General Aztecs Maya Tocuaro Kids Contact 19 Mar 2024/2 Death
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what Mexica parents did when a child spoke its first word in Nahuatl?
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Aztec Language

According to Alejandro de Avila (Flora: The Aztec Herbal), the Mexican government today recognises 30 ‘linguistic variants’ of the ‘Aztec’ language Náhuatl, Mexico’s second language, currently spoken by between 1 and 2 million Mexican people. Sadly, according to Miguel León-Portilla (personal communication), over 100 languages have died out in Mexico since the Spanish invasion.

NOTE 1: For useful extra links to online resources on Náhuatl, both Classical and modern, click on ‘Introductory Náhuatl Guide’ (right).

NOTE 2: For help in translating individual words or phrases into Náhuatl, see the growing section in ‘Aztec Sayings’ (right).

How do you say ‘brother’ in Nahuatl?

Our feature on Aztec song

‘How many words were there in the Aztec language?’

‘Did most words in the Aztec language end in -tl?’

“The meaning of ‘Náhuatl’”

The Latin American Institute at UCLA (USA) offers regular Nahuatl courses

Free download: ‘Lectura del Nahuatl: versión revisada y aumentada’ by David Charles Wright

‘One Man’s Mission to Keep Aztecs’ Ancient Language Alive’

San Diego State University revives its ‘Aztecs’ mascot debate, and starts Nahuatl classes

A Brooklyn (NY) newspaper is publishing in Nahuatl, Quechua and other languages:

‘Gran Diccionario de Nahuatl’ (UNAM) - online Nahuatl dictionary

Huiquipedia - Wikipedia’s Welcome Page in Nahuatl

Nahuatl dedication to a learned scholarA Nahuatl sage was not just a teacher

but a light, torch and guide to life...

‘We are all fruits of the earth...’‘We eat of the earth

then the earth eats us’

How Nahuatl uses compound words to adapt to an ever-changing worldHow Nahuatl uses compound words

to adapt to an ever-changing world

Classical Nahuatl greetingsNahua visitors would offer grovelling apologies

for the intrusion, on entering someone’s house...

A modern Nahua poemA modern Nahua poem by Natalio Hernández

- in Nahuatl, Spanish and English

Nahua women poetsAn anonymous Mexica girl

composed a tender cradle song

Weeping in Nahuatl PoetryIn Aztec poetry a close relationship existed between

weeping and singing, both generating noise...

Count to 13 in NahuatlCount up to 13

in Nahuatl...

Aztec Surnames: a Modern Link to a Proud HertiageNahuatl surnames from Cholula

that still exist from Aztec times

{italicNomen est omen:} Pre-Hispanic Nahua Naming PatternsA successful ancestor’s name could enhance

their descendants’ fortune...

First London Náhuatl Study Day and WorkshopsThe very first London Náhuatl

Study Day and Workshops...

Want to LEARN Náhuatl?Most recommended book

for learning Náhuatl...

Aztec Placenames: Then and NowAztec place names give us insight

into the Mexica people and their lives...

Náhuatl Borrowings from SpanishAfter the Conquest the Mexica

called horses ‘super-deer’...

‘Diphrases’ or couplets in NáhuatlThe Aztecs took ‘double-entendre’

to a whole new level of meaning...

Introductory Náhuatl Guide‘When in Rome...’

Download a basic Náhuatl guide

Aztec PronunciationAncient language, modern soundwaves

- how to pronounce some of the commonest words

Náhuatl greeting: Video 1: FaviolaLearn from two young locals

how to say Hello in Náhuatl

Aztec SayingsThe Aztecs were nothing if not

‘proverbial’ speakers...