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Cahuilla

American  
[kuh-wee-uh] / kəˈwi ə /

noun

  • Cahuillas,
    plural
  • Cahuilla
    plural
  1. a member of a North American Indian people of southern California.

  2. Also called Ivilyuat. the Uto-Aztecan language of the Cahuilla.


adjective

  1. of or relating to the Cahuilla or their language.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of Cahuilla

First recorded in 1895–1900; from Spanish, possibly from Cahuilla kawi'a “master”


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Here, the highway passes quietly into Anza-Borrego, homeland of the Kumeyaay, Cahuilla and Cupeño peoples.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 7, 2026

Tongva, Chumash and Cahuilla workers in California formed the backbone of rancho agriculture.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 30, 2025

Becerra’s campaign has $2 million on hand, including the largest contributions allowed by law — $39,200 — from the politically connected Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and Pechanga Band of Indians.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2025

To the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, it represents the bleeding heart of their creator, Mukat.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 19, 2024

The Cahuilla lived in Southern California and once thrived in Bakersfield.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan

There was another Indian village nearer,—the village of the Cahuillas, on one of the high plateaus of San Jacinto.

From Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson

To the simple Cahuillas it seemed like a miracle; and they looked on Aunt Ri's weather-beaten face with something akin to a superstitious reverence.

From Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson

He declared that the Cahuillas would surely come and murder him in the night, and begged piteously that the men would all stay with him to guard him.

From Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson

The  Americans cry “Hurrah!” the Germans, “Hoch!” the Mexicans, “E viva!” and the Cahuillas howl for joy.

From Sielanka: An Idyll by Thomas H. Bullick

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