chiuc-

Classical Nahuatl

Etymology

According to Andrews, from the adverb chico (“to one side”), that is, “the count on one hand; five”.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [t͡ʃikʷ-]

Prefix

chiuc-

(added to numerals) five

Usage notes

This prefix is found only in the compound numerals chicuacē (“six”), chicōme (“seven”), chicuēyi (“eight”) and chiucnāhui (“nine”).
Of the four numerals formed on the base of chiuc-, two are seemingly irregular:

chicuacē (“six”), extended from chiuc- + cē (“one”), which would otherwise yield *chiuccē.

chicōme (“seven”), from chiuc- + ōme (“two”), which would yield *chicuōme, but reduced as the sequence *cuo is impossible in Classical Nahuatl.

Derived terms

Classical Nahuatl terms prefixed with chiuc-

References

J. Richard Andrews (2003) Introduction to Classical Nahuatl, Revised Edition, University of Oklahoma Press, page 310