MEANING OF YUCATÁN: MOST RELEVANT CHARACTERISTICS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

There are numerous versions about the meaning of the word yucatán. Some try to support themselves by citing the conquerors, others have no historical support but have logic, and others have a wrong etymological origin.

In any case, the Maya of this region continued to call their land "u luumil cutz yetel ceh" or "land of turkeys and deer."

The 6 most popular stories about the meaning of Yucatán

First version

One of the legends about the origin of the name of this Mexican peninsula tells that the discoverer Francisco Hernández Córdova made landfall in this territory.

When he met the original inhabitants of those lands, he asked them what the place was called.

Faced with this question, the aborigines answered that they did not understand their language saying: “tetec dtan”, “ma t natic a dtan”. This phrase means "you speak very fast and I don't understand you."

The Spanish conquerors believed they were answering their question about the name. But, when trying to reproduce the Mayan language, they pronounced “yucatán”.

This version is supported by letters sent to the Spanish monarchs in the years that followed the landing in the new lands.

These letters were sent by Hernán Cortés himself. This story is also repeated in a writing by Fray Toribio de Benavente, in 1541.

Second version

He says that the conquerors were exploring the coast and from time to time they approached the settlers to ask them something.

To these questions they always received the answer: "Toló quin dtan" in the Mayan language. This phrase means "you will find it later, keep going."

Third version

Some Mayans held the necklaces of their wives in their hands. At that moment the conquerors approach and ask them something that they do not fully understand.

But one of the Mayans thinks he understands that the question has to do with the objects they hold in their hands.

That is why he answers: “U yu c-atan”, which means “they are the necklaces of our wives”.

Fourth version

This version tells that when the Spanish asked some indigenous people about the name of the place, they answered: "yucatan" which means "I'm not from here."

Fifth version

Yucatán is said to come from the Nahuatl word "yokatlan", which means "place of wealth."

Obviously both words are very similar. The doubt regarding this version arises because the Nahuatl language was Aztec, while the inhabitants of the peninsula were Mayans.

Sixth version

It is based on the writings of the bishop of Yucatán, Don Crescencio Carrillo y Ancona, at the end of the 19th century.

The text is called Philological Study on the name of America and Yucatan. After a long investigation, he concludes that the origin of the name of the Caribbean peninsula is a contraction of the name yucalpetén.

In this same book, its author breaks down the translation of yucalpetén, which literally means "the pearl or necklace of our wives."

References

1. Ric Hajovsky. (2017). How Yucatan got its name. 10/31/2017, from Everything Cozumel Website: everythingcozumel.com
2. Editor. (2012). Origin of the name Yucatán. 10/31/2017, from Yucatán Today Website: yucatantoday.com
3. Douglas Harper. (2017). Yucatan. 10/31/2017, from Etymology on line Website: etymonline.com
4. Phillip Mason. (2017). Shield of Yucatán: History and Meaning. 10/31/2017, from Life Persona Website: lifepersona.com
5. David and Alejandra Bolles. (2017). Some Thoughts On The Name Yucatan. 10/31/2017, by Alejandras books Website: alejandrasbooks.org