How do you say the name? Is it Almuñécar or Almunecar? Why do we sometimes see the word Sexi and hear about Sexitanos? Don’t worry, we will do our best to explain it to you! Let’s learn about the name “Almuñécar”, how to pronounce it, and a tiny bit of history.
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If you are finding it all a bit confusing, this should help you out.
Where did the name come from?
Phoenicians (1500 BC)
The first known place name of the city is the Phoenician Ṣkṣ; (sounds likeṢekṣ or Ṣekṣi ). That word in Greek was known as Ἕξι (Héxi) and in Latin as Sex or Sexi.
Romans (end of 3rd century BC)
In Roman times, after the battle of Munda, the name was changed to Sexi Firmum Iulium or Firmum Iulium Sexs.
Moors (755)
The current name derives from the Arabic, حصن المنكّر( ḥiṣn al-munakkar ), meaning “fortress flanked or surrounded by mountains”. Almuñécar was ruled by the Moors between 755 and 1492, as was much of the Iberian Peninsula. You will see many words starting with the letters “Al”, which are usually of Arabic origin.
Christians (1492 – present)
The Islamic history of Almuñécar ends in December of the year 1489 when Shaykh Al-Hay handed over the city, to the Catholic Monarchs. The name Almuñécar remains, but the terms Sexi and Sexitanos will also be seen and used.
(The history and the name was mainly sourced from es.wikipedia.org, junta Andalucia, Granada tourism,
Pronunciation! Almuñécar, not Almunecar
In the Spanish language, the accents guide you on how to pronounce the word.
ñ – A completely separate letter from “n”, this letter sounds like the “ni” in onion or the “ny” in canyon. Here is a guide to the pronunciation of each letter in the Spanish alphabet, within that link, you may scroll to the “ñ” to hear the sound pronounced.
é – If a Spanish word has a written accent, the word stress falls on whatever syllable has the accent.
How do you pronounce Almuñécar?
Almuñécar (ahl – moo – NYEH – car) (/al.mu.ˈɲe.kaɾ/)
So, Almuñécar has both the ñ and a tilde é in the penultimate syllable. When you get to the middle of the word, you will use the ñ sound and then stress the “e” syllable. Just as you would pronounce the “ny” in the word canyon.
Listen to the pronunciation of the word Almuñécar.
Almunecar (Ahl – MOON – eh – car)
This spelling and pronunciation aren’t correct. However, you will see the word in this way online, as people type that when they don’t have the correct keys from the Spanish keyboard. At times, you will even see it on our site written that way, which is meant to help people find our information who have to type without the accents and tildes.
Why do I see or hear the words Sexi and Sexitanos?
As mentioned above the word Sexi was the original name of the city. The people of the city were referred to as Sexitanos. Both terms are still proudly used in the area. You will see them referenced in writing, on signs and also hear people refer to themselves as Sexitanos. Now you know what they mean, so no need to be confused.
The Almuñécar Shield or Coat of Arms
Description: In a blue field, a wooden boat with silver triangular sails, on silver and blue waves. On these waves are three ill-ordered Moorish heads inserted near spots of red, a narrow silver border with a mural crown at the top.
Meaning: Apparently, it was granted by Carlos I in 1526 in reward for having defeated its inhabitants to a fleet of Berber pirates.
sourced from Granada tourism
De Erlenmeyer, CC BY-SA 3.0, Enlace
The Flag
Description: Rectangular flag of 2 x 3 proportions, formed by two horizontal stripes of equal size, the upper one light blue, and the lower one blue. In the center of the cloth is the municipal coat of arms
De Erlenmeyer, CC BY-SA 3.0, Enlace
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