Guatemala

[ gwah-tuh-mah-luh; Spanish gwah-te-mah-lah ]

noun

1. a republic in northern Central America. 42,042 sq. mi (108,889 sq km).
2. Also called Guatemala City. a city in and the capital of the republic of Guatemala.

Guatemala

/ ˌɡwɑːtəˈmɑːlə /

noun

1. a republic in Central America: original Maya Indians conquered by the Spanish in 1523; became the centre of Spanish administration in Central America; gained independence and was annexed to Mexico in 1821, becoming an independent republic in 1839. Official language: Spanish. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Currency: quetzal and US dollar. Capital: Guatemala City. Pop: 14 373 472 (2013 est). Area: 108 889 sq km (42 042 sq miles)

Guatemala

1. Republic in Central America , bordered by Mexico to the west and north, Belize and the Caribbean Sea to the east, Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the south. Its capital and largest city is Guatemala City.

Notes

It is traditionally unstable politically.

The country is noted for its particularly low average income and literacy rate.

Other Words From

• Gua·te·ma·lan adjective noun

Example Sentences

In 1985, a divided City Council adopted a resolution declaring Los Angeles a city of sanctuary for immigrants fleeing political persecution and violence, particularly refugees from El Salvador and Guatemala.

From Los Angeles Times

Traveling through the mountains of Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico, I heard accounts of migrants suffering shortages of food and climate-driven despair that had forced them to move.

From Salon

“Representation is not just about checking boxes. It’s about lived experiences, and a deep understanding of a community’s needs and struggles,” said De León, whose mother was from Guatemala and cleaned houses.

From Los Angeles Times

Harris's debut international visit as vice-president was to Guatemala in 2021, as part of the responsibility she was given to reduce the numbers of Latin American migrants reaching America's southern border with Mexico.

From BBC

After hours of questioning, Lombardo Palacios, a refugee from Guatemala who had a passion for art and was fiercely protective of his younger sister, finally told officers what they had asked for — sort of.

From Los Angeles Times