Nahuatl, the second most widely spoken language in Mexico, which predominated in the national territory during the pre-Columbian era, used even by Europeans to evangelize, has been trending in recent days after the Head of Government, Clara Brugada, decided to include it in the public education program as an optional subject.
On X, the social network of tension par excellence, several publications took flight criticizing Brugada’s decision from a classist angle. Some users do not find any personal or collective benefit in learning Nahuatl, unlike English or Chinese. Others criticized this way of thinking, arguing that life is not summed up in skills to be more productive. The Spanish spoken in Mexico has at least 4,000 words and these are some of the most used.
One of the ingredients that form part of Mexican folklore, with their red and blue cloth roofs, are the tianguis. A place where citizens go to buy fruit, vegetables, meat, clothes, kitchen items… the list is long.
The word comes from tianquiz (tli), which means “market”. Tianguis have been an important center of commerce since pre-Hispanic times. Their main characteristic is that their location is semi-fixed, that is, a street is closed to traffic on a specific day.
Esquite
Esquite is one of the most popular street snacks in Mexico. Boiled corn is served in a container and is prepared with mayonnaise, lemon and chili, either hot or not hot. Its root comes from izquitil, from icehqui, and means “corn roasted on a griddle”. In some states such as Baja California, Baja California Sur and Sonora it is known as coctel de elote, and in Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí and Guerrero, they call it trolelote; in Aguascalientes, chasca.
Apapacho
A pampering is a loving pat, a hug, or as the Royal Spanish Academy defines it, “without much detail, to caress.” The word comes from patzoa, which means “to squeeze,” “to bruise,” or “to crush.” In some Latin American countries, the word is used to say that a pampering is “a hug of the soul.” According to the BBC, it is the most beautiful word in Nahuatl.
Peanut
Another food that falls into the snack category is the peanut. The word comes from tlalcacahuatl, composed of tlalli, which means “earth,” and cacahuatl, which means “cocoa.” The peanut comes from the oilseed plant from which vegetable seeds are obtained and some, like this one, are edible.
Mezcal
Mezcal, a cousin of tequila, is a traditional distillate made from agave. Its popularity has grown so much in recent years that in 2022 it sold more than whiskey. “It is a ritual drink,” master mezcal maker Gabriela Ángeles explained to this newspaper. Its name comes from mexcalli, from melt, and means “maguey,” and ixca, which means “to cook” or “to bake.”
Avocado
The word avocado comes from ahuacatl, which means “avocado” or “testicle,” probably because of the similarity between the fruit and the body part, according to an article published by the Government.
In some parts of the country, the fruit is also known as “green gold.” The nickname is not said lightly. For example, hectares of avocado fields brought prosperity to the people of Michoacán, but in Mexico, it is common for money and organized crime to come in the same package.
Guacamole
Guacamole comes from the Nahuatl ahuacamolli, which is composed of ahuacatl and molli, which means “sauce.” Avocado sauce is commonly prepared with salt, lemon, tomato, onion and chili, the latter three chopped in brunoise. In some places, grasshoppers are also added.
Chapulín
A delicacy inherited from the Mexica culture. In some regions they are consumed as a snack and in states such as Oaxaca or Guerrero they are an ingredient in a dish. The word chapolin comes from chapā (nia), which means “bounce” and olli, which means “rubber”: “insect that jumps like a rubber ball”.
To the west of Mexico City is the hill of the chapulines. In its more than 686 hectares of forest it houses a zoo, a lake, several museums and a castle. It is considered the largest urban park in Latin America. It is called Chapultepec.
Chocolate
Chocolate comes from xocoatl, composed of xoco, which means “bitter,” and alt, which means “water.” Chocolate is produced from cacao seeds, another word of Nahuatl origin that means “bitter juice,” and it is a crop that originates in southern Mexico.
The cacao tree had an important value in pre-Hispanic culture. According to the Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the Mayans, the tree was considered one of the four cosmic trees located in the directions of the universe, according to the magazine Arqueología mexicana.
Comal
The comal is a kitchen utensil, typical of Mexican homes, which is used above all to heat tortillas or roast vegetables such as onions, tomatoes or chili peppers. The name comes from the word comalli, which simply means “comal.” Tatemar is another word of Nahuatl origin that means “to toast.”
Originally, they were made of clay and cured with lime. However, over time, volcanic stone was used as it was more resistant and easier to transport.
Source: elpais
