Nahuatl Dictionary of Plant and Food Terms

A Nahuatl Dictionary of Plant and Food Terms

Nahuatl was the language of the Aztec empire, with many different indigenous
groups throughout central Mexico speaking versions of the language during the time
of the Aztecs’ reign. To clarify, “Nahua” is the term we use to refer to the indigenous
peoples of this region of Mexico, while the language itself is called “Nahuatl.”

Today, Nahuatl is still a living language, with over 1.5 million people throughout
Mexico speaking the language today. Nahuatl is a sub-branch of the Uto-Aztecan
language group, which is native to Mexico.

Today, the modern Nahuatl language has only a little to do with the language spoken
by the Aztecs. The language has evolved and changed since the time of the
Spanish Conquest. Additionally, various dialects are spoken throughout central
Mexico.

Interestingly, very few people are of aware of the fact that words from the Nahuatl
language are present in various forms in our own languages. This is due mostly to
the Spanish conquest and the subsequent blending of the Spanish and Nahua
cultures. Words from Nahuatl are especially present in words referring to fruits,
vegetables, foods, and animals.

Nahuatl’s largest influence has been on the Spanish language for obvious reasons.
However, Nahuatl also appears in the English language, most notably with the
following words:

Avocado (ahuacatl)
Chile (chilli)
Chocolate (from xoco(l)atl)
Cacao (cacahuatl)
Coyote (coyotl)
Mesquite (mizquitl)
Tomato (from (xi)tomatl)
Ocelot (ocelotl)

Here, we present a basic dictionary of English/Nahuatl food and plant related terms,
to demonstrate the richness of this language and help you explore this ancient (and
living) culture.

We hope this Nahuatl dictionary also serves as an educational tool for teachers,
parents, and students. As we have time, we’ll continue to add to this list, so please
check back soon.