Standard Lemma guide

nahual

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /nəˈwɑːl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An animal form which a person may take.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, mysticism, mythology, philosophy, sciences

Examples

  • She has a nahual for every day of the week.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A person who is able to take an animal form.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: Mesoamerican mythology

Topics: human-sciences, mysticism, mythology, philosophy, sciences

Examples

  • They suspected that the man was a nahual.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish nahual, from Classical Nahuatl nāhualli (“sorcerer, spirit, animal form a person may take”).