Etymology Map
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Guanaco

3 stages from Quechua to English.

Today it means a wild South American camelid related to the llama, found in the Andes and Patagonia

Where does the word "guanaco" come from? It comes from Quechua wanaku, passing through Spanish before entering English (1590s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
wanaku
Quechua · pre-1500s
"a wild, undomesticated llama-like animal"
named the wild camelid of the Andes
2
Stage 2 of 3
guanaco
Spanish · 1590s
"a wild South American camelid"
adopted by Spanish chroniclers describing Andean wildlife
3
Stage 3 of 3
guanaco
English · 1590s
"a wild camelid related to the llama, native to South America"
borrowed into English through early accounts of South America
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