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

• 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

See Examples For:

Guatemala

In Guatemala, 412 Cuban personnel—333 of them doctors—began leaving in April, with the last set to leave by year’s end.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

The parents of midfielder Cristian Roldan came to the U.S. to escape civil wars in Central America, his father from Guatemala and his mother from El Salvador.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026

The 1992 Nobel Peace Prize winner, visiting her home country for the launch of the Guatemala Book Fair, still believes in the UN's capacity to broker peace.

From Barron's ● Jun. 13, 2026

Canada were dumped out of the Concacaf Gold Cup by minnows Guatemala on penalties in the quarter-finals, while their friendly results have been mixed.

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

But each such local population has its own unique features, with the result that chiefdoms did emerge in the highlands of Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, and Madagascar, but not in those of New Guinea or Guadalcanal.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond