Aztec Pronunciation
These are (we hope good) approximations to the correct pronunciation of Náhuatl words. We plan to add to the list, and also provide some general notes on the Náhuatl language - still spoken by several million Mexicans today. Click on ‘Introductory Náhuatl Guide’ (above right) for a downloadable introduction to the language. Our favourite word, as many schools will know, is ‘Tiahue!’ - ‘Let’s go!’ Ian still fondly remembers chorusing ‘Tiahue intekitzintli!’ as a volunteer working in the Náhuatl-speaking village of San Isidro Buensuceso (between Puebla and Tlaxcala) in 1971 - ‘Let’s get/go to work...!’ In each case you can click the icon and hear the mp3 file.
Here's what others have said:
8 At 9.42pm on Friday March 19 2010, gabriel wrote:
The petate was used like a mat, bed, for sleeping, but when somebody dies they are wrapped in their own petate for burial for that reason we say ‘petatear’, but the word doesn’t mean die.
7 At 1.43pm on Saturday January 16 2010, Rebecca wrote:
I love this website. I am looking to move to that area and look forward to more involement.
6 At 11.57am on Monday December 7 2009, Pakal wrote:
Petatl, the reed mat is corrupted slightly to “petate” which is used in “petatear” or “se petatio” which means in Mexican Spanish “to die” or “(s)he died”.
Mexicolore replies: Good points, Pakal, thanks for writing in.
5 At 11.51am on Monday December 7 2009, Pakal wrote:
Itzcuintli. May I suggest adding that the modern Mexican Spanish version of this word, “esquincle” is used to refer to a troublesome (yikes!) baby or small child.
4 At 3.43pm on Monday August 10 2009, Tecpaocelotl wrote:
Found another problem. You left the meaning for ome which is 2.
Mexicolore replies: Thanks for spotting these gaps: now filled!
3 At 11.49am on Monday August 10 2009, Tecpaocelotl wrote:
That’s a good idea, but seems complex since some dialects have different words for different things. But I was referring to the c page on Nahuatl pronounciation where you have Chimalli with how its prounced, but no translation.
Mexicolore replies: Cheers - now sorted!
2 At 6.23pm on Tuesday August 4 2009, Tecpaocelotl wrote:
Noticed you didn’t have meaning for Chimalli which means shield.
Mexicolore replies: Thanks for this. We’ve concentrated up to now on words that are more tricky to pronounce, like gods’ names! But you’ve raised a great idea: a glossary of common/important words. Uh uh, another project for us.......
1 At 8.21pm on Tuesday February 17 2009, Tecpaocelotl wrote:
Glad you posted these. I was trying to explain to non-native speakers the sound that a vowel before the h sound makes. I always called it a wind sound. LOL.
