Skip to content

Tochin in metztic

Definition of Tochin in metztic

  1. Phrase of Nahuatl origin that literally means “the rabbit on the moon” or “the rabbit tattooed on the moon”.
  2. Ancient Aztec legend that seeks to explain the origin of a silhouette that is apparently seen on full moon nights and that looks like a rabbit.


Tochin in Metztic is a phrase that comes from the Nahuatl language. The word tochin can be translated into Spanish as “rabbit”, while in is “en” or “sobre”. Finally metztic is the Nahualt word used to designate “night”. Therefore, in Spanish the complete phrase is “the rabbit on the moon”.

The complete expression is part of the Aztec tradition, since it designates an important legend that was transmitted by oral tradition and that today continues to be part of Mexican culture. In addition, many literary productions have been produced based on the legend, such as the poem “The rabbit on the moon” by Miguel León Portilla.


  1. Tochin in metztic is an ancient Mexican legend. In this legend a god with human characteristics walks hungry at night and a friendly rabbit offered himself as food. Because of this, the God tattooed his shadow on the moon and it can always be seen there.
  2. Miguel León Portilla has written a poem called Tochin in metztic. This writing is used to preserve a bit of the Nahuatl language in the new generations in Mexico.