Xinca
- proper noun
- The Xinca are known for their rich cultural traditions and unique language, which is still spoken by some community members today.
Examples
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The two peoples had probably lived and traded peacefully for centuries, and the Xinca were one of the few groups in Central America to use poisoned weapons; neither the Mexicans nor the Maya did (Lehman 1920, 278).
Academic text (1996) -
The dominance of the Pipiles in the Spanish province of San Salvador—that is, the area west of the Lempa River in present-day El Salvador—may have been a result of friendly trade with Xinca.
Academic text (1996) -
Many Xinca descendants work to preserve their indigenous traditions in modern Guatemalan society.
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During my visit to Guatemala, I learned that the Xinca people have a fascinating history tied to the region's ancient civilizations.
Surface Forms
Etymology
The name Xinca is used for an indigenous group in southeastern Guatemala and for the language they speak. So a Xinca is 'a person of that group' or 'their language'.