Enrique of Malacca's Circumnavigation: Words of the Patagonians: Magellan and the Patagonians, Pigafetta Part 6

Words spoken by the Patagonian Giant Paulo
aboard the Trinidad, transcribed by Antonio Pigafetta.

Antonio Pigafetta: That giant whom we had in our ship told me those words; for when he, upon asking me for capac, that is to say, bread, as they call that root which they use as bread, and oli, that is to say, water, saw me write those words quickly, and afterward when I, with pen in hand, asked him for other words, he understood me.

… All [these] words are pronounced in the throat, for such is their method of pronunciation.

Words of the Patagonian giants.

For Head	her
for Eye	other
for Nose	or
for Eyebrows	occhechel
for Eyelids	sechechiel
for Nostrils	oresche
for Mouth	xiam
for Lips	schiahame
for Teeth	phor
for Tongue	schial
for Chin	sechen
for Hair	archiz
for Face	cogechel
for Throat	ohumez
for Occiput	schialeschin
for Shoulders	pelles
for Elbow	cotel
for Hand	chene
for Palm of the hand	caimeghin
for Finger	cori
for Ears	sane
Armpit	salischin
for Teat	othen
for Bosom	ochij
for Body	gechel
for Penis	sachet
for Testicles	sacancas
for Vagina	isse
for Communication with women	jo hoi
for Thighs	chiane
for Knee	tepin
for Rump	schiaguen
for Buttocks	hoij
for Arm	maz
for Pulse	holion
for Legs	coss
for Foot	thee
for Heel	tere
for Ankle	perchi
for Sole of the foot	caotscheni
for Fingernails	colim
for Heart	thol
for to Scratch	gechare
for Cross-eyed man	calischen
for Young man	calemi
for Water	holi
for Fire	ghialeme
for Smoke	giaiche
for No	ehen
for Yes	rey
for Gold	pelpeli
for Lapis lazuli	secheg
for Sun	calexcheni
for Stars	settere
for Sea	aro
for Wind	oni
for Storm	ohone
for Fish	hoi
for to Eat	mechiere
for Bowl	elo
for Pot	aschanie
for to Ask	ghelhe
Come here	hai si
for to Look	chonne
for to Walk	rey
for to Fight	oamaghce
for Arrows	sethe
for Dog	holl
for Wolf	ani
for to Go a long distance	schien
for Guide	anti
for Snow	theu
for to Cover	hiani
for Ostrich, a bird	hoihoi
for its Eggs	jani
for the powder of the herb which they eat	capac
for to Smell	os
for Parrot	cheche
for Birdcage	cleo
for Misiglioni	siameni
for Red Cloth	terechae
for Cap	aichel
for Black	ainel
for Red	taiche
for Yellow	peperi
for to Cook	yrocoles
for Belt	catechin
for Goose	cache
for their big Devil	Setebos
for their small Devils	Cheleule

Editor's Note: Ferdinand Magellan and his Armada de Molucca were the first Europeans to encounter the "Patagonian giants," whom chronicler Antonio Pigafetta described as so tall that "we reached only to his waist." Europeans on later voyages, including Sir Francis Drake's in 1579, also reported this race of giants living along the Patagonian coast (modern-day Argentina). The giants were likely Tehuelches, an indigenous people in the region.

Series: Magellan Chronicler Antonio Pigafetta Describes the Patagonian Giants

Part 1. First Contact Patagonia: Magellan and the Patagonians, Pigafetta 1

Part 2. Giants and Guanacos: Magellan and the Patagonians, Pigafetta 2

Part 3. Giant John: Magellan and the Patagonians, Pigafetta 3

Part 4. How to Capture Patagonian Giants: Magellan and the Patagonians, Pigafetta 4

Part 5. Culture of the Giants: Magellan and the Patagonians, Pigafetta 5

Part 6. Words of the Patagonians: Magellan and the Patagonians, Pigafetta 6

Part 7. Journey's End: Magellan and the Patagonians, Pigafetta 7

See Also:

Enrique of Malacca Completes First Circumnavigation—by Language

On March 28, 1521, Enrique of Malacca became the first person to complete a linguistic circumnavigation of the globe—he traveled so far in one direction that he reached a point where his language was spoken. Enrique’s journey began a decade earlier following the sack of Malacca, when he became a slave of Ferdinand Magellan. A teenager, he accompanied Magellan back to Portugal, then to Spain, and finally on the Armada de Molucca to locate a westward route to the Spice Islands. Read more:

Find us:

And, yes, Enrique might be 500 years old, but he was known as a kid, so of course he's now on Instagram too.

3/02/2021

Words of the Patagonians: Magellan and the Patagonians, Pigafetta Part 6