calaca

Spanish

Etymology

Derived from calavera, from Latin calvaria, likely influenced by Ancient Greek Γολγοθᾶ (Golgothâ) from Aramaic גולגולת (“skull”) used as the name of the execution site of Christ in the New Testament; see also Calvary and Golgotha. Probably influenced by sound-symbolism in view of the unusual development and duplicated syllable.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kaˈlaka/ [kaˈla.ka]
• Rhymes: -aka
• Syllabification: ca‧la‧ca

Noun

calaca f (plural calacas)

1. (Honduras, Mexico, colloquial) Death
2. (Mexico, colloquial) skull

   Synonyms: calavera, cráneo

Further reading

• “calaca”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014