Mapuche

noun

Ma·​pu·​che mə-ˈpü-chē 

1

plural Mapuche or Mapuches : a member of an Indigenous people of southern Chile and Argentina

2

: the Araucanian language of the Mapuche

Examples of Mapuche in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Framed in native lenga wood, the rustic-chic cabins at Alto Castillo feature Mapuche textiles, wicker Chimbarongo baskets, and paintings honoring the gauchos who first settled these lands. — Mark Johanson, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 June 2026

It has long been occupied by Indigenous peoples, including the Mapuche, Tehuelche and others. — Brittany Peterson, Fortune, 12 June 2026

Revisiting the 2017 killing of young Mapuche Rafael Nahuel by Argentina’s Naval Prefecture, this documentary, which premiered in Berlin, uses archival material to place the case within a longer history of violence against Indigenous communities. — Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026

My favorite one was using mountain lion urine spray in the yard as this supposedly keeps Mapuche at bay. — Paul Karrer, Hartford Courant, 26 Feb. 2026

Betsy Andrews falls for the hearty cuisine of the Indigenous Mapuche people in Chile's La Araucanía and Los Lagos regions. — Betsy Andrews, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Mapuche mapuče, a self-designation, from mapu land + če people

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Mapuche

• baluch
• brooch
• cooch
• gooch