Revolutionary Nahuatl Lexicon Part I

In pivotal, monumental times such as these, indigenous languages can help us rise and resist.

1. Tepāntopēhua. To pass over, through, or beyond a wall despite all efforts to stop one.

Xiquēhua motepānyo, tiTrump. Titepāntopēhuazqueh. Erect your wall, Trump. We’ll get past it, anyway.

2. Tzonteyōtl. Resistance, rebellion.

In tzonteyōtl monequi. Resistance is necessary (i.e., “We must resist”).

3. Ahcaconi. Not worthy of being heeded or obeyed.

Ahcaconi in ītlahtōl. His decrees aren’t worthy of our obedience.

4. Tlanehnequini. Tyrant, tyrannical.

In tlanehnequini quintlahēlitta in tēcuhtlahtohqueh. The tyrant hates the judges.

5. Ichtequi. To steal.

In tlanehnequini quichtequi in tlamāmalli. The tyrant steals from those in his charge [the governed].

6. Māhuitequi. To punch.

Ximāhuitequi cecen nazi. Punch every Nazi

7. Cholohqui. Refugee.

Ahmo in ichtacāpilli quincalaquia in cholohquiqueh. The bastard won’t let the refugees in.

8. Yahyāōtla. To play at war.

Ahmo yāōtēcani. In māuhqui zan yahyāōtla. He’s no commander-in-chief. The coward just plays at war.

9. Chamāhua. To brag.

Mochamāhua, auh ahmo huel quichīuh in mahuiztlanqui. He brags about himself, but he hasn’t done any great deed.

10. Ēlleloa. To cause anguish.

Īnāhuatīl tēlleloa. His decrees cause anguish in people.

11. In iztlactli, in tēncualactli. “Venom and spit,” a difrasismo or kenning that means “lies” or “deceit.”

In tēpachoh, in tēpachoāni zan quihtoah in iztlactli, in tēncualactli.
The governor and president only speak venomous lies.

12. Ahicnōyoh. Without mercy or pity.

In ahicnōyoh tēmanani tēcuācecenoa. The merciless leader terrifies the people.

13. Yōllōtia. To reveal a deep, important secret (usually to a friend).

Ōquitlayōllōtih in yāōtl.
He revealed a top secret to the enemy.

14. Nēxtia. To reveal.

Ōnēxtih in topetlācal. He revealed our secrets.

15. Hueloa. To tear down.

Xichueloacān in īntecuācuīl in tlācahuahqueh tlatlācatēcah. Tear down the statues of the slave-owning generals.

16. Cualāntli. Brutality.

In tēpachoān quitlazohtla in cualāntli, in cualānehqueh. The president loves brutality, brutal men.

17. Poloa. Destroy.

Intlā tiquimācāhuah tēpoloaz tlālpoloaz. If we let him, he will destroy people, destroy entire nations.

18. Necoc. Both sides / either side.

Ahmo iuhqueh in tlācah necoc.

The people on both sides are NOT the same.