K'ICHE' - ENGLISH DICTIONARY, Study notes of English

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K’ICHE’ - ENGLISH DICTIONARY

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GUIDE TO PRONUNCIATION OF THE K’ICHE’-MAYA ALPHABET Allen J. Christenson Brigham Young University

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The following K'iche'-English dictionary was compiled by Allen J. Christenson while conducting field work in highland Maya linguistics and ethnography from 1978-1985. All of the entries were elicited through collaboration with native K'iche' speakers in the communities of Momostenango (as well as its dependent aldeas of Canquixaja, Nimsitu, and Panca) and Totonicapan (and its dependent aldeas of Nimasak and Cerro de Oro). The dictionary is unpublished and is offered to FAMSI as a tool for research.

Parra Modern i, ÿ, ii i As in the ee in “eel.” h j Pronounced like the English h , but deeper in the throat. Similar to the Spanish j or the German ch (as in the proper name “Bach”). c, q k Similar to the k in “king.” c, q k' Pronounced with the tongue in the same position as for the k , but the throat is closed and air forcefully expelled to produce a glottalized k. l l Pronounced like the English l , but with the tongue moved forward to contact the upper incisor teeth. When appearing as the terminal letter in a word, this sound is immediately followed by the h as in the English word “hot.” m m As in the m of “mat.” n n As in the n of “net.” o, oo o As in the o of “home.” p p Pronounced like the English p but shortened in length. c, q q Pronounced from further back in the throat than the letter k , similar to the kh in the Egyptian word ankh. ε, c, q q' Pronounced with the tongue in the same position as for the q , but the throat is closed and air forcefully expelled to produce a glottalized q. r r Similar to the Spanish r , pronounced with a brief tap of the tongue against the roof of the mouth. z s As in the s of “sit.” t t Similar to the English t but shortened in length. d, t t' Pronounced with the tongue in the same position as for the t , but the throat is closed and air forcefully expelled to produce a glottalized t. tz tz As in the ts of “mats.” tz, q, tz' Pronounced with the tongue in the same position as for the tz , but the throat is closed and air forcefully expelled to produce a glottalized tz.

Parra Modern u, v, uu u As in the oo of “root.” v, u w As in the w of “wind.” x x Pronounced like the sh in “shy.” y, i y As in the y of “yellow.” When appearing as the terminal letter in a word, it is pronounced like the ee in “eel,” immediately followed by an English h as in “hot.”

' Glottalization mark for vowels. For example a' would be similar to

the pronunciation of the ott in the Scottish pronunciation of “bottle.” Generally there is no equivalent for glottalized vowels in the Popol Vuh , although occasionally a double vowel may have been intended to serve this purpose.

a

a (adj) masculine youth indicator (a Xuan = the young Juan) a (adv interrog) indicator of question [Totonicapán] a (poss pro) your a’ (n) thigh; part of the leg above the knee a’tam (adj) early ab (n) hammock; steam; mist aba’q (n) soot abäj (n) stone, rock, testicle abäj tew (n) frost; ice; snow abäjirik (v) to harden abanel (n) operator abanik (v) to invent; to fabricate abir (adv) last year abix (n) corn plant; cornfield abixbal (n) plow abixik (v) to plow abixinik (v) to cultivate a plot of land -ach’ (n) kind; class -ach’ ch’aben (n) confidant; one in whom you can confide -ach’ winaq (n) fellow-man ach’i’y (adj) elastic; tough (meat) achajil (n) husband achalal (n) brother; older brother of male; family member achalaxik (n) family achalka’n (n) sister-in-law (when persons married to two sisters--concuña) -achaq amolo (n) maggot -achaq ch’imil (n) falling star -achaq ixpeq (n) mildew -achaq q’aq’ (n) hot coals -achaq -xikin (n) ear wax achaq (n) buttocks; excrement (human, animal) achel (n) matasano (fruit) Achep (n) José achi (n) man achi nim -banik (n) important man achi’l (n) companion; friend; regidor (assistant to mayor on council) achi’laj (v) to accompany achi’lik (v) to be together achij -baq’wäch (n) polygamous husband achik’ (n) dream achik’aj (v) to dream achik’axik (v) to be dreamed about achik’ik (v) to dream achixaj (v) to be jealous achixam (adj) jealous achixam chrij ri rixoqil (adj) jealous about his wife -achoch (n) home; sheath; scabbard; holster -achoch Dios (n) temple

-achoch mache’t (n) scabbard -achoch q’aq’ (n) pistol holster aj ( of; pertains to Aj (n) day of sacred calendar äj (n) ear of corn (ripe, undried); sweet corn on the cob (boiled, roasted) aj (n) firecracker, bombs used by the Catholics äj (n) reed; caña silvestre aj (v) to want aj na (v) to lack (käraj na jubiq’ atz’am --it needs a little salt) aj pa che’ (n) prisoner aj uwo -achoch (n) family member; one who lives in the house aj -wa (v) to have an appetite aja’n q’or (n) atol of green corn ajache’ (n) matasano (fruit--Casimira edulis) ajaj (v) to work wood (cut, carve) ajan (adj) carved (wood, stone) ajanel (n) carpenter ajaw (n) owner; lord; king; boss -ajaw chaq’ab (n) large black goat demon with fiery eyes ajawab (n) community elders (permanent office) who choose auxiliary officers ajawal (n) king ajawam (n) freewill; by choice; voluntary; conscience; will Ajawaxel (n) Lord (title for Christian God) ajawibal (n) kingdom ajawij (v) to rule over ajawinel (n) king ajawinik (v) to rule ajbe (n) traveller ajbe’il (n) foreigner; traveller ajbinel (n) traveller ajbix (n) singer; specialist diviner uses elegant prayers and Latin liturgy ajch’akap ja (n) stranger ajch’ami’y (n) alcalde auxiliar (small town); alguacil; constable; policeman ajch’ayal ch’ich’ (n) blacksmith ajch’ib (n) youngest child in family ajch’o’j (n) soldier ajch’op (n) member of a group ajchak (n) traditional peasant farmer; worker ajchaq’e (n) owner; master ajchaq’im (n) child who has or is going to have a baby brother ajchaq’im ak’al (n) premature baby; child born one year after sibling ajchar (n) sifter (quadrangular) ajche’ (n) matasano fruit ajchikaj (n) celestial; pertaining to the sky ajchila’ (adv) from there; from way over there ajchiq’ij (n) day laborer ajchoq’e (n) owner; proprietor ajelbal (n) flutist ajibal (n) wants äjij (n) sugar cane ajik’ (n) servant; someone paid by the month; woman dancer represents moon ajil (n) price; money saved for some purpose ajilabal (n) date (calendar); number; adding machine -ajilabal q’ij (n) Tzolkin; sacred 260-day calendar ajilabik (v) to count

ajtzijtal (n) gossip; slanderer ajtzonolob (n) one who asks for hand in marriage ajwäch (n) director (of a dance); one who knows secrets ajwaral (n) native of here ajwaram (n) sleepy-head ajware’ (n) dentist ajwi’l (n) child who is weaned and eats regular food ajwinaqil (n) member of a group ajxelajuyab (n) persons from Quetzaltenango ajxi’n (n) gross person; disgusting; dancer in the Baile de Convites ajxib (n) coward ajxik (n) thief; pickpocket ajxojoj (n) dancer ajxojolab (n) dancers ajxul (n) flautist ajyitz (n) cow udder ajyuq’ (n) shepherd; pastor; title of K’oxol ajyuq’ chij (n) shepherd ak (n) firecracker ak (n) reed; bamboo äk’ (n) chicken (see also ek’) ak’ (n) grain ak’ <-palaj> (n) freckle; spot -äk’ juyub (n) pheasant ak’ r-i’j (adj) spotted ak’ wa (n) tamale of elote (green corn); tender corn ak’al (adj) young ak’al (n) child ak’al (n) Jerusalem cricket ak’al r-e boq’wäch (n) pupil (of the eye) ak’alil (n) childhood ak’an (n) string of garlic hung on wall ak’ie’l (n) new corn; newly harvested corn (not yet hard) Akiel (n) Miguel al (adj) heavy al (adj) indicator of feminine youth -al ala (n) son of a female -al ali (n) daughter of a male al -anima’ (adj) silent -al -ch’utin nan (n) cousin -al puaq (n) interest on money -al q’ij (n) Quiché people -al ri puaq (n) interest (on debt) al (n) weight al (n) child (boy or girl) of a female al ala (n) son of a female al ali (n) daughter of a female ala (n) young boy ala bo’chi’nel (n) fiance; intended husband ala’s (n) doll ala’s (n) doll, puppet alab (n) son-in-law of a female alabal (n) step-son or daughter (of woman) alabal ala (n) god-son; (of woman) alabal ali (n) god-daughter (of woman)

alabal (n) nephew (of woman) alabal (n) niece (of woman) alachi’k (v) to joke around; to speak vain things; to jest alaj (adj) small alaj (adj) small; little alaj (v) to give birth to a child alaj ama’ wakäx (n) young bull alaj be (n) footpath alaj blaj si (n) twigs alaj chij (n) lamb alaj ek’ (n) chick alaj ek’ (n) chick alaj taq ixkolob (n) small intestines alaj taq yabil (n) measles alaj taq’aj (n) meadow alaj u-pam q’ij (n) short days alaj wakäx (n) calf alambre (n-esp) wire (from alambre) alamnäx (n) lemon; sour lime alanel (adj) fertile (animals; people) alanik (v) to give birth (animals or people) alanta’r (n) apron alanxäx (n) orange; orange tree aläq (pro) you (formal plural); your (formal plural) alaw (n) large semi-nocturnal rodent (tepezcuintle) alaxel (n) prince alaxibal (n) birth Alaxibal (n) Christmas Eve (Noche Buena) alaxik (n) clan; patrilineage; relative; family member; birth alaxik (v) to be born alaxinaq (adj) born ales (n) small snake ali (n) young girl ali -bo’chi’m (n) fiance; promised bride ali bo’chi’talik (n) fiance; promised bride ali ch’abem (n) fiance; promised bride alib chichu’ (n) mother-in-law of a female alib tata’ (n) father-in-law of a female alib (n) daughter-in-law of female; sister-in-law of female alibätz (n) daughter-in-law of female alibaxik (n) work new bride does for her parents-in-law alima’ (n-esp) sweet lime alixel (n) princess -alk’ual ja (n) slave -alk’ual q’ij (n) albino alk’ual (n) child alk’ualaj (v) to engender children (man) alkabal (n) tax alma’r (n) closet; chest (for clothes) alobik (v) to become heavier alobisaj (v) to make something heavier alom (n) servant aluchij (v) to watch out for someone alwino’ (n) yerba buena (mint) alxik (n) small idol used by diviners

aq’anoq (adv) upwards; up; up above aq’bal (n) myth aq’en (n) board under grinding stone to catch corn dough (tabla de moler) aq’er (n) calzado de milpa (prop to brace corn plants in wind) aqaj (n) wasp aqal (n) wasp nest aqän (n) altitude; height-- janipa r-aqan? how high is it; handle (tool) aqan (n) shell with live creature inside -aqän ja (n) column; beam; rafter; supportive pole -aqan ja (n) porch -aqan k’uch (n) ebony tree -aqän kotz’i’j (n) stem -aqän rasrän (n) edge or tip of a hoe -aqän tz’ikin (n) white mushroom aqän (n) leg, foot, step (nabe r-aqan ri ne’-baby’s first step) aqänil (n) height aqil (n) a bad person aqil (n) a wrong someone does to someone else arado (n-esp) plow are chi (adv) in order that are k’u ri’ (exp) amen; may it be so are k’ut (dem) that’s right are la’ (dem) that is are wa’ (dem) this is are’ (pro) he, she, him, her, it are<täq> (adv) when, while arki’y (n) belt (of horse) Armita (n) Guatemala City; capitol arne’r (n) sifter arroz (n-esp) rice asaron (n-Span) hoe asear (n) whip asich (n) hoopoe (abubilla) bird asukal (n-esp) sugar at (pro) you at’ixnab (n) sneeze at’ixnam (n) sneeze at’ixnapik (v) to sneeze ata’m (adv) early ataj tzij (v) to accuse ati’ q’uq’ (n) female quetzal ati’t (n) female gender indicator (animals) ati’t (n) grandmother ati’t ak’ (n) hen -ati’t ak’al (n) midwife ati’t kej (n) mare ati’t par (n) fox atin ri ik’ (v) moon when has a halo (moon’s bathing) atinaj (v) to bathe atinel (n) bather atinem (n) bath; act of bathing atinibal (n) bathing place; bath; shower; pond atinik (v) to bathe one’s self atinsaj (v) to bathe someone atoy (n) venomous snake

atz’ (n) heron atz’am (n) salt atz’ambal (n) salt shaker atz’amij (v) to salt atz’iäq (n) clothing atz’iaq k’ul (n) wool cloth atz’iäqij (v) to dress ätz (n) older brother of boy ätz (n) older sister of girl Auen (n) Elena awabal (n) bag for holding seeds or planting awaj (n) beast, animal awaj (v) to hide awaj aj uwo kaj (n) bird awaj -ib (v) to hide self awaj re u-wo ja (n) domesticated animal awaj ri käki-juruj kib (n) serpents awam (adj) hidden awamajik (n) fast awanik (v) howl (dog) awas (adj) prohibited; taboo; sacred awas (n) taboo; polite term for genitals; hearth of a ritual shrine Awas Q’ij (n) Semana Santa (Holy Week) awas rech alaxik (n) patrilineage shrine awas rech kej (n) shrine dedicated to prayers for horses awas rech tinimit (n) town shrine awasij (v) to bestow efficacy on something by carrying out a ceremony (bless) awex (n) corn planting; seed corn; cornfield awex tiko’n (n) ritual before birth of child at patrilineage shrine awexibal (n) sowing awexibal tikbal (n) patrilineage shrine (general term) awexik (v) to sow (corn) awu’nik (v) to howl axno’ (n) spinning wheel axux (n) garlic ayin (n) alligator; crocodile ayin kär (n) whale azete (n) fig tree

ban -qul (v) to deceive; to cheat ban saq pe’r (v) to become pale (from fright) ban tajen (v) to work with a hoe ban tok’ox che (v) to hiccup ban toq’ob (v) to do a favor ban tzij (v) to tell tales; to gossip ban tzij ch-ij (v) to tattle on someone ban utz ch-e (v) to repair; to fix ban -ware’ (v) to sharpen (knife; machete) ban we (v) to imitate banal (n) maker; doer banal bo’j (n) pot maker banal etzelal (n) evil doer; criminal banal k’ä’x (n) evil doer; criminal banal tzij (n) liar banal xajab (n) shoe maker banano (n-esp) banana banbal (n) construction banbal u-ware’ ch’ich’ (n) sharpening instrument banik (n) shape; meaning; significance; nature; character banik (v) to do; to make banobal (n) workshop banol (n) doer; maker banol k’ax (n) evil doer banom (adj) done banom che tz’um (adj) made of leather banom tzij (n) lie banowik (n) the act of doing; the doing banowik (v) to accomplish; to cause to be done bantaj (v) to be done bantajibal (n) creation bantajik (n) meaning; significance bantajik (v) to complete bantajinaq (adj) done; finished; completed bantajinaq (adj) made baq (adj) thin; skinny baq (n) bone; needle baq (v) to wash (hair, face) baq chikop (n) gusano alambre (worm that eats planted corn seed) baq’ (n) seed; pit; stone (fruit) -baq’ kampana (n) bell striker -baq’ q’aq’ (n) bullet -baq’ winaq (n) evil eye baq’atij (v) to roll up; to twist (wire, neck of a chicken) baq’atij -ib (v) to become entangled baq’atim (adj) rolled up; twisted baq’ek (v) to become bored baq’otik (v) to walk like a drunk; to stagger from illness baq’wäch (n) eye -baq’wäch ch’o (n) chiltepe -baq’wäch käminaq (n) class of poisonous mushroom baq’wäch triko (n) grain of wheat baqik (v) to wash (hair) baqil (n) body; bones; skeleton -baqil jolomaj (n) skull

-baqil -teleb (n) collar bone baqil (n) skeleton; semen baqirik (v) to become thin baqit (n) encino tree (evergreen oak) bara (n-esp) staff of office (from vara) baraj (n) bundle of divining paraphernalia (tz’ite beans, crystals, etc.) baraj (v) to roll something (tamales; tz’ite beans during divination) baraj punto (n) divination by tz’ite beans baraj punto (n) last pile of tz’ite beans left over after divination ritual bate’ (n) lance; pike; spear Batz’ (n) day on the sacred calendar batz’ (n) monkey; bätz’ (n) thread bätz’ (v) to tie up; to bandage; to wrap up a wound bätz’anik (n) to make thread bätz’ibal (n) shuttle of weaving machine; spinning wheel bätz’ij (v) make thread; spin thread bätz’im (adj) spun (thread) bätz’inel (n) thread maker; spinner of thread bätz’inik (v) to purr (cat) bätz’inik (v) to spin (thread) bawik (v) to tire; to ache (head from too much sun) bayataj (v) to be late baych’o (n) ratón de monte (field mouse) bayi’s (n) rat bayij (v) to cause to wither; fade (beauty of woman) be (n) trip be anim (v) to run; to go hurriedly -be -anima’ -uk’ (v) to be pleased with something -be ch’ich’ (n) paved road -be ik’ (n) path of the moon -be ja’ (n) riverbed -be -k’ux -uk’ (v) to be pleased with something -be q’ij (n) path of the sun be q’ij (v) to get late -be teoxil (n) religious procession be’el (n) plaza be (n) road; path; way bej (tv-1) to beat tree to get fruit bejejik (v) to spread (like thick liquid on table when spilled) bejoj (v) to beat down (fruit with a stick from a tree) bejowik (v) to shift around (like portions of a load--grain of pack) bek (iv) to go; to take a trip; to travel (Momostenango) bek (tv-1) to scratch at dirt (chicken) -belej (n) ninth belejeb (n) nine belejeb k’al (n) 180 ("nine children") belejlajuj (n) nineteen belowik (v) to pour out; to dump out; to spill benam (n) act of going; departure benam re (adj) ready to go benam winäq (n) wanderer; person who likes to travel benäq (adj) gone benäq’ij (adv) in the afternoon beq (tv-1) to degrain (like corn grains from cob)

bit’boxik (iv) to tear up into pieces bit’inik (iv) to tear (cloth) bitanik (iv) to create bitbik (adj) arrogant bititik (v) to be well-dressed bitol (n) builder (of ancient pyramids) bitz’ (v) to fill bix (n) chicken droppings bix (n) song; happiness bix q’ij (n) song to the sun; Mass bix wil (n) small hawk bixaj (v) to sing something bixik (n) saying; tale; announcement; notice bixik (v) to be said; to sing bixikal (n) report bixobal (n) book of songs, hymns bixonel (n) singer bixonik (v) coo (dove); hoot (owl) bixonik (v) to sing; to sigh bixtaj (adj) spoken to bixtajik (v) to be spoken to biyo’mik (v) to swing side to side; to sway (bridge in wind) biyomisaj (tv2) to swing something from side to side (baby in hammock) biyowik (v) to swing side to side; to sway (bridge in wind) bo’j (n) large clay pot; kettle; tumor on neck; goider bo’t (v) to roll up (sleeve) bochi’j (v) to exhort; to fall in love with; to plead; to persuade bochi’j (v) to plead, court; pacify; comfort; coax; caress; pet boj (n) goider Bokeron (n) Nebaj bokil (n) izote bol (v) to roast in fire (corn, meat); to fry (plantains; habas; elote) bolaj (n) chunk, piece (of wood, etc.) bolaj (n) furrow (land) bolajij che’ (tv2) to cut up tree into logs bolobik (adj) cylindrical bolobik (n) column bolobik ja (n) cone bolol (n) lizol (plant) bolom (n) roasted; fried bolom ch’ich’ (n) cannon bolonel (n) roaster bolq’otij (tv2) to roll up (rope, etc.) bolq’otik (v) to roll bonbik (adj) bulky; huge bonbik (v) to enlarge boq ja’ (tv1) to sweat boq q’ayes (v) to weed (corn, beans) boq’abaj -q’ab (v) clap hands boq’äch (n) eye boq’wäch (n) eye; vision; sight (utz u-boq’wäch-- good sight) -boq’wäch top (n) inflammation of the skin near fingernails boq (tv1) to pull out by its roots (weeds; potato eyes); to de-feather boron (n) food of the gods; ambrosia bosbotik (v) to get fat; to be fat (animals)

bose’l (n) popcorn bot (n) white cotton (on plant) bot (tv1) roll up (paper; cloth); to fold; to double over botol (n) roll of something bototej (v) to curl bototik (adj) curly botz’ (v) to wrap up botz’ik (v) to to roll up; to wrap up (a job, a project) botz’obal (n) bandage botz’oj (n) winding; bundle of wound flowers used when asking hand of girl botz’oj (v) to roll up something; to wind something box (v) to build a fire -boxonil kotz’i’j (n) flower bud bu’n (adj) fat (something small like a baby) bub (n) rash buch (n) unstrained atole (boiled and ground corn) buj (tv1) to beat down fruit from tree bujujik (v) to sound like heavy rain buk (n) hangnail buk -ib (v) to cover self well (with blanket from cold) buk’ (v) to strike (with fist) buk’ chabaj (v) to stone buk’ul (n) glass; jar buk (tv1) to cover; wrap up (to keep from getting cold--child, food) bulbutik (v) to spring forth (water from ground) bulbux (n) spring; fountain of water bulij (adj) granulous bulij ulew (n) damp land bulijik (v) to leak from a crack bulijik (v) to ooze; to flow (manar) bulq’at ja’ (n) flood buq (n) small nocturnal bird of pray (sigua monte) buq’ulij (v) to skin (animal) buquwik (v) to smoke bur (n) cancer bur (n-Span) burro; donkey bus (n) a small crook-necked squash bus (tv1) to fold; to double over (paper; cloth) busulik (adj) folded busum (adj) folded busunel (n) ghost; phantasm buti’ (v) to sting buxlajik (v) to sweat buxlunijik (v) to percolate (filtrar) buyu’q (adj) withered buyuqarik (v) to wither (flower, plant)