Coatl Meaning: Nahuatl “Serpent” and the Aztec Day Sign

Quick answer: Coatl means “serpent” in Nahuatl. Coatl is also the fifth of the twenty day signs used in the 260-day Aztec calendar, where it is represented by a serpent. Serpent imagery appears widely in Mexica religion and art, including in the name Quetzalcoatl, the “feathered serpent”.

Coatl as an Aztec day sign

As a day sign Coatl appears in the codices as the head or body of a snake, and it combined with the numbers one to thirteen to name days, and people, in the 260-day calendar.

Serpents in Mexica art

Few creatures mattered more in Mexica religion and art. Quetzalcoatl, the "feathered serpent", was one of the great gods of Mesoamerica; Coatlicue, "she of the serpent skirt", was the mother of the patron god of the Mexica. The British Museum holds a famous double-headed serpent covered in turquoise mosaic, one of the masterpieces of Mexica craft.

Coatl in jewellery

A Coatl design references the serpent imagery of ancient Mexico, from feathered serpents to turquoise mosaics, and a birth date in the 260-day count.

See the AURYN design, or read our guide to the twenty Aztec day signs.

Frequently asked questions

What does Coatl mean in Nahuatl?

Coatl means “serpent”. The word appears both on its own and within Nahuatl names such as Quetzalcoatl, traditionally translated as “feathered serpent”.

What is Coatl in the Aztec calendar?

Coatl is the fifth of the twenty day signs used in the 260-day calendar. A day was named by combining one of the twenty signs with a number from one to thirteen.

Is Coatl the same as Quetzalcoatl?

No. Coatl is the Nahuatl word for serpent and the name of a calendar day sign. Quetzalcoatl is the name of the feathered-serpent deity.