Maya
4 synonyms and 0 antonyms for Maya, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A member of the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica whose civilisation flourished in what is now Mexico and Central America, known for its cities, writing system, and calendar.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
The Mesoamerican sense comes from the Maya people's own name for themselves; the philosophical sense is from Sanskrit māyā, meaning "illusion" or the power that creates it.
Full origin of Maya →Frequently asked questions
What does “Maya” mean?
The word “Maya” means a member of the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica whose civilisation flourished in what is now Mexico and Central America, known for its cities, writing system, and calendar. In plain terms, either the Mesoamerican people/civilisation, or (in Hindu/Buddhist philosophy) the illusion of the physical world.
How do you pronounce “Maya”?
“Maya” is pronounced MEYE-uh (/ˈmaɪə/ in IPA).
How do you use “Maya” in a sentence?
Here is “Maya” used in a sentence: “Archaeologists have uncovered a huge Maya city hidden under the jungle canopy.”
What part of speech is “Maya”?
“Maya” is a noun.
Where does the word “Maya” come from?
The word “Maya” comes from Sanskrit. The Mesoamerican sense comes from the Maya people's own name for themselves; the philosophical sense is from Sanskrit māyā, meaning "illusion" or the power that creates it.
Is “Maya” a common word?
“Maya” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Maya” have?
“Maya” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a member of the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica whose civilisation flourished in what is now Mexico and Central America, known for its cities, writing system, and calendar.
What is the difference between Maya and Mayan?
Maya generally refers to the Mesoamerican people and their civilization, and is often used as the adjective too. Many scholars reserve 'Mayan' specifically for the family of languages the Maya speak.
What is the difference between the Maya and the Aztecs?
The Maya were a civilization centered in what is now southern Mexico and Central America, known for their cities, writing system, and calendar. The Aztecs were a separate, later empire based in central Mexico.
How is maya as a spiritual concept different from the Maya civilization?
In Hindu and Buddhist thought, maya is the idea that the everyday physical world is an illusion masking a deeper spiritual reality. The Maya civilization is an unrelated people who happen to share the spelling.
Are the Maya people still around today?
Yes. Millions of Maya people still live in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and neighboring countries, where many continue to speak Mayan languages and maintain cultural traditions.