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
The spa El Capricho Spa occupies its own cliff ledge, 6,000 square feet carved into volcanic rock with treatment rooms named after local flowers in Nahuatl—Citlaxochitl (poinsettia), Texochitl (stone flower).
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
The cactus appears in the Aztec codices and the name comes from a Nahuatl word that means a pot covered in spines.
—Eyder Peralta, NPR, 28 Sep. 2025
Matthew Restall, for example, has worked indefatigably as a myth buster for dozens of misconceptions for roughly two decades now, and only recently did another historian, Camilla Townsend, stitch together the history of the Aztecs according to their own statements, as recorded in Nahuatl.
—Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2025
Translated languages included Nahuatl, Extremaduran, and Kirundi.
—Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2025
His latest book is Lamentations of Nezahualcóyotl: Nahuatl Poems.
—Ilan Stavans, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025
During the first half of the 20th century, the poinsettia was popular but true to its Nahuatl name, an easily withering plant.
—Norman Ellstrand and Nathan Ellstrand / Made By History, TIME, 23 Dec. 2024
Brazilians primarily speak Portuguese, and millions of people in Latin America speak Indigenous languages, such as Nahuatl, K'iche' and Quechua.
—Gina Lee Castro, Journal Sentinel, 11 Oct. 2024
For instance, the name Xochitl is from the Nahuatl tradition, but the Global Americana baby naming trend also incorporates names that are more commonly heard in the U.S.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 2 Oct. 2024
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
The cactus appears in the Aztec codices and the name comes from a Nahuatl word that means a pot covered in spines.
—Eyder Peralta, NPR, 28 Sep. 2025
Matthew Restall, for example, has worked indefatigably as a myth buster for dozens of misconceptions for roughly two decades now, and only recently did another historian, Camilla Townsend, stitch together the history of the Aztecs according to their own statements, as recorded in Nahuatl.
—Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2025
Translated languages included Nahuatl, Extremaduran, and Kirundi.
—Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2025
His latest book is Lamentations of Nezahualcóyotl: Nahuatl Poems.
—Ilan Stavans, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025
During the first half of the 20th century, the poinsettia was popular but true to its Nahuatl name, an easily withering plant.
—Norman Ellstrand and Nathan Ellstrand / Made By History, TIME, 23 Dec. 2024
Brazilians primarily speak Portuguese, and millions of people in Latin America speak Indigenous languages, such as Nahuatl, K'iche' and Quechua.
—Gina Lee Castro, Journal Sentinel, 11 Oct. 2024
For instance, the name Xochitl is from the Nahuatl tradition, but the Global Americana baby naming trend also incorporates names that are more commonly heard in the U.S.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 2 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Nahuatl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Nahuatl. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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