Casa de México

A B r i e f D i c t i o n a r y o f C o m m o n T e r m s

Nahuatl language varies according to the state where you are, some words are spelled starting with a “K” while another with a “C” for the same word, even the last letters maybe altered depending on your location in Mexico. We try to use the most common terms below.

Kalli – house, casa
Tlazocamatli – thank you, gracias
Tonatiuh – sun, sol
Meztli – moon, luna
Azteka – from Aztekatl (meaning from Aztlan), de Aztekatl (significa de Aztlan)
Tlatoa – speak, hablar
Ikniuhtli – friend, amigo
Nehuatl – I, yo
Tehuatl – you, tu
Niltze – hi, hola
Amo – no
Kema – yes, si

Titlatoa Nahuatl? – do you speak Nahuatl? Tu hablas Nahuatl?
Kema, Nitlatoa Nahuatl – yes, I speak Nahuatl, Si, Yo hablo Nahuatl
Amo, Nitlato Nahuatl – no, I do not speak Nahuatl. No hablo Nahuatl
Ken Motoka? – what is your name?, Cual es tu numbre?
Nehuatl Notoka… – my name is…, mi nombre es …
Kanin Tichanti? – where do you live?, donde es tu vives?
Nehuatl Nichanti… – I Live…, yo vivo…
Kenin Otimo Uika – how are you doing?, como as estado?
Hue Kaulli – very good, muy bien
Kualli – good, bueno

Cihuatl – woman, mujer
Tlacatl – man, hombre
Nantlil – mother, madre
Tahtll – father, padre
Ikniuh – brother, hermano
Hueltiuh – sister, hermana
Cuacualti – beautiful, bonita
Papakiliztli – happy, feliz
Yoliliztli – life, vida
Yollotl – heart, corazon
Itacatl – food, comida
Cintlaolli – corn, maize
Atl – water, agua
Atoyaatl – river, rio
Mixtli – cloud, nube
Ehekatl – wind, viento
Kiauitl – rain, lluvia
Tletl – fire, fuego
Ayauhcozamalotl – rainbow, arco iris
Cicitlaltin – stars, estrellas
Ilhuitl – day, dia
Yoal – night, la noche
Axan – today, hoy
Cualcan – tomorrrow morning, manana
Nian – here, aqui

G e m s & M i n e r a l s
Chalchiuitl – jade
Itztli – obsidian, obsidiana
Tecalli – onix
Iztactehulotl – rock quartz or crystal, cristal de roca
Huitzitzilteepatl – opal , opalo
Teoxihuitl – turquoise, turquesa
Apozonalli – amber, ambar
Tlaquauacteepatl – diamond, diamante
Tlapaltehuilotl – amathist, amatista
Quetzalxoquiyae – emerald, esmeralda
Cuacocoztic – ruby, rubí
Epyollotli – pearl, perla
Matlalxihuitl – saffire, zafiro

N u m b e r s
Ce – one, uno
Ome – two, dos
Yeyi – three, tres
Nahui – four, cuatro
Macuil – five, cinco
Chicuacen – six, seis
Chicome – seven, siete
Chicuei – eight, ocho
Chihnahui – nine, nueve
Matlactli – ten, diez