Guatemala

American  

[gwah-tuh-mah-luh, gwah-te-mah-lah] / ˌgwɑ təˈmɑ lə, ˌgwɑ tɛˈmɑ lɑ /

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.

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Guatemala British  

/ 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)

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Guatemala Cultural  

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.

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Discover More

It is traditionally unstable politically.

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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Guatemalan
  adjective

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How does guatemala compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Guatemala vs. Nicaragua

Example Sentences

“In the same way, prosecutors file motions to send individuals to Latin American countries such as Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, and even Uganda in Africa — countries with equal or worse conditions of violence.”

From Salon • May 30, 2026

Looking abroad, San José in Costa Rica and Guatemala City in Guatemala have the cheapest flights right now, according to Going.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

Taiwan's other allies in the Americas are Guatemala, Belize and Haiti.

From Barron's • May 8, 2026

The arrest is tied to Operation Guerrilla Unit, a multi-year investigation led by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, federal prosecutors in San Diego and law enforcement partners in Guatemala and Mexico.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2026

Francisco Gaspar, twelve, from Concepcion Huixda in Guatemala, is terrified.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario