The huēhuētl in Nahuatl languages pronounced as /ˈweːweːt͡ɬ/ is a percussion instrument from Mexico, used by the Aztecs and other cultures. It is an upright tubular drum made from a wooden body opened at the bottom that stands on three legs cut from its base, with skin stretched over the top. It can be beaten by hand or wood mallet.
This ancient percussion instrument originated from Mesoamerica and was often used by the Aztecs and Tarascan.[1] The huehuetl were used during festivals such as warrior gatherings. The drum itself is made from hollowed tree trunks and thus, came in different sizes. Carvings of animals, faces or warriors were also often carved into the base of the drum. The skin used for the top of the drum was mainly from ocelots.[2] Currently, there are still groups of musicians who use huehuetls to perform Aztec music.
| Terminology[3] | 1st Component | 2nd Component | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Nahuatl | IPA | English | Nahuatl | IPA | English | Nahuatl | IPA |
| drum | huēhuētl | in Nahuatl languages pronounced as /ˈweːweːt͡ɬ/ | old (adjective) | huēhuē | in Nahuatl languages pronounced as /ˈweːweː/ | singular noun suffix | -tl | in Nahuatl languages pronounced as /t͡ɬ/ |
| medium size drum | panhuēhuētl | in Nahuatl languages pronounced as /panˈweːweːt͡ɬ/ | ||||||
| large drum | tlālpanhuēhuētl | in Nahuatl languages pronounced as /t͡ɬaːɬpanˈweːweːt͡ɬ/ | on the ground or throughout the country | tlālpan | in Nahuatl languages pronounced as /ˈt͡ɬaːɬpan/ | drum | huēhuētl | in Nahuatl languages pronounced as /ˈweːweːt͡ɬ/ |
| war drum | yāōhuēhuētl | in Nahuatl languages pronounced as /yaːoːˈweːweːt͡ɬ/ | war | yāōtl | in Nahuatl languages pronounced as /ˈjaːoːt͡ɬ/ | drum | huēhuētl | in Nahuatl languages pronounced as /ˈweːweːt͡ɬ/ |
| huēhuētl drummer | huēhuēhuah | in Nahuatl languages pronounced as /weːˈweːwaʔ/ | ||||||
| drumming | tlatzotzonalli | in Nahuatl languages pronounced as /t͡ɬat͡sot͡soˈnalːi/ | ||||||
| to drum | tlatzotzona | in Nahuatl languages pronounced as /t͡ɬat͡soˈt͡sona/ | ||||||
| musical instrument | tlatzotzonalōni | in Nahuatl languages pronounced as /t͡ɬat͡sot͡sonaˈloːni/ | ||||||