ayahuasca

Where does the word "ayahuasca" come from? It comes from Quechua ayawaska, passing through Spanish before entering English (1960s-1970s).

Ayahuasca’s story begins in Quechua: ayawaska meant “spirit vine.” Literally 'vine of the dead/spirit' (aya spirit + waska vine), naming the psychoactive vine brew. By 1900s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as ayahuasca. Quechua 'vine of the soul', from 'aya', spirit, plus 'waska', rope. It reached English by 1960s-1970s as ayahuasca. Entered English through anthropological and later popular accounts of Amazonian ceremonies. Today, ayahuasca means a psychoactive plant brew used in traditional and modern Amazonian spiritual ceremonies.

1. Stage 1 · Quechua · pre-1500s ayawaska "spirit vine", literally 'vine of the dead/spirit' (aya spirit + waska vine), naming the psychoactive vine brew.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1900s ayahuasca "a psychoactive brew made from the vine and other plants", Quechua 'vine of the soul', from 'aya', spirit, plus 'waska', rope.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1960s-1970s ayahuasca "a psychoactive brew used in traditional Amazonian spiritual ceremonies", entered English through anthropological and later popular accounts of Amazonian ceremonies.