Standard Lemma guide

ayahuasca

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˌaɪəˈwɑːskə/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A giant vine native to South America (especially Banisteriopsis caapi), noted for its psychotropic properties.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any of various psychoactive infusions or decoctions prepared from this vine.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: yage, grandmother

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Spanish ayahuasca, from Quechua ayawaska, from aya (“spirit, ancestor”) + waska (“vine”). First use appears c. 1870. See cite below.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: аяуаска (ajauaska) — Banisteriopsis caapi, a vine of South America
  • Chinese Mandarin: 死藤 (sǐténg) — Banisteriopsis caapi, a vine of South America
  • Czech: ayahuasca — Banisteriopsis caapi, a vine of South America
  • German: Ayahuasca — Banisteriopsis caapi, a vine of South America
  • Japanese: アヤワスカ (ayawasuka) — Banisteriopsis caapi, a vine of South America
  • Portuguese: ayahuasca — Banisteriopsis caapi, a vine of South America
  • Portuguese: iagê — Banisteriopsis caapi, a vine of South America
  • Bulgarian: аяуаска (ajauaska) — psychoactive infusions made from the ayahuasca vine
  • Chinese Mandarin: 死藤水 (sǐténgshuǐ) — psychoactive infusions made from the ayahuasca vine
  • Czech: ayahuasca — psychoactive infusions made from the ayahuasca vine
  • German: Ayahuasca — psychoactive infusions made from the ayahuasca vine
  • Japanese: アヤワスカ (ayawasuka) — psychoactive infusions made from the ayahuasca vine
  • Portuguese: ayahuasca — psychoactive infusions made from the ayahuasca vine
  • Portuguese: daime — psychoactive infusions made from the ayahuasca vine
  • Russian: аяуа́ска (ajauáska) — psychoactive infusions made from the ayahuasca vine