tonalpohua

Classical Nahuatl

FWOTD – 11 August 2015

Etymology

From tōnalli (“day”) +‎ pōhua (“to count, measure”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /toːˈnalpoːwa/

Verb

tōnalpōhua

1. to divine using signs and dreams
   • 1571, Alonso de Molina, Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana, f. 149v. col. 1:

   tonalpoa. ni. (pret. onitonalpouh.) adiuinar por signos o sueños, o sacar las fiestas por su calendario antiguo.

   (tonalpoa. to divine by signs or dreams, or to determine holidays by their ancient calendar.)

2. to determine holidays using the Aztec calendar
   • 1571, Alonso de Molina, Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana, f. 149v. col. 1:

   tonalpoa. ni. (pret. onitonalpouh.) adiuinar por signos o sueños, o sacar las fiestas por su calendario antiguo.

   (tonalpoa. to divine by signs or dreams, or to determine holidays by their ancient calendar.)

Derived terms

• tōnalpōhualiztli
• tōnalpōhualoni

Related terms

• tōnalpōhualli

References

• “tonalpohua” in the Nahuatl Dictionary, University of Oregon, 2012.