Guatemala

American

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

noun

a republic in northern Central America. 42,042 sq. mi (108,889 sq km).
Also called Guatemala City. a city in and the capital of the republic of Guatemala.

Guatemala British

/ ˌɡwɑːtəˈmɑːlə /

noun

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)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Guatemala Cultural

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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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

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See Examples For:

Guatemala

Guatemala lies on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026

A major U.S. outbreak in 1996 was traced back to raspberries from Guatemala.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

The US Tsunami Warning System had warned of possible "hazardous tsunami waves" along the nearby coasts of Mexico and Guatemala.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

Cyclospora is endemic in several parts of the world, including Mexico and Guatemala.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026

This time, freight cars have brought him 990 miles from Tapachula near Guatemala.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023