Yanomami
noun
Ya·no·ma·mi
ˌyä-nō-ˈmä-mē 
variants
or less commonly Yanomamo
or Yanomama
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
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
Along with Whitehorse, the main exhibition included Brazilian Yanomami artists Joseca Mokahesi and André Taniki; Indigenous Australian artists Marlene Gilson and Naminapu Maymuru-White; Māori artists Sandy Adsett and Selwyn Wilson; and Native American artist Kay Walkingstick (Cherokee).
—Karen K. Ho, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019
After a January 2023 presidential decree ordered the air force to close the airspace over Yanomami territory, the situation improved significantly, authorities and Indigenous people said.
—Fabiano Maisonnave, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Feb. 2024
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
Up until the early 1970s, the Yanomami had existed in relative isolation.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 19 May 2024
Today, about thirty thousand Yanomami live in the Brazilian Amazon.
—Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
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David A. Ross, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2025
Along with Whitehorse, the main exhibition included Brazilian Yanomami artists Joseca Mokahesi and André Taniki; Indigenous Australian artists Marlene Gilson and Naminapu Maymuru-White; Māori artists Sandy Adsett and Selwyn Wilson; and Native American artist Kay Walkingstick (Cherokee).
—Karen K. Ho, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019
After a January 2023 presidential decree ordered the air force to close the airspace over Yanomami territory, the situation improved significantly, authorities and Indigenous people said.
—Fabiano Maisonnave, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Feb. 2024
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
Up until the early 1970s, the Yanomami had existed in relative isolation.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 19 May 2024
Today, about thirty thousand Yanomami live in the Brazilian Amazon.
—Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Yanomami.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Yanomami. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Yanomami
noun
Ya·no·ma·mi
ˌyän-ō-ˈmäm-ē
plural Yanomami
: a member of the Indigenous people living in the rain forests of southern Venezuela and northern Brazil
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