Etymology

Several etymologies for this name have been proposed:

• Perhaps the most well-known is where it is said to derive from Mayan, being either tectetan, meaning “I do not understand you” or uyutan, uyukatan, or yukutan, “listen to them talk!”.
• Bernal Diaz derived the name from the vegetable yuca + tale a hillock in which it is planted.
• Perhaps more likely is the derivation from Nahuatl yohcāuh ‘possession, riches’ + tlān ‘place of’.