Where does “nixtamal” come from?
nixtamal (Mexican Spanish) comes from Classical Nahuatl nextamalli, from Classical Nahuatl nextli, from Classical Nahuatl quetza — to raise, lift; to raise, lift, stand.
Ancestry of “nixtamal”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Classical Nahuatl | nextamalli | hominy |
| 2 | Classical Nahuatl | nextli | Ash; ashes |
| 3 | Classical Nahuatl | quetza | to raise, lift; to raise, lift, stand |