Background:

Humans have used the mushrooms during thousands of years as evidenced by the great number and variety of names assigned to species of cultural importance. Through these names it is possible to understand the cognitive-conceptual framework of mushrooms existing in different human groups.

Objective:

To document traditional knowledge related to the origin and meaning of the names of the mushrooms currently used by the Chinantec culture which inhabit in the state of Oaxaca in southeastern Mexico.

Methods:

Through non-structured and semi-structured interviews, the Chinantec words used to designate mushrooms were obtained in two communities of the State of Oaxaca. Also the translation of each word was carried out and its etymology and possible origin were investigated.

Results and conclusions:

A list of 70 words related to the wild mushrooms used by the Chinantec people with edible, medicinal, ludic and ornamental use is presented. All the registered words have a translation into Spanish and are related to 36 fungal species. This article documents for the first time the great linguistic richness and traditional knowledge of mushrooms, which has survived, in the Chinantec culture.

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