different between nahual vs nahualism

English

Alternative forms

• nagual

Etymology

From Spanish nahual, from Classical Nahuatl n?hualli (“sorcerer, spirit, animal form a person may take”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /n??w??l/

Noun

nahual (plural nahuals)

1. (in Mesoamerican mythology) An animal form which a person may take.

   She has a nahual for every day of the week.

2. (in Mesoamerican mythology) A person who is able to take an animal form.

   They suspected that the man was a nahual.

Derived terms

• nahualism

See also

• narnauk
• skinwalker
• tonal

Spanish

Alternative forms

• nagual

Etymology

From Classical Nahuatl n?hualli (“sorcerer”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /na?wal/, [na?wal]

• IPA^(key): /na??wal/, [na???wal]
• Rhymes: -al

Noun

nahual m (plural nahuales)

1. (Central America, Mexico) sorcerer

   Synonyms: brujo, hechicero

2. (Central America, Mexico) healer, witch doctor

   Synonym: curandero

3. (in Mesoamerican mythology) nahual (animal form which a person may take)

   Synonym: tonal

4. (in Mesoamerican mythology) nahual (person able to take animal form)

Descendants

• ? English: nahual

References

• “nahual” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.
• Carlos Montemayor et al. (2009) Diccionario del náhuatl en el español de México, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, page 93

English

Alternative forms

• nagualism

Etymology

nahual +? -ism. The first element is from Nahuatl nahualli (“sorcerer, spirit, animal form a person may take”).

Noun

nahualism (uncountable)

1. The Mesoamerican belief that (certain) human beings can transform into animals.

See also

• nahual (nagual)
• tonal (tona, tonalli)
• skinwalking