cihuatl
The Nahuatl word for woman is cihuatl.
The word cihuatl refers to an adult female person.
Meaning: adult female person (noun)
Did you know?
- In Aztec mythology, women who died in childbirth became Cihuateteo, powerful spirits who escorted the sun across the sky from dawn until noon.
- The final 'tl' in cihuatl is a lateral affricate, a single sound produced by placing the tongue against the roof of the mouth and releasing air along the sides.
- Because Nahuatl is an agglutinating language, the word cihuatl can be attached to other roots to create highly specific descriptors, like 'woman-warrior' or 'woman-servant', creating entirely new nouns.
Example conversation
Citlali and Juan are talking about a visitor.
- CitlaliSe cihuatl hueyi tlacatl.A woman is a great person.
- Juan¿Xinequi cihuatl?Do you mean the woman?
- CitlaliHuan, se cihuatl nictlalia.Juan, I am looking for a woman.
- JuanIn cihuatl ca ina.The woman is there.
