Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Nahuatl language

Nahuatl language

9.9
A language spoken by the Nahua people in central Mexico
  • noun
  • /ˈnɑːwɑːtəl ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/
translation icon : idioma náhuatl
  • The name Acapulco comes from the Nahuatl language.

Examples

  • The word 'guacamole' originates from the Nahuatl language.

  • In the Nahuatl language, 'coyote' refers to a specific type of wild dog.

  • Many place names in Mexico have roots in the Nahuatl language.

Synonyms

Nahuatl
vsNahuatl language
1 9.9

A native language of central Mexico spoken by the Nahua people

is the identical description used for the same language
Aztecan
vsNahuatl language
9.8

A language spoken by the Aztec people, also called Nahuatl

is used for the same language but tied to Nahua across regions
Aztecan language
vsNahuatl language
9.9

The language spoken by the Aztec people, mainly Classical Nahuatl

is the modern regional language of the Nahua rather than the classical form

Surface Forms

Nahuatl language singular
Nahuatl languages plural

Morphology

Nahuatl + language

The phrase is compositionally transparent: 'Nahuatl' names the people/language and 'language' denotes a system of speech, so the meaning (‘the language spoken by the Nahuatl people’) is directly derivable from the constituents. The X + language naming pattern is cross-linguistically common and predictable, so a B1 learner who knows both words will understand it.

Etymology

Nahuatl language gets its name from the people called the Nahua; one popular story says Nahuatl comes from a native word meaning 'clear speech' or 'good sound', so the name points to their way of speaking. That's why the name refers to the language spoken by the Nahua people of Mexico today.