tikal: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialist / Geographical / Historical
Quick answer
What does “tikal” mean?
The basic monetary unit of Guatemala, divided into 100 centavos.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The basic monetary unit of Guatemala, divided into 100 centavos.
A term specifically referring to the currency of Guatemala. It is also the name of a major ancient Maya archaeological site in Guatemala, which is unrelated to the currency.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage, as the term is specific to Guatemala. Both varieties use 'quetzal' as the more common name for the currency; 'tikal' is a former or alternative unit.
Connotations
Neutral, technical term for currency or a specific historical/cultural site.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, encountered primarily in specialist contexts (finance, history, archaeology).
Grammar
How to Use “tikal” in a Sentence
[Currency] is/was worth X tikal[Person] visited TikalTikal is located in [Place]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tikal” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Tikal architecture is impressive.
- Tikal artefacts are in the museum.
American English
- Tikal architecture is impressive.
- Tikal artifacts are in the museum.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; potentially in historical financial contexts or very specific forex discussions.
Academic
Used in archaeology, anthropology, history, and Mesoamerican studies to refer to the ancient city.
Everyday
Almost never used in everyday conversation outside of Guatemala or specific tourist/historical discussions.
Technical
Used in archaeology (site plans, research) and numismatics (study of currency).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tikal”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tikal”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tikal”
- Using 'tikal' to refer to modern Guatemalan money (the quetzal).
- Misspelling as 'tickal' or 'tical'.
- Confusing the currency with the archaeological site without context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the primary currency of Guatemala is the quetzal. The tikal is a former or secondary unit.
No, they share the same name but are unrelated. The currency name may be derived from a local term, while the city's name is from the Maya language.
In British English: /tɪˈkɑːl/ (ti-KAHL). In American English: /tiˈkɑl/ (tee-KAHL).
It is very uncommon. You would use it only when specifically discussing Guatemalan financial history or the archaeological site.
The basic monetary unit of Guatemala, divided into 100 centavos.
Tikal is usually specialist / geographical / historical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Rich as the temples of Tikal”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'TICKLE a quetzal' – the tikal was related to the Guatemalan quetzal currency. For the site: 'The TICKLE of curiosity draws you to the ancient Maya city of Tikal.'
Conceptual Metaphor
Tikal (the site) as a TIME CAPSULE / ACHIEVEMENT; Tikal (currency) as a MEASURE OF VALUE.
Practice
Quiz
What is Tikal best known as?