Wixárika niukieya
Wixarika
Uto-Aztecan
Wixárika (Huichol, autonymously Wixárika niukieya) is a Uto-Aztecan language of the Corachol sub-branch, spoken by around 50,000 people in the Sierra Madre Occidental highlands of western Mexico (Jalisco, Nayarit, Durango, Zacatecas). The Wixárika are famous for their elaborately preserved indigenous religion centered on peyote pilgrimages to the sacred site of Wirikuta in San Luis Potosí — one of the most well-documented surviving non-Christian indigenous religious traditions of Mesoamerica. Linguistically, Wixárika is most closely related to Cora (crn) — its sister Corachol language — but quite distinct from the Nahuan languages (Nahuatl varieties nci, nch, nhe, etc.) and the Numic languages (Comanche, Shoshone, Paiute) that occupy the northern arms of Uto-Aztecan. The language is unusually vibrant for an indigenous language of Mexico, with intact transmission to children and active community use in markets, ceremonies, and pilgrimages.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Wixarika
nauka tewiyari heimana tamamata heimana ʼatanauka
nauka tewijari heimana tamamata heimana ʔatanauka
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Uto-Aztecan
| Meaning | Wixarika | Cora | Proto-Uto-Aztecan | Nawat | Tarahumara | Central Huasteca Nahuatl | Western Huasteca Nahuatl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ha /ha/ | hapɨn /hapɨn/ | *paʔ /paʔ/ | at /at/ | bawí /bawi/ | atl /atɬ/ | atl /atɬ/ |
| Fire | tai /tai/ | taʼai /taʔai/ | *na- /na/ | tit /tit/ | nahí /nahi/ | tlitl /tɬitɬ/ | tlitl /tɬitɬ/ |
| Sun | tau /tau/ | tahaapuá /tahaːpwa/ | *ta /ta/ | tunal /tunal/ | rayó /ɾajo/ | tonati /tonati/ | tonati /tonati/ |
| Moon | metsa /metsa/ | mɨhka /mɨhka/ | *mɨca /mɨca/ | metzti /meːtsti/ | mecá /metʃa/ | metztli /metstɬi/ | metztli /metstɬi/ |
| Star | xurawe /ʃuˈrawe/ | sɨɨrabe /sɨːˈrabe/ | — /—/ | sital /ˈsital/ | sopolí /sopoli/ | sitlalij /siˈtɬalih/ | sitlalij /siˈtɬalih/ |
| Night | tikari /tikari/ | tika /tika/ | *tuku /tuku/ | tayua /tajuwa/ | rokó /roko/ | youali /jowali/ | yohuali /jowali/ |
| Rain | wiyeri /wijeri/ | biite /biːte/ | *yuku /juku/ | kiawit /kiawit/ | ukuí /ukui/ | kiyawit /kiˈjawit/ | quiyahuitl /kijawitɬ/ |
| Snow | ʼɨwi /ʔɨwi/ | seeri /seːɾi/ | — | — | kiparí /kipaɾi/ | sital set /sital set/ | sitlal setl /sitɬal setɬ/ |
| Wind | ʼeeka /ʔeːka/ | eeca /eːka/ | *hɨka /hɨka/ | ejekat /eˈhekat/ | eká /eka/ | ajakatl /ahakatɬ/ | ajacatl /ahakatɬ/ |
| Earth | kwie /kʷie/ | chuej /tʃweh/ | — | tal /ˈtaːl/ | weʼé /weʔe/ | tlali /tɬali/ | tlali /tɬali/ |
| Stone | tete /tete/ | teté /teˈte/ | *tɨn /tɨn/ | tet /tet/ | rité /ɾite/ | tetl /tetɬ/ | tetl /teːtɬ/ |
| Mountain | yemuri /jemuri/ | jɨrí /hɨˈri/ | — | tepet /ˈtepet/ | rabó /ɾabo/ | tepetl /ˈtepeːtɬ/ | tepetl /ˈtepeːtɬ/ |
| Sea | haramara /haramara/ | muájete /mwaˈhete/ | *mɨma /mɨma/ | — | mar /maɾ/ | hueyatl /ˈwejatɬ/ | hueyatl /ˈwejatɬ/ |
| Mother | nana /nana/ | naana /naːna/ | — /—/ | nan /nan/ | iyé /ije/ | nana /nana/ | nana /nana/ |
| Father | yawe /jawe/ | hahuá /hahwa/ | — /—/ | tat /tat/ | onó /ono/ | tata /tata/ | tata /tata/ |
| I | nee /neː/ | neʼu /ˈneʔu/ | *nɨ /nɨ/ | naja /ˈnaha/ | nejé /nehe/ | na /na/ | na /na/ |
| You | eekɨ /ˈeːkɨ/ | aʼu /ˈaʔu/ | *ʔɨ /ʔɨ/ | taja /ˈtaha/ | mujé /muhe/ | ta /ta/ | ta /ta/ |
| We | tame /ˈtame/ | ta /ta/ | — /—/ | tejemet /teˈhemet/ | tamujé /tamuhe/ | tohuanti /toˈwanti/ | tohuanti /toˈwanti/ |
| Name | tewa /ˈtewa/ | yeuwa /ˈjeuwa/ | *tewa /tewa/ | tukay /ˈtukaj/ | riwá /ɾiwa/ | tocaxtli /toˈkaʃtɬi/ | tocaxtli /toˈkaʃtɬi/ |
| Person | tewi /tewi/ | tebi /tebi/ | — | takat /ˈtakat/ | pagótami /paɡotami/ | masehuali /maseˈwali/ | masehuali /maseˈwali/ |
| Head | muʼú /muˈʔu/ | muʼú /muˈʔu/ | *moʔo /moʔo/ | tzuntekun /tsuntekun/ | moʼó /moʔo/ | tzontecomitl /tsonteˈkomitɬ/ | tzontecomitl /tsonteˈkomitɬ/ |
| Eye | tukite /tukite/ | húi /hwi/ | *pusi /pusi/ | ish /iʃ/ | pusí /pusi/ | ixtioli /iʃtioli/ | ixteyol /iʃtejol/ |
| Ear | naka /naka/ | naxai /naʃai/ | *naka /naka/ | nakas /nakas/ | naká /naka/ | nacastli /nakastɬi/ | nacastli /nakastɬi/ |
| Nose | tsuri /tsuɾi/ | tzúʼuri /ˈtsuʔuri/ | *yaka /jaka/ | yak /jak/ | aká /aka/ | yakatsoli /jakatsoli/ | yacatl /jakatɬ/ |
| Mouth | téni /teni/ | teni /teni/ | *tɨʔni /tɨʔni/ | ten /ten/ | riní /ɾini/ | camactli /kaˈmaktɬi/ | camactli /kaˈmaktɬi/ |
| Tooth | tame /tame/ | tame /tame/ | *tama /tama/ | tan /tan/ | ramé /rame/ | tlankoch /tɬankotʃ/ | tlankoch /tɬankotʃ/ |
| Tongue | neni /neni/ | nanu /nanu/ | *nene /nene/ | nenepil /nenepil/ | chamerawa /tʃamerawa/ | nenepili /nenepili/ | nenepil /nenepil/ |
| Hand | mama /mama/ | mam /mam/ | *maʔ /maʔ/ | mey /mei/ | sekuá /sekwa/ | maitl /maitɬ/ | maitl /maitɬ/ |
| Foot | keta /keta/ | ɨɨka /ɨːka/ | *tala /tala/ | ikshi /ikʃi/ | ronó /ɾono/ | icxitl /ikʃitɬ/ | icxitl /ikʃitɬ/ |
| Heart | iyari /ijari/ | hɨurí /hɨuri/ | *sula /sula/ | yulu /julu/ | surí /suɾi/ | yolotl /jolotɬ/ | yolotl /jolotɬ/ |
| Bone | ume /ume/ | ɨka /ɨka/ | *ohomï-ta /ohomɨta/ | umit /umit/ | ochí /otʃi/ | omitl /omitɬ/ | omitl /omitɬ/ |
| Blood | xuriya /ʃuɾija/ | xuuri /ʃuːɾi/ | *ɨtwa /ɨtwa/ | esti /esti/ | wichirá /witʃiɾa/ | estli /estɬi/ | estli /estɬi/ |
| Poop | kwita /kʷita/ | — | *kwittaC /kwittaC/ | kwitat /kʷitat/ | witá /wita/ | cuitlatl /ˈkʷitɬatɬ/ | cuitlatl /ˈkʷitɬatɬ/ |
| Love | kanenki /kanenki/ | kaʼna /kaʔna/ | — /—/ | tasujta /tasuhta/ | nakí /naki/ | tlazohtla /tɬasoʔtɬa/ | tlasojtla /tɬasohtɬa/ |
| Tree | kiyé /kije/ | kɨré /kɨre/ | *kut /kut/ | kwawit /kʷawit/ | gokó /ɡoko/ | cuahuitl /kʷawitɬ/ | cuahuitl /kʷawitɬ/ |
| Dog | tsïkï /tsɨkɨ/ | tsɨʼɨ /tsɨʔɨ/ | — /—/ | pelu /peːlu/ | kochí /kotʃi/ | chichi /tʃitʃi/ | chichi /tʃitʃi/ |
| Cat | mitsu /mitsu/ | mistú /mistu/ | — /—/ | mistun /mistuːŋ/ | misí /misi/ | misto /misto/ | mizton /miston/ |
| Fish | kesi /kesi/ | sasa /sasa/ | *paki /paki/ | michin /mitʃin/ | rochi /rotʃi/ | michi /mitʃi/ | michi /mitʃi/ |
| Bird | wiki /wiki/ | pinaʼa /ˈpinaʔa/ | — | tutut /tutut/ | chulugí /tʃuluɡi/ | tototl /tototɬ/ | tototl /tototɬ/ |
| Butterfly | kipï /kipɨ/ | átzipaʼu /ˈatsipaʔu/ | — | papalut /papalut/ | nakarópari /nakaropari/ | papalotl /paˈpalotɬ/ | papalotl /paˈpalotɬ/ |
| Egg | tawári /taˈwaɾi/ | taʼu /taʔu/ | — | teksisti /teksisti/ | kaʼwá /kaʔwa/ | tejsistli /tehsistɬi/ | tecsistli /teksistɬi/ |
| Bear | hutse /hutse/ | juutzeʼe /huːtseʔe/ | — | tekwani metzkujkutu /teːˈkʷani metskuhkutu/ | — | oso /oso/ | oso /oso/ |
| Horse | kawayu /kawaju/ | cahuaáyuʼu /kawaˈajuʔu/ | — | cahuayoh /kaˈwajuh/ | kawé /kawe/ | kauayoj /kaˈwajoh/ | cahuayoj /kaˈwajoh/ |
| House | ki /ki/ | kíh /kih/ | *ki /ki/ | kal /kal/ | kalí /kali/ | kali /kali/ | cali /kali/ |
| Milk | retsi /ɾetsi/ | léechi /ˈleːtʃi/ | — | — | — | lechi /letʃi/ | lechi /letʃi/ |
| Honey | xiete /ʃiete/ | sarate /saɾate/ | — | nekti /nekti/ | amoo /amoo/ | necti /nekti/ | nectli /nektɬi/ |
| Salt | ʼuna /ʔuna/ | unáj /unah/ | *ona /ona/ | istat /istat/ | koná /kona/ | istatl /istatɬ/ | istatl /istatɬ/ |
| Wine | winuyari /winujaɾi/ | viinu /ˈbiːnu/ | — | — | — | xocomeca at /ʃokomeka at/ | xocomeca atl /ʃokomeka atɬ/ |
| Iron | tepɨa /tepɨa/ | tepuústiʼi /tepuːstiʔi/ | — | tepusti /tepusti/ | jiyero /hijeɾo/ | tepostli /tepostɬi/ | tepostli /tepostɬi/ |
| Silk | tsera /tsera/ | — | — | — | — | seda /ˈseda/ | seda /ˈseda/ |
| Book | xapa /ʃapa/ | liibru /ˈliːbɾu/ | — | amat /amat/ | libro /libɾo/ | amochtli /aˈmotʃtɬi/ | libro /ˈlibro/ |
| Eat | kuye /kuje/ | kuá /kwa/ | *kwaʔa /kwaʔa/ | takwa /takwa/ | koʼa /koʔa/ | tlacua /tɬakʷa/ | tlacua /tɬakʷa/ |
| Drink | hiʼeka /hiʔeka/ | hiʼi /hiʔi/ | *hiʔpa /hiʔpa/ | ati /ati/ | bahí /bahi/ | atli /atɬi/ | atli /atɬi/ |
| Sleep | kutsu /kutsu/ | cutzú /kuˈtsu/ | *koci /koci/ | kuchi /ˈkutʃi/ | kochí /kotʃi/ | cochi /ˈkotʃi/ | cochi /ˈkotʃi/ |
| One | xevi /ʃevi/ | cei /tsei/ | *sɨmɨ /sɨmɨ/ | se /se/ | bilé /bile/ | ce /se/ | ce /se/ |
| Two | huta /huˈta/ | huapoa /waˈpoa/ | *wo /wo/ | ume /ˈume/ | okuá /okwa/ | ome /ˈome/ | ome /ˈome/ |
| Three | haika /haika/ | waika /waika/ | *pahi /pahi/ | yey /jej/ | bakiá /bakia/ | eyi /ejiː/ | eyi /ejiː/ |
| Four | nauka /nauka/ | muaacua /mwaːkwa/ | — | nawi /naːwi/ | naó /nao/ | nahui /naːwi/ | nahui /nawi/ |
| Five | auxɨwi /auʃɨwi/ | ansɨbi /ansɨbi/ | — | makwil /maˈkʷil/ | marí /maˈɾi/ | makuili /maˈkʷili/ | macuili /maˈkʷili/ |
| Hundred | xeitsienituyari /ʃeitsienitujari/ | anxɨ́te /anˈʃɨte/ | — | tzunti /tsunti/ | siénto /ˈsjento/ | cien /sjen/ | cien /sjen/ |
| Hello | kekuanenki /kekwanenki/ | keʼkuanenki /keʔkwanenki/ | — /—/ | ne pakua /ne pakwa/ | kuira /kuiɾa/ | niltze /niltse/ | niltze /niltse/ |
| Thank you | paʼiwakaitsie /paʔiwakaitsje/ | atsipiraá /atsipiraː/ | — /—/ | padiush /padjuʃ/ | matéterabá /mateteɾaba/ | tlaskamati /tɬaskamati/ | tlascamati /tɬaskamati/ |
| Good | waxa /waʃa/ | huáʼi /hwaʔi/ | — /—/ | yek /jeːk/ | galá /ɡala/ | kuali /kʷali/ | cuali /kʷali/ |
| New | hekwa /hekʷa/ | jéjcua /ˈhehkwa/ | *pɨtuwa /pɨtuwa/ | yankwik /jaŋkʷik/ | bukulíwami /bukuliwami/ | yancuic /ˈjankʷik/ | yancuic /ˈjankʷik/ |
| Red | +aurawi /ʔaurawi/ | sabí /saˈbi/ | — /—/ | chiltik /tʃiltik/ | sitákame /siˈtakame/ | chichiltik /tʃitʃiltik/ | chichiltik /tʃitʃiltik/ |
| White | tuxame /tuʃame/ | cuaiina /kʷaiˈina/ | *tosa /tosa/ | istak /istak/ | rosá /rosa/ | istak /istak/ | chipahuac /tʃipawak/ |
| Black | yɨwime /jɨwime/ | súʼumuaraʼa /suʔumwaɾaʔa/ | — | tiltik /tiltik/ | chókami /tʃokami/ | yayahuic /jaˈjawik/ | yayahuic /jaˈjawik/ |
| Green | siïraïyeme /siɨraɨjeme/ | jamuámua /haˈmwamwa/ | — | shushuwik /ʃuʃuwik/ | siyóname /siˈjoname/ | xoxohuic /ʃoˈʃowik/ | xoxohuic /ʃoˈʃowik/ |
| Blue | yuawime /juawime/ | — | — | — | siyóname /siˈjoname/ | azultic /aˈsultik/ | azultic /aˈsultik/ |
| Orange | naraacáxi /naɾaːˈkaʃi/ | — | — | — | — | lalax /ˈlalaːʃ/ | lalax /ˈlalaːʃ/ |
| Ninety-nine | nauka tewiyari heimana tamamata heimana ʼatanauka /nauka tewijari heimana tamamata heimana ʔatanauka/ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
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