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MONTEZUMA CASTLE National Monument |
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Glossary of Spanish and Indian Words
| Apache | (Uh-PATCH-ee) | Indian | Nomadic and warlike Indians of the American Southwest. |
| Aztec | (AS-tec) | Indian | Indians of central Mexico. Early settlers thought Aztecs had built Montezuma Castle and other ruins in the Southwest. |
| Espejo, Antonio de | (Es-PAY-ho, On-TON-eeyo day) | Spanish | Spanish explorer who visited central Arizona in 1583. |
| Hohokam | (Ho-ho-KAHM) | Indian | Early Indian inhabitants of the Verde Valley. |
| Hopi | (HO-pee) | Indian | A Pueblo Indian tribe of northeastern Arizona. |
| Kiva | (KEE-vuh) | Indian | Ceremonial chamber or room. |
| Mano | (MAH-no) | Spanish | Hand; applied to grinding stone held in hand. |
| Mesa | (MAY-suh) | Spanish | Table; hence a tableland. |
| Mescal | (Mess-KAHL) | Spanish from Indian | A small plant (agave); quids of this plant were chewed as a stimulant. |
| Mesquite | (Mess-KEET) | Spanish from Indian | A spiny tree or bush bearing bean-like pods used for food by Indians. |
| Metate | (Meh-TAH-tay) | Spanish from Indian | A concave grinding stone used for grinding corn. |
| Montezuma | (Mon-teh-ZOO-muh) | Indian | Last Aztec emperor of Mexico. |
| Navajo | (NAW-vuh-ho) | Spanish from Indian | A tribe of seminomadic, herdsmen Indians of the Southwest. Related to the Apaches. |
| Pueblo | (Pooh-EB-lo) | Spanish | Village; hence the Indians who built the large dwellings in the Southwest. Also applied to the dwellings themselves. |
| Sinagua | (Sin-AH-wah) | Spanish | Prehistoric Indians of the Verde Valley who built Montezuma Castle. The word means literally "without water." |
| Verde | (VER-day) | Spanish | Green; hence Verde Valley. |
| Yavapai | (YAH-vah-pie) | Indian | Indians occupying Verde Valley when it was visited by the Espejo Expedition. Possibly descendents of the Hohokam. |
| Yucca | (YUK-uh) | Spanish, probably from Indian | A desert plant of the lily family with long, fibrous, green leaves and a tall stem bearing a cluster of white blossoms. |
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Last Modified: Mon, Jan 1 2001 10:00:00 pm PDT |