tamalli

Central Nahuatl

Alternative forms

• (Tlaxcala): tamal

Etymology

From Classical Nahuatl tamalli.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [taˈmá.lːi]

Noun

tamalli

1. tamale

Classical Nahuatl

Caxic ōntetl chihchīltic tamalli. (Two red tamales on a plate.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [taˈmá.lːi]

Noun

tamalli (inanimate, plural tamalli)

1. (it is) a small cake of cornmeal dough that is cooked and served in a corn husk wrapping; a tamale
   • 1571, Alonso de Molina, Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana, f. 92r. col. 1:

     Pan de maiz cozido en ollas. tamalli.

     Maize bread cooked inside pots. tamalli.

   • Idem, f. 90v. col. 2.

     Tamalli. pan  de  mayz embuelto en hojas y cozi / do en olla.

     Tamalli. maize bread wrapped in corn husks and cooked in a pot.

Derived terms

Terms derived from tamalli

• ahuazhuatamalli
• nacatamalli
• tamalāyohtli
• tamalchihualiztli
• tamalhuia
• tamalmimilli
• tamaloa
• tamalpan
• tamalpiqui
• tamaltepiton
• tlatemaltamalli
• tzintamalli

Descendants

• Spanish: tamal
  • English: tamal, tamale

References

• Alonso de Molina (1571) Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana, Editorial Porrúa, pages 92r, 90v
• Rémi Siméon (1885) Diccionario de la lengua náhuatl o mexicana, Siglo Veintiuno Editores, pages 436, 437

Eastern Huasteca Nahuatl

Etymology

Cognate to Classical Nahuatl tamalli

Noun

tamalli

1. tamale

Derived terms

• etamalli