Classical Nahuatl

Suffix

-tzin

1. (added to nouns) An honorific suffix; denotes fondness, respect, reverence or submission on behalf of the speaker.
   • 1571: Alonso de Molina, Arte de la lengua mexicana y castellana, f. 12r.

     […] a los nombres propios, Subſtantiuos y Adjetiuos, q́ ſignifican coſas animadas, o inanimadas ſeles añade algunas vezez tzin, o tzintli. Y eſto acaece, para denotar buena crianza, corteſia, o reuerencia.

     To the proper nouns, nouns and adjectives that refer to animate or inanimate things is sometimes added tzin or tzintli. This happens in order to denote a noble upbringing, courtesy, or reverence.

   huentli ‎(“offering”) → huentzintli ‎(“sacrifice, sacrificial offering”)

   tonān ‎(“our mother”) → tonāntzin ‎(“our revered mother”)

   īyeliz ‎(“his, her, its nature”) → īyeliztzin in Dios ‎(“God's nature, godhood”)

2. (added to nouns) A diminutive suffix; forms nouns denoting smallness.

   pilli ‎(“child, youth”) → piltzintli ‎(“small child”)

   tletl ‎(“fire”) → tletzintli ‎(“small fire”)

Synonyms

• (diminutive suffix): -pīl, -tōn

Derived terms