Spanish Conversation · Level 35
75 words
Spanish word
indígena
Pronunciation
IPA/inˈdixena/
Meaning
- noun (m./f.)indigenous person
Example
Conocí a un indígena en el museo.
I met an indigenous person at the museum.
More examples
La comunidad de indígenas celebra una fiesta anual.
The indigenous community celebrates an annual festival.
Core concept
Person belonging to an original community that maintains its own language, culture, and ties to ancestral land.
Common phrases
comunidad de indígenas
indigenous community
organización de indígenas
indigenous organization
Similar words
aborigen: Person from a people with long ancestral residence who continues traditional lifeways.
autóctono: Person or group native to a territory, present there since the earliest times.
originario: Person whose origins or lineage come from a particular place, indicating local origin.
Definition in Spanish
Persona originaria de un territorio que pertenece a un pueblo que mantiene su propia cultura, lengua y vínculos históricos con la tierra.
Word origin
From Latin indīgēna and ultimately from Greek ἐνδογενής (endogenēs) meaning 'born within', originally describing someone native to a place.
Usage tips
- In conversation, speakers often prefer the phrase pueblo indígena or the community's specific name rather than using indígena alone as a label.
Other meanings
- indigenousadjective