Maya vs. Mayan

Many popular sources use “Mayan” to refer to the culture and history of the Maya people. This is not, however, the convention used by most scholars who study the Maya.

Generally, “Mayan” is only used when referring to language. Otherwise, “Maya” is used. For example, the ancient Maya people spoke a variety of different Mayan languages. To be consistent with the majority of Maya scholarship this convention is used on throughout this website.

Still doubtful? Check out the title of any scholarly book on the Maya in our resources section.