In this lesson we will learn how to break up the day and the names of activities that we can do throughout the day. We will also look at how Indigenous elders turn to the movement of the sun and the positions of shade to identify the time of day.
Mercado de Chicontepec CC BY COERLL Nahuatl
Below is the division of the day in the Nahuatl language:

tlayohuaya “it is almost night”
tlapoyauhcan “it is evening”
nelyahuatzinco “very early”
Tlamanextilli Ce (Example One)
Yahuatzinco “Morning”
Ica yahuatzinco Juana mehua pan chicuace cahuitl tlen achtohui quichihua mixxamia huan motlancochpahpaca. Teipan quimana icafen noque moloni, ya mopatla, quemman eltocca icafen quioni.
Answer the following questions:
- Tlen cahuitl mehua Juana?
- Tlen quichihua Juana achtohui?
- Tlen quioni Juana?
Tlamanextilli Ome (Example Two)
Tlahcotona “Midday”
Maria tlahcotona tlacualchihua huanya inanan, inanan quimana etl huan Maria quitehtequi chilli, colantoh huan cebollah. Quemman iuccicca etl inanan quitzoyonia, huan Maria pehua tlatehteca. Teipan tlacuah.
Answer the following questions:
- Tlahcotona _____________Maria huanya __________.
- Maria _________ chilli, ____________ huan _______________.
- Acquiya quitzoyonia etl? _________________.
Tlamanextilli Eyi (Example Three)
Tiotlac “Evening”
Ramón quemman itztoc millah cemilhuitl huan quemman quinequi mocuapaz ichan zan quiitta itonal ica tonatiuh canin eltoc huan moilliz eltoc nahui cahuitl tiotlac. Inihhuantin axcanah mocahcayahuah. Huan quemman axquiza tonatiuh nouhquiya inihhuantin quinehnehuiah zan iuhquinon.
Answer the following questions:
- Canin itztoc Ramón?
- Tlen quichihua Ramón para quimatiz tlen cahuitl?
- Tlen quiitta Ramón quemman quinequi mocuapaz ichan?
Tlamanextilli Nahui (Example Four)
Tlayohua “Night”
Pan tlayohua niccua ce pantzin huan niconi cafen, teipan nicchihua chantequitl huan quemman niman nitlami nouhquiya nitlahtzoma ce quentzin. Quemman nicochizza niquitta tlamahuizolli.
Choose the correct answer:
1. Tlen niccua tlayohua? | ||
a) tlaxcalli | b) pantzin huan chocolatl | c) pantzin huan cafen |
2. Tlen nicchihua teipan quemman tlami niccua pantzin huan cafen? | ||
a) nitlahtzoma | b) chantequitl | c) tlamahuizoa |
3. Tlen nicchihua quemman nicochizza? | ||
a) tlahtzoma | b) tlamahuizoa | c) tlacua |