What does kachina mean in English?

"Kachina" is a word from the Hopi language, a Native American language spoken in Arizona. It has several meanings, but the most common one is:

Spirit beings, often represented by dolls or masked dancers, in Hopi culture.

Kachinas are believed to be the spirits of ancestors or deities who bring rain, fertility, and other blessings to the Hopi people. They play a vital role in Hopi religious ceremonies and are seen as messengers between the human world and the spirit world.

While the word "kachina" itself doesn't have a direct equivalent in English, it can be translated as:

* Spirit

* Deity

* Guardian spirit

* Masked dancer

* Doll representing a spirit

However, it's important to remember that these translations only capture a part of the complex meaning of "kachina" in Hopi culture.