Brief dictionary of the Nahuatl language

Contents

1 Suffixes 2 Root Words 2.1 A 2.2 C 2.3 E 2.4 H 2.5 I 2.6 M 2.7 N 2.8 O 2.9 P 2.10 Q 2.11 T 2.12 X 2.13 Y 2.14 Z

Suffixes

• -co. at, in the place of
• -pan. on, on top of
• -tica. with, using, through.
• -tlan. among, between.

Root Words

A

• aca. Somebody, someone.
• acahualli. Sunflower.
• acattopa. First, in the first place.
• achi miecpa. Frequently.
• achto. First
• achtontli. Great-grandfather, ancestor.
• achtopa. firstly, in the first place
• aci. to arrive
• acicamatl. To understand
• ahuacatl. Testicle.
• ahuitl. Aunt
• aic. Never
• altepepan. At the city
• altepetl. City, town, population
• amantecatl. Artisan,
• amatl. Paper, codex (book)
• amazolli. Old paper (tradition)
• amehuan, amehuantin. You, plural reverential: amehuantzitzin. (pronoun)
• ameyalli. Fountain, source.
• amini. Hunter
• amiqui. Thirsty (adj), to be thirsty.
• amo. No
• amo cualli. Bad, wrong.
• amo ... zan. Not ... but.
• amotlein. Nothing
• amoxcalli. Library, also book shelf
• amoxtli. Book
• an-. You, plural (prefix).
• ana. To take, to grab.
• aocmo. Not any more.
• aocmo huecauh. In a moment, just a moment.
• apizmiqui. Famine, to be dying of hunger.
• aquimamatcayoti. Stubbornness
• aquin. Who (?) plural: aquique.
• atenemachpan. Suddenly
• atl. Water. reverential: atzintli.
• atiacuihuayan. Artesian well.
• atli. To drink water; to drink non-alcoholic beverages.
• atolli. Atole, drink made of corn.
• atonahui. Fever, to have f.
• auh. And, but.
• axihuayan. Hotel, lodging, sometimes refuge.
• axiltia (nite-). To accompany.
• axiltia (nitia-). To complete, to fulfill.
• axitia. To get close, to come closer.
• axixcalli. Restroom (sanitary)
• axixmiqui. To have the need to go to the restroom.
• ayamo. Not yet.
• ayaxcanyotica. Slowly.
• ayohui. Easily, easy.
• ayotl. Turtle, tortoise.
• ayotl. Juice. (long 'a' makes it different from 'tortoise)
• azcatl. Ant.
• azcapotzalli. Anthill.
• azo zan. perhaps (?), maybe (?).

C

• ca. To be. Because. plural: cate.
• ca ye cualli. All right, OK.
• cahua. To leave (release an object)
• cahuitl. Time.
• calacoayan. Door (THE door).
• calaqui. To come in, to get inside.
• calli. House. Also used as generic word for buildings.
• calmanani. Architect.
• calpolli. Tribe.
• caltentli. Door.
• camachaloa. To open one's mouth.
• camactli. Mouth.
• camanallahtoa. To joke.
• camapaca. To wash one's mouth.
• camapotoniliztli. Bad breath.
• camatl. Mouth.
• campa. Where (?).
• can. Where (?), plural: canin.
• caqui. To hear.
• catca. Was, were.
• caxitl. Bowl.
• caxpechtli. Plate, dish (lit. 'bowl-bed')
• caxtiltecatl. Spaniard.
• caxtolli omei. Eighteen.
• caxtolli once. Sixteen.
• ce. One.
• ce. One of (when followed by a pronown).
• cecemilhuitica. Daily, Every day.
• cemanahuatl. World, universe (figurative).
• cemiac. Always, for ever.
• cempanahuia. To exceed, to surpass, to outdo.
• cempoalli. Twenty.
• cenca. Very.
• cenca cualli. Very well
• cenquizca. Perfectly, completely
• cenyohual. All night
• cetl. Ice.
• chantli. House. (home).
• chia. To wait. past: ochix.
• chicahuac. Healthy, strong, tough, hard. plural: chicahuaque.
• chicnahui. Nine
• chicoace. Six.
• chicome. Seven.
• chicuey. Eight.
• chihua. To do, to make.
• chihuilia. To do (to someone).
• chipahua. To clean.
• chiquihuitl. Basquet.
• choca. To cry, weep. plural: chocah.
• chocolatl. chocolate.
• choloa. To flee, to run away.
• choquilia. To cry, weep.
• choquilitzatzi. To cry, bawl.
• choquiltia. To make someone cry.
• ciciammicqui. Tired, fatigued.
• cihtli. Grandmother. Hare. plural: cicihtin.
• cihuapillahtocatzintli. Queen.
• cihuapilli. Lady, princess.
• cihuatl. Woman, female. plural: cihuah.
• cihuatotolin. Turkey hen.
• citialin. Star.
• ciyahui. To get tired.
• coatl. Snake. plural: cocoah.
• cochcahua. To let sleep
• cochcayotl. Dinner
• cochehua (nite-). To awake, awaken.
• cochi. To sleep. plural: cochih.
• cochiantli. Dormitory.
• cochihuayan. Bedroom.
• cochitlehua. To dream. "Seeing in your sleep".
• cochitta. To dream. "Seeing in your dream". Visions (mystic).
• cochmiqui. Sleepy, to be sleepy, drowsy.
• cocoa. To hurt (suffer pain).
• cococ. Hot, spicy.
• cocotona. To dismember, destroy, demolish.
• cocoxcacalli. Hospital.
• cocoxcacalpan. At the hospital.
• cocoxqui. Sick, diseased.
• cohua. To buy, purchase.
• colli. Grandfather. plural: coltin.
• coloti. Scorpion.
• comalli. Flat pan (for cooking)
• comitl. Cooking pot.
• conetl. Child, kid. plural: coconeh.
• coni. To drink.
• copina. To extract. (to get one thing out from another)
• cotona. To cut.
• cozamalotl. Rainbow.
• cua. To eat.
• cuacuahuitl. Horn, antler.
• cuahuitl. Tree, log.
• cuaitl. Head. (used only in composite words).
• cualli. Well, good (adverb).
• cualli ic. Good (adjective).
• cuallotl. Goodness.
• cuauhmaitl. Branch.
• cuauhmayoh. That has branches.
• cuauhtla. Woods, forest.
• cueitl. Skirt.
• cueponi. To grow.
• cueyatl. Frog.
• cuica. To sing.
• cuicani. Singer.
• cuicatl. Song.
• cuico. Singing.
• cuicoa. Singing.
• cuicuizcati. Swallow (bird).
• cuitlatl. Excrement.
• cuitlaxcolli. Guts.
• cuix. Maybe, could it be...
• cuix ye huecanh. Has it been long since… (?).

E

• eiehuia. To wish. To desire.
• etl. Beans.

H

• huauhtli. Amaranth.
• hualehua. To come.
• hualhuica. To bring, fetch.
• huallauh. To come. past: ohualia.
• hualmonochilia. To call (ask someone to come).
• hualnemi. To be born.
• hualquiztia. To go out. Future.
• hualtepotztoca. To follow (someone).
• hueca. Far, distant.
• huecauhtica. For a while, for some time (short).
• huehca. Far.
• huehue. Old. plural: huehuetque.
• huehuetlahtolli. Old word. Cultural legacy, tradition, culture.
• hueitlamahuizoltica. Wonderfully
• huel. Right, well. Is used as 'can' with another verb in future tense.
• huelic. Tasty, good.
• hueltiuhtli. Sister.
• huetzca. To laugh.
• huetzi. To fall down.
• huetzquitia. To make laugh.
• huexolotl. Turkey.
• huica. To take (something-someone to another place).
• huilotl. Pigeon.
• huiptla. The day after tomorrow.
• huitzitzilin. Hummingbird.

I

• i. To drink
• ic. That's why, because.
• ica. With.
• ica paquiliztli. Gladly.
• icalixpan. In front of someone's home
• ichantzinco. In someone's home, to someone's home.
• ichcatl. Lamb.
• ichpochtli. Young woman. plural: ichpopochtin.
• iciuhca. Quickly, Fast.
• icniuhtli. Brother, friend.
• icnotl. Poor.
• icpalli. Chair, stool.
• icuac. When. While.
• icuitlapan. Behind.
• icxitl. Foot, (human) leg, (animal) back leg.
• ihcuiloa. To write.
• ihcuilotic. It is written that
• ihtoa. To talk, to say.
• ihuan. And.
• ihuicpa. From.
• ilhuia. To tell.
• ilhuicatl. Sky, heaven. ilhuicac.- At the sky, at heaven.
• imacaci. To fear, to be afraid.
• in aquin. The one who - .
• in canin. Where. At.
• in ihuicpa. From
• in oquic. While.
• in oyuh. Once that - , as soon as -
• in quenin. How.
• in tiein. The one that, the one which.
• in xochtl in cuicatl. Poetry, poem.
• in yuh. Like, as.
• inech monequi. It's necessary.
• inin. This.
• iniquein. These.
• iniqueon. Those.
• inon. That.
• intia. If.
• intzalan. Between.
• ipan. On, on top of.
• itech calli. Inside the house.
• ititl. Belly.
• itqui. To take, to carry.
• itquin. When (?).
• itta. To see.
• itzcuintli. Dog. plural: itzcuintin.
• ixcueloa. To nod (say yes with the head).
• ixmati. To know. past: oquixmat.
• ixquich. Every, everything, all.
• ixtelolotl. Eye.
• izcatqui. Here is -, this is it.
• iztac. White.
• iztalia. To whiten.
• iztatl. Salt.
• iztaya. To become white.
• iztitl. Finger nail.

M

• ma. To hunt.
• ma xipatinemi. May you be well, farewell.
• maca. To give.
• macamo. Negation. macamo xitequipacho = do not worry.
• macehualli. Commoner, not of the nobility.
• machiotil Signal. reverential: machiotzintli.
• machtia. To teach, to show.
• macuilli. Five.
• macuilli ic. Fifth.
• maitl. Hand.
• maiahua. To slip.
• maquixtia. To save, to release, to set free.
• mati. To know.
• matlactli. Ten.
• matli. Arm, (animal) front leg.
• mauhcatlayecoani. Coward.
• maxitia. To come closer, to get closer. (from moaxitia).
• mayana. Hunger, to be hungry.
• mazatl. Deer. plural: mamazah.
• mecatl. Rope.
• mehua. To get up, to stand up.
• melahuac. Straight.
• metlatl. Grinding stones.
• metzli. Herb.
• meztli Moon. Month.
• mexicatl. Mexican.
• michin. Fish.
• mictia. To kill.
• mihtoa. It is said that.
• millacatl. Farmer, country laborer.
• miqui. To die.
• mitz-. - you, to you.
• miztli. Puma, cougar.
• mizton. Cat.
• mocactia. To put shoes on.
• mocahuilia. To leave (something)
• mocehuia. To rest.
• mocentlalia, To gather, reunite.
• mochantia. To reside, to live at.
• mochi. Everything, all. plural: mochintin.
• mochihua. To happen (an event).
• mochihua. To become, to turn into.
• mochipa. Always.
• mocochcayotia. To dine, have dinner.
• mococoa. To be sick.
• mocuepa. To transform oneself, to turn into.
• mohuelmati. To feel good.
• molcaxitl. Grinding stone (for salsa).
• momaquilia. To give.
• momaquixtilia. To free, to liberate.
• momatequia. To wash one's hands.
• momauhtia. To be frightened.
• momayahui. To throw oneself.
• momotzoa. To rub, massage.
• momoztlae. Daily, every day.
• monamictia. To marry.
• monequiltia. To love.
• mopopolhuilia. To forgive.
• moquetza. To stand up.
• motenehua. One's name, to be called (used as a verb).
• motlalia. Sit on, to be placed at
• motlaquentia. To get dressed.
• motlatoa. To run.
• moyetztica. To be. Plural, reverential: moyetzicate.
• moztla. Tomorrow

N

• nacaocuilin. Maggot (lit. 'meat-worm')
• nacatl. Meat.
• nacayotl. Body.
• nacaztli. Ear.
• nahualli. Warlock, witch.
• nahuatia. To command, to order.
• nahuatlahtolli. Nahuatl language.
• nahuatlatoltica. In nahuatl language.
• nahui. Four.
• nalquiza. To pass, pass by.
• namaca. To sell.
• namictli. Husband, wife.
• nanquilia. To answer, to respond.
• nantli. Mother. plural: nantin. Reverential: nantzintli.
• ne, nehua, nehuatl. I, me.
• nech-. To me.
• neci. To appear (materialize).
• nehnemi. To walk.
• nelhuayotl. Root, base, foundation.
• nemachtiloyan. School.
• nemi. To live.
• nenepilli. Tongue.
• nequi. To want.
• neuctli. Honey.
• ni-. I, me (as a prefix).
• nican. Here.
• niltze. Hello (!).
• niman. Later, afterwards.
• nimanic. Right away, now.
• nimitzittaz. I'll see you.
• nixtamalli. Corn paste for tortillas or tamales.
• no. Also.
• nocenyeliz. My family.
• nochtli. Cactus (nopal).
• nohuan. With me.
• nohuican. Also, too.
• noihuan. Also, too.
• notza. To call someone, to talk with someone.
• notzontecon. My head.
• noyuhqui. Also, too.
• nozo. Or, either.

O

• oc. Still, yet.
• oc achi. More. A little more.
• oc cequi. Another. plural: oc cequin.
• oc yohuatzinco. Very early, at dawn.
• occe. Another.
• occe tlamantli. Something else, one more thing.
• occepa. Again.
• occequi. Another. plural: occequintin.
• ocelotl. Jaguar.
• ocnamacoyan. Bar, liquor store.
• ocuilin. Worm, maggot.
• ohtli. Road, way, trail.
• ohualla. Came.
• ome. Two.
• omitl. Bone.
• ompa. There.
• onehua. To depart.
• oni. To drink.
• onimitzittac. I saw you.
• onimitzittacca. I had seen you.
• opoch. Left (side).
• opochtli. Left (side).
• oquichtli. Male. plural: oquichtin.
• otiacicoh. We have arrived.
• oztotl. Cave.
• oztoc: In the cave.

P

• paca. To wash.
• pactia. To please, to give pleasure.
• pahcalli. Drugstore.
• pahpiani. Pharmaceutic (profession).
• pahti. To cure
• pahtia. To cure
• pahtli. Medicine.
• palehuia. To help.
• paltic. Wet.
• pampa. Because
• panoltia. To invite someone in.
• papaca. To wash.
• papalotl. Butterfly.
• papatlaca. To tremble, to shiver, to shake.
• paqui. To be happy.
• patlani. To fly.
• patzca. To squeeze, to juice.
• pechtli. Bed.
• pehua (ni-). To start, to begin.
• pehua (nic-). To win, to triumph.
• petlatl. Bed.
• pilli. Son.
• pilli. Noble, prince.
• piltzintli. Son. (Reverential)
• pitzahuac. Thin,. plural: pitzahuaque.
• pitzotl. Pig.
• pochtecatl. Merchant, salesperson.
• poctli. Smoke.
• pohua. To count, to read.
• popoca. To smoke.
• potoni. To stink, to smell bad.

Q

• quema. Yes.
• quenin. How (?)
• quenin otimohuicac? How did it go ?.
• quezqui. How much? How many?
• quilmach. It is said, they say.
• quimichin. Mouse.
• quin axcan. Recently, a short while ago.
• quin tepan. Later, afterwards.
• quiyahui. To rain.
• quiyahuitl. Rain.
• quiza. To go out.
• quizaliztli. Migration, departure.

T

• tahtli. Father. plural: tahtin. reverential: tahtzintli.
• tamalli. Tamale.
• te, tehua, tehuatl. You. reverential: tehuatzin.
• tech-. We, to us.
• techalotl. Squirrel.
• teci. To grind.
• tecolotl. Owl.
• tecuani. Wild beast.
• tecuhtli. Lord. plural, reverential : tecuhtzintli.
• tehuan, tehuantin. We, us.
• Teica ?. Why ?.
• tel. But.
• telpochcalli. College, university.
• telpochtli. Boy, young man. plural: telpopochtin.
• temachtiani. Teacher, tutor. plural: temachtianimeh, reverential: temachticatzintli.
• temamauhti. Horrible, terrifying, scary. plural: temamauhtique.
• temazcalli. Steam bath.
• temo. To descend, to go down.
• temoa. To look for.
• teneyeyecoitiliztli. Temptation.
• teniza. To breakfast.
• tennamiqui. To kiss.
• tentli. Lip. Edge, border.
• tentzontli. Moustache, whiskers.
• teocalli. Temple.
• teocuitlatl. Gold (literally, wonderful waste).
• teopixqui. Priest. plural: teopixque.
• teotl. Wonderful, awesome. Terrifying. To some scholars, God.
• teotlac. Afternoon, during the afternoon.
• tepahtiani. Doctor, medic, healer.
• tepec. Hill.
• tepehuani. Conquistador.
• tepepan. At the hill, in the wilderness.
• tepetl. Mountain, volcano.
• tepolli. Penis.
• teponaxtli. Snail.
• tequipachoa. To worry.
• tequipanoa. To work, to labor.
• tetl. Stone, rock.
• texocotl. Tejocote (small winter fruit).
• texocotzopelloti. Tejocote jam, preserved tejocotes.
• ti-. You (singular). Us (subject prefix).
• ticitl. Doctor, medic, healer.
• titlani. To send.
• tlaca. Afternoon. Late.
• tlacachihua. To procreate, to have children.
• tlacamati. To obey.
• tlacamatli. Obedience.
• tlacatecolotl. Devil. Literally "Afternoon Owl", "Owl man".
• tlacatilia. To get pregnant, conception.
• tlacatl. Person. plural: tlacah. Reverential: tlacatzintli.
• tlachia. To look, to see.
• tlachpana. To sweep, To broom.
• tlacua. To eat, to feed.
• tlacualchihualoyan. Kitchen.
• tlacualli. Food.
• tlacualoyan. Diner, dining room.
• tlacualtia. To feed, to give food.
• tlahtlacolli. Offense.
• tlahtli. Uncle.
• tlahtoa. To talk, to speak.
• tlahtoani. King. plural: tlahtoanime.
• tlahtocayotl. Kingdom, state, nation.
• tlahtolli. Language, tongue, Word, speech.
• tlahtoque. Nobles, princes.
• tlahuilli. Light.
• tlalia. To put.
• tlalticpac. At or on the earth.
• tlamachtilli. Pupil. plural: tlamachtiltin.
• tlamaneloa. To swim.
• tlamatini. Wise person, wisdom. plural: tlamatinime.
• tlami. To finish. past: otlan.
• tlaneci. Dawn.
• tlanequiliztli. Will, willpower.
• tlantli. Tooth.
• tlaocoya. Sad, to be sad.
• tlaolli. Corn.
• tlapaloa. To greet.
• tlapalotiuh. To go to greet someone.
• tlapana. To break.
• tlapoa. To open. (as well, 'tlapohua')
• tlapopolhuia. To forgive.
• tlaquemitl. Clothes.
• tlathui. Dawn.
• tlatla. To burn.
• tlatlacalhuia. To offense, to insult.
• tlatlani. To ask (a question).
• tlatlatilcuahuitl. Firewood.
• tlatquitl. Patrimony.
• tlatzacuillotl. Door (THE door).
• tlatzomia. To meow.
• tlaxcalchihua. To make tortillas.
• tlaxcalli. Tortillas, bread.
• tlaxcalmana. To make bread.
• tlaza. To bring down, to knock down.
• tlazocamati. Thanks, Thank you.
• tlazohtla. To love.
• tlazolli. Garbage, waste.
• tle inic amo. Why not ?.
• tle ipampa. Why ?.
• tleca. Why ?.
• tleco. To climb, to go up.
• tlecuil. Stove.
• tlecuilco. On the stove.
• tlecuilli. Stove, cooking fire.
• tlen. What.
• tletl. Fire.
• toca. To sow.
• toca. To bury.
• tocaitl. Name. reverential: tocatzintli.
• tocatl. Spider.
• tochtli. Rabbit.
• toltecatl. Wise one, Science man, Knowledgeable.
• tomahuac. Fat, thick.
• tonalli. Day.
• tonehua. To hurt, to suffer pain.
• totechmonequi, totech monequi. We need.
• totolayotl. Chicken soup.
• totolin. Turkey.
• totoltetl. Egg.
• tototl. Bird.
• tozquitl. Throat.
• tzacua. To close.
• tzahualli, spider web.
• tzatzi. To scream, to shout.
• tzontecomatl. Head.
• tzontli. Hair.
• tzopelic. Sweet.

X

• xacamitl. Adobe
• xayacatl. Face.
• xihuitl. Herb. Leaf. Year.
• xinachtli. Seed.
• xiquipiltontli. Bag.
• xitomatl. Tomato.
• xochicualli. Fruit (lit. flower-good)
• xochitl. Flower.
• xococ. Sour.
• xocotl. Plum.
• xocoyotzin. The smallest, the youngest.
• xonacatl. Onion.
• xoncalaqui. Get in (!).
• xoxoctic. Green.

Y

• yacatl. Nose.
• yalhua. Yesterday.
• yancuic. New.
• yauh. To go.
• ye. Ready, done.
• ye tlaca. It's late.
• ye, yehua, yehuatl. He, she, it. reverential: yehuatzin.
• yec. Right (side).
• yeccaqui. To understand, to comprehend.
• yeceh. Though, nonetheless.
• yectenehua. To bless, to sanctify.
• yectli. Good, beautiful, pretty, nice. plural: yeyectin.
• yehuan, yehuantin. They. reverential: yehuantzitzin.
• yei. Three.
• yemania. To become soft.
• yemanilia. To make soft.
• yencuic. New.
• yencuilia. To make new.
• yencuiya. To become new.
• yetiayohuac. It's night, It's late.
• yetic. Heavy.
• yetl. Bean.
• yohuac. Night.
• yohualtica. At night.
• yolcatl. Insect.
• yoli. To live.
• yollotl. Heart.
• yolpaqui. To be happy.
• yuhquin. Like this, this way.

Z

• zan niman. Right away, immediately.
• zan tepitzin. Just a little. exp
• zatepan. Later. adj
• zatlatzonco. Lastly, finally. con
• zayolin. Fly (the insect). sus
• zazanilli. Story, tale. sus
• zolin. Quail. sus
• zoquipan. In the mud. exp
• zoquitl. Mud. sus
• zoquiyo. Muddy. exp

See also: Latin lexicon, Greek lexicon