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"Maya" is a form of "maya", a noun which is often translated as "Maya". "Náhuatl" is a noun which is often translated as "Nahuatl Indian". Learn more about the difference between "maya" and "náhuatl" below.
el maya, la maya, maya(
mah
-
yah
)
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
a. Maya
Mi vecino chiapaneco habla maya.My neighbor from Chiapas speaks Maya.
b. Mayan
El maya se habla en muchas regiones de Guatemala y en el sur de México.Mayan is spoken in many regions in Guatemala and southern Mexico.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
masculine or feminine noun
a. Maya
Algunos dicen que los antiguos mayas predijeron que el mundo se acabaría en el 2012.Some say the ancient Mayas predicted that the world would end in 2012.
b. Mayan
Los maya en la Selva Lacandona siguen conservando su idioma.The Mayans in the Lacandon Jungle continue to preserve their language.
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
feminine noun
a. daisy
Las mayas están floreciendo en el prado.The daisies are blooming in the meadow.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
adjective
a. Mayan
La civilización maya abarcaba la mayor parte de lo que hoy en día es México y Centroamérica.The Mayan civilization encompassed most of what today is Mexico and Central America.
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el náhuatl, la náhuatl(
nah
-
wah
-
tl
)
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
masculine or feminine noun
a. Nahuatl Indian
Los náhuatls nos dieron palabras como "chocolate" y "coyote".The Nahuatl Indians gave us words such as "chocolate" and "coyote."
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
a. Nahuatl
El náhuatl se sigue hablando en zonas rurales de México.Nahuatl is still spoken in rural areas of Mexico.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
adjective
a. Nahuatl
La influencia del imperio azteca es evidente en la escritura náhuatl.The influence of the Aztec Empire can be seen in Nahuatl script.
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