Included among the images that Rigoberta Menchú uses in order to subtly convey her people's ethnicity is an image of Guatemala as the "land of the quetzal."
Source: wiktionary
Quetzal
/ˈkɛt.səl/
Synonyms for "quetzal" (7 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: animal, bird, creature, currency, monetary unit.
- Sentence evidence is available for quetzal, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from opengloss, wordnet.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "quetzal".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "quetzal"
Keep "quetzal" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "quetzal" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "quetzal", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "quetzal" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
8 entriesMore specific
2 entriescentavoresplendent quetzal
Collocations
6 entriescentavo subunitcurrency of Guatemalaguatemalan quetzallong tailed quetzalquetzal currencyresplendent quetzal
Inflections
1 entriesTranslations
21 translations across 17 languages.
Catalan
1 entries- quetzal noun (quetzal bird)
Central Huasteca Nahuatl
1 entries- ketsaltototl noun (quetzal bird)
Classical Nahuatl
1 entries- quetzaltototl noun (quetzal bird)
Czech
1 entries- kvesal noun (quetzal bird)
Dutch
1 entries- quetzal noun (quetzal bird)
Finnish
1 entries- ketsaali noun (quetzal bird)
French
2 entries- couroucou royal noun (quetzal bird)
- quetzal noun (quetzal bird)
German
1 entries- Quetzal noun (quetzal bird)
K'iche'
1 entries- q’uq’ noun (quetzal bird)
Mam
1 entries- q’uq’ noun (quetzal bird)
Marathi
1 entries- केट्जाल noun (quetzal bird)
Navajo
1 entries- biʼééʼ dootłʼizhgo disxǫsígíí noun (quetzal bird)
Pipil
1 entries- ketzal noun (quetzal bird)
Polish
2 entries- kwezal noun (quetzal bird)
- quetzal noun (quetzal bird)
Romanian
2 entries- cuezal noun (quetzal bird)
- quetzal noun (quetzal bird)
Spanish
1 entries- quetzal noun (quetzal bird)
Yucatec Maya
2 entries- kuk noun (quetzal bird)
- kukuul noun (quetzal bird)
Sample sentences
6 total sentences available.
A strikingly beautiful bird, the quetzal is the national emblem of Guatemala, appearing on its currency and postage. The quetzal ranges from southern Mexico to Costa Rica.
Source: wiktionary
This particular wild avocado species had beautiful small black fruits set in a red cap that made it easy for the quetzals to find them.
Source: wiktionary
In 2002 Guatemala officially declared the U.S. dollar as legal tender to circulate in parallel to the national currency, the quetzal. This is not likely to last for long as the quetzal is not widely accepted and is considered a weak store of value.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 6 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "quetzal"?
Closest matches include animal, bird, creature, currency, monetary unit.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "quetzal"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.