yōliztli
The English word 'life' can be translated into Nahuatl as yōliztli, yolistli or nemiliztli.
Meaning: the state of being alive (noun)
Ways to say it
| Nahuatl |
|---|
| yōliztli |
| yolistli |
| nemiliztli |
The term is used to describe the state of being alive.
Which one should you use?
yōliztli and its variant yolistli often refer specifically to the biological state of being alive. In contrast, nemiliztli often refers to a person's lifestyle, way of living or the general manner in which one exists.
Did you know?
- While nemiliztli refers to 'life' as a journey or lifestyle, it is derived from the verb nemī, which means 'to walk' or 'to live'.
- In Nahuatl, the concept of 'life' is often paired with 'wind' ēhecatl, as breath was seen as the animating force of the body.
- The word yōliztli is closely related to the word for 'heart', yollotl, illustrating that the seat of life is considered to be the center of the body.
Example sentences for Nahuatl are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing the beauty of nature.
- CitlaliXitlahtia in yōliztli.Look at the life.
- CuauhtémocQuiza in yōliztli.Life emerges.
- CitlaliIn yōliztli tlāhuēlti.Life is colorful.
- CuauhtémocMa xipāhui in yōliztli.May life be happy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “life” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
