Yanomami

noun

Ya·​no·​ma·​mi ˌyä-nō-ˈmä-mē How to pronounce Yanomami (audio)
variants or less commonly Yanomamo
ˌyä-nō-ˈmä-mō How to pronounce Yanomami (audio)
or Yanomama
ˌyä-nō-ˈmä-mə How to pronounce Yanomami (audio)
plural Yanomami also Yanomamis or Yanomamo or Yanomama
1
: an Indigenous people inhabiting the rainforests of southern Venezuela and northern Brazil
also : a member of the Yanomami people
2
: the family of four closely related languages spoken by the Yanomami

Examples of Yanomami in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Chilean expat architect Downey’s work with Ecuadoran Yanomami tribal communities helped Bill see how the close video observation of radically different cultures could lead to new understandings of self and society. — David A. Ross, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2025 The Falling Sky, about the threat to the existence of the Amazonian Yanomami people, ahead of its screening in DOC NYC next month. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2024 Nunes Neto's motivation stemmed from the necessity to address water pollution affecting the Yanomami tribes in the Amazon rainforest and aims to offer a practical solution for tracking environmental damage in vulnerable areas. — Sanam Mahoozi, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024 The gold miners’ numbers now approach those of the roughly 30,000 Yanomami. — Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 May 2024 See All Example Sentences for Yanomami

Word History

Etymology

Yanomamɨ (language of the western Yanomami) yanomamɨ, a self-designation

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Yanomami was in 1967

Rhymes for Yanomami

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Browse Nearby Words

yannigan
Yanomami
yanqui
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Yanomami.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Yanomami. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Yanomami

noun
Ya·​no·​ma·​mi ˌyän-ō-ˈmäm-ē How to pronounce Yanomami (audio)
plural Yanomami
: a member of the Indigenous people living in the rain forests of southern Venezuela and northern Brazil

More from Merriam-Webster on Yanomami

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Yanomami

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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