Nahuatl
noun
Na·huatl
ˈnä-ˌwä-tᵊl 
: a group of closely related Uto-Aztecan languages that includes the speech of several peoples (such as the Aztecs) of central and southern Mexico and Central America
Examples of Nahuatl in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Except, in the codex, many of these homophones were based on Nahuatl words, requiring knowledge of the language to decipher them.
—
Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2023
In the earliest days of Spanish colonization of what is now the U.S.-Mexico border region, settlers speaking Nahuatl, the Aztec language, probably outnumbered Spaniards.
—Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2023
At his school, Speak Nahuatl, Cayetano not only teaches the language but also the deeper meaning behind the words.
—Constanza Eliana Chinea, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2023
The most basic form of the dish very likely goes back to the Aztecs (even its name, chee-luh-KEY-lays, originates from the Nahuatl language), and over hundreds of years, variations embedded themselves throughout Mexican culture.
—Bryan Washington, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2023
Today, somewhere between 1.5 and two million people speak some form of the Nahuatl language.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 4 Oct. 2021
Márquez named her clinic Papalotl, which means butterfly in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, to represent her culture and honor her indigenous ancestors.
—María Ramos Pacheco, Dallas News, 19 June 2023
Yoali, which means night in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, is operated by friends Esti Romero and Sofía Lobatos.
—María Ramos Pacheco, Dallas News, 20 Apr. 2023
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Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2023
In the earliest days of Spanish colonization of what is now the U.S.-Mexico border region, settlers speaking Nahuatl, the Aztec language, probably outnumbered Spaniards.
—Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2023
At his school, Speak Nahuatl, Cayetano not only teaches the language but also the deeper meaning behind the words.
—Constanza Eliana Chinea, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2023
The most basic form of the dish very likely goes back to the Aztecs (even its name, chee-luh-KEY-lays, originates from the Nahuatl language), and over hundreds of years, variations embedded themselves throughout Mexican culture.
—Bryan Washington, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2023
Today, somewhere between 1.5 and two million people speak some form of the Nahuatl language.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 4 Oct. 2021
Márquez named her clinic Papalotl, which means butterfly in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, to represent her culture and honor her indigenous ancestors.
—María Ramos Pacheco, Dallas News, 19 June 2023
Yoali, which means night in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, is operated by friends Esti Romero and Sofía Lobatos.
—María Ramos Pacheco, Dallas News, 20 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Nahuatl.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Spanish náhuatl, from Nahuatl Nāhuatl
First Known Use
1876, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near Nahuatl
Cite this Entry
“Nahuatl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Nahuatl. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on Nahuatl
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Nahuatl
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