Where does “Altepetl Mexihco” come from?
Altepetl Mexihco (Classical Nahuatl) comes from Classical Nahuatl āltepētl, from Classical Nahuatl ātl tepētl, from Classical Nahuatl ātl, from Proto-Nahuan *aa-, from Proto-Uto-Aztecan pa — water.
Ancestry of “Altepetl Mexihco”, step by step
Altepetl Mexihco traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Classical Nahuatl āltepētl
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Classical Nahuatl | āltepētl | city-state; city, community; town, city |
| 2 | Classical Nahuatl | ātl tepētl | Altepetl; town; city; pueblo |
| 3 | Classical Nahuatl | ātl | Alternative spelling of atl; water |
| 4 | Proto-Nahuan | *aa- | water |
| 5 | Proto-Uto-Aztecan | pa | water |
via Classical Nahuatl Mēxihco
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Classical Nahuatl | Mēxihco | Mexico |