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adj Uncommon

Mayan

MEYE-uhn

Mayan (adj) means relating to the Maya people, their civilisation, or their languages. Example: “The site contains Mayan pyramids dating back over a thousand years.”

adj
1
Relating to the Maya people, their civilisation, or their languages.
"The site contains Mayan pyramids dating back over a thousand years."
"She's studying Mayan hieroglyphics for her thesis."
noun
1
The family of related languages spoken by Maya peoples across Mexico and Central America.
"Mayan includes languages such as Yucatec, Quiché, and Tzotzil."
"He's learning Mayan to help translate old inscriptions."

How to use Mayan

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe adjective for anything belonging to the Maya, or the name for their language family.

Common mistake

Maya is the people/civilisation; Mayan is generally reserved for the languages and used as the adjective.

Easily confused with

Word forms

Mayans plural

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The site contains _____ pyramids dating back over a thousand years.

Related words

Rhymes for Mayan

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Mayan” mean?

The word “Mayan” means relating to the Maya people, their civilisation, or their languages. In plain terms, the adjective for anything belonging to the Maya, or the name for their language family.

How do you pronounce “Mayan”?

“Mayan” is pronounced MEYE-uhn (/ˈmaɪən/ in IPA).

How do you use “Mayan” in a sentence?

Here is “Mayan” used in a sentence: “The site contains Mayan pyramids dating back over a thousand years.”

What part of speech is “Mayan”?

Depending on how it is used, “Mayan” can be an adjective and a noun.

Is “Mayan” a common word?

“Mayan” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Mayan” have?

“Mayan” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to the Maya people, their civilisation, or their languages.

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