tetl

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word tetl. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word tetl, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say tetl in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word tetl you have here. The definition of the word tetl will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition oftetl, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

Central Huasteca Nahuatl

Noun

tetl

  1. stone

References

Central Nahuatl

Noun

tetl

  1. stone, rock

Classical Nahuatl

Etymology

From Proto-Nahuan *tetl, from Proto-Uto-Aztecan *tïn-ta.

Pronunciation

Noun

tetl anim or inan (plural temeh)

  1. rock, stone
  2. egg

Derived terms

Terms derived from tetl

Counter

tetl

  1. a counter word used mainly for small, round objects; including, but not limited to: stones, chickens, seeds and beans, tamales, fruit, eggs, houses, seats, chili peppers, maize kernels, gourds, tubers, hills, etc.
    Zan ōntetl in īteuh.
    Its eggs are only two.
    Mācuiltemeh in temeh, tēcpantocah.
    There are fives of stones, placed in a row.
    • 1571, Alonso de Molina, Arte de la lengua mexicana y castellana, f. 3v:
      P Ara contar piedras, gallinas, cacao, tunas, tamales, cerezas, hueuos, vaſijas, caſas, aſſentaderos, frutas, chiles, mayz, friſoles, calabaças, nabos, xicalas, o coſas redondas, aſi como cerros, ¬c. Dizen deſta manera. / ¶Centetl.vno o vna.  1 / ¶Ontetl.dos.  2 / ¶Etetl.tres.  3 / ¶Nauhtetl.quatro.  4 […]
      To count stones, chickens, cacao beans, prickly pears, tamales, cherries, eggs, pots, houses, places to sit, fruit, chili peppers, kernels of maize, beans, gourds, turnips, calabashes, or other rounds things, as well as mountains, etc., they say as follows: ¶Centetl. one.  1 / ¶Ontetl. two.  2 / ¶Etetl. three.  3 / ¶Nauhtetl. four.  4

Usage notes

  • The counter tetl is treated like a suffix, and is placed immediately after the numeral that modifies a noun:
    ce (“one”) → centetl ayohtli (“one gourd”)
    nāhui (“four”) → nāuhtetl tomatl (“four tomatoes”)
    mahtlāctli (“ten”) → mahtlāctetl calli (“ten houses”)

References

  • Andrews, J. Richard. (2003) Workbook for Introduction to Classical Nahuatl, Revised Edition, University of Oklahoma Press, pp. 249–250.
  • Karttunen, Frances. (1983) An Analytical Dictionary of Nahuatl, University of Texas Press, p. 235.
  • Lockhart, James. (2001) Nahuatl as Written, Stanford University Press, p. 234.

Eastern Huasteca Nahuatl

Etymology

Cognate to Classical Nahuatl tetl

Noun

tetl

  1. rock
Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia