Puerto Rico
Native Lingo
Taíno is an old language spoken by Taíno Indians in Puerto Rico, Cuba and other parts of the Caribbean. The language comes from the Arawak language, which is spoken by the Locono Indians of South America. Some Taíno words have become part of the English language. Click below to hear simple phrases and let our pronunciation key help you talk like a native, too!
Hello
Tau (tah-oo)
How are you?
Anegwaba (ah-neg-wah-bah)
Very well.
Zanwei (ts-an-way)
Thank you.
hahom (hah-home)
Be quiet.
Teitoka (tay-toe-kah)
canoe
kanoa (kah-no-uh)
hurricane
hurakan (hoo-rah-kon)
Let's go!
Waiba! (why-bah)
moon
karaya (kah-rah-yah)
Good night.
Taiku (tie-koo)
Let us speak Taíno, our language.
Taíney wahián wahiákawo. (tah-eee-nay waah-yan waah-yak-aw-o)
Special thanks to Chief Rene Cibanakan Marcano of the Taíno Nation for making the sound clips possible.
