chiuc-

Classical Nahuatl

Etymology

According to Andrews, from the adverb chico (“to one side”), that is, “the count on one hand; five”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [t͡ʃikʷ-]

Prefix

chiuc-

1. (added to numerals) five

Usage notes

• This prefix is found only in the compound numerals chicuacē (“six”), chicōme (“seven”), chicuēyi (“eight”) and chiucnāhui (“nine”).
• Of the four numerals formed on the base of chiuc-, two are seemingly irregular:

chicuacē (“six”), extended from chiuc- + cē (“one”), which would otherwise yield *chiuccē.

chicōme (“seven”), from chiuc- + ōme (“two”), which would yield *chicuōme, but reduced as the sequence *cuo is impossible in Classical Nahuatl.

Derived terms

Classical Nahuatl terms prefixed with chiuc-

References

• J. Richard Andrews (2003) Introduction to Classical Nahuatl, Revised Edition, University of Oklahoma Press, page 310