The following is a listing of placenames from the Mapudungun language, generally from Chile and southwestern Argentina.

Note: this list includes only currently used placenames that have a Mapudungun etymology for at least part of their name

A

PlacenameMeaningRegion (Chile)or Province (Argentina)TypeCommentsAbtaoend/limit of the territory Los Lagoschannel, islandcontested(proRamirez Sanchez, Carlos. 1988. Toponimia indígena de las provincias de Osorno, Llanquihue y Chiloé. Valdivia, Chile: Universidad Austral de Chile, Dirección de Investigación. con)Achaosandy and protected harbourLos Lagosbeach, channel, city/town Aconcaguaplace of heathersValparaíso, Mendozamountain, river AllipénAraucanía, Bío-Bíoriver Ancudto dryLos Lagoscity/town, gulf Anticurasun stoneLos Lagosriver, village Antihuesunny placeLos Lagoshamlet Antillancasun/light green quartzNombres de lugar indigena de Osorno, Llanquihue y Chiloé Los Lagosvolcano Antimahuidasun/light mountainLos Lagosvillage Antucosun and waterBío-Bíovolcano

B

PlacenameMeaningRegion (Chile)or Province (Argentina)TypeCommentsBuchupureoBig WaveLimit between VII & VIII Regions, ChileBarilochefrom Furiloche: people from the other side of the mountainLos Lagos, Río Negrocity/town, mountain pass Bío-BíoAraucanía, Bío-Bíoriver Boldofrom folo, a shrub (Peumus boldus)La Araucanía Bucalemubig forestValparaíso Butacurabig stoneLos Lagoshamlet

C

PlacenameMeaningRegion (Chile)or Province (Argentina)TypeCommentsCaburguadug with a spoonAraucaníalake, waterfall Calafquénlake like a seaAraucanía, Los Ríoslake Calbucoblue watersLos Lagoschannel, city/town, peninsula, volcano CaleufúNeuquénriver CallaquiBío-Bíovolcano Calle-Callelot of IridaceaesLos Ríosriveronce called Guadalfquén Carahuethe city that wasAraucaníacity/town Carelmapugreen territoryLos Lagosheadland Carirriñegreen chusquea coleou caneLos Ríos, Neuquénmountain pass, river CarrenleufúChubutcity/town Catiraicallyíi, to cut, and raigheii, the flower of the trees, meaning short flowersFrancisco Solano Asta-Buruaga y Cienfuegos, Diccionario geográfico de la República de Chile (Geographic dictionary of the Republic of Chile), SEGUNDA EDICIÓN CORREGIDA Y AUMENTADA, NUEVA YORK, D. APPLETON Y COMPAÑÍA, 1899. pg. 135Bío-Bíovalley Cau-Caukawkaw 'seagull'Los RíosriverChacayDiscaria serratifoliaAlgunos topónimos indígenas de la zona de Copiapó AtacamavalleyChacaoprotected harbourLos Lagosbay, channel, village Chapelcochapel (a local bush) waterNeuquénmountain, river Chiguayante"chiguay" fog "antu" sun Bío-Bíocity-ChillánBío-Bíocity Chiloéchille 'small seagull' and -we 'place'Los Lagosarchipelago, islandChimbarongocrooked head or place between fogsO'Higginscity/town Choshuencoyellow waterLos Ríoscity/town, volcano Cochamóconfluence/estuaryLos Lagosbay, river, village Conguillíowater with Araucaria araucana pine nutsAraucaníalake CopahueBío-Bíovolcano Colhué Huapired islandChubutlake Concónplace of owlsValparaísocity/town Coñaripeway of the warriorLos Ríoscity/town CucaoPteroptochusLos Lagosbay, lake, river CurarrehueAraucaníacity/town Curicókurü 'black' and ko 'water'Maulecity/town Curimónkurü 'black' and man (abbreviation of mañke) 'black condor'Valparaísotown, village Curiñancokurü 'black' and ñamko 'red-backed hawk'Los Ríosbeach, village

D

PlacenameMeaningRegion (Chile)or Province (Argentina)TypeCommentsDalcahueplace of canoesLos Lagoscity/town Dollincomussel waterLos Lagosriver

F

PlacenameMeaningRegion (Chile)or Province (Argentina)TypeCommentsFutalafquénbig lakeChubutlake Futaleufúbig riverChubut, Los Lagosriver Futronofrom Futronhue: place of smokeLos Ríostown/city

G

PlacenameMeaningRegion (Chile)or Province (Argentina)TypeCommentsGuafofrom Wafün: tuskLos Lagosisland

H

PlacenameMeaningRegion (Chile)or Province (Argentina)TypeCommentsHornopirénsnow ovenLos Lagosvillage, volcanoonce called Quechucaví; five districts HuahumLos Ríos, Neuquénmountain pass, river HuapiislandLos Ríosisland Huechurabaclay birthplaceSantiagocommune/cityHuerquehueplace of messengersAraucaníamountainsHuilo-HuiloLos Ríoswaterfall Huilquilemu bosque de zorzales (thrush wood)Maule Regionvilla cultural, declarada Monumento Histórico en 1986

L

PlacenameMeaningRegion (Chile)or Province (Argentina)TypeCommentsLácarplace of landslidesNeuquénlake LeburiverBío-Bíocity Licán Rayrock flowerAraucaníacity/town Limayclear/cleanNeuquén, Río Negroriver LiquiñeLos Ríostown, river, hot springs Llaimablood veinsAraucaníavolcano Llanquihuehidden placeLos Lagos, Los Ríoscity/town, lake, river Lololland of crabs and holesO'Higginscommune/town Loncochehead of an important personAraucaníacity/town Loncomillagold of the loncoMauleriver LonquimaysummitAraucaníacity/town, volcano

M

PlacenameMeaningRegion (Chile)or Province (Argentina)TypeCommentsMáfilhugged between riversLos Ríostown Maihuewooden glassLos Ríoslake MaipoMendoza, Santiagoriver, valley, volcano MalalcahuelloHorse CorralAraucaníaTownMamuil Malalcorral of wooden sticksAraucanía, Neuquénmountain pass, village Mapochoriver of the MapucheSantiagoriver Mauleriver of tearsMaule Regionregion, river, commune, valleyThe river marked the southern boundary of the Inca empire; the region is now Chile’s leading wine-making regionMelipeucoAraucaníacity/town Melipullifour hillsLos Lagoscity/town Mulchénpeople of the westBío-Bíocity/town, river

N

PlacenameMeaningRegion (Chile)or Province (Argentina)TypeCommentsNahuelbutabig pumaAraucanía, Bío-Bíomountain range Nahuelhuapiisland of the pumaNeuquén, Río NegrolakeNahuel Rucáhouse of the pumaBuenos Airescity/townNeuquénsweep awayNeuquén, Río Negrocity/town, river

P

PlacenameMeaningRegion (Chile)or Province (Argentina)TypeCommentsPanguipullihill of the pumaLos Ríoscity/town, lake PellaifaLos Ríoslake Peñalolénfraternal meeting placeSantiagocity/town Pencahuelugar de zapallos (place of pumpkins)Maule Regionpueblo y comunaPichilemulittle forestO'Higginscity/town Pillanleufúriver of the devil/spiritLos RíosriverPilolcurahollow stoneLos Ríosbeach, bay Pirihueicosnowy curvy waterLos Ríoslake PucónentranceAraucaníacity/town Puduhuapiisland of the puduLos Lagosisland PueloeastChubut, Los Lagoslake, river PullinqueLos Ríoslake, river Puyehueplace of sweet water fishesLos Lagos, Los Ríos, Neuquénlake, mountain pass, volcano Punucapablack/fertile earth for legumesLos Ríosvillage

Q

PlacenameMeaningRegion (Chile)or Province (Argentina)TypeCommentsQuellónfrom Queldon; Aristotelia chilensisLos Lagoscity/town Quemchired/pottery earthLos Lagoscity/town Quetrupillánsleeping pillánAraucanía, Los Ríosvolcano Quiapooriginally Cuyapu or Cuyamapu, meaning cuya, weasel and mapu land Francisco Solano Asta-Buruaga y Cienfuegos, Diccionario geográfico de la República de Chile, p. 613-14Bio-Biohill/river Quilicurathree stonesSantiagocommune/city

R

PlacenameMeaningRegion (Chile)or Province (Argentina)TypeCommentsRahueplace of gray clayLos Lagos, Neuquéncity/town, river, villageRancaguaplace of canesO'Higginscity/town RancoLos Ríoscity/town, lakeReloncavívalley districtLos Lagosestuary, sound Riñihueplace of Chusquea coleouLos Ríoscity/town, lakeRupancoshaked watersLos Lagoslake

T

PlacenameMeaningRegion (Chile)or Province (Argentina)TypeCommentsTalcathunderMaulecity/town Talcahuanofrom tralcam wenu; thundering skyBío-Bíocity Temucofrom "Temu" (Blepharocalyx cruckshanksii)and "Co" waterAraucaníacity/town Tinguiriricaround/shining quartzO'Higginscity/town, river, volcano TolhuacaAraucaníavolcano TrafulNeuquénlake TralcanthunderLos Ríosmountain TroménNeuquénlake, volcano Tucapeltake by forceBío-Bíotown

V

PlacenameMeaningRegion (Chile)or Province (Argentina)TypeCommentsVitacurabig stoneSantiagocity/town

Y

PlacenameMeaningRegion (Chile)or Province (Argentina)TypeCommentsYelchocarry foamLos Lagoslake, river

See also Araucanization Mapuche Huilliche Picunche List of Muisca toponyms

References

Sources Guiaverde - diccionarios (Spanish) Mapudungun.cl Francisco Solano Asta-Buruaga y Cienfuegos, Diccionario geográfico de la República de Chile (Geographic dictionary of the Republic of Chile), SEGUNDA EDICIÓN CORREGIDA Y AUMENTADA, NUEVA YORK, D. APPLETON Y COMPAÑÍA, 1899. DICCIONARIO MAPUCHE Diccionarios Ser Indigena, Lenguas Originarias de Chile Español - Mapudungun Mapudungun - Español