mictlan

Central Nahuatl

Noun

mictlan

1. The underworld of Aztec mythology.

Classical Nahuatl

Etymology

From miqui (“to die”) +‎ -tlān (“place”). The term was equated with the Christian conception of hell following the Spanish conquest.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈmik.t͡ɬaːn]

Noun

mictlān (locative)

1. The underworld of Aztec mythology.
   • 1555, Alonso de Molina, Aqui comienca vn vocabulario en la lengua castellana y mexicana, f. 149r:

     Ynfierno lugar de dañados.  mictlan. mictlactli. [sic]

     Hell, the place of the damned. mictlan. mictlantli.

   • 1571, Alonso de Molina, Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana, f. 75r. col. 2:

     Ynfierno,lugar de dañados.mictlan. mictlantli.

     Hell, the place of the damned. mictlan. mictlantli.

   • Idem, f. 56r. col. 2.

     Mictlan.infierno, o enel infierno, o al infierno.

     Mictlan. hell, or in hell, or toward hell.

2. (by extension) underworld (part of society engaged in crime or vice)

Derived terms

• mictlāmpa
• mictlāncāyōtl
• Mictlāntēuctli
• mictlāntli

Related terms

• miquiztli

References

• Alonso de Molina (1571), Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana, Editorial Porrúa, pages 75, 56