Yoloxochitl
/ˌjoʊ.loʊˈtʃoʊ.tʃɪl/noun
A Nahuatl name for a magnolia, especially Magnolia grandiflora, traditionally valued in Mexican medicine and ritual.
Did you know?Yoloxochitl was used in traditional Mexican medicine for heart-related complaints, although historical medicinal use does not prove modern clinical effectiveness.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Columbian Nahuatl
Nahuatl
yōlōxōchitl
“Heart flower; yōlōtl means “heart” and xōchitl means “flower””
16th Century
Classical Nahuatl
yolloxōchitl
“A fragrant medicinal flower associated with the heart”
16th Century
Spanish
yoloxóchitl
“A Nahuatl plant name adopted into Spanish botanical and medical writing”
17th–19th Century
Spanish
yoloxochitl
“A Mexican magnolia or related fragrant tree used in materia medica”
Modern English
English
yoloxochitl
“A magnolia, especially Magnolia grandiflora, and its traditional Nahuatl name”
Explore more surprising origins