Revolutionary Nahuatl, Part II
November 2024.
In pivotal, monumental times such as these, Indigenous languages can help us resist and rise up.
1. Xitzonteti. Resist.
There are many ways to say “to resist” in Nahuatl:
- Tzonteti” (tsohn-TEH-tee) is to resist through stubborn rebellion.
- Mocuihcuilia” (moh-kwee’-kwee-LEE-ah) is to resist an offer or arrangement that seems tempting but is bad. (The mo- is a reflexive pronoun.)
- Teixnamiqui” (teh-eesh-nah-MEE-kee) is to resist by standing up to someone, unyielding.
- Momapatla (moh-mah-PAH-tlah) is to resist while defending oneself.
To form the imperative, you prefix xi- to a base form of the verb:
- Xitzonteti (shee-tsohn-TEH-tee): Resist! Be a rebel!
- Ximocuihcuili (shee-moh-kwee’-KWEE-lee): Resist! Don’t surrender!
- Xiteixnamiqui (shee-teh-eesh-nah-MEE-kee): Resist! Stand up to them!
- Ximomapatla (shee-moh-mah-PAH-tlah): Resist! Defend yourself!
Add -can for the plural.
- Xitzontetican (shee-tsohn-teh-TEE-kahn): Resist, y’all! Be rebels!
2. Macamo achtopa xitetlacamati. Don’t comply in advance.
Pronunciation: mah-KAH-moh ahch-TOH-pah shee-teh-tlah-kah-MAH-tee
- macamo = used with negative commands. It means something like “do not” or “let it not be that…”
- achtopa = beforehand, first
- tlacamati = obey
- xi- = imperative prefix
- te- = indefinite object pronoun for people, meaning roughly “folks / anyone / someone”
3. Ahyacanaloni. Ungovernable.
Pronunciation: ah’-yah-kah-nah-LOH-nee
Example:
In tlazo tlein quinahuatiz in Chilcoztic, ye nahyacanaloni.
No matter what the Orange One commands, I am now ungovernable.
- ah- = negation (un-)
- yacana = govern, lead, guide
- -lo- = passive suffix
- -ni = agent suffix, “doer”
Note 1: The “n-” of the example nahyacanaloni indicates a first person singular subject (Nahuatl seldom uses the copula or “be” verb). “WE are ungovernable” is tahyacanalonih, where the “h” (a glottal stop) indicates a plural verb.
Note 2: Chilcoztic — Orange One — is made up of “chil-” (chili red) and “coztic” (yellow).
Note 3: In means “the,” so “in Chilcoztic” (een cheel KOHS teek) is a perfect epithet for the would-be tyrant.
4. Xiquincua in axcahuahqueh. Eat the rich.
Pronunciation: shee-KEEN-kwah een ahsh-kah-WAH’-keh’
- xi- = imperative prefix
- -quin- = third person plural object pronoun (them)
- cua- = eat
- in = the
- axcahuah = rich person (“possession-haver”)
- -queh = plural marker
5. Temelahuacayo. People’s rights.
Pronunciation: teh-meh-lah-wah-KAH-yoh
Example:
Ahmo huel titoicniuhtlah intla ahticmocuitia in temelahuacayo.
We can’t be friends if you deny people’s rights.
- ahmo = negation
- huel = possible
- titoicniuhtlah = we reconcile and become friends
- intla = if
- ahticmocuitia = you deny (lit. “you won’t affirm it”)
- in = the
- temelahuacayo = people’s rights
6. Xitemauhtih xiye. Be a menace.
Pronunciation: shee-teh-MAHW-tee’ SHEE-yeh
- te- = indefinite object pronoun for people (folks / someone)
- xi- = imperative
- mauhtih = perfect form of mauhtia (frighten / menace)
- ye = form of irregular verb “cah” (to be)
7. Xiyolchicahua. Be courageous.
Pronunciation: shee-yohl-chee-KAH-wah
Or, alternatively:
Iuh xiyolchicahua in iuh tihuelitiz.
Be as courageous as possible.
Pronunciation: eew shee-yohl-chee-KAH-wah een EEW tee-weh-LEE-tees
(Literally “become as courageous as you can.”)
- xi- = imperative prefix (for commands)
- yolchicahua = become courageous, from yol- (heart) and chicahua (become strong) so literally “one’s heart becomes strong”
- iuh [X] in iuh [Y] = [some action] as much as [something else]
- ti- = second person subject prefix (“you”)
- hueliti = be possible
- -z = future tense marker
8. Xichuetzca in tlanehnequini. Laugh at the tyrant.
Pronunciation: sheek-WETS-kah een tlah-neh’-neh-KEE-nee
- xi- = imperative prefix
- -c- = 3rd person singular object prefix (her, him, it, singular them)
- huetzca = laugh [at]
- in = the
- tlanehnequini = tyrant (“who covets more & more”)
9. Ichtaca xitlanemili. Make plans secretly.
Pronunciation: eech-TAH-kah shee-tlah-neh-MEE-lee
- ichtaca = in secret
- xi- = imperative prefix
- tlanemili = base 3 of the verb tlanemilia, to plan a course of action
10. Ahhuel tlatla in totlalnamiquiliz. “Ideas are incombustible.”
Pronunciation: AH’-wel TLAH-tlah een toh-tlal-nah-mee-KEE-lees
Direct translation: Our thoughts cannot be burned.
Literal translation: It is impossible for our ideas to burn up.
- ahhuel = it is impossible
- tlatla = burn up
- to- = our
- tlalnamiquiliz[tli] = ideas, thoughts
11. Ximoztlati inic timihcaliz. Survive to fight another day.
Pronunciation: shee-mos-TLAH-tee EE-neek tee-mee’-KAH-lees
- xi- = imperative prefix
- moztlati = live until tomorrow
- inic = so that
- ti- = 2nd person singular subject prefix
- m- = reflexive prefix before vowels
- ihcalia = fight
- -z = future tense marker
12. Oc tlathui. Dawn always comes again.
Pronunciation: okh TLAHT-wee)
- oc = again [with the implication of “always”]
- tlathui = it dawns [literally “things become visible” as the sun rises]
13. Macaic ximocahua. Never be silent.
Pronunciation: mah-KAH-eek shee-moh-KAH-wah
- macaic = may it not ever be that
- xi- = imperative prefix
- mo- = reflexive pronoun (“oneself,” etc.)
- cahua = to silence, still, abandon
What I love about this phrase is that it also means “Never be still” and “Never abandon yourself,” because to not fight with your voice and your movements is to abandon something essential about yourself.
RESIST.
However you can.
Read “Revolutionary Nahuatl, Part I.”
