Save Type Settlement & Island Usage English (American), Spanish (Latin American) Pronounced Pron. /vi.ˈeɪ.kəs/(American English) [ˈbje.kes](Latin American Spanish) [key·simplify] Meaning & History An island and town east of Puerto Rico. The name is derived from the Hispanicization of a Taíno word said to mean "small island, small land".