Tsona:ka

/tsona:ka/ "bat" in two Nahuan languages: Tetelcingo, Morelos and Oapan, Guerrero.

Attestation: This form is attested in Tetelcingo, Morelos (<tzonöcatl> (Pittman 1971:67; Lastra 1986)), and as <conaka?> in San Agustín Oapan, Guerrero (Lastra 1986). The more widespread form is Tsina:ka, but the vowel seems related to tsotso another Nahuan word for "bat", attested primarily in the Huasteca region.

Etymology: It is derived from Pre-Nahua *tsoinaika, which in turn comes from PSUA *sopi(tsi) "bat" (or "butterfly") + PSUA *naika "mouse".

Nahuan: tsona:ka

Proto-Nahuan *tsona:ka

Pre-Nahuan *tsoi-naika

Pre-Corachol-Nahua *tsohi-naika

PSUA *sopi+*naika

How to cite:
Pharao Hansen, Magnus. 2026. Tsona:ka. In SUALEX: A Southern Uto-Aztecan Etymological Dictionary. https://sualex.cenzontle.org/index.php?title=Tsona:ka (accessed 20 April 2026).

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