Nahuatl

American  

[nah-waht-l] / ˈnɑ wɑt l /

noun

plural

Nahuatls,

plural

Nahuatl

1. a member of any of various peoples of ancient origin ranging from southeastern Mexico to parts of Central America and including the Aztecs.

2. a Uto-Aztecan language spoken by over half a million people mostly in central Mexico.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Nahuatl language or peoples.

Nahuatl British  

/ ˈnɑːwɑːtəl, nɑːˈwɑːtəl /

noun

1. a member of one of a group of Central American and Mexican Indian peoples including the Aztecs

2. the language of these peoples, belonging to the Uto-Aztecan family

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Etymology

Origin of Nahuatl

1815–25; < Spanish náhuatl < Nahuatl nāhuatl something that makes an agreeable sound, a second-language speaker of one's own language

Example Sentences

Over the next two hours, the audience snapped their fingers, applauded, hooted in approval or nodded as speakers poured out their proverbial hearts in English, Spanish and Nahuatl.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 1, 2025

Apart from the "talciguines" - Nahuatl for devilish men - one character represents Jesus.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2024

The gallery’s namesake is Nepantla, a Nahuatl word that means “in the middle,” which Prendez describes as the place where one heals, rejuvenates or creates.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 30, 2023

While it's not clear if the opera's organizers will offer more showings, some in attendance who likely saw their first-ever Nahuatl opera were clearly moved by Cuitlahuac's story.

From Reuters • Jul. 19, 2023

No, he told the judge, English wasn’t his first language; that would be Nahuatl, the Mexican Indian tongue.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover