chocolate (English)

Where does "chocolate" come from?

The word "chocolate" entered English from Spanish, which borrowed it from the Classical Nahuatl term "chocolatl." This Nahuatl word is thought to combine elements meaning "hot" or refer to a wooden stirring stick used in preparation. While the exact roots are debated, one theory connects it to Yucatec Maya "chocol," meaning "hot." Over time, "chocolate" came to describe both the beloved sweet food and drink made from roasted cocoa beans.

Full etymology tree

• chocolate (English), 'A food made from ground roasted cocoa beans.'
  • borrowed from chocolatl (Central Nahuatl), 'chocolate'
  • borrowed from chocol (yua)

Direct ancestors

• chocolate (Spanish)
• ātl (Classical Nahuatl)

Updated February 2026

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris