cohoba: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely Low / ObscureTechnical / Anthropological / Historical
Quick answer
What does “cohoba” mean?
A psychoactive snuff prepared from the seeds of certain tropical trees, traditionally used in spiritual rituals in the Caribbean and South America.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A psychoactive snuff prepared from the seeds of certain tropical trees, traditionally used in spiritual rituals in the Caribbean and South America.
The specific tree (Anadenanthera peregrina) from which the seeds for the snuff are sourced; the ritualistic ceremony of inhaling this snuff.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No discernible regional difference in meaning or usage, as the term is purely technical.
Connotations
Purely academic or anthropological; no colloquial connotations exist.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties of English.
Grammar
How to Use “cohoba” in a Sentence
[Subject] prepared/used/inhaled cohoba.The cohoba ceremony involved [ritual action].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in anthropology, ethnobotany, history, and religious studies texts discussing Taino or other indigenous South American/Caribbean cultures.
Everyday
Not used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used as a precise term for a specific ethnopharmacological preparation.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cohoba”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to cohoba').
- Using it to refer to any hallucinogen.
- Misspelling as 'cohobba' or 'cohiba' (the latter is a cigar brand).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Cohoba refers to a traditional preparation. The plant source (Anadenanthera peregrina) and its active compounds may be regulated under modern drug laws in many countries, but the term itself is historical/anthropological.
No. It is a highly specific term for a particular snuff used by specific indigenous cultures. Using it generally would be incorrect and confusing.
They are very similar and the terms are often used synonymously in literature. Both refer to snuffs made from Anadenanthera seeds, but 'cohoba' is particularly associated with Taíno use, while 'yopo' is more associated with South American lowland groups.
Dictionaries document the full lexicon of English, including technical, historical, and regional terms. 'Cohoba' is recorded due to its significance in anthropological and historical texts describing Caribbean cultures.
A psychoactive snuff prepared from the seeds of certain tropical trees, traditionally used in spiritual rituals in the Caribbean and South America.
Cohoba is usually technical / anthropological / historical in register.
Cohoba: in British English it is pronounced /kəʊˈhəʊbə/, and in American English it is pronounced /koʊˈhoʊbə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CO-llaborative HO-BA-viour' – imagine ancient shamans collaborating in a ritual behaviour using a special snuff.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS A PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCE (e.g., 'seeking vision through cohoba').
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'cohoba' most likely to be encountered?