chocolate

Where does the word "chocolate" come from? It comes from Nahuatl xocolātl, passing through Spanish and French before entering English (c. 1650s).

Chocolate’s story begins in Nahuatl: xocolātl meant “bitter water.” An Aztec drink made from bitter, unsweetened cacao. By c. 1520s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as chocolate. Conquistadors brought the drink and word back to Spain. From there it passed into French as chocolat by c. 1600s. The drink became fashionable in the French court. It reached English by c. 1650s as chocolate. Entered English as chocolate houses opened in London. Today, chocolate means a sweet food or drink made from roasted, ground cacao beans.

1. Stage 1 · Nahuatl · pre-1500s xocolātl "bitter water", an Aztec drink made from bitter, unsweetened cacao.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · c. 1520s chocolate "a cacao-based drink", conquistadors brought the drink and word back to Spain.
3. Stage 3 · French · c. 1600s chocolat "a cacao-based drink", the drink became fashionable in the French court.
4. Stage 4 · English · c. 1650s chocolate "a sweet food or drink made from cacao", entered English as chocolate houses opened in London.