tlaloc: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowAcademic/Specialist
Quick answer
What does “tlaloc” mean?
The Aztec god of rain, fertility, and water.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The Aztec god of rain, fertility, and water.
A specific deity in Mesoamerican mythology associated with rainfall, agricultural fertility, storms, and sometimes also with mountains and caves; often depicted with goggle eyes and fanged teeth.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage; spelling and pronunciation are standardised as a borrowed term.
Connotations
Both varieties use the term with the same academic/historical connotations.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties, confined to specialist discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “tlaloc” in a Sentence
[Proper noun] (subject/object of worship/study)[Noun phrase] of TlalocTlaloc + [verb (past tense)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in anthropology, history, religious studies, and archaeology papers discussing Mesoamerican culture.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in archaeological site descriptions, museum catalogues, and scholarly texts on pre-Columbian civilisations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tlaloc”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tlaloc”
- Pronouncing the 't' and 'l' separately instead of as a voiceless alveolar lateral affricate /tɬ/.
- Treating it as a common noun (e.g., 'a tlaloc').
- Misspelling as 'Taloc' or 'Tlalock'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The pronunciation begins with a sound not common in English, a voiceless alveolar lateral affricate /tɬ/, followed by 'ah' and 'lok'. In English, it's often simplified to /ˈtlɑː.lɒk/ (UK) or /ˈtlɑ.lɑk/ (US).
No, active worship of Tlaloc as a state deity ended with the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. However, some contemporary indigenous communities may preserve related folk traditions or syncretic beliefs.
No, it is exclusively a proper noun (the name of a specific god). It is not capitalised in some academic writing styles when used generically (e.g., 'tlaloc figures'), but this is a stylistic choice.
Primary sources include Aztec codices (e.g., the Codex Borgia), Spanish colonial accounts (e.g., by Bernardino de Sahagún), and archaeological evidence from temples and offerings.
The Aztec god of rain, fertility, and water.
Tlaloc is usually academic/specialist in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'TLA' (like 'Atlantis' water) + 'LOC' (location of rain). Tlaloc controls the location of rain.
Conceptual Metaphor
RAIN IS A DEITY; FERTILITY IS A DIVINE GIFT.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the word 'Tlaloc' most commonly used?