Teponaztle
/ˌtɛpəˈnɑːstli/noun
A traditional Mesoamerican slit drum carved from a hollow log, especially associated with Nahua cultures.
Did you know?The teponaztle is a slit drum: its two raised tongues can produce different pitches, allowing rhythm to function as both music and ceremonial sound.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Columbian period
Classical Nahuatl
teponaztli
“A wooden slit drum or hollowed percussion instrument”
16th Century
Classical Nahuatl
teponaztli
“A drum used in Nahua music, dance, and ceremony”
16th Century
Spanish
teponaztli
“A Nahua musical instrument recorded by Spanish writers”
19th Century
English
teponaztli
“A Mesoamerican slit drum described in ethnographic and historical works”
Modern English
English
teponaztle
“An English variant spelling for the traditional Nahua slit drum”
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