nagual

[ nah-gwahl, -wahl ]

noun

1. a guardian spirit among Mexican and Central American Indians, believed to reside in an animal.

Other Words From

• na·gualism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of nagual¹

< Mexican Spanish nagual, nahual < Nahuatl nāhualli

Example Sentences

No longer disguised as a domesticated donkey, the nagual, dressed in a soiled black robe, was standing over a huge bubbling cauldron.

From Literature

“Well, hello. Welcome back, preciosa,” the nagual said, showing his green-gray teeth as he grinned at me.

From Literature

“This? This is my masterpiece,” said the nagual.

From Literature

As he said those final words, talking about someone with an ancient sounding name—an Aztec deity perhaps, the nagual reached up to caress the collection of bones, both long and short, thick and thin, hanging from the wall behind him.

From Literature

I thought about Teresita and her husband, who warned us about the nagual and tried to tell us how to get away.

From Literature