indio
“indio” means “indigenous” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
indigenous, Indian
Also: Native American
📝 In Action
Mi abuela tiene raíces indias y está orgullosa de su cultura.
B1My grandmother has indigenous roots and is proud of her culture.
Compramos té indio muy aromático en la tienda.
A2We bought very aromatic Indian tea at the store.
idiot
Also: silly person, uncivilized person
📝 In Action
¡No seas indio! ¿Cómo se te ocurre hacer eso?
C1Don't be an idiot! How did you think of doing that?
Se portó como un indio en la reunión y ofendió a todos.
C2He behaved like an uncivilized person at the meeting and offended everyone.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "indio" in Spanish:
idiot→indian→indigenous→native american→silly person→uncivilized person→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: indio
Question 1 of 2
Which of these sentences uses 'indio' in a neutral, geographical sense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin *Indus*, referring to the Indus River and the region of India. When Columbus reached the Americas, he mistakenly believed he had reached the East Indies, and thus referred to the native peoples as 'indios.'
First recorded: 15th century (applied to the Americas)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'indio' always an offensive word?
No, but it is complicated. When referring to people or things from the country India, it is neutral. When referring to the native peoples of the Americas, it is historically accurate but often replaced by the more respectful 'indígena' (indigenous). However, in many regions, 'indio' is also used as a highly offensive insult meaning 'stupid' or 'uncultured,' and learners should avoid using it in that context entirely.
How do I say 'Native American' in Spanish?
The most common and preferred terms are 'indígena' (indigenous person) or 'pueblos originarios' (original peoples). If you need to be very specific, you might use 'amerindio' (Amerindian), but 'indígena' is the best general choice.