Zapotecnoun & adjective
Factsheet
What does the word Zapotec mean?
There are three meanings listed in OED's entry for the word Zapotec. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
Entry status
OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.
How common is the word Zapotec?
| 1810 | 0.011 |
| 1820 | 0.012 |
| 1830 | 0.012 |
| 1840 | 0.011 |
| 1850 | 0.02 |
| 1860 | 0.054 |
| 1870 | 0.07 |
| 1880 | 0.11 |
| 1890 | 0.13 |
| 1900 | 0.15 |
| 1910 | 0.16 |
| 1920 | 0.22 |
| 1930 | 0.23 |
| 1940 | 0.27 |
| 1950 | 0.32 |
| 1960 | 0.35 |
| 1970 | 0.35 |
| 1980 | 0.38 |
| 1990 | 0.38 |
| 2000 | 0.39 |
| 2010 | 0.38 |
How is the word Zapotec pronounced?
British English
U.S. English
Where does the word Zapotec come from?
Earliest known use
late 1700s
The earliest known use of the word Zapotec is in the late 1700s.
OED's earliest evidence for Zapotec is from 1797, in Encyclopædia Britannica.
Zapotec is a borrowing from Spanish.
Etymons: Spanish zapoteco.
Nearby entries
- zap, n.1968–
- zap, v.1942–
- zap, int.1929–
- Zapata, n.1962–
- zapateado, n.1845–
- Zapatism, n.1911–
- Zapatismo, n.1913–
- Zapatist, n. & adj.1911–
- Zapatista, n. & adj.1911–
- zapote, n.1842–
- Zapotec, n. & adj.1797–
- zappe, v.c1600
- zapped, adj.1962–
- zapper, n.1969–
- zapping, n.1972–
- zappy, adj.1969–
- zaptieh, n.1869–
- ZAPU, n.1961–
- Zar, n.1868–
- Zarathustrian, adj. & n.1859–
- Zarathustrianism, n.1864–
Etymology
Summary
Meaning & use
- noun
- a.1797–A member of an Indigenous people living in and around Oaxaca in southern Mexico.
- 1797
To the south-east..were the great provinces of the Mixtecas, the Zapotecas, and the Chiapanecas.
Encyclopædia Britannica vol. XI. 668/1 - 1875
In Chiapa were the Zapotecs, in Yucatan the Mayas.
Encyclopædia Britannica vol. I. 694/2 - 1877
The confederacy was confronted by hostile..tribes..: the tribes of Chiapas, and the Zapotecs.
L. H. Morgan, Ancient Society ii. vii. 195 - 1953
The ancient Zapotecs..who may have come from Asia across the Behring Straits, and who are believed to have built..these temples at Mitla and Monte Albàn.
S. Bedford, Sudden View iii. v. 231 - 1979
These Indians—the Zapotecs—were a matrilineal people.
P. Theroux, Old Patagonian Express v. 75
the world people ethnicity, race, or heritage Indigenous peoples of the Americas peoples of Central or South America [nouns] peoples of Central America- Chichimeca1578–A member of any of various Indigenous peoples of Mexico, esp. the nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples inhabiting northern and central Mexico before the…
- Mixea1616–A member of an Indigenous people of Oaxaca in southern Mexico.
- Miskito1697–A Miskito person.
- Tiwa1710–(A member of) a Pueblo people living in the upper Rio Grande valley, comprising the Northern Tiwa (Taos and Picuris), in New Mexico, and the Tigua…
- Nahuatlaca1775–= Nahuatl, n. B.2.
- Otomi1782–A member of an Indigenous people inhabiting parts of central Mexico.
- Aztec1787–A member of a group of Indigenous peoples of central Mexico speaking Uto-Aztecan languages (esp. Nahuatl), whose culture was dominant in large parts…
- Mazahua1787–A member of an Indigenous people inhabiting an area of Mexico to the north and west of Mexico City.
- Mixteca1787–= Mixtec, n. A.1.
- Totonac1787–An Indigenous people of east central Mexico; a member of this people. Also, their language. Also attributive.
- Aztecan1797–A member of a group of Indigenous peoples of central Mexico speaking Uto-Aztecan languages (esp. Nahuatl), whose culture was dominant in large…
- Zapotec1797–A member of an Indigenous people living in and around Oaxaca in southern Mexico.
- Chichimec1809–A member of any of various Indigenous peoples of Mexico, esp. the nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples inhabiting northern and central Mexico before the…
- Nahua1812–= Nahuatl, n. B.2.
- Quiché1823–A member of a people inhabiting the western highlands of Guatemala.
- Nahuan1824–A member of a group of Indigenous peoples of southern Mexico and Central America. Also occasionally with plural agreement and the: these people…
- Mayo1829–A member of an Indigenous people inhabiting southern Sonora and northern Sinaloa, in north-western Mexico.
- Seri1829–(A member of) an Indigenous people inhabiting western Sonora state, Mexico, and Tiburón Island in the Gulf of California.
- Yucatec1843–(a) (A member of) an Indigenous people of the Yucatán peninsula in south-eastern Mexico. (b) colloquial. Any present-day inhabitant of the Peninsula…
- Mixtec1852–A member of an Indigenous people of southern Mexico, noted for their skill in pottery and metallurgy.
- Olmec1852–A member of an Indigenous people inhabiting the coast of southern Veracruz and western Tabasco during the 15th and 16th centuries, to where they…
- Mogollon1855–A member of an Indigenous people of North and Central America, formerly living in western New Mexico. Also: a member of the people of the Mogollon…
- Yaqui1861–(A member of) an Indigenous people of north-western Mexico.
- Kuna1868–A member of an Indigenous people of the isthmus of Panama.
- Tzeltal1868–(A member of) an Indigenous people inhabiting parts of southern Mexico; the Mayan language of this people. Also attributive or as adj.
- Yucatecan1871–
- Nahuatl1873–A member of any of the Nahuatl peoples.
- Huastec1874–An Indigenous people inhabiting parts of Mexico; a member of this people.
- Tlapanec1874–An Indigenous people of south-west Guerrero, Mexico.
- Bribri1875–A member of a Central American people of the Talamanca region of southern Costa Rica and northern Panama. Also with plural agreement and the…
- Mangue1876–A member of a Central American people formerly inhabiting the west coast of Nicaragua, closely related to the Chorotega of the Nicoya peninsula of…
- Mazatec1878–A member of an Indigenous people of northern Oaxaca in southern Mexico.
- Subtiaba1891–A member of an Indigenous people of western Nicaragua.
- Tequistlatec1891–(A member of) an Indigenous people of south-east Oaxaca, Mexico; also, the language of this people.
- Nahuatlan1897–= Nahuatl, n. B.2. rare.
- Huichol1900–The language of this people.
- Mixtecan1900–= Mixtec, n. A.1.
- Uto-Aztec1903–A member of any of the various Indigenous peoples of Central America and western North America speaking languages of the Uto-Aztecan family. Cf. U…
- Mixe–Zoque1957–With plural agreement: the Mixe and Zoque peoples of southern Mexico, considered as one people.
- Mixteco1972–= Mixtec, n. A.1.
- Garifuna1977–A member of a people descended from African former slaves and the Indigenous Caribs of St Vincent in the Lesser Antilles, and subsequently dispersed…
- Mixean1982–A member of a people speaking any of the Mixean languages. Cf. Mixe, n. A.1. rare.
- Garinagu1983–The Garifuna people, considered collectively. Cf. Garifuna, n. A.2.
- Mixe–Zoquean1989–A member of the Mixe–Zoque. Cf. Mixe–Zoque, n. A.1.
- (A member of) an Uto-Aztecan people of north-western Mexico.
- A member of an Indigenous people of the mountain area about lake Pátzcuara in Michoacán, Mexico.
- An Indigenous people of Oaxaca, Mexico.
- b.1881–Any of several dialects or languages of the Zapotecs.
- 1881
The other chief stock or at least not yet classified Mexican tongues are the Miztec and Zapotec of Oajaca, [etc.].
Encyclopædia Britannica vol. XII. 828/1 - 1936
These ladies understand Zapoteco..but they do not speak it.
E. C. Parsons, Mitla i. 16 - 1965
In Trique, Isthmus Zapotec, and certain other languages of Mexico, certain clause types have the preferred ordering predicate, subject, object.
Language vol. 41 73 - 1973
The student of architecture we met in the square of Oaxaca was talking Zapotec to his girl-friend.
Times 24 March 11/8
- adjective
- 1861–Of or pertaining to the Zapotecs.
- 1861
Whenever a Zapoteque woman is about to add one to the number of their community, the expectant father of the child assembles all his relations in his cabin.
M. Reid, Hero in spite of Himself vol. I. 12 - 1927
Four words in the idioma, the Zapotec language..‘You understand them?’
D. H. Lawrence, Mornings in Mexico 45 - 1934
A bas-relief of an ithyphallic man—the work..of the pre-Zapotec occupants of the site.
A. Huxley, Beyond Mexique Bay 46 - 1972
The Zapoteco language is spoken in a number of regional dialects.
Book Thousand Tongues (revised edition) 464/2 - 1980
Its hieroglyphs, mostly carved from 500 B.C. to A.D. 700, record the rise and decline of the Zapotec state.
Scientific American February 46/3
the world people ethnicity, race, or heritage Indigenous peoples of the Americas peoples of Central or South America [adjectives] peoples of Central America- Chichimeca1726–Of, relating to, or designating the Chichimecas or their languages; = Chichimec, adj.
- Aztecan1787–Of, relating to, or characteristic of the Aztecs or their culture. Cf. Aztec, adj.
- Miskito1789Of or relating to an Indigenous people living in a coastal region of eastern Nicaragua and north-eastern Honduras.
- Chichimec1811–Of, relating to, or designating the Chichimecs or their languages; = Chichimeca, adj.
- Nahuatl1814–Of or relating to any of a group of Indigenous peoples of southern Mexico and Central America, or their language.
- Quiché1823–Of, relating to, or designating this people or their language.
- Aztec1824–Of, relating to, or characteristic of the Aztecs or their culture. Cf. Aztecan, adj. A.1.
- Mayo1829–Of, relating to, or designating the Mayo or their language.
- Seri1829–Of or pertaining to the Seri or their language.
- Otomi1843–Of, relating to, or designating the Otomi or their language.
- Mimbres1856–89Of or relating to the Mimbreño Apache people of south-western New Mexico. Esp. in Mimbres Apache. Cf. Mimbreño, adj. Obsolete.
- Yaqui1861–Of, pertaining to, or designating the Yaqui.
- Zapotec1861–Of or pertaining to the Zapotecs.
- Nahuan1862–Of, belonging to, or relating to any of the Nahuan peoples or their languages. Cf. Nahuatl, adj., Aztecan, adj. A.2.
- Nahua1865–= Nahuatl, adj.
- Tzeltal1868–(A member of) an Indigenous people inhabiting parts of southern Mexico; the Mayan language of this people. Also attributive or as adj.
- Yucatecan1871–
- Tlapanec1874–An Indigenous people of south-west Guerrero, Mexico.
- Mixtec1875–Of, relating to, or characteristic of the Mixtecs or their languages.
- Bribri1876–Of, relating to, or belonging to the Bribri or their language.
- Mangue1876–Of or designating the Mangues or their language.
- Nahuatlaca1877–= Nahuatl, adj.
- Mixe1888–Designating, of, or relating to the Mixe or their languages.
- Trique1891–Of or pertaining to this people or their language.
- Mazatecan1892–= Mazatec, adj.
- Subtiaba1892–Of or relating to the Subtiabas or their language.
- Huichol1900–Of or pertaining to this people or their language.
- Kuna1905–Of or relating to this people or their language.
- Mixteca1911–= Mixtec, adj.
- Subtiaban1911–= Subtiaba, adj.
- Tarascan1911–Of or pertaining to this people or their language.
- Tarahumara1912–Of, pertaining to, or designating this people.
- Zapotecan1922–
- Tzotzil1939–(A member of) an Indigenous people inhabiting parts of southern Mexico; the Mayan language of this people. Also attributive or as adj.
- Mixe–Zoquean1940–Designating or relating to the Mixe and Zoque peoples of southern Mexico, considered as one group, or their languages.
- Tiwa1950–(A member of) a Pueblo people living in the upper Rio Grande valley, comprising the Northern Tiwa (Taos and Picuris), in New Mexico, and the Tigua…
- Mixteco1959–= Mixtec, adj.
- Kekchi1960–Of or pertaining to the Kekchi or their language.
- Uto-Aztecan1968–Of or relating to a family of Indigenous languages of Central America and western North America, including Nahuatl, Shoshone, Hopi, and Paiute…
- Uto-Aztec2022–Of or relating to a family of Indigenous languages of Central America and western North America, including Nahuatl, Shoshone, Hopi, and Paiute…
Pronunciation
British English
U.S. English
Consonants
- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing
Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence
Vowels
- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)
Other symbols
- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.
View the pronunciation model here.
Consonants
- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing
* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in
Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence
Vowels
- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)
Other symbols
- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.
View the pronunciation model here.
Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.
Consonants
b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values
- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige
Vowels
- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot
Forms
Variant forms
Also 1700s– Zapoteca, Zapoteco, 1800s Zapoteque.Frequency
Zapotec typically occurs about 0.4 times per million words in modern written English.
Zapotec is in frequency band 4, which contains words occurring between 0.1 and 1 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands
Frequency of Zapotec, n. & adj., 1810–2010
* Occurrences per million words in written English
Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.
The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.
For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.
Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.
| Decade | Frequency per million words |
|---|---|
| 1810 | 0.011 |
| 1820 | 0.012 |
| 1830 | 0.012 |
| 1840 | 0.011 |
| 1850 | 0.02 |
| 1860 | 0.054 |
| 1870 | 0.07 |
| 1880 | 0.11 |
| 1890 | 0.13 |
| 1900 | 0.15 |
| 1910 | 0.16 |
| 1920 | 0.22 |
| 1930 | 0.23 |
| 1940 | 0.27 |
| 1950 | 0.32 |
| 1960 | 0.35 |
| 1970 | 0.35 |
| 1980 | 0.38 |
| 1990 | 0.38 |
| 2000 | 0.39 |
| 2010 | 0.38 |
Frequency of Zapotec, n. & adj., 2017–2024
* Occurrences per million words in written English
Modern frequency series are derived from a corpus of 20 billion words, covering the period from 2017 to the present. The corpus is mainly compiled from online news sources, and covers all major varieties of World English.
Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the corpus.
| Period | Frequency per million words |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 0.018 |
| 2018 | 0.019 |
| 2019 | 0.02 |
| 2020 | 0.021 |
| 2021 | 0.022 |
| 2022 | 0.022 |
| 2023 | 0.021 |
| 2024 | 0.021 |
Compounds & derived words
- Zapotecan, adj. & n. 1922–