Citlaltépetl
/sit͡ɬalˈtepeːt͡ɬ/noun
Citlaltépetl is the Nahuatl name for Pico de Orizaba, Mexico’s highest mountain and a dormant volcano.
Did you know?Citlaltépetl’s name reflects how its permanently snow-covered summit could appear to shine like a star, especially when viewed from far across the highlands.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Uto-Aztecan
PUA
*cita-
“Reconstructed root associated with stars or celestial objects; the precise prehistory of the Nahuatl form is debated.”
Classical Nahuatl
Nahuatl
citlālli
“Star; celestial light or heavenly body.”
Classical Nahuatl
Nahuatl
tepētl
“Mountain, hill, or elevated landform.”
Pre-Columbian / Early Colonial Period
Nahuatl
Citlāltēpetl
“Star Mountain, a compound formed from citlālli and tepētl.”
16th Century
Spanish
Citlaltépetl
“Spanish-recorded Nahuatl place-name for the volcano later widely called Pico de Orizaba.”
Modern English
English
Citlaltépetl
“A proper name for Pico de Orizaba, also used in English-language geographic writing.”