Spanish Conversation · Level 59
74 words
Spanish word
esquimal
Pronunciation
IPA/eskiˈmal/
Meaning
- noun (m./f.)Eskimo
Example
Los esquimales celebran una fiesta tradicional.
The Eskimos celebrate a traditional festival.
More examples
Los esquimales viven en el Ártico.
The Eskimos live in the Arctic.
Core concept
An Arctic community in snow wearing traditional furs.
Common phrases
los esquimales
the Eskimos
un esquimal
an Eskimo
grupo de esquimales
group of Eskimos
Similar words
inuit: Indigenous people of Greenland and northern Canada who speak Inuit languages.
yupik: Indigenous peoples of the Bering Sea coast and western Alaska who speak Yupik languages.
Definition in Spanish
Persona perteneciente a los pueblos indígenas que habitan las regiones árticas, especialmente los inuit y los yupik; también adjetivo para lo relativo a esos pueblos o a su cultura.
Word origin
Borrowed into Spanish from French esquimau (and English Eskimo), ultimately derived from an indigenous North American word whose exact origin is debated.
Usage tips
- Because some people find esquimal pejorative or outdated, modern usage often prefers the peoples' own names and careful phrasing when referring to individuals or traditions.