LESSON 2. NAHUATL NUMBER SYSTEM.

The Nahuatl number sytem is based on cempohualli 'twenty' (20), and there is no zero (0) value. Numbers above cempohualli (20) are expressed as multiples of 1 up to 20 or as a multiple of centzontli (400) or xiquipilli (8,000). This will be explained, shortly. We have all heard that Olmeca, Maya, and Mexica were extraordinary mathematicians, but we are never given an example of why this was true (besides our calendar system, which will be introduced in the next lesson). Well, the simplest example of our mathematical capabilities lies in our method of counting. If you notice in the Number lists below, there are distinct words only for numbers 1-20, 400 and 8,000. This does not mean that we could not count above 20 or 8,000 however. This means that a higher number can only be attained through ADDITION or MULTIPLICATION.

For example, since there is no word for 41, you must multiply ome (2) by cempohualli (20) to get om-cempoalli (40), then add huan 'and' plus ce 'one' for the final sum of om-cempoalli-huan-ce (41). When the children were taught to count, they were also taught to add and multiply at the same time. This is a unique way of counting as we were able to add and multiply very large numbers together at the same speed as an English speaker can count.

The numbers listed below here in lesson 2 were primarily extracted from Nahuatl Curso, a course taught by the native Nahuatl-speaking gentleman, Don Genaro Medina Ramos. The course is a Spanish translated Nahuatl grammar lesson plan that was formulated together with compilation notework by Betty Jo Taffe, M.A.T., M.B.A, and Dr. William J. Taffe, Ph.D. This particular Nahuatl course work was produced during April - June 1999, at the Casa de Cultura de Cholula, San Pedro Cholula, Puebla, Mexico .

NUMBERS..............................PRONUNCIATION



NUMBERS........ORIGIN
poalli...............count
macuilli............maitl (hand), and cui (to take something or someone)
chicuace..........chico (a part of, or fraction), referring to a fraction of one hand
mahtlahtli.........maitl (hand), and tlactli (torso/trunk), referring to the 10 fingers from 2 hands
cempoalli..........one count summation of all the fingers and toes of the human body "20"
centzontli.........tzontli (hair or, the innumerable), and centzontli (bird of the infinite voices), referring to a lock of the innumerable numbers
xiquipilli............bundle

NUMBERS..............................DERIVATION



ORDINAL NUMBERS
Ordinal numbers are formed by adding the prefix (-Ipan) to the number:

first: ipan-ze
second: ipan-ome
third: ipan-yei
fourth: ipan-nahui

SYMBOLS

grain of corn: ce

one-half flag: mahtlahtli


flag: cempoallii


head of hair: (cen)tzontli


bag: xiquipilli

Works Cited

Ramos, Don Genaro Medina, Betty Jo Taffe and William J. Taffe. Nahuatl Curso. Version 1.9. San Pedro Cholula, Puebla, Mexico: Casa de Cultura de Cholula, Julio de 1999.

© Citlalin Xochime in xihuitl chicuace calli.