
Is Otomi a Aztec?
The Otomi or Otontin were an elite Aztec military order, named after the Otomi people. The Otomies (Otontin [21]) were another warrior society who took their name after the Otomi people who were renowned for their fierce fighting.
Where are the Otomi people in Mexico?
The Otomí individuals presented in this study are from an area that spans three modern Mexican states, including Hidalgo, Querétaro, and Guanajuato (Figure 1). However, Otomí satellite groups are also found in Puebla, Mexico, Tlaxcala, and Michoacán. Together, these areas form the Central Mexican Valley.
What are the Otomi known for?
Artistically, the Otomi are known for intricately embroidered cloth, made popular around the world during the 1960s, and their tradition of papermaking dating back at least 1,100 years. Both their paper and the fig trees they prefer to use for bark in making paper are called amate.
What language do Otomi people speak?
Querétaro's most prominent indigenous group are the Otomí. The Otomí have inhabited central Mexico for thousands of years and have preserved their language to this day. Otomí is part of the Oto-Manguean language family. Most Otomí speakers are bilingual and speak Spanish as well as Otomí.
Do Otomí still exist?
The Otomi currently occupy a fragmented territory that extends through the states of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Tlaxcala, Puebla and Veracruz. All these states are located in the heart of the Mexican Republic and concentrate most of the country's population.
What is the meaning of Otomí?
Definition of 'Otomi' 1. a member of a Native American people of south-central Mexico.
What is Otomi style?
Otomi embroidery is the Mexican embroidery style known as "Tenangos", using vibrant colors, and unique floral and animal designs. Each Otomi piece is hand embroidered on Ivory muslin by Otomi artisans.
How do you say Otomi?
0:051:00How To Say Otomi - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clip8000 8000 8000 how to me 8000 8000.More8000 8000 8000 how to me 8000 8000.
Is Otomi a Nahua?
It is a designation that includes the more sedentary peoples whom the Nahuas called the Otomí, Mazahua, Matlatzinca, and Ocuilteca, particularly numerous in the Valley of Toluca, plus other sedentary and less sedentary groups in what are now the states of México, Hidalgo, Querétaro, and San Luis Potosí, including the ...
How do you say dog in Otomí?
Welcome to our Otomi vocabulary page! Otomi is an Oto-Manguean language, related to other languages like Mazahua and Chinanteco....Otomi Word Set.English (Français)Otomi wordsDog (Chien)'Yó'Sun (Soleil)HiέdiMoon (Lune)ZŏnWater (Eau)Déhé7 more rows
How do you say good morning in Otomí?
Some phrases in OtomiZenjua Ki - Hello (I salute you)Magö - Goodbye.Ki hats'i / Ki hax'ajuä - Good morning.Ki de / Mö'kjä - Good afternoon.Mö'kjä - Good evening.Bänte - Please.(Dunthi di) jamadi - Thank you (very much)Di Ma'i (Ndunthi) - I love you (a lot)More items...•
Is Hidalgo a Aztec?
In the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries, Hidalgo was conquered by the Mexica and incorporated into the Aztec Empire.
What tribe is from Guanajuato Mexico?
The Guamare people were an indigenous people of Mexico, who were established mostly in Guanajuato and at the border of Jalisco. They were part of the Chichimecas, a group of a nomadic hunter-gatherer culture and called themselves Children of the Wind, living religiously from the natural land.
How do you say Otomi?
0:051:00How To Say Otomi - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clip8000 8000 8000 how to me 8000 8000.More8000 8000 8000 how to me 8000 8000.
Are Otomi Nahuas?
It is a designation that includes the more sedentary peoples whom the Nahuas called the Otomí, Mazahua, Matlatzinca, and Ocuilteca, particularly numerous in the Valley of Toluca, plus other sedentary and less sedentary groups in what are now the states of México, Hidalgo, Querétaro, and San Luis Potosí, including the ...
Where do the Nahua live?
The Nahuas (/ˈnɑːwɑːz/) are a group of the indigenous people of Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. They comprise the largest indigenous group in Mexico and second largest in El Salvador.
Where did the word "otomi" come from?
Otomi comes from the Nahuatl word otomitl, which in turn possibly derived from an older word, totomitl "shooter of birds." It is an exonym; the Otomi refer to their language as Hñähñú, Hñähño, Hñotho, Hñähü, Hñätho, Hyųhų, Yųhmų, Ñųhų, Ñǫthǫ, or Ñañhų, depending on the dialect. Most of those forms are composed of two morphemes, meaning "speak" and "well" respectively.
Where is the Otomi language spoken?
Otomi ( / ˌoʊtəˈmiː /; Spanish: Otomí [otoˈmi]) is an Oto-Pamean language family spoken by approximately 240,000 indigenous Otomi people in the central altiplano region of Mexico. Otomi consists of several closely related languages, many of which are not mutually intelligible.
How many tones are there in Otomi?
All Otomi languages are tonal, and most varieties have three tones, high, low and rising. One variety of the Sierra dialect, that of San Gregorio, has been analyzed as having a fourth, falling tone. In Mezquital Otomi, suffixes are never specified for tone, while in Tenango Otomi, the only syllables not specified for tone are prepause syllables and the last syllable of polysyllabic words.
How many nasal vowels does Otomi have?
The different dialects have between three and five nasal vowels. In addition to the four nasal vowels of proto-Otomi, some dialects have /õ/.
What is the Otomi language?
Grammar also distinguishes between inclusive 'we' and exclusive 'we' . After the Spanish conquest, Otomi became a written language when friars taught the Otomi to write the language using the Latin script; colonial period's written language is often called Classical Otomi.
How many Otomi speakers are there in Mexico?
Currently, Otomi dialects are spoken by circa 239,000 speakers—some 5 to 6 percent of whom are monolingual —in widely scattered districts (see map). The highest concentration of speakers is found in the Valle de Mezquital region of Hidalgo and the southern portion of Querétaro. Some municipalities have concentrations of Otomi speakers as high as 60–70%. Because of recent migratory patterns, small populations of Otomi speakers can be found in new locations throughout Mexico and the United States. In the second half of the 20th century, speaker populations began to increase again, although at a slower pace than the general population. While absolute numbers of Otomi speakers continue to rise, their numbers relative to the Mexican population are falling.
What did the Otomis learn during the colonial period?
During the colonial period, many Otomis learned to read and write their language. Consequently, a significant number of Otomi documents exist from the period, both secular and religious, the most well-known of which are the Codices of Huichapan and Jilotepec.
What are the Otomi people?
The Otomi people were an indigenous people who settled the lands of Mexico hundreds of years before Europeans (specifically Spaniards), began to arrive . They fought for survival during their subjugation by conquering other indigenous Indian tribes, and finally the Spanish conquerors, where they were virtual slaves as part of the encomienda system. They were rewarded for their resilience with land of their own in the 20th century, but the legacy of outside forces had already left its mark on the tribe. Their native religion has become a mix of traditional beliefs eroded with Roman Catholicism. Perhaps this flexibility and willingness to accept change are one of the reasons that the Otomi are still a vibrant part of the Mexican landscape.
Where did the Otomi people settle?
After a brief settlement in the Valley of Toluca, the Otomi people built the city of Xaltocan in the northern region. Unfortunately, their autonomy was short-lived and they were overrun by invaders by 1395. The resilient Otomi picked up the pieces and continued to the north and east, where they became subjects of the mighty Aztec empire. Fortunately for the Otomi, their settled land was not of much value to the mighty Aztecs, so they were mostly left alone and simply gave tribute to the ruling empire.
What did the Otomi do to the Spaniards?
Silver was discovered in the area, and the Otomi began to slave away for the Spaniards in the mines. Can you imagine how difficult it would be to work in a deep underground mine for many hours a day with no wages? During this time period, the Spaniards had implemented the encomienda system, which granted most colonizing Spaniards with a set amount of native laborers. These workers, in return for an education in the Spanish language, protection from other tribes and a conversion to the Christian faith, gave these conquerors tributes of food or precious metals. This system was inherently flawed and in many cases the native workers, including the Otomi people, were treated as slaves and worked relentlessly.
What did the Otomi people do to help the Spaniards?
The Otomi people even assisted the Spaniards in their conquest towards other indigenous tribes. The Spaniards, far from the benevolent force the Otomi people thought of them, by the beginning of the 18th century, began to subjugate and virtually enslave all indigenous people.
How did the Otomi survive?
Now, the Otomi survive on farming and livestock.
What religion do the Otomi believe?
After they were conquered by the Spaniards, many of the Otomi were converted, often forcibly, into the Christian faith. As a result, many modern-day Otomi people have adopted many themes of Christianity, more specifically principles from Roman Catholicism, into their religious lives. They especially value the concept of godparents; when adults other than a child's parents, offer to help with the Catholic education and upbringing of a child. This mesh of religions is a testament to the incredible way that the Otomi have stayed loyal to their past, while still accepting the changes that their current circumstances have thrust upon them.
What are the Otomi's beliefs?
Due to their history of colonization, the Otomi's religious beliefs have become an interesting mix of native rituals and beliefs with traces of Christianity included. The basis of their native religion centers around their livelihood of agriculture and land cultivation. Many of their spiritual deities and practices involve their major crops, as well as natural occurrences such as wind, rain, and sunshine. They often create symbols for their spirits out of paper and tree bark. These objects are used by shamans, or holy men, in religious ceremonies, as well as for offerings. These offerings often ranged from a prayer for the healing of a sick relative, to the plea for an end of drought.
Who were the Otomi?
One famous member of the Otomi was Tzilacatzin .
What is the military name for the Otomi?
Otomi (military) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Jump to navigation Jump to search. The Otomi or Otontin were an elite Aztec military order, named after the Otomi people . The Otomies (Otontin [21]) were another warrior society who took their name after the Otomi people who were renowned for their fierce fighting.
What are the Otomi people known for?
One great example comes from the Otomi people of the central Mexican Plateau. The Otomi have developed an international reputation for their textiles, sometimes called Otomi fabrics and sometimes called tenangos after the valley where many Otomi people live. These textiles have become a major product associated with Mexico, giving the Otomi a bit more recognition in the land of the Maya and Aztecs.
What is the Otomi style?
Hand-sewn designs are embroidered onto existing fabrics in generally brightly colored geometric or representative shapes. Images of animals and plants are very common, as are abstract geometric patterns. This style of embroidery produces textiles that are bright, complex, and lively and that have become a major source of fascination both in and outside of Mexico.
What is Otomi embroidery?
The Otomi textiles themselves are defined not by the way they are woven or dyed but by the process of embroidery. Hand-sewn designs are embroidered onto existing fabrics in generally brightly colored geometric or representative shapes. Images of animals and plants are very common, as are abstract geometric patterns.
Where did Tenangos come from?
So, where does this tradition come from? As opposed to many folk crafts that aim to preserve ancient traditions as accurately as possible, tenangos and Otomi textiles in general are living arts that blend historic and modern arts. The forms and shapes embroidered into Otomi textiles have ancient roots, dating back even before the rise of the Aztec Empire. According to many stories, these shapes were preserved in prehistoric cave paintings of the Mexican Plateau, giving artists of each generation a template from which to base their designs. Whatever the exact origins, Otomi designs symbolize the harmony between humans and the natural world and contain symbols connecting to ancient Otomi myths, stories, and rituals.

Overview
Otomi is an Oto-Pamean language family spoken by approximately 240,000 indigenous Otomi people in the central altiplano region of Mexico. Otomi consists of several closely related languages, many of which are not mutually intelligible. The word Hñähñu [hɲɑ̃hɲṹ] has been proposed as an endonym, but since it represents the usage of a single dialect, it has not gained wide currency. Lingu…
Name
Otomi comes from the Nahuatl word otomitl, which in turn possibly derived from an older word, totomitl "shooter of birds." It is an exonym; the Otomi refer to their language as Hñähñú, Hñähño, Hñotho, Hñähü, Hñätho, Hyųhų, Yųhmų, Ñųhų, Ñǫthǫ, or Ñañhų, depending on the dialect. Most of those forms are composed of two morphemes, meaning "speak" and "well" respectively.
The word Otomi entered the Spanish language through Nahuatl and describes the larger Otomi
History
The Oto-Pamean languages are thought to have split from the other Oto-Manguean languages around 3500 BC. Within the Otomian branch, Proto-Otomi seems to have split from Proto-Mazahua ca. 500 AD. Around 1000 AD, Proto-Otomi began diversifying into the modern Otomi varieties. Much of central Mexico was inhabited by speakers of the Oto-Pamean languages before the ar…
Classification
The Otomi language belongs to the Oto-Pamean branch of the Oto-Manguean languages. Within Oto-Pamean, it is part of the Otomian subgroup, which also includes Mazahua.
Otomi has traditionally been described as a single language, although its many dialects are not all mutually intelligible. SIL International's Ethnologue consider…
Phonology
The following phonological description is that of the dialect of San Ildefonso Tultepec, Querétaro, similar to the system found in the Valle del Mezquital variety, which is the most widely spoken Otomian variety.
The phoneme inventory of the Proto-Otomi language from which all modern varieties have descended has been reconstructed as /p t k (kʷ) ʔ b d ɡ t͡s ʃ h z …
Orthography
In this article, the orthography of Lastra (various, including 1996, 2006) is employed which marks syllabic tone. The low tone is unmarked (a), the high level tone is marked with the acute accent (á), and the rising tone with the caron (ǎ). Nasal vowels are marked with a rightward curving hook (ogonek) at the bottom of the vowel letter: į, ę, ą, ų. The letter c denotes [t͡s], y denotes [j], the p…
Grammar
The morphosyntactic typology of Otomi displays a mixture of synthetic and analytic structures. The phrase level morphology is synthetic, and the sentence level is analytic. Simultaneously, the language is head-marking in terms of its verbal morphology, and its nominal morphology is more analytic.
According to the most common analysis, Otomi has two kinds of bound morphemes, proclitics a…
Vocabulary
There are also considerable lexical differences between the Otomi dialects. Often terms will be shared between the eastern and southwestern dialects, while the northwestern dialects tend toward more innovative forms.
Otomi languages have borrowed words from both Spanish and Nahuatl. The phonological structure of loanwords is assimilated to Otomi phonology. Since Otomi lacks the trill /r/, this sou…
An Ancient and Widespread Culture
- The Otomi group inhabited a discontinuous territory covering a large area in Central Mexico. Their language, while unique, is related to many of the other languages of the region, which speaks of long development and interaction with the other peoples of Mexico. In all, it seems they occupied the volcanicbelt which crosses Mexico for several millen...
History of The Otomi
- It is fair to say that the Otomi were poorly treated by those who neighbored them. They seem to have been peaceful pastoralists, able to expand and diversify due to their domestication of maize, beans and other crops. Where exactly they came from is disputed, but by the 5th millennium BC they were established in central Mexico, where they may indeed have been the first people to col…
Where Do They Fit Into Mesoamerican History?
- The Otomi were certainly grand on the same scale as the civilizations which subjugated them. While their cities were co-opted by the Aztecs of other invasive peoples, they too did build grand monuments, pyramids and palaceswhich are only now being rediscovered. Their lives however were based on subsistence farming and livestock raising. They dealt in staple crops like maize, …
References
- Wikipedia, 2022. Otomi. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otomi Encyclopedia Brittanica, 2022. Otomi. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Otomi Moran, M, 2022. Otomi Tribe: History and Religion. Available at: https://study.com/academy/lesson/otomi-tribe-history-religion.html