tlahtoani

Central Nahuatl

Etymology

From Classical Nahuatl tlahtoani, cognate with tlahtoa (“to speak”) +‎ -ni (“habitual suffix”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tɬaʔtoˈaːni/

Noun

tlahtoani

1. king

Derived terms

• cihuatlahtoani
• tlahtocayotl

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Classical Nahuatl

FWOTD – 9 March 2017

Alternative forms

• tlatoani (obsolete)

Etymology

From tla- (“thing(s)”) +‎ ihtoā (“say”) +‎ -ni (“habitual suffix”) +‎ -qui (“agentive suffix”), literally "one who speaks".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /t͡ɬaʔtoˈaːni/

Noun

tlahtoāni anim (plural tlahtohqueh)

1. (he is) the ruler or chieftain of an altepetl.
   • 1555: Alonso de Molina, Aqui comienca un vocabulario en la lengua castellana y mexicana

     Señor de ſieruos. tlatoani. tlacaua.

   • 1673: Augustin de Vetancurt, Arte de lengua mexicana

     Cuix oticmotlaçotilli in motlâtocatzin Dios?

     Amaſte à tu Dios, y Señor?

Derived terms

• cihuatlahtoani (“female ruler, queen”)
• cuauhtlahtoani (“lower ruler, governor”)
• tlahtohcayotl (“realm”)

References

• Andrews, J. Richard. (2003) Workbook for Introduction to Classical Nahuatl, Revised Edition, University of Oklahoma Press, p. 227.
• Karttunen, Frances. (1983) An Analytical Dictionary of Nahuatl, University of Texas Press, p. 266.
• Lockhart, James. (2001) Nahuatl as Written, Stanford University Press, pp. 55, 238, 239.