Baläm Nimalaj T’uyulibal is Maya for ‘Jaguar Throne’.
Baläm Qajaw is Ke’kchi for ‘Jaguar God’.
Balche’ is a milky white beverage with a sour odor and disagreeable taste. When drunk in large quantities it can produce drunkenness.
Baluk is Maya for ‘brother-in-law of a male’.
Banobal is Ke’kchi for ‘workshop’.
Batab is the name given to a local chief or chieftain charged with general administration and judicial oversite. Some sources also refer to the Batab as a ‘war chief’.
Bate‘ is Maya for ‘spear’.
Bati is Kriol for ‘buttocks’.
Batlaas is the Kriol name for a small blood-sucking black fly.
Batz is Maya for the Black Howler monkey, Alouatta pigra. The animal’s main vocals consist of loud, deep guttural growls or howls.
Becan (Ke’kchi and Mopan) is a bark candle boat made from the dry base of a cohune leaf.
Bering grong is Kriol for ‘graveyard’.
Beriyin is the Kriol word for ‘funeral’.
Beya’ is Ke’kchi for ‘valley’.
Beyxan teen is Maya for ‘Me too’.
Bill-bird is the Belizean nickname for the Keel-Billed Toucan, ramphastos sulfuratus. Piitor is a Maya name; the Mopan also call it Pän.
Bocatora Clapansaya and Thunder-and-Lightening Snake are the Belizean names for Spilotes pullatus mexicanus. Other names are Monkey Snake, Spotted Rat Snake, and Black and Yellow Rat Snake. The Spanish name is Culebra Mico.
Bollos: Corn and cassava bollos are an indigenous food of the Caribbean coast of Colombia and Panama, but eaten throughout Central America. The ‘bun’ is boiled in banana leaves, or the thick waxy waha leaves, Heliconia rostrata.
Bolouyuuk-ikilab-ixchquow-chalaam is the vine that is used to poison fish. The poisoned fish is not harmful to man.
Bombali is Kriol for ‘good friend’.
Bu’ul is Maya for ‘bean’.
Buaidh no has was the battle cry of the Scottish MacDougall Clan. It means ‘Victory or Death’.
Bukut (Mopan) is Cassia grandis L. Other names are ‘stinking toe’ (English), carque (Spanish).
Bul is an ancient war game played with grains of corn. There is a dice version called Haxbil-Bul. It is a game of chance.
Bwai is Kriol for ‘boy’.
Cahal Pech is Maya for “Place of the Ticks”.
Calaloo (Kriol), is Amaranthus dubius Mart. Ex Thell. Other names are amaranth, pig weed (English), quelite (Spanish).
Caldo is a clear chicken soup which may include some vegetables.
Camazotz are bat-like monsters.
Ch’ajch’oj Chiyul is Maya for ‘Sacred Waterfall’.
Ch’ajch’oj Jul is Maya for ‘Sacred Cave’.
Ch’ajch’oj Tz’ono’ot is Maya for ‘Sacred Cenote’. Tz’ono’ot is Maya for ‘sinkhole’ or ‘cenote’.
Ch’aw-baq is Ke’kchi for ‘bone flute’.
Ch’ayom-puag is Maya for ‘medallion’.
Ch’ench’kil is Maya for ‘buttocks’.
Ch’ich’-rech-par is Maya for the “smell of a skunk’. Par is Maya for ‘skunk’.
Ch’o’ is Maya for ‘rat’ or ‘mouse’.
Ch’om is the Maya name of the Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus, also known as John Crow, and carronero común.
Ch’om-tuxe’rix is Maya for the ‘lobster claw’ plant, the common name for heliconia, Heliconia Spp.
Ch’u’j is Maya for ‘rabid’.
Ch’u’j-k’aas is Maya for ‘rabid evil’.
Ch’u’j-tz’i’ is Maya for ‘rabid dog’. Ch’u’j means ‘rabid’ and tz’i’ means ‘dog’.
Ch’ukcua is a sweet tortilla made on special occasions and served with coffee or cocoa sweetened to taste.
Ch’um-q’aq’ is Maya for ‘firefly’. The Kriol word is ‘peeniwali’.
Cha-cá (Mopan) is Bursera simaruba (L) Sarg.. Other names are ‘gumbo-limbo, birch bark (English), broton, indio desnudo (Spanish).
Chacalpec (Mopan) is Salvia coccinea Juss. Ex Murr. Other names are phosforo (Spanish), pasmo and cha-te-pec (Mopan).
Chachalaca is the Plain Chachalaca, Ortalis vetula. The Belizean name is Cockrico. Other names are Chachalaca Vetula, Bach or Ixbach. It gets its name from its call: cha-cha-lac! cha-cha-lac!
Chachi’ is Ke’kchi for a specific fish. It is also known as Tuba (Kriol) and Aj-che’j in Mopan.
Chak is Maya for ‘Red’.
Chakik’at is Maya for ‘hurricane’.
Chakuj tutuchci means ‘to work the stiff penis’ or ‘to have sex’.
Chakuj tutuchci nima-q’ij is ‘Working the stiff penis holiday’.
Chan-koxol is Maya for ‘mosquito’.
Chaparral is a dense growth of shrubs or small trees.
Chaq’ is Maya for ‘younger brother’ of the same sex. It may also refer to ‘younger sister’ of the same sex.
Chaq’ab is Maya for ‘night’.
Chay-abaj is Ke’kchi for ‘obsidian’. Some sources state chay alone for obsidian and abaj for stone or pebble.
Chay is Maya for ‘obsidian’.
Che-sibik is Mopan for ‘vanilla’.
Chelas: Spanish speaking Belizeans often refer to ‘beers’ as chelas.
Chicha is the traditional drink used when the Maya elders do a ceremony for the sun when summer begins.
Chichiatl is Nahuatl for ‘chicha’, a traditional drink made from corn and often used when Maya elders do a ceremony for the sun when summer begins.
Chichu’ Ajawinel is Maya for ‘queen’.
Chicleros are men who collect chicle.
Ch’iich’ is Maya for ‘bird’.
Chikoop is Maya for ‘vampire bat’.
Chilan or Chilam is a priest that gives oracles. Mind-altering substances may have been used.
Chio-Chio is Maya for ‘song of a bird’.
Chirimia (sometimes chirisuya in Peru) is Spanish for a type of oboe. The chirimia is a member of the ‘shawm’ family of double-reed instruments, introduced to Central and South America in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries by the Spanish clergy.
Cho is Maya for ‘lake or pond’. In the Sisimito Series it refers to a water reservoir.
Chojim-wa is Maya for ‘corn cake’.
Chokoh is Maya for ‘warm or hot’, referring to weather.
Cho-otz is Mopan Maya for the ‘trumpet tree’, Ceropia pelata L, also known as a’kl and po-hór in Ke’kchi Maya, guaramo and warumo in Spanish.
Choq’ is Maya for ‘quartz crystal’.
Choq’ Ja is Maya for ‘Crystal House’. Here it refers to the ‘Crystal Room’ in the Caves of Naj Tunich.
Chuchqajaw Rech Tinimit is a head priest or shaman of an entire town. There are usually two.
Chukwa’ is Maya for ‘chocolate’. Here it is used to refer to an alcoholic drink made using the sweet cacao beans pulp mixed with peppers, special herbs, honey, and flowers. It is both inhaled and drank, is used by kings, and for special ceremonies.
Chultun (plural: chultunob’ or chultuns): This is a bottle-shaped underground storage chamber built by the pre-Columbian Maya in southern Mesoamerica. While many were constructed to collect water, not all may have served that purpose.
Chun is Ke’kchi for “lime or limestone’.
Chúumuk Pa-raqa- ja is Maya for ‘center corridor’. Here it refers to the ‘Principal Passage’ in the Caves of Naj Tunich.
Contribo (Spanish) is Aristolochia tribolata L. Other names are ‘duck flower’ (English), and flor de pato (Spanish).
Co’oc is the Ke’kchi word for ‘coconut’. The coconut palm is toni’co’oc.
Copal, Protium copai, is one of the sacred trees of the ancient Maya who used the resin or sap, known as pom, for ceremonial incense in prayer and to ward off witchcraft, evil spirits, and the ‘evil eye’. Naba is the bark of the tree.
Cordonsillo (Spa
nish) is Buttonwood, Piper amalago L. It is also known as Spanish Elder (English).
Cot is Maya for the White Hawk, Leucopternis albicollis, also called Aguililla Blanca.
Cruxi is Mopan for Cross Vine, Paullinia tomentosa Jacq. It is also known as ‘skipping-rope vine’ (English), and ‘hierba del pensamiento’ (Spanish).
Cususa is a crude cane liquor.
Cuxtal: This is a colorful braided pouch-like cultural bag used by the Maya.
Cuyche (Mopan), Pachira aquatic Aubl, is ‘provision bark’ (English). It is also known as bobo, Santo Domingo, sapoton (Spanish).
Daktaflai is Kriol for ‘doctor fly’, as it is known in Belize. It is one of the most serious biting fly pests. Its scientific name is Diachlorm ferru-gatus (Fabricius).
Dama de la Noche orchid is ‘Lady of the Night’, Brassavola nodosa.
Debellatio is the Latin term for ending a war by complete destruction of a hostile state. It is more severe than a ‘sack’.
Ded pipl is Kriol for ‘dead people’.
Dehndeh is Kriol for ‘those’.
Duende is Spanish for ‘spirit’.
Ek-chi-chan or ok-pich, both Mopan Maya, is Maiden Hair Fern, Adiantum tenerum Sw. It is also known as ‘black stick’ in English, helecho and palo negro in Spanish. The ancient Maya used this plant to decorate ceremonial alters. Today, the Maya believe that growing this plant around the house brings good luck.
Escabeche: Belizean Escabeche is a soup made from chicken, onion, and spices, and eaten with corn tortillas. It is not to be confused with the escabeche of other countries.
Fi geh lee waif is Kriol for ‘to have sex’.
Fi waif is Kriol for ‘for sexual favors’.
Fino is Spanish for ‘fine’.
Fok is Kriol for ‘fock (English), fuck (USA)’. Other than just a cuss word, it refers to the sexual act.
Fokin is Kriol for ‘fucking’. Other variations are foka for ‘fucker’, madafok for ‘mother-fuck’, madafoka for ‘mother-fucker’.
Foklik is Kriol (vulgar) for ‘beat up’ as in fighting.
Gyal is Kriol for ‘girl’.
Goama is Kriol for ‘hangover’. The Spanish word ‘goma’ is used mainly in Central America.
Guaro: Spanish speaking Belizeans often refer to rum as guaro.
Gwaava is Kriol for ‘swelling’ due to trauma. It is also the Kriol name of the fruit, guava, Psidium guajava.
Ha’ Ta Itza: Ha’ is Maya for ‘lake’ or ‘pond’. Ta Itza means ‘At the place of the Itza (people)’. The lake being referred to here is Lake Peten Itza.
Haab’ is part of the Maya calendric system, a version of the 365-day calendar approximating the solar year. It comprises eighteen “months” of twenty days each, plus an additional period of five days at the end of the year known as Wayeb’.
Haaleb is the Maya word for paca or gibnut, a large rodent, Agouti paca. The Lacandon Maya word is ha’ale.
Hach-beyo’ is Maya for ‘Perfect!’
Hach-k’ek’en is the Lacandon Maya word for ‘waari’, the White-Lipped Peccary, Tayassu pecari.
Hach-ka’na’aneen is Maya for ‘I’m very tired’.
Hakab is the Maya name for the Mayflower, Tabebuia rosea, also known as roble de sabana, ipe rose (Spanish), mayflowa (Kriol), ‘pink trumpet tree’, ‘pink tecoma’, and ‘pink poui’.
Hamadili is Kriol for ‘armadillo’.
Ho’-k’áal-tun is Maya for ‘one hundred years’.
Ho’-toq-tun is used here to mean ‘five hundred years’. Ho’ is ‘five’, toq is ‘hundred’, and tun is ‘year’.
Hun-bak-tun is Maya for ‘four hundred years’.
Huuh is Maya for ‘large lizard’.
Iboy is Ke’kchi for ‘armadillo’.
Icim is Maya for the Mottled Owl, Strix virgata. It is also known as Buho Tropical (Americano).
Ih gi mi lee waif, loosely translated in Kriol is ‘she allowed me to have sex with her’.
Iik is Maya for ‘pepper, chile‘.
Iits’in is Maya for ‘sister’.
Ikaj is Maya for ‘stone axe’.
Ikox is Ke’kchi for ‘mushroom’.
Ilonel is Ke’kchi for ‘shaman’.
Imu’t is Maya for ‘mulberry’, Morus celtidifolia Kunth.
Imul is Ke’kchi for ‘rabbit’. The word t’u’ul is also used.
Itzel is Maya for ‘evil’.
Itzel-chub is Ke’kchi for ‘evil saliva’.
Ix Na Li Kawa is Maya for ‘Mother Of God’. This refers to the Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ. Ix Na Li Kawa is used while Chiac is in Sisimito’s world.
Ix-anal and anal are Mopan names for Psychotria acuminate Benth. This is the female plant. The male plant is Psychotria tenuifolia Sw. It is also known as anal, and ‘dog’s tongue’ or lengua de perro in Spanish.
Ixbach is the Maya name for the Plain Chachalaca, Ortalis vetula, called Cocrico by Belizeans.
Ixbenil Son is a Maya sacred song.
Ixca junes maka ka metzev! is Maya for ‘We are never stronger than when we are one.’
Ix-chal-che (Mopan) is Pluchea odorata (L.) Cass. Other names are Santa Maria, pito sico (Spanish). There are three shrubs with the name Santa Maria. Ix-chal-che is the female. The male is known as chal-che (Mopan) and is a species of Croton. The third is Pothomorphe prltata (L.) Miq. and is known as u-tu-it (Mopan), ‘cowfoot’ (English). These are woody shrubs.
Iximche is the Mayan name of the ‘ramon’ tree (Brosimum alicastrum), the ‘breadnut’. It comes from the words ixim and che, meaning literally ‘maize tree’
Ix-oop is Maya for the Scarlet Macaw, Ara macao. It is also known as Guacamaya Roja, Moo, and Ah-k’ota.
Ixpeq is Maya for ‘toad’ and ixtutz’ for ‘frog’
Ixtama’al is Ke’kchi for ‘tamales’.
Ix-tot (Mopan), Bromelia penguin L., is the ‘wild pineapple’. Another name is pinuela (Spanish).
Ixtutz’ is Maya for ‘frog’, and ixpeq for ‘toad’.
Izel is a Maya male name meaning ‘unique’.
Iztāc-octli is the original name of the drink ‘white pulque’.
Ja’-nima’ Beya’ is Maya for the ‘Motagua River Valley’.
Ja’-nima’ is Maya for the Motagua River.
Ja’ Xakanul is ‘Water Volcano’. Ja’ is Maya for ‘water’ and xakanul is Ke’kchi for ‘volcano’. Ja’ Xakanul is also used to mean ‘crater lake’ in the Sisimito Series.
Jäl is Maya for the ‘dried ear of corn’.
Jankro (var: jranko) is Kriol for the carrion vulture, Coragyps atratus, also known as John Crow, Carronero Común, and Ch’om.
Jatz’om is Maya for ‘spearthrower’ also knows as an ‘atlatl’.
Jigging is slang for ‘masturbating’.
Jipijapa, is Carludovica palmate. The younger leaves of this plant are used in making Panama hats, while older ones are used in construction of mats, baskets, and thatch roofs.
Jraaz is Kriol for ‘drawers’ or brief.
Juk is Kriol (vulgar) for ‘to have sex’. Jukin is ‘having sex’ or ‘having sex with’.
Jul is Maya for ‘cave, hole, perforation, grave’.
Jun is Maya for ‘one’.
Jut-Jut is the soft hoot-hoot call of the Blue-Crowned Motmot, Momotus momota. Jut-Jut is its Maya name and ‘Good Cook’ its Belizean name. It is also known as Momoto Mayor, Toh, or Bukpic. Motmots are a family of beautiful birds found only in the tropics.
Juyub is Maya for ‘hill; mountain; unpopulated area’.
K’aas is Maya for ‘evil’.
K’aay is Maya for ‘sing’.
K’ab is Maya for ‘hour’ or ‘hand’. One hour may also be referred to as ‘one hand’ width. As the sun crosses the sky, midday would, therefore, be six hands above the horizon.
K’ah is ‘cornsham (roasted corn grain)’. It can be used to make a beverage in the same manner of coffee and cocoa. It can also
be sprinkled with sugar and eaten as a gritty powder. Cornsham can be boiled until thick and served as a lab, a type of corn beverage, sweetened to taste. This is called pinol in Mopan and k’ah in Ke’kchi.
K’ambul is the Great Curassow, Crax rubra. It is also known as Hocofaisdn or Bolonchan.
K’atun is the Maya unit for 7,200 days or approximately 20 solar years.
K’éek’en is Maya for ‘pig’.
K’iäqbal is Maya for ‘sling stones’. Here it is used for ‘darts’ as well.
K’iin is Maya for ‘day’.
K’ik’ is Maya for ‘rubber’.
K’o-chuq’ab Kabraqan is Maya for ‘Strong Earthquake’.
K’o-chuq’ab Kiäqiq’ jab is Ke’kchi for ‘Strong Hurricane’.
K’ojol is Maya for ‘son of male’.
K’oy is Maya for the Spider Monkey, Ateles geqffroyi. They are regarded as the most intelligent New World monkeys.
K’u Multun is Maya name for ‘Stacking Stone’ in the Caves of Naj Tunich.
K’úum is Maya for ‘pumpkin’.
K’uutz is Maya for ‘marijuana’.
K’uxu’ is Maya for ‘annato’.
Ka xi’ik teech utzil is Maya for ‘Good luck’. Literally, it means ‘May it go well with you’.
Kaab is Maya for ‘honey’.
Kaab Ya’ax is Maya for ‘Green World’.
Kaán is the upper level of Yaxché which holds the three levels of Maya Cosmology, Cab (Earth), Kaán (sky), and Xibalba (the Underworld). Kaán is also used to refer to the ‘sky’ over U Wach Ulew, the Surface World.
Kaanilha’ is Maya for ‘eel’.
Kabraqan is Ke’kchi for ‘earthquake’.
Ka’ib’ is Maya for ‘two’.
Kaj-rochoch is Maya for ‘woodpecker’.
Kaka is Kriol for ‘excrement’.
Kakaw is Maya for ‘cacao’.
Kaloonte’ is an elite Warrior associated with the jaguar. He may be a hunter, or a nacon (officer), or a batab (war chief). Nabe means ‘first’.
Kaskas is Kriol and means to ‘Get along with’.
Ke’eleen is Maya for ‘I’m cold’.
Ke’l is Ke’kchi for comal; sh’mm’ch is the Mopan word. It is a smooth, flat metal plate typically used in Mexico and Central America to cook tortillas (kua), toast spices, sear meat, and generally prepare food.
Sisimito III--Topoxte Page 72