35 RIDDLES IN NAHUATL TRANSLATED INTO SPANISH - DUDAS

I bring you a list of riddles in Nahuatl, an indigenous language with thousands of years that is still spoken and studied in schools in Latin America. Currently more than a million and a half people speak it in Mexico.

Nahuatl is the native language that existed in America before the colonization of the Spanish. As colonization spread, this language was lost and was replaced by Spanish.

Even so, it is one of the most widely spoken native languages in Mexico with more than one and a half million speakers. It is believed that in the world, about 7 million people speak this pre-Columbian language.

Riddles in the Nahuatl indigenous language

Mo apachtsontsajka mitskixtiliya uan axke tikita?

Translation: what is it, what is it? She takes your hat off and you don't see it.
Answer: air.

Tlake, tlake, tsikuini uan tsikuini I still love tikajasi

Translation: what is it, what is it, that jumps and you don't reach it?
Answer: the rabbit.

Nochita kwak kiawi Notlakeenpatla

Translation: A very lively old man, every time it rains, he changes his dress.
Answer: the hill.

Maaske mas titlaakatl yes but mitschooktis

Translation: no matter how manly you are, it's going to make you cry.
Answer: onion.

Wi'ij tu jalk'esa'al, na'aj tu jáala'al

Translation: hungry they are taking her. Full they bring it loading.
Answer: a bucket.

Chak u paach, sak u ts'u '.

Translation: red skin. Inside bleached.
Answer: radish.

Zazan tleino, matlactin tepatlactli quimamamatimani. Aca quittaz tozazaniltzin, tla ca nenca tozti

Translation: what is the ten stones that one always carries?
Answer: nails.

See tosaasaanil, see tosaasaanil, see iixtetetsitsinte

Translation: guess, guess, one-eyed is it.
Answer: the needle.

Za zan tleino Tepetozcatl quitoca momamatlaxcalotiuh Papalotl

Translation: through the colorful valley, he flutters, clapping his hands like someone who throws tortillas.
Answer: the butterfly.

Lipan se tlakomoli, westok waan nokweptok, for oksee side

Translation: to the guest meal, even if it's a plate and spoon
Answer: the omelette.

Zazan tleino, xoxouhqui xicaltzintli, momochitl ontemi. Aca qittaz tozazaniltzin, tla ca nenca ilhuicatl

Translation: what is a blue gourd, planted with roasted corn, called momochtli?
Answer: The starry sky

Ridxabe huaxhinni rixána be siado ´

Translation: a lady who makes a waste of it every day. She stops in the morning and gets pregnant at night.
Answer: the house.

Zazan tleino, icuitlaxcol quihuilana, tepetozcatl quitoca. Aca quittaz tozazaniltzin, tla ca nenca huitzmalot

Translation: what is it that goes through a valley, and has its guts dragging?
Answer: the needle sewing.

See tosaasanil, see tosaasaanil See ichpokatsin iitlakeen melaak pistik tomatl

Translation: have you not guessed who is the girl, with the huipil so tight?
Answer: the tomato.

Uñijximeajts ajtsaj ximbas salñuwindxey makiejp op saltsankan makiejp ñity.

Translation: leaf wrapped and tied with palm is my disguise. In my body of mass my heart of flesh you will find.
Answer: the tamale.

Zazan tleino, cuatzocoltzin mictlan ommati. Aca quittaz tozazaniltzin, tla ca nenca apilolli, ic atlacuihua

Translation: cantarillo de palo that knows the region of the dead.
Answer: the pitcher of water.

Neither cayúnini ma´cutiip i nor cazi´ni ma´ cayuuna ´ nor guiqu iiñenila ma´qué zuuyani

Translation: guess, guessing. He who makes it, does it singing. Whoever buys it, buys it crying. Whoever uses it is no longer seeing it.
Answer: the coffin.

Zan zan tleine cimalli itic tentica

Translation: small but pointed, full of shields.
Answer: chili.

Za zan tleino Iztactetzintli quetzalli conmantica

Translation: Guess, guess What is like a white stone, that quetzal feathers sprout from it?
Answer: onion

Amalüw xik munxuey xik samal küty akiejp as najchow ximbas wüx satüng amb xa onds

Translation: guess what! My body is made of reed and on my belly I wear a mecapal. With tamemes I come and go from the sea. Loaded with fish and corn for breakfast, lunch and even dinner.
Answer: the chestnut tree.

Ñity ayaküw ximal xiel ayaküw xi lyej sanguoch atyily tyety nüty tyiel ximeajts axojtüw ñipilan

Translation: My mind is covered with palm. My wooden feet are. People rest on me, because I stop the sun's rays.
Answer: the bower.

Tu laame, tu laame dé chemen á pa me dooxqui'me

Translation: guess again! Who on her back wears guts that you even see them?
Answer: shrimp.

Zazan tleino quetzalcomoctzin quetzalli conmantica

Translation: guess it if you can: gray hair has up to the tip and some green feathers.
Answer: onion.

Awijchiw xik tyiel ndyuk sajrrok tyiel yow atajtüw xik tyiel ndxup sawüñ ütyiw ñipilan

Translation: so that people can give their food. In a chiquihuite I have to dance, after throwing myself and diving into the sea.
Answer: the cast net.

Tu laabe, tulaabe, rayan nibe nápabe dxitá xquibe

Translation: Who is and who is he who carries his eggs on his neck backwards and forwards?
Answer: the palm tree.

Zazan tleino aco cuitlaiaoalli mouiuixoa

Translation: how do you see it? Down the hill. And I have three feet. And a son who grinds How can you not see!
Answer: mortar.

Wa na'atun na'ateche 'na'at le ba'ala': Jump'éel ts'ool wukp'éel u jool

Translation. guess, riddle: seven holes, a single pumpkin.
Answer: the head.

Na´at le baola paalen: Ken xi iken si yaan jun tul joy kep K´eenken tu beelili

Translation: don't you guess kid: If you're going to cut firewood, a very lazy pig will look for you on the road.
Answer: the honeycomb.

Lo: mah we: yak, ika ontlami ompakah or: me yeyekako: ntli

Translation: On a long hill there, where it ends, there are two caves from which air comes out.
Answer: the nose.

Se: tosa: sa: ne: l, se: tosa: sa: ne: l ma: s san ka: non niwa: le: wa, wan xpapalo tli: n níkpia

Translation: behind a stone fence there is a boy dancing.
Answer: the tongue.

Sa: sa: ni: l! -te: ntetl! Ipan se: tlakomohle miakeh michpe: petla: meh

Translation: -Bocón! In a plain There are many templates.
Answer: the pumpkin seed

kuhtli, tlekowa se: totla: tla: katsi: n ika itambori: tah

Translation: A little man climbs a tree with his little drum.
Answer: the snail.

References

AMITH, Jonathan D. »As wide as your grandmother»: Riddles in Nahuatl from the Central Warrior. Tlalocan, 2013, vol. 12.
RAMÍREZ, Elisa. Indigenous riddles. Lectorum Publications, 1984.
FARFÁN, José Antonio Flores. Nahua riddles of today and always: see tosaasaanil, see tosaasaanil. Ciesas, 1995.
FARFÁN, José Antonio Flores. Tsintsiinkiriantsintsoonkwaakwa, Nahuas Tongue Twisters / Tsintsiinkiriantsintsoonkwaakwa, Nahuas Tongue Twisters. Editions Era, 2007.
DE LA PEÑA, María Teresa Miaja. From the »divinare» to the »mirabillia»: the riddle in the Mexican folk tradition. In Proceedings of the XIV Congress of the International Association of Hispanists: New York, July 16-21, 2001. Juan de la Cuesta, 2004. p. 381-388.
FARFÁN, José Antonio Flores. EFFECTS OF THE NÁHUATL-SPANISH CONTACT IN THE REGION OF BALSAS, GUERRERO. DISPLACEMENT, MAINTENANCE AND LINGUISTIC RESISTANCE. Nahuatl Culture Studies, 2003, p. 331.
DAKIN, Karen. Studies on Nahuatl. Advances and Balances of Yutoaztecas Languages, INAH, México, DF, 2001.

35 RIDDLES IN NAHUATL TRANSLATED INTO SPANISH - DUDAS - 2024