Proto-Mayan
Proto-language (reconstructed) · historical / hidden variety
Proto-Mayan is the reconstructed ancestor of the Mayan family of Mesoamerica (some 30 languages including Kʼicheʼ, Yucatec and Mam). It is placed in the Guatemalan highlands around 2200–2000 BCE and is well reconstructed thanks to detailed comparative work.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Proto-Mayan
Sources
- Kaufman & Norman (1984) An outline of Proto-Cholan phonology, morphology and vocabulary
- Kaufman (2003) A Preliminary Mayan Etymological Dictionary
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Proto-language (reconstructed)
| Meaning | Proto-Mayan | Uspanteko | Kʼicheʼ | Poqomchi' | Classical Maya | Yucatec Maya | Kaqchikel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | *haʔ /haʔ/ | jaʼ /haʔ/ | jaʼ /xaʔ/ | haʼ /haʔ/ | haʼ /haʔ/ | jaʼ /haʔ/ | yaʼ /jaʔ/ |
| Fire | *qʼaaqʼ /qʼaaqʼ/ | qʼaaqʼ /qʼaːqʼ/ | qʼaqʼ /qʼaqʼ/ | qʼaaq /qʼaːq/ | kʼahkʼ /kʼahkʼ/ | kʼáakʼ /kʼaːkʼ/ | qʼaqʼ /qʼaqʼ/ |
| Sun | *qʼiinh /qʼiinh/ | qʼiij /qʼiːh/ | qʼij /qʼix/ | qʼiij /qʼiːx/ | kʼin /kʼin/ | kʼiin /kʼiːn/ | qʼij /qʼix/ |
| Moon | *uːh /uːh/ | ikʼ /ikʼ/ | ikʼ /ikʼ/ | poh /poh/ | uh /uh/ | uj /uh/ | ikʼ /ikʼ/ |
| Star | *eʼq /eʼq/ | chʼumil /tʃʼumil/ | chʼumil /tʃʼumil/ | chʼumiil /tʃʼumiːl/ | ekʼ /eːkʼ/ | eekʼ /eːkʼ/ | chʼumil /tʃʼumil/ |
| Night | *aqʼabʼ /aqʼaɓ/ | laqʼabʼ /laqʼaɓ/ | aqʼabʼ /aqʼaɓ/ | aqʼabʼ /aqʼaɓ/ | akʼabʼ /akʼaɓ/ | áakʼabʼ /aːkʼaɓ/ | aqʼaʼ /aqʼaʔ/ |
| Rain | *nhabʼ /ŋaɓ/ | jabʼ /haɓ/ | jabʼ /xaɓ/ | jabʼ /xaɓ/ | haʼal /haʔal/ | cháak /tʃáːk/ | jobʼ /xoɓ/ |
| Wind | *ʔiʔqʼ /ʔiʔqʼ/ | tew /tew/ | iqʼ /iqʼ/ | teew /teːw/ | ikʼ /ikʼ/ | iikʼ /iːkʼ/ | kaqʼiqʼ /kaqʼiqʼ/ |
| Earth | *chʼohchʼ /tʃʼohtʃʼ/ | ulew /uleːw/ | ulew /ulew/ | akʼal /akʼal/ | kab /kab/ | luʼum /luʔum/ | ulew /uleːw/ |
| Stone | *ʔaʔbʼaj /ʔaʔbʼaj/ | ábʼaj /ˈáɓax/ | abʼaj /aɓax/ | abʼaj /aˈɓax/ | tuun /tuːn/ | tuunich /tuːˈnitʃ/ | abäj /aˈɓəx/ |
| Mountain | *witz /wits/ | witz /wits/ | juyubʼ /xujuɓ/ | yuuqʼ /juːqʼ/ | witz /wits/ | wiits /wiːts/ | juyuʼ /xuˈjuʔ/ |
| Mother | *naʔ /naʔ/ | nan /nan/ | nan /nan/ | tuut /tuːt/ | naʼ /naʔ/ | naʼ /naʔ/ | teʼ /teʔ/ |
| Father | *taat /taat/ | tat /tat/ | tat /tat/ | ajaaw /axaːw/ | yuum /juːm/ | taata /taːta/ | tataʼ /tataʔ/ |
| I | *in /in/ | in /in/ | in /in/ | hin /hin/ | hiin /hiːn/ | teen /teːn/ | rïn /rɪn/ |
| You | *ʔat /ʔat/ | at /at/ | at /at/ | hat /hat/ | hat /hat/ | teech /teːtʃ/ | rat /rat/ |
| We | — /—/ | oj /ox/ | uj /ux/ | hoj /hox/ | — /—/ | toʼon /toʔon/ | röj /rʊx/ |
| Name | *bʼih /bʼih/ | bʼii /ɓiː/ | bʼiʼ /ɓiʔ/ | bʼih /ɓih/ | kʼabaʼ /kʼaˈɓaʔ/ | kʼaabaʼ /kʼaːɓaʔ/ | bʼiʼ /ɓiʔ/ |
| Person | *winaq /winaq/ | kristyan /kristjan/ | winaq /winaq/ | kʼachareel /kʼatʃareːl/ | winik /winik/ | máak /maːk/ | winäq /wiˈnəq/ |
| Eye | *Haty /hatʲ/ | wach /watʃ/ | bʼaqʼwach /ɓaqʼwatʃ/ | naqʼ /naqʼ/ | ut /ut/ | ich /itʃ/ | runaqʼ ruwäch /runaqʼ ruwətʃ/ |
| Ear | *xikin /ʃikin/ | xikiin /ʃikiːn/ | xikin /ʃikin/ | xikin /ʃikin/ | chikin /tʃikin/ | xikin /ʃikin/ | xikin /ʃikin/ |
| Nose | *nhiiʔ /ŋiːʔ/ | tzaʼm /tsaʔm/ | tzaʼm /tsaʔm/ | juʼ /xuʔ/ | niʼ /niʔ/ | niʼ /niʔ/ | tzaʼn /tsaʔn/ |
| Mouth | *tyiiʔ /tʲiːʔ/ | chiʼ /tʃiʔ/ | chiʼ /tʃiʔ/ | chiʼhis /tʃiʔhis/ | tiʼ /tiʔ/ | chiʼ /tʃiʔ/ | chiʼ /tʃiʔ/ |
| Tooth | *ʔeeh /ʔeːh/ | e /e/ | ware /waɾe/ | ehis /ehis/ | eh /eh/ | koh /koh/ | ey /ej/ |
| Tongue | *aaqʼ /aːqʼ/ | aqʼ /aqʼ/ | aqʼ /aqʼ/ | aqʼ /aqʼ/ | akʼ /akʼ/ | aakʼ /aːkʼ/ | aqʼ /aqʼ/ |
| Hand | *qʼabʼ /qʼabʼ/ | qʼaabʼ /qʼaːɓ/ | qʼabʼ /qʼaɓ/ | qʼabʼ /qʼaɓ/ | kʼab /kʼab/ | kʼabʼ /kʼaɓ/ | qʼaʼ /qʼaʔ/ |
| Foot | *ʔooq /ʔoːq/ | aqan /aqan/ | aqan /aqan/ | ooq /oːq/ | ook /oːk/ | ook /oːk/ | aqän /aqən/ |
| Heart | — /—/ | kʼuʼx /kʼuʔʃ/ | animaʼ /animaʔ/ | kʼuxliis /kʼuʃliːs/ | pixan /piʃan/ | puksiʼikʼal /puksiʔikʼal/ | kʼuʼx /kʼuʔʃ/ |
| Bone | *bʼaaq /ɓaːq/ | bʼaaq /ɓaːq/ | bʼaq /ɓaq/ | bʼaq /ɓaq/ | baak /ɓaːk/ | bʼaak /ɓaːk/ | bʼaq /ɓaq/ |
| Blood | *kikʼ /kikʼ/ | kikʼ /kikʼ/ | kikʼ /kikʼ/ | kikʼ /kikʼ/ | kʼikʼ /kʼikʼ/ | kʼiʼikʼ /kʼiʔikʼ/ | kïkʼ /kɪkʼ/ |
| Poop | *ta7 /taʔ/ | — | achaq /atʃaq/ | saaʼ /saːʔ/ | — | taʼ /taʔ/ | — |
| Love | — /—/ | lóqʼ /lóqʼ/ | loqʼoj /loqʼox/ | rahaal /rahaːl/ | yaah /jaːh/ | yaakuntej /jaːkunteh/ | ajowabʼäl /axowaɓəl/ |
| Tree | *teʔ /teʔ/ | cheʼ /tʃeʔ/ | cheʼ /tʃeʔ/ | cheeʼ /tʃeʔ/ | cheʼ /tʃeʔ/ | cheʼ /tʃeʔ/ | cheʼ /tʃeʔ/ |
| Dog | *tzʼiʔ /tzʼiʔ/ | tzʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ | tzʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ | tzʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ | peekʼ /peːkʼ/ | peekʼ /peːkʼ/ | tzʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ |
| Cat | — /—/ | mis /mis/ | meʼs /meʔs/ | mees /meːs/ | miis /miːs/ | miis /miːs/ | mes /mes/ |
| Fish | *kar /kar/ | kar /kar/ | kar /kaɾ/ | kar /kar/ | kay /kaj/ | kay /kaj/ | kar /kar/ |
| Bird | *tzʼikin /tzʼikin/ | tzʼikin /tsʼikin/ | tzʼikin /tsʼikin/ | tzʼikin /tsʼikin/ | mut /mut/ | chʼíichʼ /tʃʼiːtʃʼ/ | tzʼikin /tsʼikin/ |
| Butterfly | *pehpen /pehpen/ | — | pepe /pepe/ | pehpem /pehpem/ | — | péepen /peːpen/ | palamax /palamaʃ/ |
| House | *nah /nah/ | jaa /haː/ | ja /xa/ | paat /paːt/ | otoch /otoːtʃ/ | naj /nah/ | jay /xaj/ |
| Honey | *kaabʼ /kaːɓ/ | kabʼ /kaɓ/ | kabʼ /kaɓ/ | kaabʼ /kaːɓ/ | — | kaab /kaːb/ | kabʼ /kaɓ/ |
| Salt | *ʔaʔtzʼaam /ʔaʔtsʼaːm/ | atzʼam /atsʼam/ | atzʼam /atsʼam/ | atzʼaam /atsʼaːm/ | — | taʼab /taʔaɓ/ | atzʼam /atsʼam/ |
| Eat | *waʔ /waʔ/ | waʼ /waʔ/ | tijow /tixow/ | wai /wai/ | weʼ /weʔ/ | jaant /haːnt/ | waʼin /waʔin/ |
| Drink | *ʔukʼ /ʔukʼ/ | ukʼ /ukʼ/ | ukʼaaj /ukʼaːx/ | uukʼ /uːkʼ/ | ukʼ /ukʼ/ | ukʼul /ukʼul/ | kumun /kumun/ |
| Sleep | *war /war/ | war /war/ | war /waɾ/ | wirik /wirik/ | way /waj/ | wenel /wenel/ | war /war/ |
| One | *jun /jun/ | jun /hun/ | jun /xun/ | jinaj /xinax/ | jun /hun/ | jun /hun/ | jun /xun/ |
| Two | *kaʼ /kaʼ/ | quiibʼ /kiːɓ/ | kebʼ /keɓ/ | kiʼibʼ /kiʔiɓ/ | chaʼ /tʃaʔ/ | kaʼ /kaʔ/ | kaʼiʼ /kaʔiʔ/ |
| Three | *ʼoxibʼ /ʔoʃiɓ/ | oxibʼ /oʃiɓ/ | oxibʼ /oʃiɓ/ | ixibʼ /iʃiɓ/ | ox /oʃ/ | óox /ʔoːʃ/ | oxiʼ /oʃiʔ/ |
| Four | *kaŋibʼ /kaŋiɓ/ | kajibʼ /kaxiɓ/ | kajibʼ /kaxiɓ/ | kijibʼ /kixiɓ/ | kan /kan/ | kan /kan/ | kajiʼ /kaxiʔ/ |
| Five | *hoʔ /hoʔ/ | joobʼ /hoːɓ/ | jobʼ /xoɓ/ | hoʼoobʼ /hoʔoːɓ/ | hoʼ /hoʔ/ | joʼ /hoʔ/ | woʼoʼ /woʔoʔ/ |
| Hello | — /—/ | saʼbʼal /saʔbal/ | saqarik /saqaɾik/ | ma chaa /ma tʃaː/ | bix a beel /biʃ a beːl/ | baʼax ka waʼalik /baʔaʃ ka waʔalik/ | utz iwäch /uts iwətʃ/ |
| Thank you | — /—/ | maltyox /maltjoʃ/ | maltyox /maltjoʃ/ | tioxlaab /tjoʃlaːb/ | nibʼoolal /nibʼoːlal/ | dios boʼotik /dios boʔotik/ | matyox /matjoʃ/ |
| Good | *utz /utz/ | tzi /tsi/ | utz /uts/ | holohik /holohik/ | utz /uts/ | maʼalob /maʔalob/ | ütz /ʊts/ |
| New | *ʔa(a)kʼ /ʔakʼ/ | akʼ /akʼ/ | kʼakʼ /kʼakʼ/ | akʼ /akʼ/ | achʼ /atʃʼ/ | túumben /tuːmben/ | kʼakʼaʼ /kʼakʼaʔ/ |
| Red | *kaq /kaq/ | kyeq /kjeq/ | kaq /kaq/ | kaq /kaq/ | chak /tʃak/ | chak /tʃak/ | käq /kəq/ |
| White | *saq /saq/ | saq /saq/ | saq /saq/ | saq /saq/ | sak /sak/ | sak /sak/ | säq /səq/ |
| Black | *ʔejqʼ /ʔejqʼ/ | qʼeq /qʼeq/ | qʼeq /qʼeq/ | qʼeq /qʼeq/ | — | box /boʃ/ | qʼeq /qʼeq/ |
| Green | *raʔx /raʔʃ/ | rax /raʃ/ | rax /raʃ/ | rax /raʃ/ | yax /jaʃ/ | yaʼax /jaʔaʃ/ | räx /rəʃ/ |
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