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Want to LEARN Náhuatl?

Want to LEARN Náhuatl?

Recommended books for learning Nahuatl

From time to time we get enquiries from individuals wanting to study Náhuatl. We’re based in the UK, where currently we know of no Náhuatl teachers or resident speakers willing to help, so resources are hard to get. However things are slowly changing, so keep coming back - we’ll post here any new developments...

We DO know of Náhuatl teachers in other countries (USA, Mexico, Italy...) and are happy to put you in touch with them if you contact us. We also know of organisations that may be willing to offer Náhuatl conversation classes by Skype and/or videoconferencing: first port of call here we would recommend is IDIEZ, based in Zacatecas, Mexico - link below.

In the meantime we’re happy to recommend a book that several experts swear by as the best all-round entry-level resource: Foundation Course in Náhuatl Grammar (two volumes) by R. Joe Campbell and Frances Karttunen, SUNY Potsdam, New York, 1989. Currently out of print, it IS (2016) now available as a download from the University of Oregon website - link below.

Other books that have been recommended by experts include:-

• Thelma D. Sullivan’s Compendium of Nahuatl Grammar, University of Utah Press, Texas, 1988
• Nahuatl as Written by James Lockhart, Stanford University Press, 2001 (for Classical Náhuatl)
• An Analytical Dictionary of Nahuatl by Frances Karttunen, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, 1992.

The IDIEZ website‘Inadequate Nahuatl Lessons’Practice readings in NahuatlDownload {italicFoundation Course in Nahuatl Grammar} here...Watch an excellent short video for young learners ‘What Montezuma’s Aztec Sounded LIke’ - but you’ll need to scroll to find it!

Comments (17)

E

EmmaM

27th Oct 2021

I was wondering if you knew any Nahuatl teachers within the UK?
Thank you!

M

Mexicolore

It may seem odd, and it’s a real shame, but we don’t! As soon as we DO hear of one, we will publicise the fact. We will want classes ourselves...!

A

Amanda Davila

9th Oct 2021

I am looking for resources in an effort to learn Nahuatl.

M

Mexicolore

I’m afraid that we can do no more than point you to the resources we already list on the site - please see above, and in the r/h menu...

R

Ryan Finley

18th Aug 2018

I would like to learn Náhuatl i live in the usa. So if you can get me a teacher that offers free lessons id really like that.

M

Mexicolore

Please see the next message below for our suggestion on this...

J

Joseline

19th Jun 2018

Hi I’m in San Jose CA and I really want to learn Nahuatl! Any people based here or near my area that Can teach me!?!

M

Mexicolore

Because we’re based in London, UK, we can’t help you ourselves. We would suggest you approach the H-Nahuatl network - https://networks.h-net.org/h-nahuatl

N

Nick

14th Apr 2017

Hello, there is a Nahuatl speaker that offers basic lessons on Skype or Google Hangouts, visit Italki.com. He’s a fantastic teacher.

M

Mexicolore

Thanks for the tip. We’re keen to give this guy a try ourselves...!

C

Cassidy

13th Mar 2017

Hi! I’m really trying to learn Náhuatl and can’t find any way to learn. I don’t know Spanish and I don’t want to learn basic Spanish but do want to learn Náhuatl. If anyone can help me I’d be extremely grateful.

K

Kurt

27th Jun 2014

I found a resource for Nahuatl Grammatical Structure in PDF form as it pertains Nahuatl spoken in Veracruz on the site of the University of Alberta, written by Carl Wolgemuth. Here’s the link: http://www.ualberta.ca/~csmackay/Mecayapan.pdf

M

Mexicolore

Thanks, Kurt. This is indeed another useful resource, if a bit ‘dry’. It’s the work of the (evangelistic) Summer Institute of Linguistics.

S

Steve

27th Mar 2014

There was a bit of a mix-up. The course is still available, but I had to pay more for shipping. It is very good.

M

Mexicolore

Thanks, Steve. That’s good news...

A

Adrian

15th Feb 2014

Want to learn nahuatl? I’d like to teach via Skype. Please contact me at jadrian.perezr@gmail.com
PS I’m from Mexico

S

Steve

14th Feb 2014

Unfortunately, the Foundation Course in Nahuatl Grammar is no longer available from SUNY Potsdam.

M

Mexicolore

This is disappointing news - we’ll try and find out if it’s available by another route - but thanks, Steve, for letting everyone know...

g

grecia

24th Jun 2013

where is a good place to study Nahuatl in Mexico? thank you

M

Mexicolore

We suggest at IDIEZ in Zacatecas (see this page). Unfortunately (June 2013) their website is still ‘down’...

Z

ZeVs

7th Jun 2013

The www.macehualli.org website is down. Do you know anyone at IDIEZ that we could contact? Thank you very much.

M

Mexicolore

This is, maddeningly, not the first time their website has been down. The person we know best is the director, Professor John Sullivan. We’re sure that soon the site will be back up. Meanwhile we’ll send you a contact email address privately.

Z

ZeVs

4th Jun 2013

Hello. Do you know teachers in Spain or teachers able to provide online classes (with skype for example) ? Thank you very much.

M

Mexicolore

We don’t know any in Spain (though will search...); for classes by Skype we recommend IDIEZ in Zacatecas, Mexico (www.macehualli.org).

Z

Zvs

25th Jan 2013

Hello. Do you know of any Nahuatl teacher in France ? Thank you very much.

M

Mexicolore

Sorry to say we don’t. Italy, yes! Sounds as if there’s plenty of scope for Náhuatl teachers here in Europe...

s

seth wolitz

10th Aug 2012

Another book for learning Nahuatl that is easily accessible in French and now in English {Cambridge U. P.) is Launey, Michel, An Introduction to Classical Nahuatl.

M

Mexicolore

Cheers, Seth, thanks for this tip. We know that Frances Karttunen and several other Náhuatl scholars are admirers of Launey’s work. The English version of this book only came out in the last year or so.

K

Katia H

9th Aug 2012

It would be great to locate a Nahuatl teacher in the UK, but I’m sorry I can’t help. I’m interested in the Nahuatl language, and it would be great to be able to listen to naturally spoken Nahuatl in order to get the “feel” of the language. Many would agree that the pronunciation of the Mexica words is complicated. Are there any sites or videos of the spoken language?

M

Mexicolore

IDIEZ have uploaded some lovely, simple, very short instructional videos (greetings, counting, etc.) with subtitles on Youtube: search for ‘IDIEZ Nahuatl’.

T

Tecpaocelotl

8th Aug 2012

I think the best thing to do is explain which dialects of Nahuatl the books are.

Want to LEARN Náhuatl?

Recommended books for learning Nahuatl

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