Table of Contents
What Spanish words came from Nahuatl?
Food
| Spanish | Nahuatl | English |
|---|---|---|
| aguacate | ahuacatl | avocado |
| camote | camotli | sweet potato |
| chocolate | xocoatl | chocolate |
| chile | chilli | chili pepper |
Is bean derived from Nahuatl?
Unsurprisingly, cacao is the oldest of these words in English—it’s a direct borrowing of the Spanish spelling used for the Nahuatl word cacahuatl. Cacao initially referred to parts of the plant: the seed, the pod, the bean, and the tree itself.
Is Nahuatl different from Spanish?
What languages are related to Nahuatl? Nahuatl is, of course, not a linguistic relative of Spanish (although the two languages have influenced each other considerably). The Nahuatl family is a member of the Uto-Aztecan (Uto-Nahuatl) stock, so it is related, if distantly, to all the languages of that wide group.
Are there any words of Nahuatl origin in English?
A few words of Nahuatl origin have even made their way into English! Below are some common words that have made their way into Spanish from Nahuatl. Since many of these words aren’t used outside of Mexico, we’ve included alternate words that are used in other parts of the Spanish-speaking world wherever possible.
How did Nahuatl become a prestige language in Mesoamerica?
Their influence caused the variety of Nahuatl spoken by the residents of Tenochtitlan to become a prestige language in Mesoamerica. After the conquest, when Spanish colonists and missionaries introduced the Latin alphabet, Nahuatl also became a literary language.
What is the difference between Aztec and Nahuatl?
Since 1978, the term “General Aztec” has been adopted by linguists to refer to the languages of the Aztecan branch excluding the Pochutec language. The speakers of Nahuatl themselves often refer to their language as either Mexicano or some word derived from mācēhualli, the Nahuatl word for “commoner”.
Why did the Spanish make Nahuatl the official language of New Spain?
In 1570, King Philip II of Spain decreed that Nahuatl should become the official language of the colonies of New Spain in order to facilitate communication between the Spanish and natives of the colonies. This led to Spanish missionaries teaching Nahuatl to Indians living as far south as Honduras and El Salvador.