Abstract

HERNANDEZ TRIVINO, Ascensión. Chocolate: The Story of a Nahuatlism. Estud. cult. náhuatl [online]. 2013, vol.46, pp.37-87. ISSN 0071-1675.

The word chocolate, which gives name to the most famous beverage of the new World, has been enigmatic. Its etymology and origin have been the subject of discussion and there is no text or source about it until the decade of 1570. Long before, the word cacáhuatl was used meaning "cacao water" to name another beverage exclusive of the pipiltin. In this paper, the etymology, origin and diffusion of the word chocolate are investigated. The author proposes it is derived from chocóllatl, a word that, according to the proto-physician Francisco Hernández, referred to the beverages made with cacao.

Keywords : cacao; cacáhuatl; xócoatl; chocolate; molinillo; metate; xícara; chile.

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