, desherbar convenient adj. ki (kee); conveniente

94 M a y a- E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k
English-Maya Dictionary 95
cook in. v., tr. v. tahal (TAlI-hahl); cocer cut firewood tr. v. xotik si (SHOH-teek see);
cook (as in beans) in. v. tah (tah); madurarse, sazonarse cortar lea
cooked adj. takan (TAH-kahn); cocido cut w ith a blow tr. v. chakik (CHAHK-eek); cortarlo
cooking pit (bar-b-que pit) n. pib (peeb); barbacoa, con un golpe
homo, pib cut w ith scissors tr. v. kosik (KOHS-eek); cortarlo
cool adj. kas keel (KAHS keh-ehl), sis (sees); medio con tijera
frio;frio cyclone n. chak-ikat (chahk-EEK-aht); huricn; cicln
copulate in. v. tzis (tzees); copular
co m n. xiim (shee-eem); maz
co m (dough) n. sakan (SAHK-ahn); masa D
co m (ear oi) n. nal (nahl); elote
corner (of eye) n. xuuk (SHOO-ook); rincn del ojo daily adv. sansamal (SAHN-sah-mahl); diario,
cornfield (personal) n. kool (koohl); milpa cada da
co m m eal n. sakan (SAHK-ahn); masa de maz dance n. okot (OH-koht); baile.
co m m eal beverage n. sa (sah), saksa (SAHK-sah); dance in. v. okot (OH-koht); bailar
dangerous adj. hach kaas u bin (HAHCH kaahs oo
atole, atole con cscara
BEEN); peligroso
co m (on th e body) n. taaham (TAAH-hahm); callo
d ark adj. ehocheen (eh-HOHCH-eh-ehn); oscuro
cotton n. taman (TAH-mahn); algodn
daw n n. sastal (SAHS-tahl); amanecer
cotton (com bed) n. piitz (peeetz); algodn desmotado
day ti. kiin (keeen); da
cough (dry) tr. v. seen (seh-ehn); toser
day after tom orrow n. kaabeh (KAH-AHB-eh);
count tr. v. xok (shohk); xokik (SHOHK-eek); contar;
la maana siguiente
contarlo
dead adj. kimen (KEE-mehn); muerto
cover n. pix (peesh); tapa, vaina deaf adj. kok (kohk); sordo
cover tr. v. toik (TOH-eek); cubrirlo deaf-m ute n. totkok (TOHT-kohk); sordomudo
cow n. wakax (WAHK-ash); vaca d ear (w hat a husband calls his wife) n. xuun
coyote n. cham ak/chomak (CHAHM-ahk/ (shooon); cario
CHOHM-ahk); coyote debris (from plants) n. sohol (SOH-hohl); basura,
crab n. bab (BAHB); cangrejo basura de hojas secas
crack tr. v. xikik (SHEEK-eek); quebrarlo, romperlo deceive tr. v. kechtik (KEHCH-teek); tusik (TOOS-eek);
crocodile n. ayin (AHY-een); cocodrilo tuus (tooos); embaucarlo; engaarlo; fingir, engaar
crossed adj. kaatal (KAAH-tahl); cruzado deep adj. taam (taahm); profundo, hondo
crow ded adj. babahkil (BAHB-ahk-eel); atestado deer n. keh (keh); venado
cm sh in. v. puchik (POOHCH-eek); despachurrar deer (small) n. yuuk (yoook); venado pequeo
cm sh tr. v. petzik (PEHTZ-eek); apretar delay in. v. xantal (SHAHN-tahl); demorarse
cry in. v. okol (OHK-ohl); llorar delicate adj. lukum (LOOH-koom); delicado
cu rer n. hm een (ah-MEEHN); curandero deliver tr. v. kubik (KOOB-eek); entregarlo
curse tr. v. maldisyontik (MAHL-dees-yohn-TEEK); dem on (female) n. xtabay/xtabay (eesh-TAH-bahy/
Sp. + Maya; maldecirlo eesh-TAH-bahy); duende feminino, demonio
custard apple (soursop) n. op (ohp); anona feminino, maligno feminino
cut tr. v. xotik (SHOH-teek); cortarlo dense (becom e) in. v. suutal (SOO-OO-tahl); espesar
cut (as in cutting fruit or leaves off a stem ) tr. v. tokik descend in. v. emel (EHM-ehl); bajarse
(TOHK-eek); cortarlo desire tr. v. tziboltik (TZEEB-ohl-teek); desearlo
cu t b ru sh tr. v. paktik (PAHK-teek); chapearlo d etain tr. v. petzik (PEHTZ-eek); detener

96 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya Dictionary 97


detest tr. v. pektik (PEHK-teek); odiarlo dove (m ourning) n. xukum (eesh-OO-koom);
devil n. kisin (KEES-een); diablo paloma
dew n. yeeb (yeehb); roco d ream n. wayak (WAHY-ahk); sueo
die in. v. kfimil (KEE-meel); morir d ream in. v. nay (nahy); wayak (WAHY-ahk); soar
different adj. heel (heehl); helaan (HEH-lah-ahn); d ren ch tr. v. chulik (CHOOL-eek); remojarlo
diferente dress n. nook (noohk); ropa
difficult adj. yah (yah); difcil dress (native w om ans) n. iipil (EEEP-eel); hupil
dig tr. v. panik (PAHN-eek); cavarlo dress (put on clothes) tr. v. bukintik (boo-KEEN-
digging stick n. lob (lohb); coa teek); vestirse, ponerlo ropa
dignity n. sutal (SOO-tahl); dignidad dried adj. haykintaan (hahy-KEEN-tah-ahn); seco
diligent adj. seb u meyah (SEHB ooh MEHY-ah); drink in. v. ukul (OOK-ool); beber, tomar
diligente droppings (cat) n. u ta mis (oo tah MEES);
dim inish tr. v. hatzik (HAHTZ-eek); disminuir excremento de gato
d inner n. ooch (OH-ohch); comida droppings (chicken) n. u ta kaax-(00 tah KAAHSH);
d irect adj. toh (toh); derecho, recto, directo excremento de pollo
d irect/directly adv. naapul (NAAH-pool); directo, d ru m (horizontal) n. tunkul (TOON-kool); tambor
inmediato horizontal
dirt n. luum (loo-oom); suelo, tierra d ru n k adj. kalaan (KAH-lah-ahn); borracho
dirty adj. ek (ehk); sucio d ru n k (to becom e) in. v. kaltal (KAHL-tahl);
d isap p ear in. v. satpahal (saht-PAH-hahl); emborracharse
desaparecerse dry adj. tikin (TEE-keen); seco
discuss tr. v. tzikbatik (TZEEK-baht-eek); platicarlo dry in. v. tihil (TEE-heel); secarse
dislike tr. v. pektik (PEHK-teek); odiarlo dry tr. v. tihsik (TEE-seek); secarlo
disrobe tr. v. pitik (PEE-teek); desnudarse, quitar dry (in th e sun) tr. v. haykintik (hahy-KEEN-teek);
la ropa secarlo (en el sol)
distance n. nachil (NAHCH-eel); distancia dum b adj. tzuuy pool (TZOO-OOY poohl); estpido,
distant adj. nach (nahch); lejos tonto
distinct adj. helaan (HEH-lah-ahn); distinto dusk n. bin ka akabtal (been kah AHK-ahb-tahl);
distribute tr. v. toxik (TOHSH-eek); repartirlo, anochecer
distribuirlo dye n. bon (bohn); tinta, pintura
divide tr. v. hatzik (HAHTZ-eek); dividirlo, partirlo
do tr. v. betik (BEH-teek); hacer
doctor (fem ale) n. xtzaak (eesh-TZAAHK); doctora, E
mdica
doctor (m ale) n. htzaak (ah-TZAAHK); doctor, mdico eagle n. m en (mehn); aguila
dog n. peek (peehk); perro e a r n. xikin (SHEE-keen); oreja
doll n. aalnook (AAHL-noohk); mueca earlier adv. kaach (kah-ahch); antiguamente,
dom estic anim al n. aalak (AAHL-ahk); mascota, entonces
animal domstico earlier today adv. behlaak (BEH-lah-ahk); hoy
dom esticate tr. v. aalaktik (aahl-AHK-teek); criarlo, anteriormente
crecerlo early adv. hatzkab kiin (hahtz-kahb KEEEN);
done adj. tzokaan (TZOllK-ah-ahn); hecho, temprano, la maana
terminado, acab earth n. kaab (kaahb), luum (loo-oom); tierra; mundo

98 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya Dictionary 99


earth (white, used in m ortar) n. sahkab/saskab exploded in. v. waakal (WAAHK-ahl); reventado
(SAHK-ahb/SAHS-kahb); roca calcrea deleznable, expose tr. v. wak (wahk); exponer
sascab ex ten d tr. v. satzik (SAHTZ-eek); estirarlo
east n. lakin (LAH-keen); este, oriente extended adj. tiinil (TEEEN-eel); tenso, tieso
eat in. v. hanal (HAHN-ahl); comer extinguish tr. v. tupik (TOO-peek); apagarlo, matarlo
eat tr. v. haantik (HAAIIN-teek); comerlo ex tract tr. v. hoosik (HOH-OHS-eek); sacarlo
edge n. chi (chee); eh (eh); hal (hahl); orilla; jilo eye n. ich (eech); ojo
eel n. kaanilha (kaahn-eel-HAH); anguila
egg n. he (heh); huevo
eight n. waxak (WAH-shahk) (hypothetical); ocho F
eight h u n d red re. ka bak (KAH bahk ) (hypothetical);
ochocientos face n. ich (eech); cara
eight thousand n. hun pik (hoon PEEK) faded adj. poos (poohs); descolorido, plido, desteido
(hypothetical); ocho mil
fair adj. chakxich (CHAHK-sheech); gero
eighty n. kan kal (KAHN kahl) (hypothetical);
fair com plexioned adj. chel (chehl); gero
ochenta
falcon n. koos (koohs); halcn
e ith e r . . . o r inter, wah . . . wah (wah . . . wah);
fall in. v. lubul (LOOB-ool); caerse
o ... o
falsehood n. tuus (tooos); mentira
elbow n. kuk (kook); codo
fang n. tzaay (TZAH-ahy); colmillo
eleven n. buluk (BOO-look) (hypothetical); once
em barrassed adj. sulak (SOO-lahk); avergenzada farm n. kol (kohl); milpa
em barrassm ent n. suutal (SOO-OO-tahl); vergenza farm er/i. koolnal (KOOHL-nahl); milpero
em brace tr. v. m ekik (MEH-keek); abrazarlo fat adj. polok (POHL-ohk); gordo
en d n. tzook (tzoohk), xuul (shoool); elfin; cabo, fin fat n. tzaatz (tzaahtz); unto, lo gordo de la came
end ed adj. tzokaan (TZOHK-ah-ahn); terminado, fath er n. taat(ah) (TAAHT-[ah]), yuum (yooom),
acab paapah (PAAH-pah); Sp. loanword; pap, padre
energy n. ol (ohl); energa fault n. kuch (kooch); siip/siip(il) (SEEEP/
enough adj. hach yaab (HAHCH yah-ahb); bastante SEE-EEP-[eel]); culpa
en ter in. v. okol (OHK-ohl); entrar faw n n. yuuk (yoook); venado pequeo; cervato
en tran ce n. hool (hoohl); entrada fear n. saahkil (SAAHK-eel); miedo, temor
equal aux. v. et (eht); igual, mismo feathers n. kuukum (koo-ook-OOM); plumas
e rran d n. tus beel (TOOS beehl); encargo feed tr. v. tzeentik (TZEEIiN-teek); darle la comida
error n. siip/siip(il) (SEEEP/SEE-EEP-[eel]); error, yerro feel tr. v. uuyik (OO-OOY-eek); sentirlo
escape in. v. putzul (POOTZ-ool); escaparse fence in (w ith poles or posts) tr. v. supik (SOOP-
evening n. okaan kiin (oh-KAH-AHN keeen); tarde eek); cercar con postes o palos
evil n. kaas (kaahs); mal, maldad fever re. chokwil (CHOHK-weel); calentura
exchange tr. v. kexik (KEHSH-eek); cambiarlo field re. kol (kohl); milpa
exchanged adj. keexel (KEEHSH-ehl); trocar fifteen re. ho lahun (HOH LAH-hoon) (hypothetical);
excrem ent n. ta (tah); mierda, excremento, estircol quince
expect tr. v. paatik (PAH-AHT-eek); esperarlo fifty-fifty adj. chunchumuk (choon-CHOO-mook);
expensive adj. kooh (koh-oh); caro mitad y mitad
explain tr. v. tzolik (TZOHL-eek); explicarlo, ordenarlo fight re. bateel (BAH-teh-ehl); pelea, problema
explanation n. nuukul (NOO-OOK-ool); explicacin fight tr. v. bateel (BAH-teh-ehl); pelear
explode tr. v. xikik (SHEE-keek); reventarlo file n. eh (eh)\filo

100 M aya- E n g l is h / E n g u s h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya Dictionary 101


fill tr. v. butik (BOOT-eek), chupik (CHOOP-eek); follow tr. v. tzayneh (TZAHY-neh); seguirlo
llenarlo food n. hanal (HAHN-ahl); comida
filled adj. chuupul (CHOOOP-ool); hinchado fool tr. v. kechtik (REHCH-teek); embaucarlo
find tr. v. kaxtik (KAHSH-teek); hallarlo loot n. ook (oohk); pie
find out tr. v. oheltik (oh-HEHL-teek); reconocerlo, footw ear n. xanab (SHAH-nahb); zapato, guarache
enterarse de lor in. v. tial (TEE-ahl); para
fine adj. lukum (1.OO K-oom);fino forceful adj. muuk (moook^fuerte
finger n. aal kab (aahl kahb), u yaal kab (oo YAAHL foreigner n. tzuul (tzoool); extranjero, ladino
k ahb); dedo foreigner (female) n. xunan (SHOO-nahn);
finger (little) n. tuup (tooop); dedo meique extranjera, ladina
fingernail n. ichak (EE-chahk); ua forest n. kax (kahsh); selva, monte, bosque
finish tr. v. chukbesik (CHOOR-beh-seek), tzooksik forest spirit n. yuntzil (yoon-TZEEL); dueo del monte
(TZOH-OHR-seek); completarlo, terminarlo forest (virgin) n. suhuy kax (SOO-hooy KAHSH);
finished adj. chukaan (CHOOR-ah-ahn), tzokaan monte virgen (nunca labrada)
(TZOHK-ah-ahn); terminado forget in. v. tuub (too-oob), tuubul (TOO-OOB-ool);
fire n. kak (\Cnh\C)-, fuego olvidar; olvidarse
firearm n. tzoon (tzoohn); arma de Juego forget tr. v. tuubsik (TOO-OOB-seek); olvidarlo
firewood n. si (see); lea forty n. ka kal (RAH kahl) (hypothetical); cuarenta
firm adj. hetzaan (HEHTZ-ah-ahn);^rm e, asentado, fountain n. sayab (SAHY-ahb);./werate
fundado four n. kan (kahn); cuatro
first adj. yaxil (YAHSH-eel); primero four h u n d red n. hun bak (HOON bahk) (hypothetical);
first prep, yax (yahsh); primero cuatrocientos
fish n. kay (kahy); pescado four (inanim ate things) adj., pron. kampel (kahm-
fist n. wol a kab (wohl AH kahb); puo PEHL); cuatro (cosas)
five n. ho (hoh); cinco four (people or anim als, an im ate things) adj., pron.
fixed adj. hetzaan (HEHTZ-ah-ahn);7irme, asentado, kantul (kahn-TOOL); cuatro (personas o
fundado animales)
flail tr. v. puchik (POOCH-eek); desgranar fourteen n. kan lahun (kahn LAH-hoon)
flail (grain or fruit) in. v. puuch (poooch); batear (hypothetical); catorce
flat adj. pekaan (PEH-RAH-ahn), tax (tahsh); fox n. cham ak/chomak (CHAH-mahk/CHOH-mahk);
llano, plano ooch (oohch); zorro
flatten tr. v. m ach (mahch); allanar, aplanar, aplastar fracture (long things) tr. v. kachik (RAH-cheek);
flatten tr. v. pakachtik (PAHR-ahch-teek); hacerlo fracturar (cosas largas)
flatulence n. kiis (keees); pedo fractured adj. kaachaal (kaah-CHAH-ahl)\fracturado
flint n. tok tuunich (tohk TOOON-eech); pedernal frangipani (flower) n. nikte (NEER-teh);
flour (com ) n. sakan (SAHR-ahn); harina de m az frangipaniero
flow er n. lool (loohl);./7or free tr. v. cha (chah); dejar libre
flow er (frangipani) n. nikte (NEER-teh) \flor freeze tr. v. siskuntik (SEES-koon-teek) enfriarlo
flute n. piito (PEEE-toh); Sp. loanword; pito, flauta fresh adj. aak (aahk), tumben (TOOM-behn);
fly (house) n. xyaaxkach (eesh-YAH-AHSH-kahch); fresco, nuevo
mosca fresh m eat n. aak bak (AAHR bahV.');fresco
foam n. yon (yohn); espuma fried adj. tzahbil (TZAHB-eel);./no
fog n. yeeb (yeehb); neblina friend n. amigoh (ah-MEE-goh); Sp. loanword;
fold tr. v. wutzik (WOOTZ-eek); doblarlo amigo

102 M a y a- E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M a y a ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k
English-Maya Dictionary 103
frighten tr. v. sahahkuns (SAH-hah-koons); good-looking adj. kiichpam (REE-EECH-pahm);
asustarlo, espantarlo hermoso, guapo
frightened adj. puuhul (POOO-hool); espantado goodness n. hatzutzil (HAHTZ-ootz-eel); bondad
M ghtening adj. hakolal (hah-ROOL-ahl); con susto good (very) adj. hatzutz (HAHTZ-ootz), sen m aalob
frog n. m uuch (moooch); rana (sehn MAH-AHL-ohb); m uy bien, buensimo
from prep, tak (tahk); de, desde go o ut in. v. hokol (HOHR-ohl); manifestarse
front n. tan (tahn); frente gourd (bottle) (Legonaria siceraria) n. chuh
front of (in) prep, tanil (TAHN-eel); enfrente de (chooh); calabaza para llevar agua, calabaza
fruit n. chuhuk (C11OOH-h ook);fruta vinatera
fry tr. v. tzahik (TZAH-he ek);frerlo gourd (from a tree) n. luuch (loooch); jicara, calabaza
full adj. chuup (chooop); lleno de rbol
gourd (large) n. hom a (HOH-mali); calabaza/jicara
grande
G grab tr. v. machik (MAHCH-eek); agarrarlo
g randchild n. abil (AH-beel); nieto
gath er tr. v. tokik (TOHK-eek); recoger, bajarlo g ran d fath er n. nohoch taat(ah) (NOH-hohch TAAHT-
gay (hom osexual) n. xchupul xib (eesh-CHOOP- [ah]); abuelo
ool SHEEB); maricn (derogatory), waco g ran d fath er (aged) n. mam (malln); abuelo viejo
g ran d m o th er n. chiich (cheeech); abuela
gentlem an n. yuum (yooom); caballero, seor
grasp tr. v. machik (MAHCH-eek); asirlo
get aw ay in. v. putzul (POOTZ-ool); escaparse
grass n. suuk (soo-ook); zacate
get d ru n k in. v. kaltal (KAHL-tahl); emborracharse
grease n. tzaatz (tzaahtz); unto, lo gordo de la came
get lost in. v. satpahal (saht-PAH-hahl); desaparecerse
green adj. yaax (yah-ahsh); verde
get started in. v. chunpahal (choon-PAH-hahl);
green co m n. aknal (AHR-nahl); m az verde
empezarse, comenzar
green co m gruel n. aksa (AHR-sah); atole de m az
get u p in/on tr. v. naakal (NAH-AHR-ahl); subir tierno, atole nuevo
ghost (fem ale) n. xtabay/xtabay (eesh-TAH-bahy/ green (im m ature) adj. ak (ahk);/r<seo, verde
eesh-TAH-bahy); duende feminino, demonio (immaduro)
feminino, maligno feminino griddle (for tortillas) n. xamach (SHAH-mahch); comal
gift ti. sihbil (SEEB-eel); regalo griddle (iron) n. maskabil xamach (mahs-RAHB-eel
girl n. xchupal (eesh-CHOOP-ahl); muchacha, nia SHAH-mahch); comal de hierro
give tr. v. tznk (tzeek); darlo, ponerlo grill tr. v. kaatik (RAH-AH-teek); asarlo
give (as a gift) Ir. v. shik (SEE-heek); regalarlo grilled adj. kabil (RAHB-eel); asado
g n at n. us (oos); zancudito, jejn grilled (m eat) n. kabil bak (RAHB-eel BAHR),
go in. v. hokol (HOHR-ohl), bin (been), ximbal pok chuk (POHR chook); carne asada
(SHEEM-bahl); salir, irse, andar grim e (around collar) in. v. kiiritz (REEER-eetz);
go! imper. xeen (sheehn); vaya! mugre
goad n. aach (aahch); ramal grind in. v. puchik (POOCH-eek); moler
goat n. htam an (ah-TAH-mahn); chivo, cabro grind tr. v. huchik (HOOCH-eek); molerlo
god n. yuum (yooom); dios grinding stone n. kaah (kah-ah); metate
gods pl. n. kuhoob (ROO-hoh-ohb); dioses grind (lim e-soaked com ) tr. v. huch kuum (HOOCH
gold n. taakin (TAAH-keen); oro koo-oom); moler nixtamal/masa
go (m ight) in. v. xiik (shee-eek); vaya ground adj. huchbil (HOOCH-beel); molido
good adj. m aalob (mah-AHL-ohb), utz (ootz); ground (into m eal) adj. muxbil (MOOSH-beel); molido
bien, bueno grow tr. v. aalaktik (aahl-AHR-teek); criarlo, crecerlo

104 M aya- E n g l is h / E n g u s h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya Dictionary 105


grow n in. v. chiihil (CHEEE-heel); crecer hear tr. v. u uyik (OO-OOY-eek); orlo
gruel n. keyem (KEH-yehm); pozole h eart n. ol (ohl); puksiikal (POOR-see-eek-ahl);
gruel (com ) n. saksa (SAHK-sah), sa (sah); atole, corazn
atole con cscara h earth n. kooben (KOOH-b ehn);/o# ra
guava n. pichi (PE ECI J-ee); guayaba lieat tr. v. chokokuntik (choh-koh- ROON-teek);
g u n n. tzoon (tzoohn); escopeta calentarlo
h eated u p adj. kinal (REE-nahl); callentado
heaven n. kaan (kah-ahn); cielo
H heavy adj. al (ah); pesado
lieel n. tuunkuy (TOOON-kooy); tacn, taln
hail n. bat (baht); granizo
help in. v. antah (AHN-tah); ayudar
h air n. hool (hoh-ohl), tzootz (tzoh-ohtz), u tzotze a
help tr. v. antik (AHN-teek); ayudarlo
hool (OO tzoh-tzeh ah HOH-ohl); pelo
helper n. aantah (AAHN-tah); ayudante
hairstyle (m ans) n. xiibil tzootz (sheeeb-eel TZOH-
hem p (sisal) n. kih (kee); henequn, maguey
OHTZ); pelo de macho
hen n. xkaax (EESH-kaahsh); gallina
h alfarf/ chumuk (CHOO-mook); medio
ham m ock n. kan (kahn); hamaca herbalist n. hm een (ah-MEEHN); curandero, yerbatero
ham m ock (net) n. wakik (WAHR-eek); hamaca de red herb (m edicinal) n. xiw (sheew); hierba (medicinal)
h a n d n. kab (kahb); mano h ere adv. te (teh); waye (WAH-yeh); aqu
h and (left) n. tzih kab (TZEE kahb); mano izquierdo h ere /th ere it is dern. h eel(a)/(o) (HEHEHL-[ah]/
h an g tr. v. chuytal (CHOOY-tahl); colgarlo [oh]); aqu/all est (a = close, o = further away)
han g (fruit) in. v. chuyul (CHOOY-ool); colgarse h ero n (w hite) n. sak bok (SAHR bolik); garza blanca
fin ta hide tr. v. taakik (TAH-AHR-eek); esconderlo
han g (up) tr. v. sinik (SEEN-eek); guindarlo, colgarlo hide (skin) n. kewel (REH-wehl); piel, pellejo, cuero
h ap p en in. v. uchul (OOCH-ool); pasar, suceder high adj. kaanal (RAH-AHN-ahl); arriba, alto
h appy adj. kiimak ol (KEE-EE-mahk OHL); contento hill n. muul (moool); cerro
h a rd adj. tzuuy (TZOO-ooy); yah (yah); duro hit tr. v. hatzik (HAHTZ-eek); golpearlo, pegarlo
h arsh adj. kaam (KAH-ahm); recio, fuerte h oarse adj. m aa kaal (MAH-AH kaahl); ronco
harvest in. v. hooch (hoohch); cosechar hole n. hool (hoohl); hoyo, hueco
harvest tr. v. hochik (HOHCH-eek); cosecharlo hollow adj. poos (poohs); waco
h a t n. pok (pohk); sombrero hom e n. nahil (NAH-eel); otoch (oh-tohch); casa; hogar
h atch et n. bat (baht); hacha hom osexual (m an) n. xchupul xib (eesh-CHOOP-
h ate tr. v. pektik (PEHR-teek); odiarlo ool SHEEB); maricn (derogatory), waco
h ated par. (with agent) peekaan (peeh-KAH-AHN); honey n. kaab (kaahb); miel
aborrecido, abominado h o rn n. bak (bahk); cuerno
hateful adj. kax (kahsh); odioso horse n. tzimin (TZEE-meen); caballo
h a t (straw ) n. xaanil pook (SHAH-AHN-eel POOHK); h ot adj. chokoh (CHOHR-oh); kiinal (REE-nahl);
sombrero de paja caliente
have in. v. ukul (OO-kool); yaan (yaahn); tener h ot (becom e) in. v. chokotal (chohk-oh-TAHL);
hay n. suuk (SOO-ook); zacate callentarse
h ead n. hool (hoh-ohl); pool (poohl); cabeza hot (spicy) adj. pap (pahp); picante
h ead ache n. kinan (in) hool (KEEN-ahn een HOH- hot (w eather) adj. kilkab (REEL-kahb); (hace) calor
OHL); dolor de cabeza house n. nah (nah); casa
h eal tr. v. tzakik (TZAHK-eek); curarlo how? inter, bix (beesh); como?

1 0 6 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya Dictionary 1 0 7


h u m id (w eather) adj. kilkab (KEEL-kahb); hmido inferior n. masewal (mah-SEH-wahl); inferior;
hum iliate oneself refl. taik u bah (TAH-eek oo bah); indgena, mazehual
defecarse (literally, defecate on oneself) injury n. loob (loohb); dao, herrida
hum m ingbird re. tzunuun (TZOO-noo-oon); colibr insert tr. v. oksik (OHK-seek); introducirlo, meterlo
hungry adj. wiih (WEE-ee); tener hambre inside prep, ichil (EECH-eel); dentro
h u n t tr. v. tzonik TZOHN-eek); cazar in tact adj. suhuy (SOO-hooy); intacto; virgen
h u n te r n. tzon nal (TZOHN nahl); tzonero (tzohn- intestines re. chooch (choohch); intestinos, tripas
ER-oh); cazador intoxicated adj. kalaan (KAH-lah-ahn); bonacho
h u rrican e re. chakikat (chahk-EEK-aht); chichiik introduce tr. v. oksik (OR-seek); introducirlo, entrar,
(CHEECH-eeek); huricn, cicln hacerlo
h u rry in. v. seb (sehb); sekuntik (SEH-koon-teek); iron re. maskab (MAHS-kahb); hierro
rpido; estar de prisa iron griddle re. maskabil xamach (mahs-KAHB-eel
h u rt n. yaah (yaah); dolor SHAH-mahch); comal de hierro
h u rt in. v. chiibal (CHEE-EE-bahl); doler tch/itching re. saak (saahk); comezn
h u rt tr. v. kinbesik (keen-BEH-seek); herirlo
h u rt (oneself) in. v. kinpahal (keen-PAH-hahl); herirse
h u sband n. iicham (EEECH-ahm); marido, esposo J
husk n. sol (sohl); carapacho
jag u ar re. balam (BAH-lahm); chakmool (chahk-
MOH-OHL); koh (koh); jaguar, tigre
I jay re. chel (chehl); arredajo
jicam a (edible plant) re. chiikam (CHEE-EER-ahm);
1 1st p. s. pron. teen (teehn); yo jicama
if inter, w ah (wah); si, en caso de joke in. v. baxal (BAHSH-ahl); bromear
ignite tr. v. tabik (TAHB-eek); encenderlo, incendiarlo juice re. kaab/kaa (kaah b/kaah); jugo
ignorant adj. nuum (nooom); estpido jum ble tr. v. xaaktik (SHAH-AHR-teek); mezclarlo,
iguana n. huuh (hoooh); iguana revolverlo
illness n. kohaanil (koh-HAH-AHN-eel); enfermedad jum p in. v. sit (seet); brincar
ill (to becom e) in. v. kohaantal (koh-HAH-AHN- jungle n. kax (kahsh); selva, monte, bosque
tahl); enfermarse just adj. utz (ootz); justo
im agine tr. v. tziboltik (TZEEB-ohl-teek);
imaginarlo
im m ediately adv. beoritasa (BEH-oh-ree-TAH-sah), K
naapulak (naah-POOL-ahk); ere seguido
im p o rtant adj. kaanaan (RAH-AH-nah-ahn); keep tr. v. taakik (TAH-AHR-eek); guardarlo
importante kill tr. v. kmsik (REENS-eek); tupik (TOO-peek);
im prove tr. v. utzkiintik (ootz-KEEN-teek); mejorarlo matarlo
in prep, ti (tee); ichil (EECH-eel); en; dentro kiss in. v. tzuutz (TZOO-ootz); besar
incline n. nix (neesh); inclinacin kiss tr. v. tzuutzik (TZOO-ootz-eek); besar
indeed adv. heele (HEH-EHL-eh); s, claro kitchen re. kooben (ROOH-behn); cocina
Indian re. masewal (mah-SEH-wahl); indgena, knee re. pix (peesh); rodilla
mazehual; inferior knife blade (his) n. u yeh kuchiiyoh (oo yeh koo-
infant re. paal (paaahl); nio(a), nene CHEEE-yoh); Sp. + Maya;filo de cuchillo

1 0 8 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g u s h - M ay a ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya Dictionary 1 0 9


know tr. v. kanik (KAHN-eek), oohel (OOH-hehl), lets go! imper. koox (koh-ohsh); vmanos! (vamos)
oheltik (oh-HEHL-teek); saberlo, conocerlo; letter re. huun (hoo-oon); carta
reconocerlo, notar lie in. v. tuus (tooos); mentir
k now (som eone) tr. v. kahol (KAH-hohl); conocerlo lie d ow n in. v. chiltal (CHEEL-tahl); acostarse, echarse
(en el suelo)
lie (on th e floor) in. v. chiltal (CHEEL-tahl); echarse
L (en el suelo)
lie (to som eone) tr. v. tusik (TOOS-eek); mentirle a uno
lacking prep, xm a (EESH-mah),faltando life in. v. kuxtal (KOOSH-tahl); viva
lady n. xunan (SHOO-nahn); dama light re. sasil (SAHS-eel); luz
lagoon n. aakal (AAHK-ahl); lagaa
light tr. v. tabik (TAH-beek); encenderlo, incendiarlo
lake n. ha (hah); laguna
lightning n. u hatzil chak (oo HAHTZ-eel CHAHK);
lan d m ark n. xuuk (SHOO-ook); mojn
relmpago, rayo, rayo de cielo
lan d (unit of 20 x 20 m ) n. pisikan (PEES-eek-ahn);
lightning bolt re. u hatzil chak (os HAHTZ-eel
mecate
CHAHK); rayo de cielo
language n. taan (taahn); idioma, lengua
light (to becom e) in. v. sastal (SAHS-tahl); amanecer
large adj. nohoch (NOH-hohch); gran, grande
large (pl.) adj. nukuch (NOO-kooch); grandes light (weight) adj. sal (sahl); ligero, no pesado
lasso n. suum (sooom); lazo like (it, I) adj. utz tin wich (ootz teen WEECH);
last (the) n. tzook (tzoohk); el ltimo me gusta
la ter adv. kaakat(e) (KAH-AH-kah-t[e]); al rato, like th a t adv. beyo (BEH-yoh); as
un poco despus, ms tarde like this adv. beya (BEH-yah); as
late (to be) in. v. xanal (SHAHN-ahl); tardarse lim a b ean re. iib (eeeb)\frijol lima, ibes
lau g h in. v. cheeh (cheh-eh); rerse lim e (calcium carbonate, w hitew ash) re. taan
lau g h ter n. cheeh (cheh-eh); risa (tah-ahn); cal
lazy adj. nuuni (nooohm); perezoso lips re. box (bohsh); labios
lazy m an adj. hoykeep (HOHY-keehp); hombre flojo listen tr. v. uuyik (OO-OOY-eek); escucharlo
le af n. le (leh); hoja little adj. chan (chahn), m ehen (MEH-hehn);
league (m easure) n. lub (loob); legua m a yaabi (MAH yah-ah-bee); pequeo, chico;
le an tr. v. tokik (TOHK-eek); inclinar no mucho, poco
le a m tr. v. kanik (KAHN-eek); aprenderlo little (a) adj. chichan (CHEE-chahn); poco
le ath e rn , kewel (KEH-wehl); cuero little (a) re. hum pit (HOOM-peet); un poco, pocos
leathery adj. tzu uy (TZOO-ooy); correoso little by litte adv. huhum pitil (HOO-hoom-PEET-
leave in. v. hokol (HOHK-ohl), lukul (LOOK-ool); eel); poco a poco
salir; quitarse live in. v. kaahtal (KAAH-tahl); vivir
leave tr. v. hatzik (HAHTZ-eek), patik (PAHT-eek); liver re. tam an (TAHM-ahn); hgado
dejarlo living adj. kuxaan (KOO-shah-ahn); viviente
left adj. tzik (tzeek); izquierdo lizard re. huuh (hoooh); lagartija
left h an d n. tzih kab (TZEE kahb); mano izquierdo lizard (small) n. tolok (TOH-lohk); lagartija
leftovers n. tzook (tzoohk); sobrante pequea
len d tr. v. m ahantik (MAH-hahn-teek); prestarlo lizard (species o) re. m eerech (MEEHR-ehch);
len g th re. chowaki] (CHOH-wahk-eel); largura, lagartija (una especie)
longitud load re. kuuch (koooch); cargo
let tr. v. cha (chah); permitir loan tr. v. mahantik (MAH-hahn-teek); prestarlo

1 1 0 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M ay a ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya Dictionary n i


local re. phr. wayile (wahy-EEL-eh); es de aqu m an s hairstyle re. xiibil tzootz (sheeeb-eel TZOH-
locked adj. kaalal (KAAHL-ahl); cerrado OHTZ); pelo de macho
locust n. sak (sahk); langosta de tierra, saltamontes m any adj. yaab (yah-ahb); yaakach (YAH-AH-kahch);
long adj. chowak (CHOH-wahk); largo muchos
long ago adv. uchih (OOCH-ee); anteriormente m any (there are) adj. yaaboob (YAH-AHB-oh-ohb);
look (at) tr. v. paktik (PAHK-teek); mirarlo son muchos
look at it! imper. pakteh (PAHR-teh); /mrelo! m ariju an a re. kuutz (koootz); marijuana
look for tr. v. kaxtik (RAHSH-teek); buscarlo m a rk er stones re. xuuk (shoo-ook); mojn
loosen tr. v. cha (chah), chukik (CHOOR-eek); desatar m arried (to be) in. v. tzokaan beel (TZOHR-ah-ahn
lord re. yuuni (yooom); seor beehl); ser casado
lose tr. v. satik (SAHT-eek); perderlo m arro w re. tzoom (tzoh-ohm); medula
lost adj. saatal (SAAH-tahl); perdido m arry in. v. tzookol beel (tzoh-OHK-ohl BEEHL);
lost (get) in. v. satpahal (saht-PAH-hahl); desaparecerse casarse
lot (a) adj. yaab (yah-ahb); muchos m ash in. v. puchik (POOCH-eek); magullar
loud adj. cheeh (cheh-eh); bullicioso m asonry re. pak (pahk); manipostera
louse re. uk (ook); piojo m a tte r n. beel (beehl); asunto
love tr. v. yaakuntik (yaah-ROON-teek); amarlo m atu re adj. takan (TAH-kahn); cocido; maduro
low adj. kaabal (KAAHB-ahl); taam (taahm); bajo; m a tu re in. v. tah (tah); madurarse
profundo, hondo m ay aux. v. hu chabale (hoo CHAHB-ahl-eh);
low er tr. v. ensik (EHN-seek); bajarlo se puede, se permite
lying (on th e ground) adj. pekaan (PEH-RAH-ahn); m aybe adv. wale (WAH-leh); tal vez, quiz
tirado/hechado en el suelo m ay n o t aux. v. m a u chabal (mah oo CHAHB-ahl);
no se permite
m e 1st p. s. pron. teen (teehn); me
M m eal re. hanal (HAHN-ahl), ooch (oh-ohch); comida
m easu re tr. v. pisik (PEES-eek); medirlo
m acaw re. mo (moh); guacamayo m eat re. bak (bahk); came
m ach ete re. maskab (MAHS-kahb); machete m ecate (unit of land) re. pisikan (PEES-eek-ahn);
m aiden n. suhuy pal (SOO-hooy pahl); muchacha mecate
m ak e tr. v. mentik (MEHN-teek); hacerlo m edicine re. tzaak (tzaahk); medicina
m ak e (by b and) tr. v. makantik (MAH-kahn-TEER); m edicine (for colds) re. tzaak seen (tzaahk SEH-ehn);
hacerlo a mano medicina para catarro
m ak e ready tr. v. lisik (LEE-seek); alistarlo m etate re. kaah (kah-ah); metate
m ak e tortillas in. v. pakach (PAHR-ahch); tortear M exican (fem ale) re. xwaach (eesh-WAAHCH);
m ak e tortillas tr. v. pakachtik (PAHR-ahch-teek); mexicna
tortearlo M exican (m ale) re. hwaach (ah-WAAHCH); mexicno
m ale re. xiib (sheeeb); varn, macho m iddle re. chumuk (CHOOM-ook); centro, medio
m an re. m ak (mahk); winik (WEEN-eek); xiib m idnight re. chum uk akab (CHOOM-ook AHR-
(sheeeb); yuum (yooom); hombre; varn, macho ahb); media noche
m a n (lazy) re. hoykeep (HOHY-keehp); hombre flojo m ill re. huch (hooch); molino
m an (old) re. nuxiib (NOO-sheeeb); nohoch winik m ilpa (personal cornfield) re. kool (koohl); milpa
(NOH-hoch WEEN-eek); hombre viejo, m ilpa tiller re. koolnal (ROOHL-nahl); milpero
anciano; viejo m in o r re. paal (paahl); menor

112 M a y a- E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M a y a ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya Dictionary 113


mirror n. nen (nehn); espejo native n. phr. wayile (wahy-EEL-eh); es de a q u
misfortune n. loob (loohb); desgracia n ea r adj. naatz (naahtz); cerca
m ist n. yeeb (yeehb); neblina necessary adj. kabet (KAHB-eht), kaanaan
m ix up tr. v. xaaktik (SHAH-AHK-teek); mezclarlo, (KAH-AH-nah-ahn); necesario
revolverlo necessity n. nukul (NOOK-ool); necesidad
m oist adj. chuul (choool); mojado neck n. kaal (kaahl); cuello
moisten tr. v. chulik (CHOOL-eek); mojarlo n eedle n. putz (pootz); aguja
money n. taakin (TAAH-keen); dinero nerve n. xiich (sheeech); nervio
m onkey n. tuucha (TOOOCH-ah); mono nest n. ku (koo); nido
monkey (general) n. m aax (mah-ahsh); mono nettle n. lal (lahl); ortiga, chichicasta
monkey (how ler) n. baatz (baahtz); mono aullador, n ever adv. m aa tech (MAH-AH tehch); mix bikin
saraguate (meesh BEE-keen); jams; nunca
m onkey (spider) n. chuw en (CHOO-wehn); mono, new adj. tumben (TOOM-behn); nuevo
saraguate nice adj. hatzutz (HAHTZ-ootz); k i.(kee); lukum
m orning adv. hatzkab kiin (hahtz-kahb KEEEN); (LOO-koom); hermoso, bonito, bello; bueno
la maana nice (very) adj. sen utz (SEHN ootz); buenisimo,
m osquito n. koxol (KOHSH-ohl); mosquito, mosco m uy bien
m o th er n. nah (nah); madre night n. akab (AHK-ahb); noche
m ouse n. cho (choh); ratn nig h t (to becom e) in. v. akabtal (ahk-AHB-tahl);
m oustache n. m eex (meh-ehsh); bigote anocher
m o u th n. chi (chee); boca n ightm are n. kaas wayak (kaahs WAHY-ahk);
m ove in. v. pek (pehk); moverse m al sueo, pesadilla
m ove tr. v. peksik (PEHK-seek); moverlo nine n. bolon (BOH-lohn) (hypothetical); nueve
m ovem ent n. pek (pehk); movimiento no adv. m a (mah); no
m u ch adj. hach yaab (hahch YAH-ahb); yaab noise n. huum (hooom); ruido
(yah-ahb); mucho; muchos noisy adj. cheeh (cheh-eh); ruidoso, bullicioso
m u ch (not) adj. m a yaabi (mah YAH-AHB-ee); noon n. chum uk kiin (CHOOM-ook KEEEN);
no mucho media da
m ucus n. sum (seem); moco no onepron. mix mak (MEESH mahk); ninguno, nadie
m u d d y adj. puuk (poook); turbio no rth n. xaman (SHAH-mahn); norte
m uggy adj. kas kiilkab (kahs KEEL-kahb); medio no rth w ind n. xaman kaan (shah-mahn KAH-AHN);
sudando, hmedo cierzo, viento del norte
m usic n. kaay (kaahy); msica nose n. ni (nee); nariz
m u te person n. htoot (ah-TOOHT); persona muda not adv. m a (mah); no
nothing pron. mix baal (meesh BAH-ahl); nada
notice tr. v. oheltik (oh-HEHL-teek); notar
N not m e adv. m a teeni (mah TEEHN-ee);yo no
not m uch adj. m a yaabi (MAH yah-ah-bee);
n a k e d adj. chaknul (chahk-NOOL); xma nook no mucho, poco
(EESH-mah nook); desnudo not possible adj. mix tan u beetaale (meesh TAHN
n am e n. kaba (KAH-bah); nombre oo beeh-tah-AHL-eh); no es posible
n a p k in adj. hay (hahy); servilleta nourish tr. v. tzeentik (TZEEHN-teek); darle la
n a rro w adj. kom (kohm); estrecho comida, criar

1 1 4 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya Dictionary 11 5


nowadays n. behla(e) (beh-LAH-[eh]); hoy orange (sweet) n. chiinah (CHEEE-nah); naranja dulce
nowhere n. mix tuux (MEESH too-oosh); en ninguna orange (tree, sour) n. pakal (PAHK-ahl); naranjo
parte order tr. v. tusbeltik (toos-BEHL-teek); inandarlo,
ordenarlo
o rder (put in) tr. v. tzolik (TZOHL-eek); ordenarlo
o origin n. chuun (chooon); origen, raz, principio
oriole n. kubul (KOOB-ool); oriol
obligation n. kuuch (koooch); obligacin, carga o th er adj. lak (lahk); heel (heehl); otro
odor n. cheeh (CHEH-eh), book (boohk); olor overcast adj. nokoy (NOHK-ohy); nublado
offer tr. v. wak (wahk); ofrecer overcast (to becom e) in. v. nokoytal (NOHK-ohy-
offered tr. v. waak (wah-ahk); ofrecido tahl); nublarse
OK adj. m aalob (mah-AHL-ohb); bien overtake tr. v. chukpachtik (chook-PAHCH-teek);
old adj. chihaan (CHEE-hah-ahn); nohoch alcanzar
(NOH-hoch); nuxib (NOOH-sheeb); uchben owl n. buuh (booo); tunkuluch (toon-koo-loo-CHOO);
(OOCH-behn); viejo; anciano; antiguo ecolote, bho
old m an n. nohoch winik (NOH-hoch WEEN-eek), ow ner n. yuum (yooom); dueo
nuxiib (NOOH-sheeeb); viejo, anciano ox n. wakax (WAHK-ahsh); buey
old (to m ake) in. v. chiih (cheeeh); hacer viejo
old w om an n. nohoch koolel (NOH-hoch koh-ohl-
EHL), xnuuk (eesh-NOOOK); vieja P
om en n. tamax chi (TAH-mahsh CHEE); agero
on prep, ti (tee); en p aca (rodent, spotted cavy, C uniculm paca) n. haaleb
one n. hun (hoon); uno (HAAHL-ehb); tapescuintle
one h u n d red n. ho kal (HOH kahl) (hypothetical); pack tr. v. butik (BOOT-eek); embutirlo
cien, ciento pain n. kiinam (KEE-EE-nahm), yaah (yaah); dolor
one (inanim ate thing) adj., pron. hum pel (hoom- pain (general expression of) dem. ay (ahy); ay, dios!
PEHL); un(a) (cosa) painful adj. yah (yah); doloroso
one (long thing) adj., pron. huntzit (hoon-TZEET); p ain t n. bon (bohn); pintura
un(a) (cosa larga) p ain t tr. v. bonik (BOHN-eek); pintarlo
one (person o r anim al, anim ate thing) adj., pron. p ainted adj. boonol/boon (BOOHN-ohl/boh-ohn);
huntul (hoon-TOOL); uri(a) (persona o animal) pintado
one (tree) adj., pron. hunkul (hoon-KOOL); un(a) pale adj. poos (poohs); descolorido, plido, desteido
(rbol) palm th atch n. xaan (shah-ahn); palmo para techo,
open in. v. heeb (heehb); abrirse guano
open tr. v. hebik (heh-BEEK); abrirlo p ants n. eex (eehsh); pantalon
o p en ed adj. heban/hean/heik (heh-BAHN/heh-AHN/ p apaya n. puut (pooot); papaya
heh -EEK); abierto p ap e r n. huun (hoo-oon); papel
o p en in g n. chi (chee); hool (hoohl); boca; hoyo, hueco p aren t n. lak (lahk); pariente
or inter, w ah (wah); o p arro t n. xtuut (eesh-TOOOT); loro, perico
oran g e juice n. kaab china (kaahb CHEE-nah); jugo pass tr. v. mansik (MAHN-seek); pasarlo
de naranja pass by in. v. m an (mahn); pasar
o ran g e (sour) n. chiinah pah (CHEEE-nah PAH); pass th ro u g h tr. v. potik (POHT-eek); transpasarlo
naranja agria pay (for) tr. v. bootik (BOH-OHT-eek); pagarlo

1 1 6 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M a y a ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya Dictionary 1 1 7


peccary (collared) (javalina, Pcari tajacu) n. kitam portion n. xet (sheht); pedazo
(K E E -tam jabal, coche del monte posol (co m gm el) n. keyem (KEH-yehm); pozole
penetrate tr. v. potik (POHT-eek); penetrarlo possible adv. beytzabile (BEHY-tzahb-EEL-eh);
penis n. toon (toohn); xiibil (sheeeb-eel); pene, picha posible
pepper n. iik (eeek); chile, aj possible (il) adj. he u beetaale (heh oo BEEH-tah-
perceive tr. v. uuyik (OO-OOY-eek); percibirlo ahl-eh); si se puede
perhaps adv. wale (WAH-leh); tal vez, quiz possible (it is) adj. hu u biitaale (hooh oo BEEE-
perhaps (it is so) adv. beey wale (beehy WAHL-eh); tah-AHL-eh); es posible
tal vez es posible! possible (not) adj. mix tan u beetaale (meesh
perm it tr. v. cha(ik) (CHAIl-[eek]); permitirlo, dejarlo TAHN oo BEEH-tah-AHL-eh); no es posible
person n. m ak (mahk); winik (WEEN-eek); possibly adj., prep, le kaa pelil (leh kah-ah
persona PEH-leel); posible
perspiration adj. kilkab (KEEL-kahb); sudor post n. okom (OHK-ohm); poste
p et n. aalak (AAHL-ahk); animal domstico, mascota pound tr. v. pakachtik (pahk-AHCH-teek);
physician (fem ale) n. xtzaak (eesh-TZAAHK); machacarlo
doctora, mdica p regnant adj. yoom (yoh-ohm); embarazada
physician (m ale) n. htz'aak (ah-TZAAHK); doctor, p regnant (to becom e) in. v. yoomchahtal (yoh-ohm-
mdico CHAH-tahl); embarazarse
piece n. xet (sheht); pedazo prep are tr. v. Iisik (LEE-seek); m akantik (mah-
piece (continuous) n. baab (baahb); pedazo (continuo) KAHN-teek); prepararlo
pig n. aak (aahk); keken (KEH-kehn); puerco present n. sihbil (SEEB-eel); regalo
pillar n. okom (OHK-ohm); pilar, horcn pretty adj. kiichpam (KEE-EECH-pahm); bonito
pillow (folded cloth used as) n. xkanhool (eesh- previously adv. kaach (kah-ahch); antiguamente,
KAAHN-hoh-ohl); almohada entonces
p ink adj. chakposeen (chahk-poh-SEH-ehn); rosada p rice n. tohol (TOH-hohl); precio
pit (for cooking) n. piib (peeb); barbacoa, hom o prickly p ea r cactus n. pakam (PAHK-ahm);
place n. baanda (BAAHND-ah); kaah (kaah), kaahtal nopal, tuna
(KAAH-tahl); parte; lugar prio r prep, yax (yahsh); previo
place tr. v. tzik (tzeek); ponerlo p ro b lem s, bateel (BAH-teh-ehl),pelea,problema
p lan t n. pakal (PAHK-ahl); planta prognostication n. tamax chi (TAH-mahsh CHEE);
p lan t in. v. pakal (PAHK-ahl); plantar, sembrar agero
plant tr. v. pakik (PAHK-eek); sembrarlo p rotect tr. v. taakik (TAH-AHK-eek); cuidarlo,
play in. v. baxal (BASI I-ahl); jugar guardarlo
play tr. v. baxtik (BASH-teek); jugarlo pull tr. v. kolik (KOHL-eek); paytik (PAHY-teek);
plu m (wild) n. abal (AHB-ahl); ciruela jalarlo
point n. u yeh (oo yeh); punto p u m a n. koh (koh); puma
pole n. che (cheh); palo, vara p u m pkin n. kum (koom); calabaza
polish tr. v. yultik (YOOL-teek); bruirlo p u m pkin seeds n. sikil (SEEK-eel); pepita de calabaza
poor adj. otzil (OHTZ-eel); pobre p u n ch (w ith fist) tr. v. loxik (LOHSH-eek); pegarlo con
Pope n. papah (PAH-pah); el Papa puo cerado
p o rcu p in e n. kiix pech ooch (KEE-EESH pehch p u rsu e tr. v. chukpachtik (chook-PAHCH-teek);
OOHCH); cuerpo espn alcanzar al que va adelante
po rk (b aked, roasted) n. pibil keken (PEEB-eel pus n. puh (poo); pus, materia de llaga
keh-kehn); conchinita pibil p u t tr. v. tzik (tzeek); ponerlo

1 1 8 M a y a - E n g lis h / E n g u s h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D ic tio n a r y & P h raseb o ok English-Maya Dictionary 1 1 9


put in order tr. v. tzolik (TZOHL-eek); ordenarlo red food dye (annatto) n. kiwi (KEE-wee); ku x u
p u t on (clothes) tr. v. bukintik (boo-KEEN-teek); (KOO-shoo); achiote
vestirse, ponerlo ropa red h ead ed adj. cheel (cheehl); rubio
p u t o u t (Are, light) tr. v. tupik (TOO-peek); apagarlo red h ead ed child n. chan cheel (CHAHN cheehl);
pyram id n. muul (moool); pirmide nio gero
reed n. siit (seeet); popote
relative n. lak (lahk), chilankabil (chee-lahn-
Q KAHB-eel); miembro de fam ilia, pariente
release tr. v. cha (chah); soltar
quail n. beech (beehch); codorniz rem ain in. v. patal (PAH-tahl); quedarse
q u eer (hom osexual) n. xchupul xib (eesh- rep air tr. v. utzkintik (ootz-KEEN-teek); repararlo
CHOOP-ool SHEEB); maricn (derogatory), waco rep rim an d tr. v. keyik (KEHY-eek); reprenderlo,
q u ern an d grindstone n. kabka (KAHB-kah); metate reirlo
y mano reservoir n. aakal (AAHK-ahl); embalse
quick adj. sebak (SEHB-ahk); rpido reside in. v. kaahtal (KAAH-tahl); vivir
quickly adv. seb (sehb); rpido resin n. iitz (eeetz); resina o leche de rbol
rest in. v. heelel (heh-ehl-EHL); descansar
rest oneself refl. v. heesik u ba (HEH-EHS-eek oo bah);
R descansarse
retu rn in. v. suut (sooot); regresar
rabbit n. tuul (TOO-ool); conejo retu rn tr. v. sutik (SOO-teek); devolverlo
raccoon n. kulu (KOOL-oo); mapache retu rn ed (to be) in. v. suutal (SOO-OO-tahl); devolver
rain n. chak (chahk), ha (hall); lluvia rich adj. ayikal (ahy-EEK-ahl), taakinal (TAAI I-keen-
raise tr. v. liisik (LEE-EES-eek); levantarlo ahl); rico
ranch n. kaahtal (KAAH-tahl); rancho right aw ay adv. naapulak (naah-POOL-ahk); en seguido
rapidly (work) adj. alkab meyah (AHL-kahb right h ere adv. teela (TEH-EH-lah); all
MEHY-ah); trabajar m uy rpido right side n. nooh (noh-oh); lado derecho
ra t n. cho (choh); rata right th e re adv. teelo (TEH-EH-loh); all
rath e r adv. sam (sahm); apenas right (to the) n. phr. (ti) nooh ([tee] NOH-oh);
rattlesnake n. tzakaan (tzah-KAAHN); culebra tipo a la derecha
de cascabel ripe adj. kan (kahn), takan (TAH-kahn); maduro
read tr. v. xook (shoohk); xokik (SHOHK-eek); leer; ripe (for th e picking) adj. yih (yeeh); sazonado
contarlo rip en in. v. tah (tah); madurarse, sazonarse
ready (oneseli) refl. v. liisik u ba (LEE-EES-eek ripen tr. v. yihtal (YEEH-tahl); sazonarse
oo BAH); prepararse rise in. v. likil (LEEK-eel); levantarse
ready (m ake) tr. v. lisik (LEE-seek); alistarlo road n. beel (beehl); camino
re a r tr. v. tzeentik (TZEEHN-teek); criar roast tr. v. kaatik (KAH-AH-teek); asarlo
reason n. nuukul (NOO-OOK-ool), tuukul (TOOOK- roasted adj. kabil (KAH-beel), pokbil (POHK-beel);
ool); razn asado
receive tr. v. kamik (KAHM-eek); recibir rock n. tuunich (TOOON-eech); piedra
recognize tr. v. kaholtik (KAH-ohl-TEEK); roll tr. v. kopik (KOH-peek); enrollar
reconocerlo roll up tr. v. toik (TOH-eek); enrollarlo
reco u n t tr. v. tzikbatik (TZEEK-bah-TEEK); recontarlo roof n. u hool nah (oo HOH-OHL nah), u pool nah
red adj. chak (chahk); colorado, rojo (oo POOHL nah); techo

120 M ay a - E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M ay a ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya Dictionary


rooster n. teel (teehl); gallo secured adj. hetzaan (HEHTZ-ah-ahn); asegurado
root n. mootz (moohtz); raz see tr. v. ilik (EEL-eek); verlo
rope n. suum (sooom); soga seed n. iinah (EE-EE-nah); neek (neehk);semilla
rose n. lool (loohl); rosa para sembrar maz; semilla, pepita
ro u n d adj. wolis (WOHL-ees); redondo seedbed (raised) n. kaanche (KAH-AHN-che);
rub tr. v. yultik (YOOL-teek)Jrotor/o planto elevado
ru m p n. bakel iit (BAHK-ehl EEET), puukil iit seeder (stick for planting) n. xul (shool); coa,
(POO-OOK-eel EEET); nalga sembrador
ru n in. v. alkab (AHL-kahb); correr seeds (pum pkin/squash) n. siki] (SEER-eei); pepita
ru st n. itz (eetz); oxidado de calabaza
see it! imper. ileh (EEL-eh); vlo!
seek tr. v. kaxtik (KAHSH-teek); buscarlo
s seize tr. v. chaik (CHAH-eek); agarrarlo, llevarlo
sell tr. v. konik (KOHN-eek); venderlo
sack n. sabukaan (SAAH-boo-kaahn); bolsa, morral send tr. v. tuxtik (TOOSH-teek); gaviarlo
saddle quern n. kaah (kah-ah); metate settled adj. hetzaan (HEHTZ-ah-ahn);//rm,
saints pi. n. kuhoob (KOO-hoh-ohb); santos asentado, Jurtdado
salesm an n. koonol (ROOHN-ohl); vendedor seven n. uk (ook) (hypothetical); siete
salesw om an n. xkoonol (eesh-ROOHN-ohl); vendedora sew in. v. chuuy (choooy); costurar
salt n. taab (tah-ahb); sal shade n. booy (BOH-ohy); sombra
salt tr. v. taabik (TAH-AHB-eek); salar shadow n. booy (BOH-ohy); sombra
sam e aux. v. et (eht); mismo shake in. v. tut (teet); sacudirse
sandal n. xanab (SHAH-nahb); guarache shake tr. v. peksik (PEHK-seek), titik (TEET-eek);
sap n. iitz (eeetz); resina o leche de rbol sacudirlo
sapote n. ya (yah); zapote sham an n. hm een (ah-MEEN); curandero
say tr. v. aalik (AH-AHL-[eek]); tanik (TAHN-eek); sham e n. suutal (SOO-OO-tahl); vergenza
decirlo; hablarlo, llamarlo share tr. v. toxik (TOHSH-eek); repartirlo, distribuirlo
scare tr. v. puuhsik (POO-OO-seek), sahahkuns sharpness adj. paapil (PAAHP-eel);picante
(SAH-hah-koons); espantarlo shave tr. v. tzikik (TZEEK-eek); afeitarlo
scold tr. v. keyik (KEHY-eek); regaarlo shaven adj. tzikaan (tzee-KAH-ahn); afeitado
scoop u p (excrem ent) tr. v. pitik (PEE-teek); sacar shaw l n. booch (boohch); rebozo
excremento con cuchara sheep n. htaman (ah-TAH-mahn); borrego
scorpion n. sinaan (see-NAH-AHN); escorpion shell n. sol (sohl); cscara
scram! imper. xeen teelo (sheehn-TEH-EH-loh); shell co m tr. v. oxoontik (OHSH-oh-ohn-TEEK);
vyate! desgranarlo
scram! (to pigs, chickens, etc.) imper. huchi shoe n. xanab (SHAH-nahb); zapato
(HOOCH-ee); vete! (a puercos, pollos, etc.) shoot tr. v. tzonik (TZOHN-eek); dispararlo, tirarlo
scram bled adj. puuk (poook); revueltos short adj. koom (koohm); corto
scrape tr. v. panik (PAHN-eek); cavarlo shotgun n. tzoon (tzoohn); escopeta
screw tr. v. kopik (KOH-peek); atornillar shoulder n. kelembal (KEH-lehm-bahl); hombro
seated adj. hetzaan (HEHTZ-ah-ahn), kulaan shout n. awat (AH-waht); grito
(koo-LAH-ahn); sentado, show n. chaan (chah-ahn); espectculo
seco n d h an d adj. asben/asbeen (AHS-behn/ show tr. v. eesik (EH-EIIS-eek), tzikbatik (tzeek-bah-
AHS-beh-ehn); de medio uso TEEK); mostrarlo

1 2 2 M aya- E n g l i s h / E n g u s h - M ay a ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya Dictionary 12 3


show oneself refl. v. eesk u bah (EH-EHSK oo BAH); sm ash tr. v. petzik (PEHTZ-eek); destrozar
mostrarse smell n. bok (bohk); olor
sibling (true) n. laktzil (LAHK-tzeel); hermano(a) smell tr. v. uyik (OO-yeek); olerlo, sentir olor
verdadero(a) sm oke n. buutz (boootz); humo
sick adj. k'ohaan (KOH-hah-ahn); enfermo sm oke in. v. tzuutz (TZ0 0 -ootz);^?7Mr
side n. hal (hahl); tzel (tzehl); orilla; lado sm oke tr. v. tzuutzik (TZOO-ootz-EEK) ;fum arlo
signal (by hand) in. v. paykab (PAHY-kahb); sealar, sm ooth adj. hoholkil (hoh-hohl-KEEL); tax (tahsh);
seal liso; llano, plano
sin n. keban (KEH-bahn), siip/siip(il) (SEEEP/ snail (land) n. urich (OOR-eech); caracol de tierra
SEE-EEP-[eel]); pecado snake n. kaan (kaahn); culebra
sinew n. xiich (sheeech); tendn snare n. peetz (peehtz); trampa
sing in. v. kaay (kaahy); cantar soil ti. luum (loo-oom); tierra
single adj. him (hoon); solito, solo soldier n. waach (waahch); soldado
sink tr. v. tubik (toob-EER); hundirlo som eone n. wah max (wah MAHSH); alguien
sinkhole n. tzonoot (TZOH-noh-oht); cenote som ething n. wah baax (wah BAH-ahsh); algo
sister (older) n. kiik (keeek); hermana mayor som ew hat n. kaas (kaahs); de una parte, un poquito
sister (true sibling) n. laktzil (LAHK-tzeel); som ew here n. wah tuux (wah TOO-oosh);
hermana verdadera algn lugar
sister (younger) n. itzin (EETZ-een); hermana son n. paal (paahl); hijo
sister (youngest) n. xtuup (eesh-TOOOP); last female song n. kaay (kaahy); cancin
child in family; hermana menor; ltima nia de soon adv. kaakat(e) (RAH-AH-kah-t[e]); al rato,
la fam ilia un poco despus, ms tarde
sit in. v. kulal (KOOH-lahl); sentar soot ti. sabak (SAH-bahk); tizne
sit dow n in. v. kultal (ROOL-tahl); sentarse soul ti. pixaan (PEESH-aahn); alma
six ti. wak (wahk) (hypothetical); seis sound n. huum (hooom); sonido
sixty n. ox kal (OHSH kaahl) (hypothetical); sesenta sour adj. pah (pah); agrio
size t. nohochil (noh-hoh-CHEEL); tamao source n. sayab (SA11Y-ah\j)\fuente, ojo de agua
skin n. kewel (REH-wehl); piel sour orange n. pakal (PAHR-ahl); naranja agria
skinny adj. tzoyaan (tzoy-AH-AHN) \flaco sour orange (tree) n. pakal (PAHR-ahl);
skunk n. payooch (PAHY-oohch); zorillo naranjo agrio
sky n. kaan (kah-ahn); cielo soursop (custard apple) n. op (ohp); anona
slab (of stone) n. hayam (HAHY-ahm); laja south n. nohol (NOH-hohl); sur
sleep in. v. wenel (WEHN-ehl); dormir sow in. v. pakal (PAHR-ahl); sembrar
slender adj. bekech (BEH-kehch); delgado sow tr. v. pakik (PAHR-eek); sembrarlo
slice tr. v. tah (tah); rabanar sow n par. pakaan (PAHR-ah-ahn); sembrado
sliced adj. taahal (TAAH-hahl); rabinado spark n. xikin kaak (shee-keen RAAHR); chispa
slighdy adv. sam (sahm); un poco speak in. v. taan (taahn); hablar, decir
slippery adj. hahalkil (hah-hahl-KEEL); liso, resbaloso spectacle n. chaan (chah-ahn); espectculo
slope n. nx (neesh); cuesta, ladera, inclinacin speech n. taan (taahn); idioma, lengua
slow adj. chaanbeel (CHAAHN-beehl); despacio, lento spicy adj. pap (pahp); picante
sm all adj. chan (chahn), chichan (CHEE-chahn), spider n. am (ahm); araa
m ehen (MEH-hen); pequeo, chico spill tr. v. wekik (WEH-keek); derremarlo
sm allest p a r t n. tuup (tooop); parte ms pequeo, spilled adj. weehel/weekel (WEEH-hehl/WEEH-kehl);
el m enor derramado

1 2 4 M aya - E n g l is h / E n g l ish - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya Dictionary 125


spill (w ater) tr. v. wekik ha (WEH-keek HAH); stocked (well-) adj. babahkil (BAHJJ-ah-keel);
derramar agua bien surtido
spindle n. pechech (PEH-chehch); huso stolen adj. ookolbil (OOHK-ohl-BEEL); robado, hurtado
spine re. tool (toh-ohl); espinazo stom ach re. nak (nahk); estmago, barriga, panza
spirit n. ik (eek), ol (oohl), pixaan (PEESH-aahn); stone n. tuunich (TOOON-eech);/wefra
espritu stone (crushed lim estone) n. sahkab (SAJH-kah b),
spirit substitute re. wayhel (WAHY-hehl); nahual, saskab (SAHS-kahb); roca calcrea deleznable,
espritu sascab
split adj. kaachaal (kaah-CHAH-ahl); hendido stone (hard) n. tok tuunich (tohk TOOON-eech);
split (long things) tr. v. kachik (KAH-cheek); hender pedernal, piedra dura
(cosas largas) stone house re. pakil nah (pahk-eel NAH); casa
spouse n. lak (lahk); esposo de piedra
spring n. aakal (AAHR-ahl), sayab (SAHY-ahb), sayap stones (for m arking land) pi. n. xuuk (SHOO-ook);
ha (SAHY-ahp HAH); cinega, ojo de agua mojones
sp u r n. aach (aahch); espuela stool re. kanche (KAHN-cheh); banqueta para sentarse
spy tr. v. chuk (CHOOR); espiar stop! imper. waalen (WAH-AHL-ehn); alto!, prate!
squash n. kum (koom); calabaza stop in. v. w aal (wah-ahl); pararse
squash seeds n. sikil (SEER-eel); pepita de calabaza stopped adj. wabal (WAH-bahl); parado
squirrel n. kuuk (ROO-ook); ardilla storm re. chichiik (CHEECH-eeek); tempestad,
stan d refl. v. w aak u ba (WAH-AHK oo bah); pararse temporal, huracn
stand up! imper. w aaltal (WAH-AHL-tahl); pongase straight adj. toh (toh); derecho, recto, directo
de pie! strange adj. helaan (HEH-lah-ahn); extrao
stand up in. v. waal (wah-ahl); pararse, ponerse de pie stran g er re. tzuul (tzoool); extranjero, ladino
star n. eek (eehk); estrella stran g er (female) re. xunan (SHOO-nahn);
start (a fight) tr. v. ketik (KEH-teek); empezar una pelea extranjera, ladina
started (to get) in. v. chunpahal (choon-PAH-hahl); strap re. kaxab nak (kahsh-AHB nahk);/a;'a
empezarse, comenzar straw re. siit (seeet); popote
stay in. v. patal (PAAH-tahl); quedarse straw h at re. xaanil pook (SHAH-AHN-eel POOHK);
stay h ere imper. paten waye (PAH-tehn WAH-yeh); sombrero de paja
qudase aqu strength re. m uuk (moook);fuerza
steal in. v. ookol (OOHK-ohl); hurtar, robar stretch tr. v. satzik (SAHTZ-eek); estirarlo
steal tr. v. oklik (OHK-leek); hurtarlo, robarlo strike tr. v. hatzik (HAHTZ-eek); g/pear/o, pegarlo
stem n. chun (choon); raz, principio, tronco strong adj. chich (cheech); kaam (KAH-ahm);
stepfather n. m ahan yuum (MAH-hahn YOOOM); fuerte; recio
padrastro study tr. v. xokik (SHOHK-eek); contarlo
stew n. kol (kohl); guiso stuff tr. v. butik (BOOT-eek); llenarlo
stick n. che (cheh); palo, vara stupid adj. nuum (nooom), tzu uy pool (TZOO-OOY
stick aro u nd in. v. xantal (SHAHN-tahl); tardarse poohl); estpido, tonto
stick (for digging) n. lob (lohb); coa subm erge tr. v. tubik (TOOB-eek); sumirlo
stick (for planting) re. xul (shool); coa, sembrador subm erged adj. tuubul/tubukbal (TOOO-bool/TOO-
stiff adj. tiinil (TEEEN-eel); tieso book-bahl); hundido, sumido
still (not m oving) adj. w abal (WAH-bahl); inmvil substitute tr. v. kexik (REHSH-eek); trocarlo
sting re. aach (aahch); picadura substituted adj. keexel (KEEHSH-ehl); trocado

126 M a y a - E n g u s h / E n g u s h - M ay a ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya Dictionary 127


suck in. v. tzu utz (tzoo-ootz); chupar tarry in. v. xantai (SHAHN-tahl); tardarse, demorarse
suck tr. v. tzuutzik (tzoo-ootz-EEK); chuparlo tasty adj. ki (kee); sabroso
sugar re. asukaar (ah-SOO-kaahr); Sp. loanword; azcar tayra (anim al, Tayra ba rb a ra) n. saampol (SAAHM-
sun re. kiin (keeen);so/ pohi); oso colmenero, perico ligero
sunken adj. tuubul/tubukbal (TOOO-bool/ teach tr. v. kaansik (KAI l-AI IN-seek); ensmarlo
TOO-book-bahl); hundido, sumido te ac h er re. kaansah (KAH-AHN-sah); maestro
sunset re. bin ka akabtal (been kah ahk-AHB-tahl); teat re. iim (eeem); teta
anochecer tell tr. v. aal(ik) (AH-AHL-[eek]);tzikbatik(fIZEEK-
super adj. sen m aalob (sehn MAH-AHL-ohb); bah-TEEK); decir
buensimo ten re. lahun (LAH-hoon) (hypothetical); diez
support tr. v. tzeentik (TZEEHN-teek); mantener, apoyar tendon re. xiich (sheeech); tendn,
sure (to be) adv. heele (HEH-EHL-eh); s, claro tense adj. tiinil (TEEEN-eel); tenso
surprising adj. hak.olal (hahk-OHL-ahl); testicles re. u yeel toon (oo yeh-ehl TOOHN); cojones,
sorprendent testculos
suspend tr. v. chuytal (CHOOY-tahl); colgarlo th a n k you phr. dios bootik; (DEE-yohs boh-oh-
suspended (to be) refl. v. chuyul (CHOOY-ool); TEEK); Sp. + Maya; gracias!
suspenderse th a t conj. kaah (kah-ah); que
sw allow in. v. luuk (loook); tragar th atch ed house re. xaanil nah (SHAH-AHN-eel NAH);
sw am p n. aakal (AAHR-ahi); pantano casa de paja
sw eep tr. v. mistik (MEES-teek); barrerlo th atch palm re. xaan (shah-ahn); palmo para techo,
sw eepings n. u ta mus (oo tah MEES); basura guano
barrida th a t (one) pron. lelo (LEH-loh); se, sa
sw eet adj. chuhuk (CHOO-hook); dulce th en adv. tun (toon); entonces
sw eet potato n. iis (eees); camote th ere is/there are adv. yaan (yaahn); hay
sw im in. v. bab (bahb); nadar th ere isnt/th ere aren t adv. m inaan (MEE-nah-ahn);
sw ollen adj. chuup (chooop); hinchado no hay
therefore adv. le beetik (leh BEEH-teek); por eso
th ere/h ere it is! dem. heel(a)/(o) (HEH-EHL-a/o )
T aqu/all est!
thick adj. pim (peem); polok (POHL-ohk); grueso,
tail re. neh (neh); cola, rabo gordo
tak e tr. v. bisik (BEES-eek); chaik (CHAH-eek); thicken in. v. suutal (SOO-OO-tahl); espesar
llevarlo thickness re. poolkil (POOHL-keel); gordura
tak e aw ay tr. v. hatzik (HAHTZ-eek); quitarlo th in adj. bekech (BEHR-ehch); delgado
tak e care of (care for) tr. v. kanantik (KAHN-ahn- th in (paper, clothes) adj. haay (haahy); papel o ropa
TEEK); cuidarlo delgado
take out tr. v. hoosik (HOH-OHS-eek); sacarlo th in g re. baal (bah-ahl); cosa
tam e adj. suuk (soook); numso th in k in. v. tuukul (TOOOHR-ool); pensar
tangled (in several places) adj. soosook (SOH-OH- th in k tr. v. tuklik (TOOK-leek); pensarlo
soh-ok); enredado thirsty adj. ukah (OORah); tener sed
ta n k re. aakal (AAHK-ahl); tanque th irteen re. ox lahun (ohsh LAH-hoon)
ta ra n tu la re. chiin wol (CHEEEN wohl); tarntula (hypothetical); trece

1 2 8 M a y a - E n g u s h / E n g l is h - M ay a ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya D ictionary 129


this (one) pron. lela (LEH-lah); ste, sta tongue n. ak (ahk); lengua
th o rn n. kiix (KEE-eesh); espina tongue (language) n. taan (taahn); idioma, lengua
th o u g h t n. tunkul (TOOOK-ool); pensamiento tool n. nuukul (NOO-OOK-ool^/ra-sfrwramio,
th ree n. ox (ohsh); tres herramiento, utensilio
th ree (inanim ate things) adj., pron. oxpel too m uch adj. hach yaab (HAHCH yah-ahb); mucho,
(OHSH-pelil); tres (cosas) bastante
th ree (people o r anim als, anim ate things) adj., pron. tooth n. koh (koh); diente
oxtul (OHSH-tool); tres (personas o animales) toothpick n. chilib (CHEEL-eeb); palillo de dientes
th ree tim es adv. oxpuul (OHSH-poool); tres veces tortilla n. waah (waah); tortilla
th resh in. v. puuch (poooch); desgranar totally adv. hum puli (hoom POO-lee); totalmente
th resh tr. v. p uchik (POOCH-eek); desgranar toucan n. piitor(l)eeyaal (PEEE-toh-rpjeeh-yaahl);
th ro at n. kaal (kaahl); garganta Sp. loanword; pitoreal
throb in. v. pek (pehk); palpitarse, moverse tough adj. chich (cheech); tzuuy (TZOO-ooy);
th ro w tr. v. chinik (CHEEN-eek); tirar duro, correoso
th ro w stones (at) tr. v. chinik (CHEEN-eek); tirar tow n n. kaah (kaah); pueblo, poblacion
piedras a to you prep, h ele (HEH-leh); a ti/a usted
th ru sh (bird) n. pich (peech); tordo (cantor), to you all prep, ti teex (tee TEH-ESH); a ustedes
zorzal (ave) trap n. peetz (peehtz); trampa
th u n d e r n. hum chak (HOOM chahk); trueno trash n. sohol (SOH-hohl); basura
tick (insect) n. peech (peehch); garrapata tree n. che (cheh); rbol
tie tr. v. kaxik (KAHSH-eek); amarrarlo trick tr. v. kechtik (KEHCH-teek); embaucarlo
tilt tr. v. nixik (NEESH-eek); inclinarlo tru e adj. haah (haah); verdadero
tilted adj. niixil (NEEESH-eel); inclinado tru n k n. chuun (chooon); tronco
tim e n. kiin (keeen); tiempo tru th n. haahil (HAAH-eel); verdd
tire rejl. v. kaanal (KAH-AH-nahl); cansarse turkey (dom esticated) n. ulum (OO-loom); pavo
tired adj. kaanaan (KAH-AH-nah-ahn); cansado turkey (oscelated, wild, A griocharis ocellata) n.
to prep, ti (tee); a kuutz (koootz); pavo del monte
to ad n. m uuch (moooch); sapo tu rtle n. ak (ahk); tortuga
toast adj. oop (oohp); tostada tw elve n. lahkaa (LAH-kah-ah) (hypothetical); doce
toasted adj. pokbil (POHK-beel); tostado tw enty n. hun kal (HOON kahl) (hypothetical);
tobacco n. kuutz (koootz); tabaco veinte
to b e sure adv. heele (HEH-EHL-eh); s, claro tw ice adv. kaapul (KAH-AH-pool); dos veces
today n. behla(e) (BEH-lah-[eh]); hoy tw ig a. chilib (CHEEL-eeb); ramita
today (earlier) n. behlaak (beh-LAH-AHK); hoy twins/?/, n. kuhob (KOO-hohb) ;gemelos
anteriormente tw ist tr. v. kopik (KOH-peek); torcer
toe n. aal ook (AAHL oohk); dedo de pie two n. kaah (kah-ah); dos
to g eth er prep, yetel (YEH-tehl); con, juntos tw o h u n d red n. lahun kal (LAH-hoon KAHL)
tom ato n. paak (paahk); jitomate, tomate (hypothetical); doscientos
to m e prep. phr. ten (tehn) (contraction of ti and teen); two (inanim ate things) adj., pron. kaapel
a mi (KAH-AH-pehl); dos (cosas)
tom orrow n. samal (SAH-mahl); maana two (people or animals, a n im ate things) adj, pron.
tom orrow (day alter) n. kaabeh (KAH-AH-beh); la kaatul (KAH-AH-tool); dos (personas o animales)
maana siguiente two tim es adv. kaapul (KAH-AH-pool); dos veces

130 M ay a - E n g l is h / E n g u s h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya Dictionary 131


u voice n. kaal (kaahl);oz
vomit n. xeh (sheh); vmito
u n d erstan d tr. v. naatik (NAH-AH-teek); oheltik vomit in. v. xeh (shell); vomitar
(oh-HEHL-teek); entenderlo, comprenderlo; vulture n. choom (ctloohm ), kuch (kooch); zopilote
reconocerlo, notar
u n d erw ear n. eex (eehsh); calzn
untidy adj. loob (loohb); desordenado w
u ntie tr. v. wachLk. (WAHCH-eek); desatarlo, soltarlo
until prep, aasta (AAHS-tah), tak (tahk); Sp. loanword; w ait in. v. paat (pah-aht); esperar
hasta w ait for tr. v. paatik (PAH-AHT-eek); esperarlo
until Sunday prep, tak domingo (tahk doli-MEEN- w alk in. v. ximbal (SHEEM-bahl); caminar
goh); Sp. + Maya; hasta el domingo w alking (on foot) adj. w a bal (WAH-bahl); de pie
up adj., adv., prep, kaanal (KAH-AHN-ahl); arriba wall (of m asom y) n. p ak (pahk); pared de
uproot tr. v. tokik (TOHK-eek); arrancarlo mamposteria
u rin ate in. v. wiix (weeesh); orinar w ant in. v. kat (kaht); taak (taahk); quiero (1 want);
u rin e n. wiix (weeesh); orina querer, tener ganas
us 1st p. pi. pron. toon (toh-ohn); nosotros w arm (luke) adj. kinal (KEE-nahl); tibio
use tr. v. baxtik (BASH-teek), chaik (CHAH-eek); w art n. aax (aahsh); verruga
usarlo w ash tr. v. poik (POH-eek); lavarlo
used (secondhand) adv. asben/asbeen (AHS- w ashed adj. poaal (POH-ah-ahl); lavado
behn/AHS-beh-ehn); de medio uso w ashtub n. cheem (cheehm); cuba de lavar
used up adj. xuupul (SHOOO-pool); xuupi (SHOO- wasp n. xuux (shooosh); avispa
OO-pee); gastarse; gastado w ater n. ha (hah); agua
used up par. xuupi (SHOO-OO-pee); se gast wave in. v. paykab (PAHY-kahb); sealar, seal
useless in. v. nuum (nooom); intil waylay tr. v. chuktik (CHOOK-teek); acecharlo
utensil n. nuukul (NOO-OOK-ool); utensilio we 1st p. pi. pron. toon (TOH-ohn); nosotros
w ealthy adj. ayikal (ahy-EEK-ahl); rico
weasel n. ooch (oohch), sabin (SAH-been); comadreja
V w eave tr. v. wakik (WAHK-eek); tejer
w eed n. kax (kahsh); yerba
value n. tohol (TOH-hohl); valor w eed in. v. pak (pahk); desherbar
vendor (fem ale) n. xkoonol (eesh-KOOH-nohl); w eed tr. v. paktik (PAHR-teek); desherbarlo
vendedora w eep in. v. okol (OHK-ohl); llorar
vendor (m ale) n. koonol (KOOHN-ohl); vendedor w eigh tr. v. pisik (PEES-eek); pesarlo
venison n. keh (keh); came de venado w eight n. aal (aahl); peso
verge o f (on th e ) prep, taaytak (TAH-AHY-tahk); w ell adv. m aalob (mah-AHL-ohb); adecuado, bueno
ya mero, inminente, casi well n. cheen (cheh-ehn), sayap ha (SAHY-ahp HA);
very adv. hach (hahch); muy pozo, cisterna
very (evaluates quantity) adv. sen (sehn); -isimo, mucho w est n. chikin (CHEE-keen); oeste, occidente, poniente
vine n. aak (aahk); bejuco w et adj. chuul (choool); mojado
virgin n. suhuy (SOO-hooy); virgen w et (to becom e) in. v. chu l chahtal (chool CHAH-
virgin forest n. suhuy kax (SOO-hooy KAHSH); tahl); mojarse
monte virgen (nunca labrada) w hat? inter, baax (bah-ahsh); qu?
visit tr. v. ximbatik (SHEEM-BAHT-eek); visitarlo w hen conj. kaah (kah-ah); cuando

1 5 2 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M a h ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya Dictionary 1 3 3


w h en (w hat day) ? inter, baax kiin (BAH-ahsh w om an (old) n. nohoch. koolel (NOH-hoch knh-nhl-
REEEN); cundo? EHL), xnuuk (eesh-NOOCK); v ja
w h en (w hat hour)? inter, baax oorah (BAH-ahsh w om an (white) n. xunan (SHOO-nahji); mujer blanca
OOHB-ah); cundo? w ont adv. m aa taan (MLAH-AH taahn); no
w here? inter, tuux (too-oosh); dnde? w ood n. che (cheh); madera
w hich? inter, makahnak (MAHK-ahl-MAHR); w ord n. taan (taahn); palabra
cul? w ork n. meyah (MEH-yah); trabajo
w hip tr. v. hatzik (HAHTZ-eek); azotarlo w ork in. v. meyah (MEH-yah); trabajar
w histle n. piito (PEEE-toh); Sp. loanword; pito w ork (rapidly) adj. alkab rrieyah (A/VI IL-kahl)
w histle in. v. xuuxub (SHOOO-shoob); chiflar; silbar MEHY-ah); trabajar m u y rpido
w hite adj. sak (sahk); bianco w orld n. kaab (kaahb); mundo
w hite earth (used in m ortar) n. sahkab (SAHR-ahb); w orm n. kaan (kaahn), nokol (NOHK-ohl); gusano
roca calcrea deleznable, sascab w ound n. loob (loohb), loobil (LOOHB-eel); herrida,
dao
w hite m an/w om an n. tzuul (tzoool); extranjero,
w rap tr. v. toik (TOH-eek); envolverlo
ladino
w rinkle tr. v. chukik (CHOOR-eek); arrugarse
w hite w om an n. xunan (SHOO-nahn); extranjera,
w rite in. v. tzib (tzeeb); escribir
ladina
w rite tr. v. tzibtik (TZEEB-teek); escribirlo
who? inter, maxi (mahsh-EE); quin?
w riting n. tzib (tzeeb); escritura
w ho pron. max (mahsh); quien
w rong adj. keban (REH-bahn); pecado
w hoever pron. hee max (heh-eh MAHSH); quien
w ho know s adv. kensa bixi (kehn-sah BEE-shee);
quien sabe Y
why? inter, baax ten (BAH-ahsh-tehn); por qu?
w ide adj. koch (kohch); ancho yam n. iis (eees); camote
wife n. atan (AH-tahn); esposa year n. aanyo (AAHN-yoh), haab (hah-ahb);
w iggle in. v. pek (pehk); menearse Sp. loanword; ao
wild adj. koox (KOH-ohsh); bravo, salvaje, cimarrn yell in. v. awat (AH-waht); gritar, dar gritos
wild (anim al) adj. baalche (BAH-AHL-cheh); animal yellow adj. kan (kahn); amarillo
silvestre yes adv. haah (haah), h eele (HEH-EHL-eh); si
will n. ol (ohl); ganas yesterday n. hoolheyak (HOH-ohl-HEH-yahk); ayer
w inch n. pechech (PEH-chehch); malacate you pron. teech (teehch); t/usted
w ind n. iik (eeek); viento, aire youth n. xiipal (SHEE-EE-pahi); joven
w ing n. xiik (sheeek); ala
wish tr. v. tziboltik (TZEEB-ohl-teek); desearlo
w itch n. xway (eesh-WAHY); bruja
w ith prep, ti (tee); yetel (YEH-tehl); en; con
w ithin prep, ichil (EECH-eel); dentro
w ithout adv.,prep, m a (mah); xm a (eesh-MAH); sin
wizard n. hw ay (ah-wahy); brujo
w om an n. koolel (ROH-ohl-EHL); x chup (eesh-
CHOOP); m ujer
w om an (foreign) n. xunan (SHOO-nahn); mujer
extranjera

1 3 4 M a y a - E n g l i s h / E n g l i s h - M a y a (Y u c a t e c ) D i c t i o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k English-Maya Dictionary 1 3 5


PHRASEBOOK CONTENTS

C om m on W o r d s a n d P h r a s e s 158
G r e e t i n g s a n d P o l i t e E x p r e s s io n s 145
N a m e s o f P e o p le a n d T h in g s . 147
T im e 150
A ge and S ta tu s 154
P e r s o n a l R e la tio n s h ip s 157
L o d g in g 161
R e s t a u r a n t S e r v ic e , F o o d , a n d D r in k 163
Restaurant Service 165
Maya Cuisine 167
Food 170
Drink 174
S h o p p in g 177
Clothing 179
Toiletry 180
Books and Stationery 180
T r a n s p o r ta tio n a n d T r a v e l 181
Directions 184
H e a l t h a n d P e r s o n a l H y g ie n e 185
Useful Phrases 188
W ork 191
Useful Phrases 194
E n t e r t a in m e n t 196
W e a th e r an d N a tu r a l P henom ena 198
Useful Phrases 201
N u m rers 203

P h ra sebook 137
I
COMMON WORDS AND PHRASES COMMON WORDS AND PHRASES

C ommon W ords and P h r a ses Which?


Makalmak?
Who? (MiAHK-ahl-MAHK)
Maxi? Cul?
(MAH-shee)
Quin? How many ?
Hay tiiul?
What? Huh? (HAIIY tool)
Bixi? Cuntos?
(BEESII-ee>
Cmo? How much does it cost?
Batiux u tohol?
Where? (BAH-hoosh oo TOH-hohl)
Tuux? Cunto cuesta? Cal es su precio?
(too-oosh)
Dnde?
An!
How? (ahn)
Bix? Ah!
(beesh)
Cmo? no, not, without
ma"
When (what day)? (mah)
Baax kiin? no, ni, sin
(BAH-ahsh KEEEN)
Cundo? never
maa tech
When (what hour)? (MAH-AH tehch)
Baax oorah? no por puesto
(BAH-ahsh OOHR-ah)
Cundo? Not me.
Ma teni.
Why? What for? (mah TEHN-ee)
Baaxten? Yo no.
(bah-ahsh-TEHN)
Por qu?

138 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M ay a ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k P hrasebook 139


COMMON WORDS AND PHRASES I m r t l 'i n i : i v n ] ;i iK fii 1 1n j i 1 n i *m

Whats that? Perfect!


Baax lelo? Hach beyo!
(bah-ahsh LEH-loh) (hahch BEH-yoh)
Qu es? ;Perfecto!

What is it? white person


Baaxi? tzuul
(BAH-AHSH-ee} (tzoool)
Qu es eso ? gringo

I dont know. I am a man.


Main woohli\ Wiinken.
(mah-een WOOHL-ee) (WEENK-ehn)
No lo s. Soy hombre.

Speak slowly. I am a woman.


Taneh chaambeel. Xchupen.
(TAHN-eh chaahm-BEEHL) (eesh-CHOOP-ehn)
Habla despacio. Soyr mujer.

What does that expression mean? Watch out! Be careful!


Baax u kaat u yaalik? Kanant a bah (eex)!
(BAH-AHSH ooh RAAHT ooh YAH- (KAHN-ahnt ah bah-[EH-ehsh])
AHL-eek) Ten cuidado!
Qu significa este dicho?
May I take a picture here?
I dont understand it. Hu chabal in mentik humpel pootooh
Ma tin naatik. w aye?
(mah teen NAH-AHT-eek) (hooh CHAH-bahl een MEHN-teek hoom-
No entiendo. PEHL pooh-tooh WAH-yeh)
Puedo tomar una foto aqu?
a little (quantity)
hum piit See you tomorrow/until tomorrow.
(HOOM-peet) Tak samal.
un poquito (tahk SAHM-ahl)
Hasta maana.

140 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D ic ti o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook 141


COMMON WORDS AND PHRASES GREETINGS AND POLITE EXPRESSIONS
Good luck. (Literally, May it go well with you.) G r e e t in g s and P o l it e E x p r e s s io n s
Ka xiik teech utzil.
(kah SHEE-EEK teehch ootz-EEL) The Maya generally lack words equivalent to the
Que le vaya bien. greetings and polite expressions found in Eng
lish. Hello, how are you?, please, thank
You too. you, and even the simple affirmation of yes all
Bey xan leech. lack counterparts in Maya. Rather, in situations
(BEHY shahn TEEHCH) that call for these types of expressions, the Maya
Usted tambin. equivalent becomes a formulaic and metaphoric
response, as in the use of dios bootik (God pays
it) for thank you.

Hello.
Oola.
(OOH-lah)
Hola.

How are you? (General greeting. Literally, How


are things with you?)
Bix a beel(eex)?
(BEESH ah beehl -[EH-ehsh])
Qu tal?

Whats going on? (General greeting. Literally,


Where do you go?)
Tuux ka bin?
(too-oosh KAH been)
Qu pasa?

How are you? (General greeting. Literally, What


do you say?)
Baax ka waalik?
(bah-ahsh kah WAH-AHL-eek)
Qu tal?

142 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g u s h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a se b o o k Phrasebook 143


GREETINGS AND POLITE EXPRESSIONS GREETINGS AND POLITE EXPRESSIONS
Fine, OR. Yes! (Literally, Like that!)
Maalob. Beyo!
(mah-ah-LOHB) (BEHY-oh)
Bien. AsfEso!

(It is) nothing. Yes! (Literally, Like this!)


Mixbaal. Beya!
(meesh-BAH-AHL) (B E H Y -ah )
Nada. As! Eso!

So-so. Where are you from? (Literally, What is your


Chen beya. town?)
(chehn BEHY-ah) T\iux a kaahal?
Bastante bien. TOO-OOSH ah KAAH-hahl)
Cul es su pueblo?
Thank you. (Literally, God pays it, from Sp.
Where did you start traveling from? (Literally,
dios le pagar, God will pay you.)
Where did you flee from?/ Where did you
Dios bootik.
come from?)
(DEE-ohs BOH-OH-teek)
1 \ i ux lukech?
Gracias.
(TOOH-OOSH look-EHCH)
De dnde veni?
No, God pays it to/for you (response to being
thanked). Where do you come from?
Ma, dios bootik teech. Tuux a taal?
(mah, DEE-ohs BOH-OH-teek teehch) (TOOH-OOSH ah TAAHL)
No, gracias a usted. De dnde viene usted?

Surely! (Literally, Thats the way it will be.) What day do you go?
Heele! Baax kiin a bin?
(HEH-EH-leh) (BAH-AHSH keeen AH been)
Es cierto! A qu da se va?

Yes, true. When will you return?


Haah. Baax kiin a suut?
(haah) (BAH-AHSH keeen ah SOOOT)
Si. Cierto. Ciertamiente. Cundo regresa?

1 4 4 M a y a - E n g l i s h / E n g l i s h - M a y a (T u c a t e c ) D i c t i o n a h t & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook 145


GREETINGS AND POLITE EXPRESSIONS NAMES OF PEOPLE AND THINGS

May I approach? N am es of P eo ple and T h in g s


Ka pahtal in natzik imbah?
(kah PAAHf-ahl een NAHTZ-eek eem-BAI 1) Speakers o f Maya generally address each other
Puedo cercarme? or their acquaintances by first name, 'which often
derives from Spanish. However, many names of
Good-bye. (Literally, May it go to you.) tourists or non-M aya have no equivalent in
Tak samal. Spanish, and travelers may find it easiest to adopt
(tahk SAAHM-ahl) a Spanish nam e for convenience. Many Maya
A usted(es). . . (singular/plural) names actually represent nicknames, often in
reference to a feature or characteristic of the
Good luck. (Literally, May you go well.) individual.
Ka xiik teex hatzutzil.
(kah SHEE-eek teh-ehsh HAHTZ-ootz-eel) the Maya
Que le vaya muy bien./Buena suerte. le m aayaoobo
(leh MAAH-yah-oh-ohb-oh)
Likewise. (Literally, To you.) los mayas
Bey xan teech.
(behy SHAHN teehch) Whats your name?
Lo mismo a usted. Baax a kaaba?/Bix a kaaba?
(BAH-AHSH ah KAAHB-ah/BEESH ah
May God protect you. RAAHB-ah)
Kaah dios kalanteech. Cmo se llama usted?
(Kah-ah DEE-ohs kah-lahn-TEEHCH)
Que dios le proteja. John is my name.
Hwaan in kaaba.
(WHAAHN een RAAHB-ah)
Juan es mi nombre.

What is that called?


Bix u kaaba lelo?
(BEESH ooh RAAHB-ah LEH-loh)
Cmo se llama se?

1 4 6 M a y a - E n g l i s h / E n g l i s h - M a y a (Y u c a t e c ) D i c t i o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook 147


Does it have a Maya name also? What does that expression mean?
Yaan humpel kaaba ich maayah Baax 11 kat u yaalik le taano?
bey xan? (BIK-AHSH oo kaht oo YAH-AHL-eek
(yaahn HOOM-pehl KAAHB-ah eech leh T AAHN-oh)
MAAH-yah behy SHAHN) Qu quiere decir ese dicho?
Hay un nombre maya tambin?

Isnt there any Maya word?


Minaan taan ich maayah?
(MEEN-ah-ahn taahn eech maah-YAH)
No hay una palabra en maya?

How i s _________ said in Maya?


B ix _________ u yaalaal ich maayah?
(beesh_________ oo YAH-AHL-ah-ahl
eech maah-YAH)
Cmo se dice_________ en maya?

Can_________ be said in Maya?


Hu beetaa l_________ u yalaal ich
maayah?
(hoo beeht-ah-a l_________ oo
YAHL-ahahl eech maah-YAH)
Se puede decir_________ en maya?

Which expression is better,_________ or

Baax taan u maasil utz, wah


______ ?
(BAH-AHSH taahn oo MAAHS-eel OOTZ,
wah -)
Cul dicho es mejor. o

148 M aya- E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M a y a ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook 149


TIME
TIME
T im e Ihe day after the day after tomorrow
oxfeeh
Many Spanish loanwords have made their way (OHSH-beh)
into Maya as expressions of time, including dyae el da despus del da despus de maana
for da (day) and anyo for ao (year). Maya uses
Spanish forms for all of the days of the week and now (Sp. +- Maya)
months of the year as well, but these can take the beoora
Maya suffix -ak to indicate the previous day or (beh-OOHR-ah)
month (for example, sbadoak last Saturday). ahora

today right away, j ust now


behlae beooriita
(BEH-lah-eh) (beh-oohr-EEET-ah)
hoy a h o rita

yesterday
hoolheyak all the time, all day
(HOH-OHL-heh-yahk) lah kiinil
ayer (lah REEEN-eel)
todo el tiempo, todo el da
tomorrow
samal morning
(SAH-mahl) haatzkab kiin
maana (hah-ahtz-kahb REEEN)
maana
every day (also means over and over, regularly)
sansamal dusk
(sahn-SAHM-ahl) aakabtal
cada da (ahk-AHB-tahl)
anochecer
the day after tomorrow
kaabeh night
(KAH-AH-beh) akab
el da despus de maana (AHK-ahb)
noche

1 5 0 M a y a - E n g l i s h / E n g l i s h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D i c t i o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k
Phrasebook 151
i
TIME TIME
I

last night until tomorrow


abak tak sam al
(AH-bahk) (tahk SAH-mahl)
la noche pasada hasta maana

last year until another day


anyoak (from Spanish ao) tu lak kiin
(ahn-YOH-ahk) (too LAHK keeen)
el ao pasado hasta un otro da

late (in the day) What day? When?


kakat(e) Baax kiin?
(KAH-kaht- [e]) (BAH-AHSH keeen)
al rato, un poco despus, ms tarde Cul da? Cundo?

long ago What time (what hour)? (Sp. + Maya)


uchih Baax oorah?
(OOCH-ee) (BAH-AHSH oohr-ah)
anteriormente Cul tiempo?

early What time (generally)? (Sp. + Maya)


hatzkah kiin Baax tyempoh?
(hahtz-kahb KEEEN) (BAH-AHSH TYEHM-poh)
temprano, la maana Cul tiempo?

earlier
kaachih
(KAH-AH-chee)
antes

tomorrow (see you tomorrow)


samal
(SAH-mahl)
maana

152 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g u s h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D i c ti o n a r y & P h ra s e b o o k Phrasebook 153


I 1
AGE AND STATUS AGE AMD STATUS

A ge and S tatus grandfather (literally, great father, great man )


nohoch taat(ah)
(TiOH-hohch TAAHT-[ah])
Maya speakers show respect to elders by referring
abuelo
to them as large or great (nohoch). Otherwise
the Maya refer to individuals by name.
old people (in general) (literally, the great
people)
gentleman
le nukuch makoobo
yuum
(leh noo-kooch MAHK-oh-ohb-oh)
(yooom)
viejos (gente grande)
caballero, seor
American/European tourists (literally, white
lady
odors)
xunan
sak bokoob
(SHOO-nahn)
(sahk BOHK-oh-ohb)
dama olores blancos, gringos

his/her age black people (African-Americans)


u haabil boxoob
(oo HAH-AHB-eel) (BOHSH-oh-ohb)
el edad de l/ella negros

old man male (foreigner)


nohoch mako tzuul
(noh-hohch MAH-koh) (tzoool)
viejo hombre, extranjero

nohoch wiinik female (foreigner)


(noh-hohch-WEEN-eek) xunan
viejo (SHOO-nahn)
mujer, extranjera
old woman
nohoch koolel his lady (wife of a white man)
(noh-hohch KOH-OHL-ehl) u xunan
vieja (oo SHOO-nahn)
su mujer (esposa de un extranjero)

154 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g u s h - M a y a ( Y u c a te c ) D i c ti o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook 155


AGE AND STATUS PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
How old are you?
P erso nal R e l a t io n s h ip s
Haypel a haabil?
(HAHY-pehl ah HAH-AHB-eel)
Except for the terms for siblings, relationship
or terms tend to be exclusively Spanish or a Mayani-
zation of Spanish. For example, the Maya gener
Hay pel aanyos yaan teech? ally express the concept of family or relative
(HAHY pehl AAHN-yohs yaahn TEEHCH) by the term pamiilyah, a Mayanization of Spanish
cCuntos aos tiene? familia. More distant relatives are referred to by
nam e. Nationality terms are also exclusively
girl, young woman Spanish loanwords, modified by the more or less
xchupal lilting accent and emphasis of the Maya language
(eesh-CHOOP-ahl) and by differences of tone and stress.
muchacha
mother
na
(nah)
madre

father
taat(ah)
(TAAHT-[ah])
padre

wife
atan
(AH-tahn)
esposa

my wife
in watan
(een WAH-tahn)
m i esposa

your wife
a watan
(ah WAH-tahn)
su esposa

1 5 6 M a y a - E n g l i s h / E n g l i s h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D i c t i o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook 157


PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

elder broth er
Johns wife
sukuun
u yatan Juan
(SOO-kooh-oon)
(oo YAH-tahn WHAAHN)
heimano mayor
la esposa de Juan
younger brother/sister
grandfather (great father)
iitzin
nohoch taat(ah) (EETZ-een)
(NOH-hohch TAAHT-[ah]) hermano/hertnana menor
abuelo
true sibling
grandmother laktzil
chiich (LAHK-tzeel)
(cheeech) hermano(a) verdadero(a)
abuela
relative (aunt, uncle, cousin)
son/daughter lak
paal (lahk)
(paahl) miembro de familia
hijo/a
all my relatives
children tulakal in laktziloob
paaloob (tooh-LAHI-ahl een lahk-tzeel-OH-
(PAAHL-oh-ohb) OHB)
hijos toda mi familia

twins she/he doesnt recognize me


kuhob ma tu kaholtikeni
(ROO-hohb) (mah too kah-ohl-tee-KEHN-ee)
gemelos ella/l no me conoce

elder sister my younger stepbrother/sister


kiik in mahan iitzin
(keeek) (een MAH-hahn EETZ-een)
mi hermanastro/a
hermana mayor

Phrasebook 159
158 M a y a - E n g l i s h / E n g l i s h - M a y a (Y u c a t e c ) D i c t i o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS LODGING
my stepmother L o d g in g
in mahan maamah
(een MAH-hahn maah-MAH) Lodging on th e Yucatn Peninsula ranges from
mi madrastra posh tourist re sorts to campsites on the beaches.
However, accommodations off the beaten path in
friend (Sp.) the many Maya villages remain nearly nonexis
amigoh tent, and often the traveler must Fmd a local family
(ah-MEE-goh) to stay with or find a place to hang a hammock in
a m igo the schoolhouse or community buildings (always
ask permission). Services and amenities at public
Im getting married. hotels, motels, and hostels vary widely depending
Tn tzookol in beel. on the quality and on the price the traveler is
(toon TZOH-OHR-ohl een beehl) willing to pay for a room. Often Maya families will
Voy a casarme. rent unused thatch huts for slinging hammocks,
and a variety of establishments exclusively fea
ture these types of shacks for the budget traveler.

Can I spend the night in this town?


Hu beetaal in patal ti le kaahala?
(hoo beeh-TAH-AHL een PAHT-ahl tee
leh KAAH-HAHL-ah)
Puedo quedarme en esta pueblo por la
noche?

Where can I hang my hammock?


Tiiux yaan in chuyik in kan?
(TOO-OOSH yaahn een CHOOY-eek een
KAHN)
Dnde puedo colgar mi hamaca?

Can I hang my hammock here?


Ku patal in chuyik in kan w aye?
(koo PAAHT-ahl een CHOOY-eek een
kahn WAHY-eh)
Puedo colgar mi hamaca aqu?

1 6 0 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g u s h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook 161


LODGING RESTAURANT SERVICE,

Do you want to hang your hammock here? R estaurant S e r v ic e ,


A kat wah ch uyik in kan waye?
F ood , and D r in k
(ah KAHT wah CHOOY-eek een kahn
WAHY-eh)
Opportunities to show off your knowledge o
Quiere colgar su hamaca aqu?
Maya rarely arise in fast-paced tourist destina
tions on the Yucatn Peninsula such as Cancn or
I stayed here.
Mrida, except when dealing with service per
Paten waye.
sonnel and guides. These jobs are some of the
(PAH-tehn WAH-yeh)
only ones generally open to Maya speakers. By
Me qued aqu.
far, many more occasions open up along country
roads and in small villages, where a stop at a
Are you awake yet?
com edor (small restaurant) or food stall w ill
Ahal nahech?
reward your effort at communicating in Maya.
(AH-hahI NAH-hehch)
Est usted despierto?
R estaurant Service
The man is snoring.
breakfast
Tn nok le mako.
ukul
(toon NOHK leh MAHK-oh)
(OOK-ool)
El hombre est roncando.
desayuno
Its noisy.
dinner, food
Yaan yaab huum.
ooch
(YAAHN yahahb HOOOM)
(oh-ohch)
Hace mucho ruido.
cena, comida

meal
hanal, hanlil, ooch
(HAHN-ahl, HAHN-leel, OH-ohch)
comida

eat, eating
hanal (in.), haantik (tr.)
(HAHN-ahl, HAAHN-teek)
comer, comerlo

162 M aya - E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M a y a ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a se h o o k Phrasebook 165


RESTAURANT SERVICE, FOOD, AND DRINK RESTAURANT SERVICE, FOOD, AND DRINK

Lets go eat. Please bring me a (cup of) coffee.


Koox hanal. Tias teen humpel boxha/kaapeh.
(kohohsh HAHN-ahl) (TAI IS teehn HOOMP-el bohsh-
Vamos a comer. HAH/RAAH-peh)
Por favor, tragame un caf.
What do you want to eat?
Baax tak a haantik? Do you want to eat now?
(BAH-AHSH tahk ah HAAHN-teek) Kaat a hanal beyoorah?
Qu quiere comer? (KAAHT ah HAHN-ahl behy-OOHR-ah)
Quiere usted comer ahora?
And you?
Kux teech? Have you got any _ . today?
(ROOSH teehch) Yaan teech _behlae?
Y usted? (YAAHN teehch _ ___ BEIf-lah-eh)
Tiene usted___ . hoy?
Give m e _________ .
Tza te e n _____ There isnt any _
(TZAH teehn) Minaan
Por favor, dme _ (MEE-nah-ahn)
No h a y________
Ive already asked for it.
Tzook in kaatik. Please bring me (a ).
(TZOH-OHR een KAHT-eek) Tas teen (hump e l) _____
Ya orden./Ya lo ped. (TAHS teehn hoom-PEHL
Por favor, tragame _ _ _ _ _
Im very hungry.
Hach wiiheen. The are fresh.
(HAHCH WEE-EE-heehn) Hach ak l e _________ o
Tengo mucho hambre. (HAHCH ahk le h _____ oh)
L os_________ estnfrescos(as).
Are you hungry?
Wiiheech? Id like some _
(WEE-EE-heehch) In kat
Tiene hambre? (EEN kaht _
Quiero algo de _

1 6 4 M a y a - E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook 165


RESTAURANT SERVICE, IM 'IM l ! " ! '
RESTAURANT SERVICE, FOOD, AND DRINIC
Would you like (som e)___
Anything else?
A k at_________ ?
U maasil?
(ah RAHT________ (oo MAAHS-eel)
Quiere usted algo d e . Algo ms?

Just a little (more). (Sp. + Maya) Do you want anything else?


Chen humpiit (maas). A kat wah u maasil?
(CHEHN HOOM-peet [maahs]) (ah RAHT wah oo MAAHS-eel)
Solo unpoco (ms). Quiere algo ms?

Thats enough/too much. Thats all.


Yaab. Cheen lelo.
(yah-ahb) (chehehn LEH-loh)
Es suficiente./Es demasiado. Es todo.

Please fill it up. Im done eating.


Tzook in hanal.
Chupeh.
(TZOH-OHR een HAHN-ahl)
(CHOOP-eh)
Ya termin de comer.
Llnalo, porfavor.
Take it away (please).
very tasty Biseh.
hach ki (BEES-eh)
(hahch KEE) Tmalo, por favor.
muy sabroso
Good eating! (Bon appetit!)
I like it/pts] good to my eye. Hach ki a hanal!
Utz tin wich. (hahch kee ah HAHN-ahl)
(ootz teen WEECH) Buen provecho!
Me gusta.
Maya Cuisine
My meal is burned.
Eelel in wooch. Many of the modem worlds favorite foods origi
nated in the New World among Native American
(EEHL-ehl een WOH-OCH)
civilizations, long before Columbus and the first
Est quemado mi comida.
European explorers reached America. How would

1 6 6 M aya- E n g l i s h / E n g l is h - M a y ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k
Phrasebook 167
RESTAURANT SERVICE, inningMTTiTiTTE RESTAURANT SERVICE, K M DRIMK

the rest of the world fare without com, beans, pit bar-b-que chicken
tom atoes, potatoes, chili, squash, chocolate, pibil kaax
peanuts, vanilla, and other food plants first (PEEB-eel KAAHSH)
dom esticated in North and South America? polio pibil
Imagine pizza without tomato sauce, to give only
one example. roast pork
The Maya them selves evolved a distinctive pok chuk
cuisine from many of the New Worlds domesti (POHK chook)
cates, inventing specialty dishes that today can be cam e de chochinito asado
found in the restaurants of Mrida and Cancn as
well as other locations on the Yucatn Peninsula. grilled iish in annatto marinade (marinade based
around a red food dye)
Black beans, chili, tortillas, and boiled maize
tikin xik
products have become all-important to the Maya
(TEE-keen sheek)
diet. Most famous of all is the Maya pit bar-b-
pescado a la parilla
que, cooked in an underground cavity called a
piib, which features pork and chicken baked in
Maya egg rolls (crumbled hard-boiled eggs
banana leaves and marinated in sour orange juice,
wrapped in tortilla and dipped in pumpkin
garlic, and red achiote sauce. However, the Mayas seed sauce)
diet rarely includes meat other than chicken, papa tzules
largely for economic reasons and because of a (PAH-pah TZOOL-ehs)
decline in wild game due to loss of forest habitat. rollo relleno de huevos duras con salsa
Similarly, the Maya consume few dairy products, de calabaza
and they derive most of what they drink from
ground maize in the form of sa (atole, or cooked com mush, posol
com gruel) and k eyem (pozole, or uncooked com keyem
gruel). Of course, soft drinks (Coca Cola or other (KEH-yehm)
sodas) can be found everywhere. pozole

fried chicken gravy, thick sauce


tzahbil kaax kol
(TZAHB-eel KAAHSH) (kohl)
pollo frito salsa

pit bar-b-que pork chili black sauce


pibil k eken box kol
(PEEB-eel KEH-kehn) (bohsh-KOHL)
cochinita pibil salsa negra con chili

1 6 8 M a y a - E n g l i s h / E n g l i s h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D i c t i o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook 169


RESTAURANT SERVICE, W H 'M i l 'l RESTAURANT SERVICE,
black bean sauce Mtter
kobil buul kah
(ROHB-eel BOO-OOL) (kah)
salsa de frijoles negro amargo

eggs Motul-style (named after the town of Motul chicken


in the state of Yucatn) kaax
u heil Motul (kaahsh)
(00 HEH-eel moh-TOOL) polio
huevos motuleos chili
iik
honey beer (fermented from honey and flavored (eeek)
with tree bark) chile
balche
(BAHL-cheh) corn
balche (i)xiim
([ee]-shee-eem)
Food maz

avocado eggs
oon heoob
(oohn) (HEH-oh-ohb)
aguacate huevos, blanquillos

banana fish
haas kay
(hah-ahs) (kahy)
pltano pescado

beans guava
buul pichi
(boo-ool) (PEECH-ee)
frijoles guava

beef honey
u bake l wakax kaab
(ooh BAHK-ehl wah-KAHSH) (kaahb)
carne de res miel

170 M u a - E n g l i s h / E n g l i s h - M a y a (Y u c a t e c ) D i c t i o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook


RESTAURANT SERVICE, U ' l ' l ' M H ' l RESTAURANT SERVICE,
-
hot sauce (literally dogs nose) pumpkin
xni peek kum
(SHNEE peehk) (kooin)
salsa picante calabaza

meat salt
bak taab/taabik
(bahk) (tah-ahb/TAH-AHB-eek)
carne sal

meat (fresh) sour


ak bak pah
(AHK bahk) (pah)
came fresca agria

orange (sweet) sour orange tree/sour orange


chiinah paltal
(CHEEE-nah) (PAHK-ahl)
naranja dulce naranjo/a agrio(a)

paca (Cuniculus paca) spicy, hot


haleb pap
(HAHL-ehb) (pahp)
tapescuintle picante, caliente

papaya squash
puut kum
(pooot) (koom)
papaya calabaza

peccary (collared) (Pcari tajacu) sugar


kitam asukaar (Sp.)
(REE-tahm) (ah-SOO-kaahr)
jabal, coche del monte azcar

172 M a y a - E n g u s h / E n g l i s h - M ava ( Y u c a t e c ) D i c t i o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook 173


RESTAURANT SERVICE, U ' I ' l ' M l ' l RESTAURANT SERVICE,
a
drinking some type of soft drink (Kooka, or Coca
sweet orange (common orange)
Cola). Beer and commercial cane liquor play a
chiinah pah
large role in everyday life, and the latter serves
(CHEEE-nah PAH)
as an indispensible item used in religious ritual,
naranja dulce
especially as an offering to the gods. As always,
whenever traveling in Latin American countries,
sweet stuff (sugar, etc.)
avoid fresh or tap water or any products that con
chuhuk tain water that may be contaminated.
(CHOO-hook)
dulce Pm thirsty.
Hach ukahen.
tomato (hahch oo-KAH-hehn)
paak Tengo sed.
(paahk)
tomate Are you thirsty?
Ukaheech (wah)?
tortilla, bread (oo-KAH-eehch [wah])
waah Tiene usted sed?
(waah)
tortilla water
ha
(HAH)
tortilla chips
agua
tzahbil waah
(TZAHB-eel waah) cold water
chips (de tortilla) sis ha
(sees HAH)
venison agua fra
keh
(keh) hot water
venado chokoh ha
(CHOH-koh HA)
agua caliente
D rink
For the most part what the Maya drink when com gruel
thirsty is some kind of maize gruel, usually atole sa
(sa), which is a cooked gruel, or pozole (k eyem), (SAH)
which is uncooked. They also rely heavily on atole

Phrasebook 175
174 M a y a - E n g l i s h / E n g l i s h - M a y a (V u c a t e c ) D i c t i o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k
RESTAURANT SERVICE, , AND DRINK SHOPPING

com gruel made from fresh maize (green com) Sh o p p in g


ak sa
(AHK sah) For the most part, situations on the Yucatn Penin
atole de maz tierno, atole nuevo sula where people speak Maya and that involve
shopping in the Western sense are extremely
com mush drink, uncooked maize gruel, posol rare. Apart from encounters with small village
keyem stores and itinerant vendors who approach tourists
(KEH-yehm) on the street, the chance to use Maya when buying
pozole something will arise only occasionally, and usu
ally only in the larger towns and cities. Some shop
orange juice employees at tourist centers may speak Maya, but
kaab chiina for the most part such em ployees will speak
(kaahb CHEEE-nah) Spanish or even English. rIVy out your Maya in
jugo de naranja these situations and after a moment of awkward
ness while your listener adjusts to your accent,
beer you will no doubt be very well received.
seerbeesah When asking for a certain number of items,
(seehr-BEEH-sah) bear in mind that, in Maya, counted objects take
cerveza numerical classifiers depending on the type of
object in question. For example, with inanimate
get drunk objects you use the classifier -pel, with long
kaltal things -tziit, and with people and animals -tul.
(KAHL-tahl)
emborracharse Where do they se ll_________ ?
Tux ku koo n o l___________?
Is there Coca Cola? How much for the Coca Cola? (TOO-OOSH koo ROH-OHN-ohl
Yaan hum pel Kooka? ______ )
(yaahn hoom-pehl KOOHK-ah) Dnde se vende_________ ?
Hay refrescos? Hay Coca Cola? Cunto
cuesta? Im looking for (a )_________ .
Tin kaxtik (hump e l) ___________.
(teen KAHSH-teek [hoom-PEIlL]
______ )
Estoy buscando_________ .

176 M aya- E n g u s h / E n g l is h - M aya (Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a se b o o k Phrasebook 1 7 7


SHOPPING SHOPPING

Where i s _________? Something else? (Sp. + Maya)


Tux yaan_________ ? U maasii?
(TOO-OOSHyaahn_________) (oo MAAHS-eel)
Dnde est_________ ? Algo ms?

How many? Clothing


Hay tul?
(HAHYtool) dress
Cuntos? nook
(rioolik)

How much does it cost? ropa


Bahux u tohol?
(BAH-hoosh oo TOH-hohl) dress (native womans)
iipil
Cunto cuesta?Cul es su precio?
(EEEP-eel)
Imipil
price
tohol
hat
(TOH-hohl)
pok
precio
(pohk)
sombrero
Please give m e _________ .
Tzah te e n _________ , hat (straw)
(TZAH teehn) xaanil pook
Por favor, dm e_________. (SHAH-AHN-eel POOHR)
sombrero de paja
(very) too expensive
hach kooh pants
(hahch ROH-OH) eex
(muy) demasiado caro (eehsh)
pantaln
Is that all?
Chen lelo? shawl
(chehn LEH-loh) hooch
Es todo? (boohch)
rebozo

178 M a y a - E n g l i s h / E n g u s h - M a y a (Y u c a t e c ) D i c t i o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook 179


SHOPPING TRANSPORTATION frrrnrro^
underwear T r a n s p o r t a t io n a n d T rayel
eex
(eehsh) The Yucatn Peninsula abounds in public trans
calzn portation, ranging from long-distance buses con
necting to other parts of the country to colectivos
Toiletry or m inibuses on shorter local runs. Yucatn
boasts two international airports, one at Mrida
comb and the other at Cancn, as well as rail trans
xache portation up the west coast of Yucatn from the
(SHAHCH-eh) interior of the country. Most frequently, the Maya
peine use buses and colectivos, and the most common
of all means of transportation, walking. Some
Books an d S tation ery Maya own livestock such as horses, mules, or
burros. The Maya refer to all of these forms of
book, paper transportation almost exclusively in Spanish,
huun varying the pronunciation of words in terms of
(hoo-oon) the distinctive Maya accent and emphasis on
libro stress and tonality.
Note that some of the following examples take
k where action is habitual or t where action is
ongoing or progressive. For example, tin bin
means I am going (right now) whereas kin bin
means I go (everyday, etc.).

Where are you going?


TYiux ka bin?
(too-oosh KAH been)
Adonde va?

Where are you going? (pi.)


Tuux ka bineex?
(too-oosh KAH been-EH-ehsh)
Adonde van?

1 8 0 MAYA-ENGLISH/ENGLISH-MAYA (YUCATEC) DICTIONARY & PHRASEBOOK Phrasebook 181


TRANSPORTATION AND TRAVEL TRANSPORTATION AND TU M EL
me too TVhere does this road/highway go?
beyxan teen Tux ku bin le beha/u caareteeiali?
(BEHY-shahn teehn) (TOO-OOSH koo been leh EEH-hah/
y o tam bin oo caah-reh-TEEH-rah)
Por dnde va ste camino/carretera?
Do you want to get in/on?
A kat naakal (eex)? lets go
(AH kaht NAH-AHK-ahl-[eh-ehsh]) kooneex
Quiere subirse? (sg.)/Quieren subirse (KOH-ohn-EH-ehsh)
vamos
ustedes? (pi.)
Im looking for_________ to photograph.
Im only going to _________ .
Tin kaxtik_________ utiaal in m eent
Chen ti_________ kin bin. pootoohs.
(CHEHN tee _________ KEEN been) (teen KAHSH-teek_________ oo-tee-AH-
Me voy slo h asta_________ . AHL een meehnt pooh-toohs)
Estoy buscando_________ para tomar
we are approaching fotos.
tan k natzik k bah
(tahn k nahtz-eek k BAH) May I take a picture here/of you/of you all?
estamos acercndole Hu chabal in m eent humpel pootooh
waye ti/teech/teex?
Where do you get out? (hoo CHAHB-ahl een meehnt hoom-
Tux ka w em el(eex)? PEHL pooh-tooh WAHY-eh
(TOO-OOSH kah WEEHM-ehl-[eh-ehsh]) tee/teehch/teh-ehsh)
Dnde se baja? Puedo tomar una foto aqu/de usted/
de ustedes?
there
Are there any_________ around here?
teelo
Yaan_________ w aye?
(TEH-EH-loh)
(yaahn_________ WAHY-eh)
all Hay algunos_________ cerca de aqu?

here Where can you see them?


teela (waye) Tux ku yilaal oob?
(TEH-EH-lah [wahy-eh]) (TOO-OOHSH koo YEEL-ah-ahl oh-ohb)
aqu Dnde se puede verlos?

182 M a y a - E n g l i s h / E n g l i s h - M ata ( Y u c a t e c ) D i c t i o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook 183


TRANSPORTATION AND TRAVEL HEALTH AND PERSONAL HYGIENE

Just wait here a bit. H ealth a n d P erso n al H y g ie in e


Paateh waye hum piit.
(PAH-AH-teh WAHY-eh hoom-PEET) Health services on the Yucatn Peninsula consist
Esprate aqu un poco. for the most part of health clinics and doctors in
private practice. Hospitals can be found in the
all over the world larger cities. Most doctors and nurses tend to be
yokol le kaabo non-Maya because of educational and economic
(YOHK-ohl leh RAAHB-oh) factors, although the situation has been changing
en todo el mundo in more recent years. Services in most types of
health facilities will generally be conducted in
Spanish. Maya villages have their folk-healers, or
D irections curanderos (Spanish), who treat problems with
ritual performances and a variety of herbal and
0 3 .S t
mineral remedies.
lakin
In general, avoid fresh water or products made
(LAH-keen)
of water of any type, unless the product has
este, oriente
undergone pasteurization. Be extremely wary of
fresh vegetables that may have been washed or
north rinsed in water. Water may be safe in the larger
xaman tourist hotels, but never count on it. It is better to
(SHAH-mahn) refrain from drinking fresh tap water, or water
norte from rivers or streams. Drink only purified bottled
water and ice.
south As anywhere in the world, avoid uncooked or
nohol undercooked meats, especially poultry. For the
(NOH-hohl) most part, no specific vaccinations are recom
sur mended for Mexico, but bear in mind that malaria
still lurks in some areas of the Maya world, espe
west cially the jungles. Exercise caution when con
chikin suming shellfish, which can spoil quickly in the
(CHEE-keen) tropical climate.
oeste, occidente, poniente If you suspect any illness more serious than the
flu or a cold, seek professional m edical help
immediately. Prolonged diarrhea can lead to
dehydration, and probably indicates the presence
of parasites, most likely in the form of amebic
dysentery. Other serious problems can include

184 M a y a - E n g lis h /E n g lis h - M a y .i ( Y u c a te c ) D i c t i o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook 185


HEALTH AND PERSONAL HYGIENE HEALTH AND PERSONAL HYGIENE
food poisoning, severe sunburn (especially in headache
beach areas and the Maya ruins), and forms of kiinam pool
hepatitis. Because of the intense sunlight in (KEE-EE-nahm poohl)
Yucatn, keep yourself hydrated and maintain a dolor de cabeza
steady salt intake. Remember that traveling in
itself can deplete your energies. illness
kohaanil
cold medicine (KOH-hah-ahn-EEL)
tzaak seen enfermedad
(tzaahk SEH-ehn)
medicina para catarro
injury, wound, accident
loob
corn (on foot)
(loohb)
taaharn
(TAAH-hahm) dao, herida, accidente
callo
medicine
cough (dry) tzaak
seen (tzaahk)
(seh-ehn) medicina
toser
needle
doctor, physician putz
htzaak/xtzaak (pootz)
(ah-TZAAHK/eesh-TZAAHK) aguja
doctor, mdico(a)
pam
fin g er
yaah
u yaal a kab
(yaah)
(oo YAAHL ah KAHB)
dolor
tu dedo del mano

foot, leg penis


ook toon
(oohk) (toohn)
pie, pierna pene

186 M aya- E n g l is h / E n g l js h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook 187


HEALTH AND PERSONAL HYGIENE HEALTH AND PERSONAL HYGIENE
r ----------------------------------- -------- 1

pregnant I am sick.
yoom Kohaaneen.
(yoh-ohm) (KOH-hah-ahn-eeha)
embarazada Estoy enfermo(a).

sick Im recovering from illness.


kohaan
Tin chaik in wool.
(KOH-ah-ahn)
(teen CHAH-eek een WOOHL)
enfermo
Estoy recuperando.
toe
u yaal a wook Im very tired.
(ooh YAAHL ah woohk) Hach kanaaneen.
tu dedo del pie (hach kah-nah-AHN-eehn)
Estoy muy cansado(a).
vomit
xeh inside me
(sheh) ichil ti teen
vmito, vomitar (EECH-eel tee TEEHN)
dentro de mi
wart
aax Im going to take a bath.
(aahsh)
Tin bin ichkiil.
verruga
(TEEN been EECH-keel)
Voy a baarme.
weight
aal
(aahl) My throat is sore.
peso Ma kal in kaal.
(MAH kahl een KAAHL)
Tengo dolor de garganta.
Useful Phrases
John is sick. Im cold.
Kohaan Juan. Keeleen.
(KOH-hah-ahn WHAAHN) (KEH-EHL-eehn)
Juan est enfermo. Tengofro.

188 M a y a - E n g l i s h / E n g l i s h - M a y a (Y u c a t e c ) D i c t i o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook 1 8 9


HEALTH PERSONAL HYGIENE WORK

Im hurt. W OBK
Kiimpaheen.
(keeeem-PAH-heehn) As the most common occupation among the Maya
Sc me herido. of the Yucatn Peninsula, farming meets the basic
needs of the Maya family and supplies its staples.
I have a stomachache. Almost every Maya owns and works a cornfield
Hach yah in nak. either by himself or with other family members or
(hahch yah een NAHK) friends. Generally confined to a small plot of land,
Me duele la barriga. called a milpa (singular) in Spanish and kool in
Maya, the farmer (milpero or koolnal) clears
The lady is pregnant. away the jungle brush during the dry season by
Yoom le koolelo. burning it off. He then plants his triumvirate of
(yoh-ohm leh KOH-oh-LEH-Loh) agricultural producecom, beans, and squash
La mujer est embarazada. by jabbing the soil with a digging stick (lob)
and dropping seeds inside the hole. He does this
Do you have a cold? in time for the growing season, which coincides
Yaan teech seen? with the summer rains.
(yaahn teehch SEH-ehn) Probably the second most common occupa
tion among the Maya is the selling of Maya arts
Tiene catarro?
and crafts, which provides a mainstay for local
economies. Generally, the Maya occupy lesser
positions in the hotel and tourist industries,
working for the most part as bellhops, maids,
maintenance workers, and in other service posi
tions. However, many guides at local tourist
attractions tend to be bilingual in Maya and
Spanish.

bean
buul
(BOO-ool)
frijol

bean (lima)
iib
(eeeb)
frijol de lima

1 9 0 M a y a - E n g u s h / E n g u s h - M ay a (Y u c a t e c ) D i c t i o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook 191


WORK WORK

brush, weed, forest, jungle seed (for sowing maize)


kax iinah
(kahsh) (EE-EE-nah)
yerba, monte, bosque semilla para sembrar maz
com
seed (in general)
xiim
(shee-eem) neek
maz (neehk)
semilla, pepita
com (ear of)
nal seedbed (raised)
(nahl) kaanche
elote
(KAH-AHN-cheh)
planto elevado
diligent
utz u meyah
(OOTZ oo MEH-yah) seeder (stick for planting)
diligente xul
(shool)
coa, sembrador
kak
(kahk) seeds (pumpkin/squash)
Juego
sikil
harvest (in.) (SEER-eel)
hooch pepita de calabaza
(hoohch)
cosechar squash
kum
harvest (tr.) (koom)
hochik calabaza
(HOHCH-eek)
cosecharlo
squash seeds
knife blade (his) (Maya + Sp.) sikil
u yeh kuchiiyoh (SEER-eel)
(oo yeh koo-CHEEE-yoh) pepita de calabaza
Jilo de cuchillo

192 M aya- E n g l is h / E n g l i s h - M a y a ( Y u c a t e c ) D i c t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook 193


Useful Phrases I am done/ready.
Tzookeen.
He works quickly.
(TZOH-OHK-eehn)
Aalkab u meyah.
Estoy terminadoAisto, se cab.
(AHL-kahb oo MEHY-ah)
lYabaja muy de prisa. Im going hunting.
Tin bin tzoon.
I want to visit a milpa. (Literally, I want to take a
(Teen been TZOOHN)
walk to the milpa.)
Voy a cazar.
Tak in xiimbal ich kool.
(tahk een SHEEM-bahl eech KOOHL)
cut firewood
Quiero visitar una milpa. xotik si
(SHOH-teek SEE)
Can you show me your milpa? cortar lea
Heel beetaal a w eesik teen a koole?
(hehehl BEEHT-AH-ahl ah WEH-ehs-eek
teehn ah KOOHL-eh)
Puede ensearme su milpa?

When do you bum the field?


Baax kiin a tokik le koolo?
(BAH-AHSH keen ah TOHK-eek leh
KOHL-oh)
Cundo va a quemar la milpa?

When do you plant?


Baax kiin a pakal?
(BAH-AHSH keen ah PAHK-ahl)
Cundo va a sembrar la milpa?

You cant carry that.


Lelo ma tu pahtal kuchik.
(LEH-loh mah too PAH-tahl ROOCH-eek)
Eso no lo puede cargar.

194 M a y a - E n g l i s h / E n g l i s h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D i c t i o n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook 195


NTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT
E n t e r t a in m e n t I am running.
Kin waalkab.
The sport of choice throughout Latin America is (keen WAHL-kahb)
soccer (ftbol), and this is no less true in the Maya Corro.
areas. Soccer terms in use among the Maya are
usually borrowed or derived from Spanish. How to beat (in a game)
ever, as North American games such as baseball puuch
and basketball increase in popularity, the Maya (poooch)
have been adopting native terms to express the balear
necessary vocabulary.
hit with a stick (baseball)
Do you want to play_________ ? p uchik
Ak a t_________ baxtik? (POOCH-eek)
(AHK-aht_________ BAAHSH-teek) golpear con palo
Usted quiere ju g a r_________ ?
to pitch
Ive got to look for it. chiin
Yaan in kaxtik. (cheeen)
(Yaahn een KAHSH-teek) tirar
Debo buscarlo.
catch
John won. (Sp. derivative) chukik
Ganarnah Juan. (CHOOR-eek)
(gah-NAHR-nah WHAAHN) alcanzarlo
Juan gan.
Do you want to dance with me?
I lost. (Sp. derivative) Akat wah okot tin w eehel?
Perdemaheen. (ahk-aht WAH ohk-oht teen
(pehr-dehr-NAH-heehn) WEH-eh-hehl)
Yo perd. Usted quiere bailar conmigo?

run
alkab
(AHL-kahb)
correr

1 9 6 M ay a - E n g u s h / E n g u s h - M ay a ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k
Phrasebook 1 9 7
WEATHER AND NATURAL PHENOMENA WEATHER AND NATURAL PHENOMENA

W eather a nd cold
keel
N atural P henom ena
(keh-ehl)
Because it lies within the tropics at almost sea fro
level, the whole of the Yucatn Peninsula experi
ences only two seasonswet and dry. Generally dark (fairly)
beginning towards the end of February and eehocheen
ending in late May or early June, the dry season (EH-ho-CHEH-ehn)
can turn the country into a veritable desert. medio oscuro
Cactus often clings to the crest of overgrown and
ruined buildings of the ancient past, while vege earth tremor (Literally, The earth is shaking.)
tation diminishes in height toward the drier north tun kiilbal luum
until it becomes essentially scrub foresta far cry (toon KEEL-bahl loo-oom)
from the true rain forests along the peninsulas tiembla de tierra
southern base. From June to January, storms sub
ject the peninsula to frequent and often torrential great wind (literally, hard wind)
downpours. chich iik
As a tropical region that defines the western (CHEECH eeek)
limit of the Caribbean basin, the Yucatn Peninsula viento grande/Juerte
experiences regular hurricanes and other pow
erful storms that rage from out at sea to the hot, humid
east. Much less frequently, earthquakes rock the kiilkab
country, although earthquakes tend to center in the (KEEL-kahb)
more volcanic areas of Guatemala to the south. hace calor, hmedo

cloud hurricane, cyclone


m u(n)yal chak ikal
(MOO[N]-yahl) (chahk EER-ahl)
nube huracn

cloudy
morning star, Venus
nokoy
xnuk ek
(NOHK-ohy)
(EESH-nook EHK)
nublado
estrella de la maana, Venus

198 M aya- E n g l is h / E n g u s h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a s e b o o k Phrasebook 199


WEATHER AND NATURAL PHENOMENA WEATHER AND NATURAL PHENOMENA

muggy warm, hot


kas kiilkab chokoh
(kahs REEL-kahb) (CHOHK-oh)
medio hmedo tibio, caliente

north wind wind


iik
xaman kaan
(eeek)
(SHAH-mahn KAH-ahn)
viento, aire
viento del norte

rain Useful Phrases


chak/ha Its not hot.
(chahk/hah) Ma chokohi.
lluvia (mah chohk-OH-hee)
No hace calor.
star
eek I am cold.
(eehk) Keeleen.
estrella (REH-EHL-eehn)
Tengofro.
storm
chichiik become dark
(CHEECH-eeek) ehocheental
tempestad, temporal, huracn (EH-hoh-CHEH-EHN-tahl)
oscurecer
sun
kiin Its getting dark.
(keeen) Tn yehoeheental.
sol (toon YEH-ho-CHEH-ehn-tahl)
Se oscurece.
sunset
Its raining.
bin ka akabtal
Tun kaxal ha.
(been kah ahk-AHB-tahl)
(toon RAHSH-ahl HAH)
anochecer
Est lloviendo.

2 0 0 M aya- E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M aya (Y u cA rE C ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a se b o o k Phrasebook 201


WEATHER AND NATURAL PHENOMENA NUMBERS
It rained yesterday. N um bers
Kax ha hoolheyak.
(KAHSH hah hoh-ohl-HEH-yahk) one n. hun (hoon); uno
Ayer llova. one (person or anim al) adj., pron. huntul
(hoon-TOOL); uri(a) (persona o animal)
The sky is clear (of objects). one (inanimate thing) adj., pron. humpel
Hanil le kaano. (hoomp-EHL); un(a) (cosa)
(HAHN-eel leh KAH-AHN-oh) one (long thing) adj., pron. huntziit (hoon-
Est despejado el cielo. TZEET); un(a) (cosa larga)
one (tree) adj., pron. hunkul (hoon-KOOL);
The wind is strong. una) (rbol)
Tah kaan iik. two n. kaah (kah-ah); dos
(tah KAH-AHN eeek) two (persons or animals) adj., pron. kaatul
El viento es muy fuerte. (KAH-AH-tool); dos {personas o animales)
two (inanimate things) adj., pron. kaapel
The sky is changing. (KAH-AHP-ehl); dos cosas
Tn keex le kaano. two times adv. kaapul (KAH-AH-pool);
(toon KEEHSH leh KAH-AHN-oh) dos veces
Est cambiando el tiempo. three n. ox (ohsh); tres
three (persons or animals) adj., pron. oxti
The north wind is coming. (OHSH-tool); tres (cosas)
Tn taal le xaman kaano. three (inanimate things) adj., pron. oxpel
(toon taahl leh SHAHM-ahn KAH-ahn-oh) (OHSHP-ehl); tres (personas o animales)
Viene el viento del norte. three times adv. oxpuul (OHSH-poool);
tres veces
four n. kan (kahn); cuatro
four (persons or animals) adj., pron. kantul
(kahn-TOOL); cuatro (personas o animales)
four (inanimate things) n. kampel (kahm-
PEHL); cuatro (cosas)
five n. ho (hoh); cinco

(Numbers above five hypothetical only; actual


words unknown. Maya speakers use Spanish
numbers.)

02 M aya- E n g l is h / E n g l is h - M aya ( Y u c a t e c ) D ic t io n a r y & P h r a se r o o k Phrasebook 2 0 3


NUMBERS
six re. wak (wahk); seis Oth er Maya-ln terest Titles Jrom
seven re. uk (ook); siete
eight re. waxak (WAH-shahk); ocho Hippecrene Books
nine re. bolon (BOH-lohn); nueve
ten re. lahun (LAH-hoon); diez
Dictionary of Maya Hieroglyphs
eleven re. buluk (BOO-Look); once John Montgomery
twelve re. lahkaa (LAH-kah-ah); doce
thirteen n. ox lahun (ohsh LAH-hoon); trece Presented with the meticulousness of one
fourteen n. kan lahun (kahn LAH-hoon); catorce who has mastered Maya epigraphy.
fifteen re. ho lahun (HOH LAH-hoon); quince Archaeology Magazine
twenty re. hun kal (HOON kahl); veinte
forty re. ka kal (KAH kahl); cuarenta This authoritative work is the first visual dictionary
sixty re. ox kal (OHSH kahl); sesenta of Maya glyphs published sinc the scripts com
eighty re. kan kal (KAHN kalil); ochenta plete decipherment, offering a much-needed, com
one hundred re. ho kal (HOH kahl); prehensive catalog of 1,200 secured glyphs. Each
entry includes the illustrated glyph, its phonetic
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four hundred re. hun bak (HOON bahk); subject, visual components, T-numbers, and other
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eight hundred n. ka bak (KAH bahk); 1,200 entries 416 pages b/w line drawings
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How to Read Maya Hieroglyphs
John Montgomery

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their meanings, and explanations of the sophisti Indigenous Languages o f
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Fermin Herrera
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Leone Wall & William Morgan

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3,800 entries 200 pages 3 Vs x 4%
to pronounce Navajo words accompanies the
0-7818-1041-8 $8.95pb (649)
more than 9,000 entries included in this (one-way)
dictionary.
9,000 entries 166 pages 5Vz x 8 V2 Emergency Spanish Phrasebook
0-7818-0247-4 $11.95pb (223)
80 pages A'h x
0-7818-0977-0 $5.95pb (460)
Colloquial Navajo: A Dictionary
Robert W. Young & William Morgan
Spanish-English/English-Spanish
Dictionary & Phrasebook
A useful reference, this book addresses the inade
(Latin American)
quacy of literal translation when working with
idioms by offering interpretations based on the gen 2,000 entries 250 pages 3% x 7
eral meaning of a phrase rather than the individual 0-7 818-0773-5 *$11,95pb (261)
words that comprise the expressions.
10,000 entries 461 pages 5 x 7
0-7818-0278-4 $16.95pb (282) Spanish-English/English-Spanish
Practical Dictionary
35,000 entries 338 pages * 5 x 8 *
Yoeme-English/English-Yoeme 0-7818-0179-6 $9.95pb (211)
Standard Dictionary
Felipe S. Molina, Herminia Valenzuela,
David L. Shaul Hippocrene Childrens Illustrated
Spanish Dictionary
This unique guide to one of the indigenous lan English-Spanish/Spanish-English
guages o f the Southwestern United States and 500 entries 94 pages 8i/2 x 11
Mexico is the first dictionary of Yoeme ever pub 0-7818-0889-8 $11.95pb (181)
lished. It includes over 8,000 entries with informa
tive facts about the Yaqui culture. It also features an
introduction to the Yoeme alphabet and spelling, a Spanish-English/English-Spanish
concise guide to Yoeme word and sentence struc Concise Dictionary
ture and sentence complexity. (Latin American)
8,000 entries 351 pages 5'A x 8 V2 8,000 entries 500 pages 4 x. 6
0-7818-0633-X $16.95pb (713) 0-7818-0261-X $12.95pb (258)
*"'95 <Maya
(Y ucatec)

'Dictionary s? ^Phrasebook
M aya-E nglish

E ng lish -M aya

ucatec Maya, the most widely spoken Mayan lan

Y guage, can be heard throaghout Mexicos Yucatan


Peninsula, in Belize, and in parts of Guatemala. This uniqu
guide is the perfect reference for visitors to the rain
forests, beaches, and spectacular archaeological sites of the
Maya regions.

2,700 total dictionary entries


Spanish equivalents for all entries
Phonetic pronunciation for all Maya words
and phrases
Basic Maya grammar
Practical cultural information
Ideal for travelers, linguists, and anthropologists

is the author of How to Read Maya


J o h n M o n tg o m er y
Hieroglyphs, an introduction to the hieroglyphic writing
system, Dictionary of Maya Hieroglyphs, a fully illustrated
glyph dictionary, and Tikal: An Illustrated History, a political
history of the ancient Maya capital. All are published bv
Hippocrene Books.

Cover photograph courtesy o f


Galen R . Frysinger.
Chichen Itza, M exico,

Cover design by Susan A . Ahlquist.

H ippo c r e n e B o o k s , I n c .
171 M a d i s o n A v e n u e
N e w Y o r k , N e w Y o r k 10016
www.hippocrenebooks.com

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