Social pressures continue to play a major role in the decline of Nahuatl. In many areas, such as education, employment, and public life, Spanish remains the dominant language used throughout Mexico. Schools also prioritize Spanish over indigenous languages, which can lead students to view Nahuatl as less valuable. As a result, students avoid learning the language due to negative associations surrounding Nahuatl. As Kate Bidgley claims, “Although the conquest physically occurred hundreds of years ago, it continues on a different front today in modern-day Mexico, Spanish, the language of the civilization’s conquerors, is effacing Nahuatl, once the language of the Aztecs.”

These pressures are rooted in broader historical and social decisions. For example, Mexican leaders have decided to form a Mexican identity that includes European and Aztec roots while looking down on indigenous communities, while also making education only in Spanish. This forces many students to adopt Spanish at the expense of losing their native language and traditions.

Over time, the education system reinforced the imbalance by prioritizing Spanish and excluding indigenous languages, contributing to Nahuatls gradual decline. And because schools are one of the primary places where children develop identity and social belonging, these systems strongly influence how younger generations view indigenous languages. Spanish became associated with professionalism, intelligence, and social and economic success, while Nahuatl is connected to social disadvantages. As a result, this demonstrates how social pressures reinforced the gradual decline of Nahuatl.