macuilli

Classical Nahuatl

Classical Nahuatl cardinal numbers

<  4	5	6  >
Cardinal : mācuīlli     Ordinal : ic mācuīlli     Adverbial : mācuīlpa     Distributive : māmācuīlli, mahmācuīlli

Etymology

Some suggest a compound of māitl (“arm, hand”) + the patientive of cui (“to take, hold”), thus “what is held in one arm or hand; five”, and implying a semantic relation or contrast with mahtlāctli (“ten”), based on mah- (“arm, hand”) + tlāctli (“trunk”), thus “both arms; ten”. Compare Pipil makwil (“five”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [maːˈkʷiː.lːi]

Numeral

mācuīlli

1. five
   • 1555, Alonso de Molina, Aqui comienca vn vocabulario en la lengua castellana y mexicana, f. 250r.

     5    cinco.macuilli.

     5    five. macuilli.

   • 1571, Idem, Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana, f. 119r. col. 1.

     5   Cinco . macuilli.

     5   Five. macuilli.

   • Idem, f. 51r. col. 2.

     Macuilli. cinco

     Macuilli. five.

Derived terms

• mācuīlpōhualli
• mācuīltiyānquiztli

References

• Alonso de Molina (1571) Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana, Editorial Porrúa, pages 119r, 51r

---

Eastern Huasteca Nahuatl

Etymology

Cognate to Classical Nahuatl mācuīlli

Numeral

macuilli

1. five.