Tepoztlán
/teposˈtlan/noun
A town and municipality in Morelos, Mexico, whose name comes from Nahuatl.
Did you know?Tepoztlán is associated with Tepoztecatl, a Nahua deity connected with pulque, fertility, and the sacred mountain now called Tepozteco.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Nahuan
Proto-Nahuan
*tepoztli + *-tlan
“A reconstructed Nahuan metal-related root combined with a locative suffix meaning “place of” or “among.””
Classical Nahuatl
Nahuatl
tepoztli
“Copper, metal, or a metal object; the precise sense varies by context.”
Classical Nahuatl
Nahuatl
-tlan
“A locative suffix meaning “place of,” “among,” or “where there is an abundance of.””
Pre-Columbian period
Nahuatl
Tepoztlan
“A place-name interpreted as “place of copper” or “place of metal.””
16th Century
Spanish
Tepoztlán
“The Spanish-written form of the Nahuatl place-name, including the accent used in modern Spanish orthography.”
Modern English
English
Tepoztlán
“A Mexican town and municipality in the state of Morelos, widely known for the Tepozteco mountain and archaeological site.”