Words Starting with X in South America: Rivers, Peoples & Places

The letter X appears frequently in South American indigenous languages (especially Tupi-Guarani families) and Portuguese transliterations. Here are authentic X-words with geographic/cultural roots:

Geographic Features

• Xingu River — Major Amazon tributary (1,640 km), Brazil. Xingu Indigenous Park (2.6M ha, first indigenous reserve in Brazil, 1961).
• Xerém — District of Duque de Caxias (Rio de Janeiro state), known for xerém (cornmeal mush, distinct from Italian polenta).
• Xapuri — Municipality in Acre (Amazon), birthplace of Chico Mendes, rubber tapper martyr.

Indigenous Peoples & Languages

• Xavante — ~22,000 people, Mato Grosso. Distinctive language (Jê family), body painting, age-grade society.
• Xerente (Akwe) — ~3,500 people, Tocantins. Related to Xavante.
• Xokleng (Laklãnõ) — ~2,000 people, Santa Catarina. Highland Atlantic Forest.
• Xetá — Critically endangered language, Paraná. Few speakers remain.

Settlements

• Xinguara — Municipality, Pará (Transamazon Highway)
• Xambioá — Municipality, Tocantins (Araguaia River)
• Xanxerê — City, Santa Catarina (Italian/Brazilian settlement)

Not South American (Common Errors)

• Xanana Gusmão — East Timor (Southeast Asia) president
• X-Rated / X-ray — English terms, not geographic

Linguistic Note

In Portuguese, X = /ʃ/ ("sh" sound). In indigenous orthographies, often represents /ʃ/ or /tʃ/. Many "X" names entered Portuguese from Tupi/Guarani/Jê languages where the sound is native.