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indios

EEN-dee-ohs/ˈindjos/

indigenous peoples, Native Americans

Also: Indians
NounmB1
Mexico and Central America
A storybook illustration of a solitary indigenous person of the Americas wearing simple, traditional clothing.

📝 In Action

Los indios de la región andina tienen una rica cultura milenaria.

B1

The indigenous peoples of the Andean region have a rich, ancient culture.

Cristóbal Colón creyó haber llegado a las Indias, por eso llamó 'indios' a los habitantes.

B2

Christopher Columbus believed he had reached the Indies, which is why he called the inhabitants 'indios'.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • aborígenes (aboriginal people)
  • nativos (natives)

Common Collocations

  • pueblos indios – indigenous peoples
  • reservas indias – Indian reservations

indigenous, Indian

Also: native
A storybook illustration of a brightly colored, hand-woven textile with traditional indigenous geometric patterns.

📝 In Action

Los textiles indios son famosos por sus colores brillantes.

B2

Indigenous textiles are famous for their bright colors.

Estudiamos varios dialectos indios que están en peligro de extinción.

C1

We are studying several native dialects that are in danger of extinction.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • autóctonos (autochthonous)

Common Collocations

  • arte indio – indigenous art
  • costumbres indias – indigenous customs

ignorant people, uncultured persons

NounmC1slang / derogatory
A storybook illustration of a simple figure looking extremely confused and bewildered by a common, mundane object placed next to them, symbolizing ignorance.

📝 In Action

¡Cuidado con el uso de esta palabra! En muchos lugares, se usa como un insulto muy ofensivo.

C1

Be careful using this word! In many places, it is used as a very offensive insult.

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: indios

Question 1 of 2

Which term is generally preferred today to refer respectfully to the original inhabitants of the continent?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
fríosríos
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes directly from the historical mistake made by Christopher Columbus. When he arrived in the Americas, he believed he had reached the East Indies (Asia), thus referring to the native inhabitants as 'indios' (Indians). The name stuck, despite the geographical error.

First recorded: Late 15th century (post-1492)

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: índiosItalian: indi

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'indios' offensive?

While the word is used neutrally in historical documents and some official contexts to mean 'indigenous peoples,' it has a long history of being used as a severe, racist insult in many Spanish-speaking countries. It is strongly recommended that learners avoid using this term, favoring 'indígenas' or 'pueblos originarios' instead.

How do I refer to people from the country of India (in Asia)?

The clearest way is to say 'personas de la India' (people from India) or use the noun 'hindúes' (Hindus/people of India).