Wichí Lhamtés
Wichí
Mataco-Mataguayan
Wichí (formerly Mataco; autonymously Wichí Lhamtés "the Wichí speech") is the principal Mataco-Mataguayan language, spoken by ~50,000-60,000 Wichí people across the Gran Chaco region of Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay. The Mataco-Mataguayan family is small and isolated within South American linguistics, with Wichí being the largest member alongside Nivaclé, Maká, and Chorote. Linguistically, Wichí has typical Mataco-Mataguayan features: nominative-accusative alignment, classifier-like noun particles, and SVO constituent order with verb-final tendencies. The Wichí community has been active in Argentine indigenous-rights movements since the 1990s, with bilingual education in Salta and Formosa provinces.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Wichí
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Mataco-Mataguayan
| Meaning | Wichí | Chorote | Nivaclé | Tojolabal | Tzeltal | Tzotzil | Aguacateco |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | inot /inot/ | anat /anat/ | inɔʔt /inɔʔt/ | jaʼ /haʔ/ | jaʼ /haʔ/ | voʼ /voʔ/ | aʼ /aʔ/ |
| Fire | itoj /itox/ | etjeʔ /etjeʔ/ | itɔx /itɔx/ | kʼakʼ /kʼakʼ/ | kʼajkʼ /kʼahkʼ/ | kʼokʼ /kʼokʼ/ | qʼaq /qʼaq/ |
| Sun | ifwala /ifʷala/ | kilaj /kilaj/ | xunkuklaʔj /xunkuklaʔj/ | kʼakʼu /kʼakʼu/ | kʼajkʼal /kʼahkʼal/ | kʼakʼal /kʼakʼal/ | qʼijl /qʼihl/ |
| Moon | welʼa /weʔla/ | weʔla /weʔla/ | xiweʔkla /xiweʔkla/ | ixaw /iʃaw/ | u /u/ | u /ʔu/ | xahaw /ʃahaw/ |
| Star | kates /kates/ | kates /kates/ | katiʔs /katiʔs/ | kʼanal /kʼanal/ | ekʼ /ekʼ/ | kʼanal /kʼanal/ | chumeʼl /tʃumeʔl/ |
| Night | honatsi /honatsi/ | axnax /axnax/ | tuɬ /tuɬ/ | aʼkwal /aʔkʷal/ | ajkʼabal /ahkʼaɓal/ | akʼubal /akʼubal/ | aqʼbʼal /aqʼɓal/ |
| Rain | pelhay /peɬaj/ | pexla /pexla/ | tʃanu /tʃanu/ | — | jaʼal /haʔal/ | voʼ /voʔ/ | abʼal /aɓal/ |
| Wind | inhʷokʷ /inhʷokʷ/ | laxwu /laxwu/ | ɬawiʔm /ɬawiʔm/ | ikʼ /ʔikʼ/ | ikʼ /ʔikʼ/ | ikʼ /ʔikʼ/ | kyeqʼeqʼ /kjeqʼeqʼ/ |
| Earth | honhat /hon̥at/ | axnat /axnat/ | kotsxaʔt /kotsxaʔt/ | luʼum /luʔum/ | lum /lum/ | lum /lum/ | txʼotxʼ /tʃʼotʃʼ/ |
| Stone | tunte /tunte/ | poj /poj/ | utex /utex/ | ton /ton/ | ton /ton/ | ton /ton/ | kʼubʼ /kʼuɓ/ |
| Mountain | chenaj /tʃenax/ | takixnakiʔ /takixnakiʔ/ | utejuk /utejuk/ | wits /wits/ | wits /wits/ | vits /vits/ | witz /wits/ |
| Sea | lewomekitaj /lewomekitax/ | — | ɬkatsʼi towkojtsa /ɬkatsʼi towkojtsa/ | niwan paman jaʼ /niwan paman haʔ/ | mar /mar/ | nab /naɓ/ | pitzʼpuj aʼ /pitsʼpuh aʔ/ |
| Mother | lako /lako/ | meme /meme/ | mimi /mimi/ | nan /nan/ | meʼ /meʔ/ | meʼ /meʔ/ | naa /naː/ |
| Father | lajcha /laxtʃa/ | naʔ /naʔ/ | tata /tata/ | tat /tat/ | tat /tat/ | tot /tot/ | mam /mam/ |
| Daughter | lhose /ɬose/ | axseʔ /axseʔ/ | ɔse /ɔse/ | ʼixukil /ʔiʃukil/ | antsil nichʼan /antsil nitʃʼan/ | tzeb /tseɓ/ | meʼal /meʔal/ |
| I | olham /olam/ | jem /jem/ | jiwaatʃa /jiwaatʃa/ | keʼn /keʔn/ | joʼon /hoʔon/ | voʼon /voʔon/ | in /in/ |
| You | am /am/ | am /am/ | awaatʃa /awaatʃa/ | weʼn /weʔn/ | jaʼat /haʔat/ | voʼot /voʔot/ | naʼ /naʔ/ |
| We | olhamel /olamel/ | sam /sam/ | kaswaatʃa / jiwaatʃeeɬ /kaswaatʃa / jiwaatʃeeɬ/ | keʼntik / keʼntikon /keʔntik / keʔntikon/ | joʼotik / joʼotikon /hoʔotik / hoʔotikon/ | voʼotik / voʼonkutik /voʔotik / voʔonkutik/ | oʼ /oʔ/ |
| Name | lhey /ɬej/ | ej /ej/ | ej /ej/ | bʼiʼil /ɓiʔil/ | biil /ɓiːl/ | biil /ɓiːl/ | bʼiʼ /ɓiʔ/ |
| Person | wichi /witʃi/ | injoʔ /injoʔ/ | niwakle /niwakle/ | winkil /winkil/ | ants winik /ants winik/ | krixchano /kriʃtʃano/ | wunaq /wunaq/ |
| Head | lhetek /ɬetek/ | xetek /xetek/ | ʃatitʃ /ʃatitʃ/ | ʼolom /ʔolom/ | jol /hol/ | jolol /holol/ | wiʼaj /wiʔah/ |
| Eye | titsej /titsex/ | tateʔ /tateʔ/ | tɔsex /tɔsex/ | satej /sateh/ | sit /sit/ | sat /sat/ | witzʼ /witsʼ/ |
| Ear | lechʼote /letʃʼote/ | kjoteʔ /kjoteʔ/ | kfeʔ /kfeʔ/ | chikin /tʃikin/ | chikin /tʃikin/ | chikinil /tʃikinil/ | xhchin /ʃtʃin/ |
| Nose | lenhus /len̥us/ | xnatowo /xnatowo/ | naʔʃ /naʔʃ/ | niʼ /niʔ/ | niʼ /niʔ/ | niʼ /niʔ/ | juʼ /χuʔ/ |
| Mouth | lakʼaj /lakʼax/ | aj /aj/ | aʃi /aʃi/ | tiʼ /tiʔ/ | tiʼ /tiʔ/ | e /e/ | tziʼaj /tsiʔah/ |
| Tooth | tsuteʼ /tsuteʔ/ | afʷeʔ /afʷeʔ/ | tsewte /tsewte/ | ex /eʃ/ | ehal /ehal/ | tanal eal /tanal ʔeal/ | eʼ /eʔ/ |
| Tongue | lakʼajlhichʼu /lakʼaxɬitʃʼu/ | kax /kax/ | tʃʼakletʃ /tʃʼakletʃ/ | akʼ /akʼ/ | akʼ /akʼ/ | okʼ /ʔokʼ/ | aqʼ /aqʼ/ |
| Hand | takwey /takʷej/ | kjoj /kjoj/ | pɔʔkɔt /pɔʔkɔt/ | kʼabʼ /kʼaɓ/ | kʼab /kʼab/ | kʼob /kʼoɓ/ | qʼab /qʼab/ |
| Foot | pachʼu /patʃʼu/ | kalaʔ /kalaʔ/ | foʔ /foʔ/ | ok /ok/ | ok /ok/ | okol /ʔokol/ | aqan /aqan/ |
| Heart | lehusek /lehusek/ | oxtaleʔ /oxtaleʔ/ | ɬiʔwte /ɬiʔwte/ | altzil /altsil/ | oʼtan /oʔtan/ | oʼon /ʔoʔon/ | kʼuum /kʼuːm/ |
| Bone | lhile /ɬile/ | weʔlak /weʔlak/ | nuʔ /nuʔ/ | bakel /ɓakel/ | bak /ɓak/ | bak /ɓak/ | bʼaq /ɓaq/ |
| Blood | wuyis /wuʔjis/ | wojis /wojis/ | wojej /wojej/ | chikʼel /tʃikʼel/ | chʼichʼ /tʃʼitʃʼ/ | chʼichʼ /tʃʼitʃʼ/ | chichʼ /tʃitʃʼ/ |
| Poop | yʼamuk /jʼamuk/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | kʼoy /kʼoj/ | tsaʼ /tsaʔ/ | tzoʼ /tsoʔ/ | txaʼ /tʃaʔ/ |
| Love | ihemin /ihemin/ | soon /soon/ | — /—/ | skʼana /skʼana/ | kʼanbey /kʼanbej/ | kʼanel /kʼanel/ | xajan /ʃahan/ |
| Tree | halʼä /haʔlɑ/ | alaʔ /alaʔ/ | aʔkxutajuk /aʔkxutajuk/ | teʼ /teʔ/ | teʼ /teʔ/ | teʼ /teʔ/ | tzeʼ /tseʔ/ |
| Dog | asinaj /asinax/ | noʔo /noʔo/ | nuʔu /nuʔu/ | tsʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ | tsʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ | tzʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ | txʼiʼ /tʃʼiʔ/ |
| Cat | mitsi /mitsi/ | tinuk /tinuk/ | tanuk /tanuk/ | mis /mis/ | mis /mis/ | mis /mis/ | mis /mis/ |
| Fish | wahat /wahat/ | sijus /sijus/ | saxetʃ /saxetʃ/ | chay /tʃaj/ | chay /tʃaj/ | choy /tʃoj/ | kay /kaj/ |
| Bird | afwenche /afʷentʃe/ | afʷena /afʷena/ | ɔxɔklɔ /ɔxɔklɔ/ | yal chan /jal tʃan/ | mut /mut/ | mut /mut/ | chʼuʼl /tʃʼuʔl/ |
| Butterfly | chukuk /tʃukuk/ | kopijeʔ /kopijeʔ/ | wosok /wosok/ | pejpen /pehpen/ | pejpen /pehpen/ | pepen /pepen/ | slup /slup/ |
| Egg | lhichʼu /ɬitʃʼu/ | leʔkjuʔ /leʔkjuʔ/ | ɬʃajkʼu /ɬʃajkʼu/ | nolobʼ /noloɓ/ | tomut /tomut/ | tanal /tanal/ | kʼolobʼ /kʼoloɓ/ |
| Bear | selaj /selax/ | — | — | oso /oso/ | oso /oso/ | oso /oso/ | oso /oso/ |
| Horse | yelʼataj /jeʔlatax/ | alenta /alenta/ | kuwɔju /kuwɔju/ | kawu /kawu/ | kawu /kawu/ | kaʼ /kaʔ/ | chej /tʃeh/ |
| House | lewukwe /lewukʷe/ | sawo /sawo/ | xpɔjitʃ /xpɔjitʃ/ | naj /nah/ | na /na/ | na /na/ | nya /ɲa/ |
| Milk | letsi /letsi/ | kajtjos /kajtjos/ | tsʼoʔs /tsʼoʔs/ | lech /letʃ/ | lech /letʃ/ | lech /letʃ/ | lech /letʃ/ |
| Honey | akäyek /akɑjek/ | wonateʔ /wonateʔ/ | akɔjetʃ /akɔjetʃ/ | chab /tʃaɓ/ | chab /tʃab/ | ajapom /ahapom/ | kabʼ /kaɓ/ |
| Salt | nisuy /nisuj/ | sifʷoniʔ /sifʷoniʔ/ | naʔpkutax /naʔpkutax/ | atsʼam /atsʼam/ | atsʼam /atsʼam/ | atzʼam /atsʼam/ | aatzʼum /aːtsʼum/ |
| Wine | wina /wiˈna/ | — | ɔtxajetax tʼiʔ /ɔtxajetax tʼiʔ/ | yaalel tzʼusub /jaːlel tsʼusub/ | vino /bino/ | vino /vino/ | win /win/ |
| Rice | alus /alus/ | xupitok /xupitok/ | — | ʼaros /ʔaros/ | — | aros /aros/ | arros /aros/ |
| Iron | chinaj /tʃinax/ | ot /ot/ | klesaniɬ /klesaniɬ/ | takʼin /takʼin/ | takʼin /takʼin/ | tzatzal takʼin /tsatsal takʼin/ | chʼichʼ /tʃʼitʃʼ/ |
| Wheel | mak kolo /mak kolo/ | xikalaʔ /xikalaʔ/ | tononontax ɬafoʔ /tononontax ɬafoʔ/ | rweda /rweda/ | — | karos /karos/ | toloʼ /toloʔ/ |
| Silk | seda /seda/ | — | — | seda /seda/ | seda /seda/ | xela /ʃela/ | — |
| Book | liwlu /liwlu/ | xokinek /xokinek/ | watkʼisxajanatʃ /watkʼisxajanatʃ/ | juʼun /huʔun/ | jun /hun/ | vun /vun/ | liwr /liwr/ |
| Eat | lechek /letʃek/ | jekjun /jekjun/ | tux /tux/ | waʼel /waʔel/ | weʼel /weʔel/ | veʼel /veʔel/ | wii /wiː/ |
| Drink | iyoʼ /ijoʔ/ | je /je/ | jɔʔ /jɔʔ/ | ukʼ /ukʼ/ | uchʼel /utʃʼel/ | uchʼ /utʃʼ/ | uuk /uːk/ |
| Sleep | imä /imɑ/ | maʔa /maʔa/ | mɔʔ /mɔʔ/ | wayel /wajel/ | way /waj/ | vay /vaj/ | watl /waːtl/ |
| One | elh /eɬ/ | ifʷjenni /ifʷjenni/ | weʔɬa /weʔɬa/ | jun /hun/ | jun /hun/ | jun /hun/ | jun /hun/ |
| Two | nitewk /nitewk/ | intak /intak/ | napuʔ /napuʔ/ | chabʼ /tʃaɓ/ | cheb /tʃeb/ | chib /tʃiɓ/ | kaʼwutz /kaʔwuts/ |
| Three | laxtumxwaya /laxtumxʷaja/ | iwjeʔtsjela /iwjeʔtsjela/ | puʔxaʔna /puʔxaʔna/ | oxe /oʃe/ | oxeb /oʃeb/ | oxib /ʔoʃiɓ/ | oxox /oʃoʃ/ |
| Hundred | sien /sjen/ | — | — | joʼ winkeʼ /hoʔ winkeʔ/ | joʼ winik /hoʔ winik/ | joʼvinik /hoʔvinik/ | jun cient /hun sjent/ |
| Hello | hayej /hajex/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | lekilukʼ /lekilukʼ/ | banti winik /banti winik/ | kʼusi avokoluk /kʼusi avokoluk/ | kʼamta /kʼamta/ |
| Thank you | nehayij /nehajix/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | yuj /juh/ | wokol awal /wokol awal/ | kolaval /kolaval/ | tixwajʼ /tiʃwahʼ/ |
| Good | is /is/ | es /es/ | is /is/ | lek /lek/ | lek /lek/ | lek /lek/ | balaj /balah/ |
| New | nechʼayek /netʃʼajek/ | inkjeʔ /inkjeʔ/ | nitʃʼa /nitʃʼa/ | yajkʼachil /jahkʼatʃil/ | achʼ /atʃʼ/ | achʼ /atʃʼ/ | akʼaj /aːkʼah/ |
| Red | chot /tʃot/ | isjet /isjet/ | juk /juk/ | chak /tʃak/ | tsajal /tsahal/ | tzajal /tsahal/ | kyaq /kjaq/ |
| White | pelaj /pelax/ | lemiʔ /lemiʔ/ | klim /klim/ | sak /sak/ | sak /sak/ | sak /sak/ | saq /saq/ |
| Black | chalaj /tʃalax/ | tula /tula/ | jakut /jakut/ | kʼikʼ /kʼikʼ/ | ijkʼal /ihkʼal/ | ikʼal /ikʼal/ | qʼeq /qʼeq/ |
| Green | watsan /watsan/ | watso /watso/ | nipewajʃi /nipewajʃi/ | yaʼax /jaʔaʃ/ | yax /jaʃ/ | yaxal /jaʃal/ | txaʼx /tʃaʔʃ/ |
| Blue | watsan /watsan/ | lasa /lasa/ | jaka /jaka/ | yaʼax /jaʔaʃ/ | yax /jaʃ/ | yox /joʃ/ | xew /ʃew/ |
| Cuckoo | hotsenʼi /hotsenˈʔi/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | — | — | — | — |
| Tea | te /te/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | té /te/ | té /te/ | te /te/ | — |
| Coffee | kafwe /kafʷe/ | — | — | kajpe /kahpe/ | kajpel /kahpel/ | kajve /kahve/ | kapej /kapeh/ |
| Sugar | asukwi /asukʷi/ | titsojinlamak /titsojinlamak/ | tʃʼiʃi /tʃʼiʃi/ | sakal askal /sakal ʔaskal/ | sakil asukal /sakil asukal/ | asuka /ʔasuka/ | — |
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