Otomi
/oʊˈtoʊ.mi/noun
A member of an Indigenous people of central Mexico or the language traditionally spoken by them.
Did you know?The Otomi commonly call themselves Hñähñu or related regional names, while “Otomi” is an exonym—an outside name transmitted through Classical Nahuatl and Spanish.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Columbian era
Otomi
Hñähñu
“A major traditional self-designation of the Otomi people; the exact interpretation varies by Otomi variety.”
15th–16th Century
Classical Nahuatl
Ōtomitl
“The Nahuatl name for an Otomi person; its deeper internal etymology is uncertain.”
16th Century
Spanish
otomí
“An Indigenous person of central Mexico, adopted from Nahuatl otomitl.”
17th–18th Century
Spanish
otomí
“Relating to the Otomi people or their language.”
Modern English
English
Otomi
“The Otomi people, their language, or anything relating to them.”