Quetzalcoatl
/kɛtsɑlˈkoʊɑːtəl/noun
A major Mesoamerican deity associated with wind, learning, priesthood, and the planet Venus.
Did you know?In Nahuatl tradition, Quetzalcoatl’s name is not just poetic—it encodes a sacred fusion of the quetzal bird and the serpent, symbolizing the union of heaven and earth.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Nahuatl
Nah
quetzalli + coatl
“quetzalli meant 'precious feather' or the quetzal bird; coatl meant 'serpent, snake'.”
Postclassic Mesoamerica
Nah
Quetzalcoatl
“the Feathered Serpent deity, a major divine figure in central Mexican religion.”
16th Century
Spa
quetzalcoatl
“Spanish transcription of the Nahuatl divine name.”
Modern English
Eng
Quetzalcoatl
“the Mesoamerican deity and cultural figure known from Aztec and related traditions.”