Words that still walk

Piyali

Hello

pee-YAH-lee

A living greeting used in modern Nahuatl communities.

Ximopanolti

Be welcome (honorific)

shee-mo-pah-NOL-tee

Cualli tonalli

A good day (good tonal)

KWAH-lee toh-NAH-lee

Tonalli is both 'day' and the animating heat of a person.

Tlazohcamati

Thank you

tlah-zoh-KAH-mah-tee

Notōcā…

My name is…

no-TOH-kah

Nimitztlazohtla

I love you

nee-meech-tlah-SOH-tlah

In ixtli, in yōllōtl

A face, a heart

een EESH-tlee een YOH-lohtl

A person of integrity — someone whose outside and inside agree.

In tlilli, in tlapalli

The black ink, the red ink

een TLEE-lee een tlah-PAH-lee

Writing, painting, wisdom — the tlacuilo's craft.

In xōchitl, in cuīcatl

Flower and song

een SHO-cheetl een KWEE-katl

The Mexica name for the highest art.

Yōlteōtl

A deified heart; inspired

yohl-TEH-otl

A heart filled with teotl — sacred force, not a distant sky-god.

Mēxihcah

The people of Mexi; the Mexica

meh-SHEE-kah

Named for Mexi / Mexitli — Huitzilopochtli as the one who leads.

Teomama

God-bearer

teh-o-MAH-mah

The four priests who carried the sacred bundle from Aztlan.

Tlatoani

Speaker; the ruler

tlah-toh-AH-nee

The one who speaks for the altepetl.

Calpōlli

A kin-ward of the city

kal-POH-lee

Huitzillin

Hummingbird

wee-tzeel-LEEN

Always in motion. Huitzilopochtli is this bird as a god — of the left, of the south.

Chimalli

Shield

chee-MAH-lee

Not only defense. The device you show. Paired with mitl, the arrow, it means war.

In mitl, in chimalli

The arrow, the shield

een MEETL een chee-MAH-lee

A complete act of war — the same grammar as flower and song.

Cuāuhtli

Eagle

KWAH-oot-lee

Ocēlōtl

Jaguar

o-SEH-lohtl

Xōchiyāōyōtl

Flower war

sho-chee-yah-OH-yohtl

Ritual war between altepetl to take captives, not land.

Tlacuilo

Scribe-painter

tlah-KWEE-lo

Teōcalli

God-house; temple

teh-o-KAH-lee

Tlalticpac

On the earth; this world

tlahl-TEEK-pak

Ometeōtl

Dual god / lord of duality

oh-meh-TEH-otl

Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl — the creative pair at the origin.

Cemanahuac

The world surrounded by water

seh-mah-NAH-wak

The Nahua image of the inhabited earth.

Cē, ōme, ēyi, nāhui, mācuilli

One, two, three, four, five

seh, OH-meh, EH-yee, NAH-wee, MAH-kwee-lee

Cempōhualli

Twenty (one count)

sem-po-WAH-lee

Nahuatl counts in twenties, like Maya. A full person of days.

Iztāc / Tlīltic / Chichiltic / Xoxōuhqui

White / black / red / green-blue

ees-TAHK / TLEEL-teek / chee-CHEEL-teek / sho-SHOH-kee

Huehuetlahtōlli

The old words; elder-speech

weh-weh-tlah-TOH-lee

Florentine Codex Book 6. How a person was spoken into being.

Bix a beel?

How are you? (How is your road?)

beesh ah BALE

Ma'alob

Good; fine

mah-ah-LOBE

Jach ki'imak in wóol

I am very happy (my spirit is very glad)

hach kee-ee-mak een WOHL

Dyos bo'otik

Thank you

dyohs boh-oh-TEEK

Literally 'God pays it' — a colonial-era blessing still used.

In k'aaba'e'…

My name is…

een KAH-bah-eh

Ko'ox

Let's go

koh-osh

Ki'ichkelem

Beautiful (often of a man or the sun)

kee-eech-KEH-lem

Yuum K'iin

Lord Sun

yoom KEEN

K'iin

Sun, day, time

keen

The same root as the Long Count's kin — one day.

Chaahk

Rain lord (often written Chac)

chaahk

Lightning axe, mountain caves. Kin to Tlaloc, not the same god.

Itzamná

Itzamna — aged creator, writing, priest-kings

eet-sahm-NAH

Popol Vuh

Book of the mat / council book

poh-pol VOO

K'iche'. Maize people. Hero Twins. Not a Yucatec temple text.

Tzolk'in

The 260-day count

TZOL-keen