San Salvador Island

/ˌsæn ˈsælvədɔːɹ ˈaɪlənd/

proper noun

The first island discovered by Christopher Columbus during his first voyage.

Similar
GuanahaniWatlings Island
OriginSpanish isla →
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Meanings

proper noun

alternative San Salvador · alternative Salvador

  1. historicalThe first island discovered by Christopher Columbus during his first voyage.
  2. An island of the Bahamas; possibly the same as Columbus's island.

    Synonyms: Guanahani

  3. A district of the Bahamas.
  4. historicalFormer name of Santiago: an island of Galapagos, Ecuador.

Synonyms & antonyms

proper nounAn island of the Bahamas; possibly the same as Columbus's island.

Similar
Guanahani

Bahamian island

Similar
Watlings Island

Origin

  1. Spanishisla
  2. EnglishSan Salvador Island

From Spanish isla San Salvador, given by Christopher Columbus in thanks to Jesus Christ for surviving his first voyage. The identity of the Bahaman island that currently bears the name with Columbus's island is still highly contested. The Ecuadorian island was renamed in honor of Columbus's in 1892 as part of the quadricentennial celebration of his voyage.

More words from Spanish

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Spanish San Salvador, isla San Salvador
  • San SalvadorColumbus's island
  • isla San SalvadorColumbus's island
  • GuanahaníColumbus's island
  • San SalvadorBahamian island and district
Cite this entry
APA

San Salvador Island. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/San%20Salvador%20Island

MLA

“San Salvador Island.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/San%20Salvador%20Island. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “San Salvador Island,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/San%20Salvador%20Island.

Source: San Salvador Island on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.