Zamucoan ethnonymy in the 18th century and the etymology of Ayoreo

A new analysis of 18th-century Zamucoan ethnonyms reveals that the term 'Ayoreo,' meaning 'people' or 'human beings,' was not borrowed from other languages but has roots in Old Zamuco, a language spoken by the Jesuit missions of Chiquitos. The study identifies previously undocumented ethnic denominations and shows that some Zamucoan ethnonyms derive from a different Zamucoan variety with a plural suffix matching present-day Ayoreo. While 'Ayoreo' is an autochthonous word, its adoption as an ethnonym emerged later due to social dynamics following the Chaco War. The research combines linguistic analysis of historical sources and comparative etymology to clarify these linguistic and cultural connections.

Ciucci, L. (2021). Zamucoan ethnonymy in the 18th century and the etymology of Ayoreo. Journal de La Société Des Américanistes, 107(2), 77–114. https://doi.org/10.4000/jsa.19809