The Names of the Game

Named after a beach on Pulau Tiga — the producers picked both starting-tribe names off the island's real beaches.

Named after a beach on Pulau Tiga, the season's island. (The Tagi camp actually sat on the more isolated Ramis Beach — Tagi Beach itself caught too much boat traffic on camera.)

Pakanha (Aboriginal)◆“kangaroo”

From the Pakanha (Aboriginal Australian) word for 'kangaroo'.

Kunjen (Aboriginal)◆“crocodile”

From the Kunjen (Aboriginal Australian) word for 'crocodile'.

“the Borana people ('friend')”

Named for the Borana people of Kenya/Ethiopia; the word also carries the sense of 'friend / kind person'.

“the Samburu people”

Named for the Samburu people of Kenya (the name traces to the Maasai 'samburr', a leather carrying bag).

Tahitian◆“south wind”

Tahitian for the 'south wind'.

Tahitian◆“heavy rain”

Tahitian for 'heavy rain'.

Thai◆“to help one another”

Thai for 'to help one another'.

Thai◆“happy heart”

Thai for 'happy heart'.

Portuguese / Tupi◆“jabiru stork”

The all-women tribe, named for the jaburu (jabiru), a large native stork.

Portuguese / Tupi◆“tambaqui fish”

The all-men tribe, named for the tambaqui, a native Amazonian fish.

“Sir Francis Drake”

Named for Sir Francis Drake, the English explorer and privateer — fitting the season's pirate theme.

“Henry Morgan”

Named for Henry Morgan, the Welsh privateer — the pirate-theme companion to Drake.

The season's infamous twist tribe: the already-voted-out castaways, banded together on Outcast Island and given a shot to re-enter the game.

Named after an island in the Pearl Islands of Panama, where the season filmed.

Named after Mogo Mogo Island in the Pearl Islands of Panama.

Named after Isla Saboga in the Pearl Islands of Panama.

“a Vanuatu volcanic island”

The men's tribe, named after Lopevi, a volcanic island of Vanuatu.

“an active Vanuatu volcano”

The women's tribe, named after Mount Yasur, an active volcano on Tanna, Vanuatu.

Palauan

Named after Koror, Palau's most populous state and former capital — the tribe kept the name straight through the merge.

Palauan

Named after Ulong, an island in Palau's Rock Islands. The tribe famously lost every immunity challenge and was wiped out before the merge.

Maya

Named after Nakúm, a Maya city in the same national park as Yaxhá.

Maya

Named after Yaxhá, a Maya archaeological site in the Yaxhá-Nakúm-Naranjo National Park where the season filmed.

One of the four starting tribes, named after an island in the Pearl Islands of Panama.

A starting tribe named after an island in the Pearl Islands of Panama.

Spanish

A starting tribe named after an island in the Pearl Islands of Panama (Spanish: 'the mine').

A starting tribe named after an island in the Pearl Islands of Panama.

Named after Aitutaki, an island of the Cook Islands.

Named after Manihiki, an atoll of the Cook Islands.

Named after Pukapuka, an atoll of the Cook Islands.

Named after Rarotonga, the most populous island of the Cook Islands.

Fijian◆“spear”

The 'haves' tribe — Fijian for 'spear'.

Fijian◆“to kill”

The 'have-nots' tribe — Fijian for 'to kill'.

Mandarin Chinese◆“flying dragon”

Mandarin for 'Flying Dragon'.

Mandarin Chinese◆“fighting tiger”

Mandarin for 'Fighting Tiger'.

Named after Airai, a state of Palau (the tribe lived in the old Koror camp from Survivor: Palau).

Named after Malakal, an island/area of Palau (the tribe lived in the old Ulong camp).

“a Gabonese ethnic group”

Named after the Fang, the largest ethnic group in Gabon.

“a Gabonese ethnic group”

Named after the Kota, an ethnic group of Gabon.

“a region of Tocantins”

Named after Jalapão, a region of the Brazilian state of Tocantins.

“an indigenous people of Tocantins”

Named after the Timbira, an indigenous people of the Tocantins region.

Samoan◆“trumpet shell”

Samoan for 'trumpet shell'.

Samoan◆“wave”

Samoan for 'wave'.

The returning fan-favorite 'heroes' — one half of the season's hero/villain theme.

The returning villains — the cutthroat half of the season's hero/villain theme.

Spanish◆“sword”

Spanish for 'sword'.

Spanish◆“the flower”

Spanish for 'the flower'.

“a Nicaraguan island”

Named after Ometepe, an island formed by two volcanoes in Lake Nicaragua.

“a Nicaraguan island”

Named after Zapatera, a volcanic island in Lake Nicaragua.

“the largest island of Samoa”

Named after Savai'i, the largest island of Samoa.

“a main island of Samoa”

Named after Upolu, Samoa's second-largest (and most populous) island.

The men's tribe, named after Manono Island, Samoa.

The women's tribe, named after Salani, a Samoan village/surf resort.

Filipino◆“water buffalo”

Filipino for the carabao / water buffalo.

Filipino◆“monkey”

An archaic Filipino word for 'monkey'.

Filipino◆“rooster”

Filipino for 'rooster'.

Named after Bikal, a barangay (village) in the municipality of Caramoan, Philippines.

Named after Gota (Gota Beach), in Caramoan, Philippines.

Tagalog◆“respect”

Tagalog for 'respect'.

Tagalog◆“destiny”

Tagalog for 'destiny / fate'.

The Brawn tribe, named after Aparri, a municipality in Cagayan, Philippines.

The Brains tribe, named after Luzon, the largest island of the Philippines.

The Beauty tribe, named after Solana, a municipality in Cagayan, Philippines.

Maya◆“a Mayan deity”

Named after Coyopa, a Mayan god (of thunder/lightning).

Maya◆“a Mayan hero god”

Named after Hunahpu, one of the Mayan Hero Twins.

The Blue Collar tribe, named after Playa Escameca in Nicaragua.

The White Collar tribe, named after Masaya, a city in Nicaragua.

The No Collar tribe, named after Nagarote, a town in Nicaragua.

“a Cambodian temple”

Named after the Bayon, the temple at the center of Angkor Thom famed for its giant smiling stone faces.

“a Cambodian temple”

Named after Ta Keo, a towering, largely undecorated temple at Angkor.

“Cambodia's iconic temple”

Named after Angkor Wat, Cambodia's most iconic temple — it even appears on the national flag.

Khmer◆“Torch Island”

The Brains tribe — Khmer for 'Torch Island', one of the islands surrounding Koh Rong.

Khmer◆“mouse / rat island”

The Beauty tribe — Khmer, glossed as 'mouse/rat island'.

Khmer◆“Square Island”

The Brawn tribe — Khmer for 'Square Island', another island near Koh Rong.

Fijian◆“open ocean”

The Gen X tribe — Fijian for 'open ocean'.

Fijian◆“land / homeland”

The Millennials tribe — Fijian for 'land / homeland'.

Fijian◆“turtle”

A third (swap) tribe introduced Day 13 — Fijian for 'turtle'.

Fijian◆“power”

Fijian for 'power' (also a Mamanuca island name).

Fijian◆“sand”

Fijian for 'sand'.

A swap tribe, named after Tavua, a town in Fiji's Ba Province.

Fijian◆“big / large / many”

The Heroes tribe. From Fijian 'levu', meaning big, large, or many.

Fijian◆“to sail”

The Healers tribe. From Fijian 'soko', meaning 'to sail'.

Fijian◆“distance / far”

The Hustlers tribe. From Fijian 'yawa', meaning distance or far — figuratively 'far out / unexpectedly extraordinary'.

Named after Malolo, a volcanic island in Fiji's Mamanuca group.

Named after Naviti, a volcanic island in Fiji's Yasawa group.

A swap tribe, named after Yanuya, a Fijian island near the Mamanucas.

The underdog tribe of the David-and-Goliath theme.

The advantaged tribe of the David-and-Goliath theme.

Fijian◆“champion”

A swap tribe — Fijian for 'champion'.

Fijian◆“to divert / stray”

A swap tribe — Fijian for 'to divert / stray'.

Fijian◆“ability / wise”

A swap tribe — Fijian for 'ability / wise'.

Fijian◆“to burn”

Fijian for 'to burn'.

Fijian◆“bird”

Fijian for 'bird'.

Fijian◆“to return”

A swap tribe — Fijian for 'to return' (apt for the Edge-of-Extinction comeback theme).

Fijian◆“land crab”

Fijian for 'land crab'.

Fijian◆“forest gecko”

Fijian for 'forest gecko'.

Fijian◆“gun”

A variant of Fijian 'dakai', meaning 'gun'.

Fijian◆“knife / to cut”

Fijian for 'knife' / 'to cut'.

Fijian◆“harrow / to plow”

A swap tribe — Fijian for 'harrow' (a plow), or the verb 'to plow' — the odd farm-tool out among the weapon-named tribes.

Fijian◆“to sink / drown / flood”

The blue tribe. From Fijian 'luvu', 'to sink, drown, or flood' — a fit for the blue/water tribe.

Fijian◆“wave / swell”

The red tribe. From Fijian 'ua', a wave or swell of the sea.

Fijian◆“lightning”

The yellow tribe. Reported as Fijian for 'lightning'.

Fijian◆“fish”

Fijian for 'fish'. The season's three starting tribes were all named for Fijian sea creatures.

Fijian◆“hawksbill sea turtle”

From the Fijian for the hawksbill sea turtle.

Fijian◆“swimming crab”

From the Fijian for a swimming crab.

Fijian◆“small-leaved fig (banyan)”

The Fijian name for the banyan / small-leaved fig tree. The season's starting tribes were all named for native Fijian trees.

Fijian◆“bishopwood (koka)”

From 'koka', the Fijian name for the bishopwood tree.

Fijian◆“Pacific teak (Intsia bijuga)”

The Fijian name for vesi (Intsia bijuga), the prized Pacific teak hardwood.

Fijian◆“chief / noble”

A Fijian chief or hereditary noble — a title of rank.

Fijian◆“worship”

The green tribe — from Fijian 'sokalou', 'to worship'.

Māori◆“right / correct / just”

The purple tribe — a Māori word for 'right / correct / just' (the lone Māori-derived name in an otherwise Fijian season).

Fijian◆“reef heron”

The Fijian name for the reef heron.

Fijian◆“barn owl”

The Fijian name for the barn owl.

Fijian◆“goshawk”

The Fijian name for the goshawk.

Japanese◆“wave”

Reported to come from the Japanese 'nami' ('wave') — the odd one out in a mostly-Fijian season.

Fijian◆“day”

Fijian for 'day'.

Fijian◆“island”

From Fijian 'yanuyanu', meaning 'island'.

Fijian◆“snake”

Fijian for 'snake'. The season's starting tribes were named for Fijian creatures.

Fijian◆“rat (kalavo)”

From 'kalavo', the Fijian word for 'rat'.

Fijian◆“spider (tukutuku)”

From 'tukutuku', the Fijian word for 'spider'.

Fijian◆“pearl”

Fijian for 'pearl'.

Fijian◆“sky (lomalagi)”

From 'lomalagi', the Fijian word for 'sky' / 'heaven'.

Fijian◆“moon”

Fijian for 'moon' (also 'month').

Per Jeff Probst, a nod to 'intuition' — a quality he sees as essential to winning. (Hina is also a Polynesian moon/feminine deity.)

Fijian◆“to anchor”

Fijian for 'to anchor' — part of the season's seafaring naming theme.

Fijian◆“to steer / rudder”

Fijian for 'to steer' (a rudder) — continuing the navigation theme alongside Kele.

Fijian◆“to shine”

Fijian for 'to shine'. Its emblem is the sun — one of a deliberate sun/moon/earth trio with Kalo (moon) and Vatu (earth/stone).

Fijian◆“spirit / god (reported)”

Reported as Fijian for 'a spirit' or 'a god'; its emblem is the moon, paired against Cila's sun and Vatu's earth.

Fijian◆“rock / stone”

Fijian for 'rock' / 'stone'. Its emblem is the earth, completing the season's sun/moon/earth trio.