macuilli

Classical Nahuatl

**Classical Nahuatl cardinal numbers**
< 4	5	6 >
Cardinal : mācuīlli Ordinal : ic mācuīlli Adverbial : mācuīlpa Distributive : māmācuīlli, mahmācuīlli

Etymology

Some suggest a compound of māitl (“arm, hand”) + the patientive of cui (“to take, hold”), thus “what is held in one arm or hand; five”, and implying a semantic relation or contrast with mahtlāctli (“ten”), based on mah- (“arm, hand”) + tlāctli (“trunk”), thus “both arms; ten”. Compare Pipil makwil (“five”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [maːˈkʷiː.lːi]

Numeral

mācuīlli

five
- 1555, Alonso de Molina, Aqui comienca vn vocabulario en la lengua castellana y mexicana, f. 250r.
  5 cinco.macuilli.
  5 five. macuilli.
- 1571, Idem, Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana, f. 119r. col. 1.
  5 Cinco . macuilli.
  5 Five. macuilli.
- Idem, f. 51r. col. 2.
  Macuilli. cinco
  Macuilli. five.

Derived terms

mācuīlpōhualli
mācuīltiyānquiztli

References

Alonso de Molina (1571) Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana, Editorial Porrúa, pages 119r, 51r

Eastern Huasteca Nahuatl

Etymology

Cognate to Classical Nahuatl mācuīlli

Numeral

macuilli

five.