Taino

noun

Tai·​no ˈtī-(ˌ)nō How to pronounce Taino (audio)
plural Taino or Tainos
1
: the language of the Taino people
2
: a member of an aboriginal Arawakan people of the Greater Antilles and the Bahamas

Examples of Taino in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Taino of the Greater Antilles and the Kalinago, or Caribs, of the Lesser Antilles developed systems that enabled them to live with storms and limit their exposure to damage. Farah Nibbs, The Conversation, 22 Oct. 2024 The Taino Indians were the first people to inhabit Hasiti, according to the Library of Congress. Shelcy Joseph, Essence, 2 Aug. 2024 Over forty Native American nations — including Winnebago, Cherokee, Kiowa, Lakota, Navajo, Santo Domingo, Taino, Rappahannock, and Choctaw — will be represented at this 3-day program. Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 25 July 2024 The vibrant celebration of all things Puerto Rico will include live salsa music from the Latin Rhythm Boys, Orchestra Taino and La Mixta Criolla, along with dance lessons and food trucks. Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 20 June 2024 While exploring the Caribbean, Columbus encountered Carib tribes and defended the Taino, freeing Taino slaves. Matthew Guarnieri, David Generoso, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2024 Paseo de la Princesa is a bayside promenade in Old San Juan with fountains and sculptures like Fuente Raices (Roots Fountain), which represents the ancestral roots of Puerto Rican identity: Spanish, African and Taino. Luisita Lopez Torregrosa, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024 My tía, my aunt who was a teacher on the island, taught us the vowels in Spanish and memorizing the Lord’s Prayer in Taino, an indigenous language. Katty Huertas, Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2023 The melding of African, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Middle Eastern and indigenous ingredients and cuisines — including those of the Aztec, Taino, Matan, Mojo and many other groups — is a through line in the book. G. Daniela Galarza, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Taino nitaino, tayno noble, lesser chief

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Taino was in 1836

Dictionary Entries Near Taino

Cite this Entry

“Taino.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Taino. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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