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What does "Tijuana" mean in Spanish and how did the town get the name?

Question #67260. Asked by tjoebigham.

Related Trivia Topics: World   Vocabulary  
beer1121
Answer has 3 votes
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beer1121
18 year member
19 replies

Answer has 3 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
Origin of name

Bienvenidos a Tijuana – Welcome to Tijuana MexicoHistorians have investigated the origins of the name of the city of Tijuana. One legend says that it was the name of a ranch in the area, property of "Tía Juana" – Aunt Jane, although it is now shown that name comes from the Yuman Indian language from the early inhabitants. In other documents there are mentions of "La Tia Juana", "Tiguana", "Tiuana", "Teguana", "Tiwana", "Tijuan", "Ticuan", "Tijuana". Based on the Yuman language, historians have come to recognize Tijuana originating from "Tiwan", meaning close to the sea.

Nonetheless, most English-speaking Americans pronounce the name of the city Tia wanna, though it is commonly called "TJ" in Southern California. Some of the city's residents refer to the city as Tijuas in Spanish

Jun 21 2006, 1:21 PM
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