What is the word origin of chocolate?

Answer 1

The Nahuatl language of Mexico is the source of the word "chocolate."

Specifically, the original Nahuatl word is "xocolātl." Its original meaning is "bitter water." The word became one of worldwide recognition with the interactions between the ancient Aztec Empire and explorers and settlers from Spain in the 16th century.

Answer 2

Chocolate (The item and material) Chocolate originated in South America, where it was made from Cocoa beans (native to the Cacao tree). Chocolate (The word) In 1604, the Nahuatl word "xococ" came into place -- it meant "bitter" and "water." Soon after came the Nahuatl word "xocolatl," with a similar meaning ("bitter" and "water"). In 1780, the spanish word "Chocolate" came about, to define the sweet modern taste we know to be chocolate today.

It was first cultivated sometime around 1100 BCE but both Aztecs and Mayans had their own word for such beverage:

• Aztec: xocolatl
• Maya: chocolha

Both mean 'bitter water'.

Answer

It came from ancient Mesoamerican languages, either Nahuatl (xocolatl) or Maya (chocolha). Both mean "bitter water", as the way of taking chocolate didn't include milk, but water, and had no sugar.

After the conquest of Mexico, Spanish conquistadors took the literal, untranslated version of the name and added it to their own language, which was a common practice at the time. Some other examples include "aguacate" (Nahuatl: ahuacatl) or "jitomate" (Nahuatl: xictli + tomatl). Both mean avocado and tomato, respectively.

Then, the name "chocolate" was adopted into English from Spanish, as many other words, such as adobe, salsa or guerrilla.

Answer 3

It was first cultivated sometime around 1100 BC but both Aztecs and Mayans had their own word for such beverage:

Aztec: xocolatl

Maya: chocolha

Both mean 'bitter water'.