Over the past few months I’ve been reflecting a lot on the roots of words. In particular, I’ve had a couple of conversations in worship settings connected to the word ruwach (roo’-akh) from the Hebrew, which means wind, breath, mind, spirit. This is the word used in Genesis when God gave us the breath of life. If looking closely at all of what this word could imply, it can also mean spirit. God gave us the Spirit of life, God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, from the beginning. 

Understanding where words come from cannot only give us a better understanding of what the original authors may have wanted to communicate; it also honors the culture where they come from. It validates the origins — the nativity of the subject. Nevertheless, even when we take a look at the etymology of words, it has been my experience that we tend to have a very Eurocentric focus when we do it.

We highlight Greek and Latin etymologies as if they were the roots of all languages. We continue to center these etymologies in science as a way to classify all things existing. Yet we know, or should know, that there were people naming things long before these two languages became the “standard.” We also tend to be easily satisfied by being provided an English equivalent, such as the example above, even when it may not fully convey the meaning of the word, and much of the content may be lost in that inadequate translation.

I did not study Hebrew in theology school and I only audited Greek, but I would like to invite you in honoring my roots. The words used to name beloved foods that are shared around the world and have their origins in indigenous languages from the Americas. 

1. Tomato

Tomatoes have become a staple worldwide. They are relatively easy to grow and are delicious both fresh and cooked. But did you know that tomatoes are native to the Americas?  Their name comes from Nahuatl word tomatl. “Today, there are more than 10,000 varieties of tomatoes.”

2. Maize

A Taino word that literally translates as “what sustains life,” maize can be used interchangeably with corn. Although corn is native to Mexico, the name that became the most popular for it has its roots in a language from the Bahamas and Antilles (today Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Mahís was the word the Spaniards heard to refer to corn when they first stopped in the Caribbean islands, and the word fascinated them. By the time the Spaniards arrived in Mexico, they were familiar with maize, and it made sense that for the indigenous people in Mexico that the word also meant “sustenance.”

3. Chocolate

This is another Nahuatl word with a “tl” ending, which is very common in that language. Chocolate has been adapted in many languages and become a favorite of many around the world. It comes from xocoatl: xoco (bitter) and atl (water). The Spaniards made it phonetically match their language by changing it to chocolate. This term specifically referred to a drink that was made with the cocoa beans and water. Nonetheless, the meaning  expanded over time. The word cocoa, or in Spanish cacao, also derives from the Nahuatl words cacahoatl or cacahuatl, which mean “bitter juice.”

4. Chili

Chili is an interesting word because it is exactly the same in Nahuatl, its root language, as in English. However, it is spelled chile in Spanish and sounds different than its original. It, of course, refers to those spicy (or not so spicy) peppers that some people like using in cooking. 

5. Chiclets (chewing gum)

You may remember in the days of your youth looking forward to getting some chiclets from the store. These small white, rectangular-shaped chewing gum tablets get their name from the Spanish “chicle.” Even so, the Spanish also didn’t come up with that funky name for gum. Some say the word comes from the Nahuatl tzictli, which can mean “sticky stuff.” Others say it could come from the Mayan word tsicte. Both cultures used gum (harvested from trees) for multiple purposes, including freshening up breath and appealing hunger. Sound familiar?