Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs

by Camilla Townsend

The first time each Aztec-language or Nahuatl (NA-wat) word is used, the approximate pronunciation is given in parentheses. Three rules will help readers speak most Nahuatl words relatively easily. First, the “tl” consonant is pronounced softly; in English, the closest equivalent is a simple “t” sound. Second, when “h” is followed by the letter “u,” the intent is to produce a “w” sound. (Both of these rules are illustrated in the word “Nahuatl.”) And finally, our “sh” sound is represented by the letter “x.” Since the “sh” sound is common in Nahuatl, that guideline is worth remembering. The people we often call the “Aztecs,” for example, called themselves the “Mexica,” pronounced Me-SHEE-ka, and the word “xochitl,” meaning flower, is thus SHO-cheet. For those who wish to expose themselves more thoroughly to this beautiful language, several excellent books are available.2