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

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:

Guatemala

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

From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026

Rangel last contacted his family on May 26 as he and two other men from Puerto San Carlos set out from Guatemala, heading toward Colombia.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

In Guatemala and El Salvador, the tremor shook buildings, triggering evacuations and causing some people to run from their homes, Reuters news agency reported.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

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

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026

But as the two spent hours traveling through Honduras and Guatemala together, they became friends.

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