Jñatjo
Mazahua
Oto-Manguean (Otomian)
Mazahua (autonymously Jñatjo, "the people who speak") is an Otomanguean language of the Otomi-Mazahua sub-branch, spoken by around 150,000 people in central Mexico, primarily in the western Estado de México around the Mazahua Sierra and the towns of Jocotitlán, San Felipe del Progreso, and Atlacomulco. The Mazahua are the largest indigenous group in Estado de México (ahead of the related Otomi/Hñähñu), and the language is one of the major Otomanguean languages of central Mexico. Linguistically, Mazahua is closely related to the Otomi varieties (ote, ots, otq), with shared features including tonal contrasts, complex consonant clusters, and verbal morphology. The Mazahua have maintained their indigenous identity through centuries of Aztec and Spanish dominance, with significant 20th-century revitalization through bilingual education programs.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Mazahua
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Oto-Manguean (Otomian)
| Meaning | Mazahua | Otomi | Querétaro Otomi | Guerrero Nahuatl | Tabasco Chontal | Hiligaynon | Western Huasteca Nahuatl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ndeje /ndehe/ | dehe /dehe/ | dehe /tehe/ | atl /atɬ/ | jaʼ /haʔ/ | tubig /tubiɡ/ | atl /atɬ/ |
| Fire | sibi /sibi/ | tsibi /tsibi/ | tsibi /tsibi/ | tlitl /tɬitɬ/ | kʼakʼ /kʼakʼ/ | kalayo /kalaˈjo/ | tlitl /tɬitɬ/ |
| Sun | jyarü /hjaɾɨ/ | hyadi /hjadi/ | hyadi /hjadi/ | tonajli /tonahli/ | kʼin /kʼin/ | adlaw /adlaw/ | tonati /tonati/ |
| Moon | zana /zana/ | zänä /zãnã/ | zänä /zãnã/ | metztli /metstɬi/ | ä /æ/ | bulan /bulan/ | metztli /metstɬi/ |
| Star | seje /seʔe/ | tsøhø /tsøhø/ | tsꞌe /tsʼe/ | sitlalin /siˈtɬalin/ | ekʼ /ʔekʼ/ | bituon /bituˈʔon/ | sitlalij /siˈtɬalih/ |
| Night | xomü /ʃomɨ/ | xui /ʃui/ | nxui /nʃui/ | yowalli /jowalːi/ | akʼäb /akʼɨb/ | gab-i /ɡabˈʔi/ | yohuali /jowali/ |
| Rain | dyebe /djebe/ | — | — | quiyahuitl /kijawitɬ/ | — | ulan /ˈʔulan/ | quiyahuitl /kijawitɬ/ |
| Snow | xitsji /ʃitsʰi/ | xija /ʃiha/ | tꞌaxtse̱ /tʼaʃtsɛ/ | nieve /ˈnjebe/ | nieve /ˈnjebe/ | niyebe /niˈjebe/ | sitlal setl /sitɬal setɬ/ |
| Wind | ndajma /ndahma/ | ndähi /ndãhi/ | ndähi /ndæhi/ | ajacatl /ahakatɬ/ | — | hangin /haˈŋin/ | ajacatl /ahakatɬ/ |
| Earth | jõmü /hõmɨ/ | hai /hai/ | hai /hai/ | tlajli /tɬahli/ | lum /lum/ | duta /dutaʔ/ | tlali /tɬali/ |
| Stone | ndojo /ndoho/ | do /do/ | do /do/ | tetl /teːtɬ/ | jiʼtun /hiʔtun/ | bato /baˈto/ | tetl /teːtɬ/ |
| Mountain | tʼeje /tʼehe/ | tʼøhø /tʼøhø/ | tꞌoho /tʼoho/ | tepetl /ˈtepeːtɬ/ | tzʼik /tsʼik/ | bukid /ˈbukid/ | tepetl /ˈtepeːtɬ/ |
| Sea | mar /maɾ/ | däzabi /dãzabi/ | ñhonthe /ɲ̥ontʰe/ | mar /mar/ | nab /nab/ | dagat /ˈdaɡat/ | hueyatl /ˈwejatɬ/ |
| Mother | nana /nana/ | nänä /nãnã/ | mu /mu/ | nanan /nanan/ | naʼ /naʔ/ | nanay /nanaj/ | nana /nana/ |
| Father | tata /tata/ | tada /tada/ | dada /dada/ | tatah /tatah/ | tat /tat/ | tatay /tataj/ | tata /tata/ |
| Daughter | xuntʼi /ʃuntʼi/ | tixu /tiʃu/ | tꞌinxu /tʼinʃu/ | nochpoch /ˈnotʃpotʃ/ | jixik chʼok /hiʃik tʃʼok/ | anak nga babayi /anak ŋa babaji/ | noichpoca /noitʃˈpoka/ |
| I | nutsʼko /nutsʔko/ | nugä /nuɡã/ | nugä /nuɡæ/ | nejua /neˈwa/ | noʼon /noʔon/ | ako /ʔaˈko/ | na /na/ |
| You | nutskʼe /nutskʔe/ | nuʼi /nuʔi/ | nuꞌi /nuʔi/ | tejua /teˈwa/ | neʼet /neʔet/ | ikaw /ʔiˈkaw/ | ta /ta/ |
| We | nuzgöji / nuzgöjme /nuzɣøhi / nuzɣøhme/ | nugähʉ / nugähe /nuɡãhɨ / nuɡãhe/ | nugähu / nugähe /nuɡæhu / nuɡæhe/ | tejuamej /teˈwameh/ | noʼonla /noʔonla/ | kita / kami /kiˈta / kaˈmi/ | tohuanti /toˈwanti/ |
| Name | chjuʼu /tʃũʔũ/ | thuhu /tʰũhũ/ | thuuhu /tʰũːhũ/ | tocaitl /toˈkaitɬ/ | kʼabaʼ /kʼaɓaʔ/ | ngalan /ˈŋalan/ | tocaxtli /toˈkaʃtɬi/ |
| Person | nte /nte/ | jäʼi /hãʔi/ | jäꞌi /hãʔi/ | tlacatl /ˈtɬakatɬ/ | winik /winik/ | tawo /ˈtawo/ | masehuali /maseˈwali/ |
| Head | ñi /ɲi/ | ñä /ɲã/ | ñä /ɲã/ | tzontecomitl /tsonteˈkomitɬ/ | pam /pam/ | ulo /ˈʔulo/ | tzontecomitl /tsonteˈkomitɬ/ |
| Eye | chö /tʃø/ | da /da/ | da /da/ | ixtololo /iʃtololo/ | wich /witʃ/ | mata /mata/ | ixteyol /iʃtejol/ |
| Ear | ngõʼõ /ŋɡõʔõ/ | gu /ɡu/ | gu /ɡu/ | nacas /nakas/ | chikin /tʃikin/ | dulunggan /duluŋˈɡan/ | nacastli /nakastɬi/ |
| Mouth | neʼe /neʔe/ | ne /ne/ | ne /ne/ | camactli /kaˈmaktɬi/ | tiʼ /tiʔ/ | baba /ˈbabaʔ/ | camactli /kaˈmaktɬi/ |
| Tooth | sʼibi /sʼibi/ | tsʼi /tsʼi/ | tsꞌi /tsʼi/ | tlan /tɬan/ | ej /eh/ | ngipon /ŋiˈpon/ | tlankoch /tɬankotʃ/ |
| Tongue | cʼijñi /kʼihɲi/ | jäne /hãne/ | xäne /ʃɐne/ | nenepil /nenepil/ | akʼ /akʼ/ | dila /diˈlaʔ/ | nenepil /nenepil/ |
| Hand | ye /je/ | ʼye /ʔje/ | ꞌye /ʔje/ | maitl /maitɬ/ | kʼäb /kʼɨb/ | kamot /kamot/ | maitl /maitɬ/ |
| Foot | ngua /ŋɡwa/ | wa /wa/ | wa /wa/ | icxitl /ikʃitɬ/ | ok /ok/ | tiil /tiˈʔil/ | icxitl /ikʃitɬ/ |
| Heart | müʼbü /mɨʔbɨ/ | mui /mui/ | mui /mui/ | yojlotl /johlotɬ/ | pixan /piʃan/ | tagipusuon /taɡipusuˈʔon/ | yolotl /jolotɬ/ |
| Bone | ndotyʼe /ndotjʔe/ | ndoʼyo /ndoʔjo/ | ndoꞌyo /ndoʔjo/ | omitl /omitɬ/ | bak /ɓak/ | tul-an /tulˈʔan/ | omitl /omitɬ/ |
| Blood | kjii /kʰiʔi/ | ji /hi/ | khi /kʰi/ | yestli /jestɬi/ | chʼichʼ /tʃʼitʃʼ/ | dugo /duˈɡoʔ/ | estli /estɬi/ |
| Love | sʼiya /sʼija/ | mädi /mãdi/ | mädi /mãdi/ | tlazohtla /tɬasoʔtɬa/ | kʼuxbe /kʼuʃbe/ | gugma /ɡuɡma/ | tlasojtla /tɬasohtɬa/ |
| Tree | za /za/ | za /za/ | za /za/ | kojtli /kohtɬi/ | teʼ /teʔ/ | kahoy /kahoj/ | cuahuitl /kʷawitɬ/ |
| Dog | dyoʼo /djoʔo/ | ʼyo /ʔjo/ | ꞌyo /ʔjo/ | itzcuintli /itskʷintɬi/ | wichuʼ /witʃuʔ/ | ido /ʔido/ | chichi /tʃitʃi/ |
| Cat | mishi /miʃi/ | mixi /miʃi/ | mishi /miʃi/ | miston /miston/ | ajmis /ahmis/ | kuring /kuɾiŋ/ | mizton /miston/ |
| Fish | jmõʼõ /xmõʔõ/ | hua /hwa/ | xwa /ʃwa/ | michin /mitʃin/ | buchʼ /butʃʼ/ | isda /ʔisˈdaʔ/ | michi /mitʃi/ |
| Bird | sʼü /sʼɨ/ | tsʼintsʼu̲ /tsʼintsʼu/ | tsꞌintsꞌu /tsʼintsʼu/ | tototl /ˈtototɬ/ | mut /mut/ | pispis /pisˈpis/ | tototl /tototɬ/ |
| Egg | blanquillo /blaŋˈkijo/ | mädo /mãdo/ | tꞌaxi /tʼaʃi/ | totoltetl /totolˈtetɬ/ | säktokʼ /sɨktokʼ/ | itlog /ʔitˈloɡ/ | tecsistli /teksistɬi/ |
| Bear | oso /oso/ | ʼmuhu /ʔmuhu/ | oso /oso/ | oso /ˈoso/ | oso /ˈoso/ | oso /ˈʔoso/ | oso /oso/ |
| Horse | pjadü /pʰadɨ/ | fani /fani/ | fani /fani/ | caballo /kaˈbajo/ | tzimim /tsimim/ | kabayo /kaˈbajo/ | cahuayoj /kaˈwajoh/ |
| House | ngumü /ŋɡumɨ/ | ngu /ŋɡu/ | ngu /ŋɡu/ | kajli /kahli/ | otot /otot/ | balay /balaj/ | cali /kali/ |
| Milk | bʼaa /bʼaː/ | ʼba /ʔba/ | ꞌba /ʔba/ | leche /ˈletʃe/ | leche /letʃe/ | gatas /ˈɡatas/ | lechi /letʃi/ |
| Honey | õtʼapjü ngüjnü /õtʼapʰɨ ŋɡɨhnɨ/ | tʼafi /tʼafi/ | tꞌafi /tʔafi/ | necutli /neˈkutɬi/ | chab /tʃaɓ/ | dugos /duˈɡos/ | nectli /nektɬi/ |
| Salt | õʼõ /õʔõ/ | u /u/ | u /u/ | istatl /istatɬ/ | atzʼam /atsʼam/ | asin /ʔaˈsin/ | istatl /istatɬ/ |
| Wine | vino /ˈbino/ | vinu /ˈbinu/ | ixkatꞌafi /iʃkatʼafi/ | vino /ˈbino/ | vino /ˈbino/ | bino /ˈbino/ | xocomeca atl /ʃokomeka atɬ/ |
| Silk | seda /ˈseda/ | seda /seda/ | — | seda /ˈseda/ | seda /ˈseda/ | seda /ˈseda/ | seda /ˈseda/ |
| Book | libro /ˈlibɾo/ | he̲ʼmi /heʔmi/ | heꞌmi /heʔmi/ | libro /ˈlibro/ | jun /hun/ | libro /ˈlibɾo/ | libro /ˈlibro/ |
| Eat | ñe /ɲe/ | ñuni /ɲuni/ | shi /ʃi/ | tlakua /tɬakʷa/ | weʼ /weʔ/ | kaon /kaʔon/ | tlacua /tɬakʷa/ |
| Drink | sii /siː/ | tsi /tsi/ | tsi /tsi/ | koni /koni/ | ukʼe /ukʼe/ | inom /ʔinom/ | atli /atɬi/ |
| Sleep | ĩjĩ /ĩhĩ/ | ähä /ãhã/ | ähä /ãhã/ | cochi /ˈkotʃi/ | wäye /wɨje/ | matulog /matuˈloɡ/ | cochi /ˈkotʃi/ |
| One | ʼnaja /ʔnaha/ | ʼna /ʔna/ | ꞌna /ʔna/ | ce /se/ | un /un/ | isa /ʔisa/ | ce /se/ |
| Two | yeje /jeʔe/ | yoho /joho/ | yoho /joho/ | ome /ˈome/ | chaʼ /tʃaʔ/ | duha /duˈha/ | ome /ˈome/ |
| Three | nʼii /ɲ̥iʔi/ | hñu /hɲu/ | hñu /ɲ̥u/ | yeyi /jeji/ | ux /uʃ/ | tatlo /ˈtatlo/ | eyi /ejiː/ |
| Four | nziyo /nzijo/ | goho /ɡoho/ | goho /ɡoho/ | nahui /nawi/ | chan /tʃan/ | apat /ˈʔapat/ | nahui /nawi/ |
| Five | tsiʼchʼa /tsiʔtʃʼa/ | kʉtʼa /kɨtʼa/ | kʉtꞌa /kɨtʔa/ | makuijli /makʷihli/ | joʼ /hoʔ/ | lima /lima/ | macuili /maˈkʷili/ |
| Hundred | ciento /ˈsjento/ | nthebe /ntʰebe/ | nthebe /ntʰebe/ | ciento /ˈsjento/ | cien /sjen/ | gatos /ɡaˈtos/ | cien /sjen/ |
| Hello | kjamadhi /kjamaði/ | hatsi /hatsi/ | hä /hã/ | panolti /panolti/ | bin a bel /bin a bel/ | kamusta /kamusta/ | niltze /niltse/ |
| Thank you | ndios /ndios/ | jamädi /hamãdi/ | jamädi /hamãdi/ | tlazohcamati /tɬasoʔkamati/ | dios boʼtik /dios boʔtik/ | salamat /salamat/ | tlascamati /tɬaskamati/ |
| Good | nzhomu /nʒomu/ | hño /hɲo/ | hño /hɲo/ | kuajli /kʷahli/ | tsʼak /tsʼak/ | maayo /maʔajo/ | cuali /kʷali/ |
| New | dadyo /dadjo/ | ʼraʼyo /ʔɾaʔjo/ | ꞌraꞌyo /ʔraʔjo/ | yencuic /ˈjenkʷik/ | tzijib /tsihib/ | bag-o /ˈbaɡʔo/ | yancuic /ˈjankʷik/ |
| Red | mbaja /mbaha/ | theni /tʰeni/ | theni /tʰeni/ | chichiltik /tʃitʃiltik/ | chäk /tʃɨk/ | pula /puˈla/ | chichiltik /tʃitʃiltik/ |
| White | tʼöxü /tʼøʃɨ/ | tʼaxi /tʼaʃi/ | tꞌaxi /tʼaʃi/ | istak /istak/ | säk /sæk/ | maputi /mapuˈtiʔ/ | chipahuac /tʃipawak/ |
| Black | potjü /potʰɨ/ | ʼbo /ʔbo/ | — | capotztic /kaˈpotstik/ | ikʼ /ikʼ/ | itom /iˈtom/ | yayahuic /jaˈjawik/ |
| Green | cʼanga /kʼaŋɡa/ | kʼantsʼi /kʼantsʼi/ | kꞌangi /kʼaŋi/ | xoxojki /ʃoˈʃohki/ | yäx /jɨʃ/ | berde /ˈbɛrde/ | xoxohuic /ʃoˈʃowik/ |
| Blue | cʼanga /kʼaŋɡa/ | kʼangi /kʼaŋɡi/ | kꞌangi /kʼaŋi/ | azul /aˈsul/ | yäx /jɨʃ/ | asul /aˈsul/ | azultic /aˈsultik/ |
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