chicle (Spanish)

Where does "chicle" come from?

The word 'chicle' traces its origins to the Classical Nahuatl word 'tzictli'. Borrowed from this indigenous Nahuan language into Spanish, it was originally used to describe the sticky, resinous sap that serves as the base for chewing gum.

Full etymology tree

• chicle (Spanish), 'chewing gum'
  • borrowed tzictli (Classical Nahuatl), 'Chicle.'

Cognates and doublets

• tzictli (Classical Nahuatl)

Descendants and derived words

• xicle (Catalan)
• chicle (English)
• chiclero (Spanish)
• chiclero (Spanish)
• chicloso (Spanish)
• chicloso (Spanish)
• شكلي (Tunisian Arabic)

Updated July 2026

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