nagual

[ nah-gwahl, -wahl ]

/ nɑˈgwɑl, -ˈwɑl /

Save This Word!

noun

a guardian spirit among Mexican and Central American Indians, believed to reside in an animal.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

Origin of nagual

<Mexican Spanish nagual, nahual<Nahuatl nāhualli

na·gual·ism, noun

Nagual is the name by which the sorcerers of Mexico, Indians and aborigines of America, are still designated.
From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan|Helena Pretrovna Blavatsky
For a nagual, as I have shown, is one thing and a totem is another; nor am I aware that Zulus are totemists.
Modern Mythology|Andrew Lang
From this occurrence it will easily be gathered that it is highly dangerous to kill a tamaniu, nagual, or manitou.
Human Animals|Frank Hamel
The form nagual instead of nahual, or naual, or nawal has been generally adopted and should be preferred.
Nagualism|Daniel G. Brinton

It is not impossible that tona is itself a compound root, including the monosyllabic radical na, which is at the basis of nagual.
Nagualism|Daniel G. Brinton