Where does “Quetzalcóatl” come from?
Quetzalcóatl (Spanish) comes from Classical Nahuatl Quetzalcōātl, from Classical Nahuatl quetzalli, from Classical Nahuatl quetza — to raise, lift; to raise, lift, stand.
Ancestry of “Quetzalcóatl”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Classical Nahuatl | Quetzalcōātl | quetzal feather serpent |
| 2 | Classical Nahuatl | quetzalli | A quetzal feather; Something precious |
| 3 | Classical Nahuatl | quetza | to raise, lift; to raise, lift, stand |