Tlatoani (Classical Nahuatl: tlàtoāni pronounced [tɬaʔ.to.ˈaː.ni]; plural tlàtòquê, [tɬaʔ.ˈtoʔ.keʔ]) is the Nahuatl word for the ruler of an altepetl, a pre-Hispanic state. The word means "speaker", but may be translated into English as "king". A cihuātlàtoāni ([si.waː.tɬaʔ.to.ˈaː.ni]) is a female ruler.