You might not realise you're speaking an 'Aztec language' every day

Have you ever stopped to think about the distance between us and those ancient, vanished civilisations?

We often think that civilisations like the Aztec only exist in history books and museums – mysterious, distant, and utterly unrelated to our lives.

But what if I told you that you don't just know an Aztec language, but you might even be "speaking" it every single day?

Hold up, don't be too quick to doubt it. Let's start with something you definitely know: chocolate.

The ancient language you've been "tasting" all along

Imagine chocolate is your favourite treat. You're familiar with its smooth richness, its delightful flavour, the happiness it brings. But have you ever wondered where the word itself came from?

The word "chocolate" comes from Nahuatl, the language spoken by the Aztecs – specifically, "xocolātl", meaning "bitter water". That's right, it's from the same civilisation that created magnificent pyramids.

And our everyday avocado? Also from Nahuatl's "āhuacatl". As for tomato, it's from "tomatl".

It's like spending your whole life eating your favourite dish, only to suddenly discover one day that its secret recipe included a crucial, ancient spice you'd never heard of. You haven't "discovered" a new flavour; you've simply come to understand its origin. And your relationship with that dish deepens from then on.

These words we take for granted are Nahuatl's "secret spices", quietly hidden in our lives. It's not dead, nor is it out of reach. It lives on our dinner tables, alive on our taste buds.

Language isn't a museum fossil, but a flowing river

What's most surprising is that Nahuatl doesn't just live in etymology.

It's not a "dead language".

Today, in Mexico, over one and a half million people still speak Nahuatl as their first language. That number even surpasses the official language populations of some European countries.

They use this language to think, to compose poetry, to tell stories, and to chat with their families. It's not an artefact displayed in a glass cabinet, but a vibrant, surging river that continues to flow.

We often have a misconception that there are only a few "important" languages in the world, while others, especially Indigenous languages, are like flickering candle flames, fragile and distant.

But the truth is, the world is full of "hidden gems" like Nahuatl. They've shaped our world and enriched our culture, yet we often overlook them.

From "knowing a word" to "knowing a person"

Knowing the origin of the word "chocolate" is an interesting piece of trivia. But the true significance of this goes far beyond that.

It reminds us that the world is smaller than we think, and far more interconnected. There have always been invisible threads connecting us to cultures that seem "exotic".

True exploration isn't about exoticising a distant culture, but about discovering the connections we share with it.

In the past, communicating with a Nahuatl speaker was almost unthinkable. But today, technology is breaking down those once-impenetrable barriers. We no longer need to be linguists to bridge language divides and get to know a living, breathing person.

Tools like Lingogram, with their powerful built-in AI translation, allow you to easily converse with people from any corner of the world. It's not just about translating text; it's about opening a window for you to see firsthand, and hear firsthand, the real lives and thoughts of another culture.

Imagine connecting with a Nahuatl speaker from Mexico through chat. You no longer just "know" a word; you "know" a person. You learn about their life, their humour, their perspective on the world.

In that moment, an "ancient language" transforms into a warm, personal connection.

Your world can be more expansive than you imagine

Next time you savour chocolate, or add avocado to your salad, I hope you'll remember the story behind it.

This isn't just a fun fact about language.

It's a reminder: our world is full of forgotten treasures and overlooked voices. True wisdom isn't about conquering the unknown, but about listening and connecting with humility and curiosity.

The world isn't a flat map of countries, but a vibrant, three-dimensional tapestry woven from countless unique voices.

Now, go forth and listen.