Rarámuri
Tarahumara
Uto-Aztecan (Taracahitan)
Tarahumara (Rarámuri, "those who run on foot") is a Uto-Aztecan language of Chihuahua's Sierra Tarahumara, Mexico, with ~85K speakers. The Rarámuri are world-famous for ultra-long-distance running traditions (rarajipari ball-races over 100+ km). Spoken across multiple dialect areas (highland/lowland), it features SOV word order, suffix-rich agglutinative morphology, and a 5-vowel system. Latin orthography developed by Jesuits in the 17th century; modern standardization through the SEP Indigenous Education program.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Tarahumara
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Uto-Aztecan (Taracahitan)
| Meaning | Tarahumara | Proto-Uto-Aztecan | Wixarika | Cora | Guerrero Nahuatl | Western Huasteca Nahuatl | Central Huasteca Nahuatl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | bawí /bawi/ | *paʔ /paʔ/ | ha /ha/ | hapɨn /hapɨn/ | atl /atɬ/ | atl /atɬ/ | atl /atɬ/ |
| Fire | nahí /nahi/ | *na- /na/ | tai /tai/ | taʼai /taʔai/ | tlitl /tɬitɬ/ | tlitl /tɬitɬ/ | tlitl /tɬitɬ/ |
| Sun | rayó /ɾajo/ | *ta /ta/ | tau /tau/ | tahaapuá /tahaːpwa/ | tonajli /tonahli/ | tonati /tonati/ | tonati /tonati/ |
| Moon | mecá /metʃa/ | *mɨca /mɨca/ | metsa /metsa/ | mɨhka /mɨhka/ | metztli /metstɬi/ | metztli /metstɬi/ | metztli /metstɬi/ |
| Star | sopolí /sopoli/ | — /—/ | xurawe /ʃuˈrawe/ | sɨɨrabe /sɨːˈrabe/ | sitlalin /siˈtɬalin/ | sitlalij /siˈtɬalih/ | sitlalij /siˈtɬalih/ |
| Night | rokó /roko/ | *tuku /tuku/ | tikari /tikari/ | tika /tika/ | yowalli /jowalːi/ | yohuali /jowali/ | youali /jowali/ |
| Rain | ukuí /ukui/ | *yuku /juku/ | wiyeri /wijeri/ | biite /biːte/ | quiyahuitl /kijawitɬ/ | quiyahuitl /kijawitɬ/ | kiyawit /kiˈjawit/ |
| Snow | kiparí /kipaɾi/ | — | ʼɨwi /ʔɨwi/ | seeri /seːɾi/ | nieve /ˈnjebe/ | sitlal setl /sitɬal setɬ/ | sital set /sital set/ |
| Wind | eká /eka/ | *hɨka /hɨka/ | ʼeeka /ʔeːka/ | eeca /eːka/ | ajacatl /ahakatɬ/ | ajacatl /ahakatɬ/ | ajakatl /ahakatɬ/ |
| Earth | weʼé /weʔe/ | — | kwie /kʷie/ | chuej /tʃweh/ | tlajli /tɬahli/ | tlali /tɬali/ | tlali /tɬali/ |
| Stone | rité /ɾite/ | *tɨn /tɨn/ | tete /tete/ | teté /teˈte/ | tetl /teːtɬ/ | tetl /teːtɬ/ | tetl /tetɬ/ |
| Mountain | rabó /ɾabo/ | — | yemuri /jemuri/ | jɨrí /hɨˈri/ | tepetl /ˈtepeːtɬ/ | tepetl /ˈtepeːtɬ/ | tepetl /ˈtepeːtɬ/ |
| Sea | mar /maɾ/ | *mɨma /mɨma/ | haramara /haramara/ | muájete /mwaˈhete/ | mar /mar/ | hueyatl /ˈwejatɬ/ | hueyatl /ˈwejatɬ/ |
| Mother | iyé /ije/ | — /—/ | nana /nana/ | naana /naːna/ | nanan /nanan/ | nana /nana/ | nana /nana/ |
| Father | onó /ono/ | — /—/ | yawe /jawe/ | hahuá /hahwa/ | tatah /tatah/ | tata /tata/ | tata /tata/ |
| Daughter | mará /maˈɾa/ | *mala /mala/ | — | — | nochpoch /ˈnotʃpotʃ/ | noichpoca /noitʃˈpoka/ | noichpoca /noitʃˈpoka/ |
| I | nejé /nehe/ | *nɨ /nɨ/ | nee /neː/ | neʼu /ˈneʔu/ | nejua /neˈwa/ | na /na/ | na /na/ |
| You | mujé /muhe/ | *ʔɨ /ʔɨ/ | eekɨ /ˈeːkɨ/ | aʼu /ˈaʔu/ | tejua /teˈwa/ | ta /ta/ | ta /ta/ |
| We | tamujé /tamuhe/ | — /—/ | tame /ˈtame/ | ta /ta/ | tejuamej /teˈwameh/ | tohuanti /toˈwanti/ | tohuanti /toˈwanti/ |
| Name | riwá /ɾiwa/ | *tewa /tewa/ | tewa /ˈtewa/ | yeuwa /ˈjeuwa/ | tocaitl /toˈkaitɬ/ | tocaxtli /toˈkaʃtɬi/ | tocaxtli /toˈkaʃtɬi/ |
| Person | pagótami /paɡotami/ | — | tewi /tewi/ | tebi /tebi/ | tlacatl /ˈtɬakatɬ/ | masehuali /maseˈwali/ | masehuali /maseˈwali/ |
| Head | moʼó /moʔo/ | *moʔo /moʔo/ | muʼú /muˈʔu/ | muʼú /muˈʔu/ | tzontecomitl /tsonteˈkomitɬ/ | tzontecomitl /tsonteˈkomitɬ/ | tzontecomitl /tsonteˈkomitɬ/ |
| Eye | pusí /pusi/ | *pusi /pusi/ | tukite /tukite/ | húi /hwi/ | ixtololo /iʃtololo/ | ixteyol /iʃtejol/ | ixtioli /iʃtioli/ |
| Ear | naká /naka/ | *naka /naka/ | naka /naka/ | naxai /naʃai/ | nacas /nakas/ | nacastli /nakastɬi/ | nacastli /nakastɬi/ |
| Nose | aká /aka/ | *yaka /jaka/ | tsuri /tsuɾi/ | tzúʼuri /ˈtsuʔuri/ | yacatl /jakatɬ/ | yacatl /jakatɬ/ | yakatsoli /jakatsoli/ |
| Mouth | riní /ɾini/ | *tɨʔni /tɨʔni/ | téni /teni/ | teni /teni/ | camactli /kaˈmaktɬi/ | camactli /kaˈmaktɬi/ | camactli /kaˈmaktɬi/ |
| Tooth | ramé /rame/ | *tama /tama/ | tame /tame/ | tame /tame/ | tlan /tɬan/ | tlankoch /tɬankotʃ/ | tlankoch /tɬankotʃ/ |
| Tongue | chamerawa /tʃamerawa/ | *nene /nene/ | neni /neni/ | nanu /nanu/ | nenepil /nenepil/ | nenepil /nenepil/ | nenepili /nenepili/ |
| Hand | sekuá /sekwa/ | *maʔ /maʔ/ | mama /mama/ | mam /mam/ | maitl /maitɬ/ | maitl /maitɬ/ | maitl /maitɬ/ |
| Foot | ronó /ɾono/ | *tala /tala/ | keta /keta/ | ɨɨka /ɨːka/ | icxitl /ikʃitɬ/ | icxitl /ikʃitɬ/ | icxitl /ikʃitɬ/ |
| Heart | surí /suɾi/ | *sula /sula/ | iyari /ijari/ | hɨurí /hɨuri/ | yojlotl /johlotɬ/ | yolotl /jolotɬ/ | yolotl /jolotɬ/ |
| Bone | ochí /otʃi/ | *ohomï-ta /ohomɨta/ | ume /ume/ | ɨka /ɨka/ | omitl /omitɬ/ | omitl /omitɬ/ | omitl /omitɬ/ |
| Blood | wichirá /witʃiɾa/ | *ɨtwa /ɨtwa/ | xuriya /ʃuɾija/ | xuuri /ʃuːɾi/ | yestli /jestɬi/ | estli /estɬi/ | estli /estɬi/ |
| Poop | witá /wita/ | *kwittaC /kwittaC/ | kwita /kʷita/ | — | — | cuitlatl /ˈkʷitɬatɬ/ | cuitlatl /ˈkʷitɬatɬ/ |
| Love | nakí /naki/ | — /—/ | kanenki /kanenki/ | kaʼna /kaʔna/ | tlazohtla /tɬasoʔtɬa/ | tlasojtla /tɬasohtɬa/ | tlazohtla /tɬasoʔtɬa/ |
| Tree | gokó /ɡoko/ | *kut /kut/ | kiyé /kije/ | kɨré /kɨre/ | kojtli /kohtɬi/ | cuahuitl /kʷawitɬ/ | cuahuitl /kʷawitɬ/ |
| Dog | kochí /kotʃi/ | — /—/ | tsïkï /tsɨkɨ/ | tsɨʼɨ /tsɨʔɨ/ | itzcuintli /itskʷintɬi/ | chichi /tʃitʃi/ | chichi /tʃitʃi/ |
| Cat | misí /misi/ | — /—/ | mitsu /mitsu/ | mistú /mistu/ | miston /miston/ | mizton /miston/ | misto /misto/ |
| Fish | rochi /rotʃi/ | *paki /paki/ | kesi /kesi/ | sasa /sasa/ | michin /mitʃin/ | michi /mitʃi/ | michi /mitʃi/ |
| Bird | chulugí /tʃuluɡi/ | — | wiki /wiki/ | pinaʼa /ˈpinaʔa/ | tototl /ˈtototɬ/ | tototl /tototɬ/ | tototl /tototɬ/ |
| Butterfly | nakarópari /nakaropari/ | — | kipï /kipɨ/ | átzipaʼu /ˈatsipaʔu/ | papalotl /paˈpalotɬ/ | papalotl /paˈpalotɬ/ | papalotl /paˈpalotɬ/ |
| Egg | kaʼwá /kaʔwa/ | — | tawári /taˈwaɾi/ | taʼu /taʔu/ | totoltetl /totolˈtetɬ/ | tecsistli /teksistɬi/ | tejsistli /tehsistɬi/ |
| Horse | kawé /kawe/ | — | kawayu /kawaju/ | cahuaáyuʼu /kawaˈajuʔu/ | caballo /kaˈbajo/ | cahuayoj /kaˈwajoh/ | kauayoj /kaˈwajoh/ |
| House | kalí /kali/ | *ki /ki/ | ki /ki/ | kíh /kih/ | kajli /kahli/ | cali /kali/ | kali /kali/ |
| Honey | amoo /amoo/ | — | xiete /ʃiete/ | sarate /saɾate/ | necutli /neˈkutɬi/ | nectli /nektɬi/ | necti /nekti/ |
| Salt | koná /kona/ | *ona /ona/ | ʼuna /ʔuna/ | unáj /unah/ | istatl /istatɬ/ | istatl /istatɬ/ | istatl /istatɬ/ |
| Iron | jiyero /hijeɾo/ | — | tepɨa /tepɨa/ | tepuústiʼi /tepuːstiʔi/ | tepostli /tepostɬi/ | tepostli /tepostɬi/ | tepostli /tepostɬi/ |
| Book | libro /libɾo/ | — | xapa /ʃapa/ | liibru /ˈliːbɾu/ | libro /ˈlibro/ | libro /ˈlibro/ | amochtli /aˈmotʃtɬi/ |
| Eat | koʼa /koʔa/ | *kwaʔa /kwaʔa/ | kuye /kuje/ | kuá /kwa/ | tlakua /tɬakʷa/ | tlacua /tɬakʷa/ | tlacua /tɬakʷa/ |
| Drink | bahí /bahi/ | *hiʔpa /hiʔpa/ | hiʼeka /hiʔeka/ | hiʼi /hiʔi/ | koni /koni/ | atli /atɬi/ | atli /atɬi/ |
| Sleep | kochí /kotʃi/ | *koci /koci/ | kutsu /kutsu/ | cutzú /kuˈtsu/ | cochi /ˈkotʃi/ | cochi /ˈkotʃi/ | cochi /ˈkotʃi/ |
| One | bilé /bile/ | *sɨmɨ /sɨmɨ/ | xevi /ʃevi/ | cei /tsei/ | ce /se/ | ce /se/ | ce /se/ |
| Two | okuá /okwa/ | *wo /wo/ | huta /huˈta/ | huapoa /waˈpoa/ | ome /ˈome/ | ome /ˈome/ | ome /ˈome/ |
| Three | bakiá /bakia/ | *pahi /pahi/ | haika /haika/ | waika /waika/ | yeyi /jeji/ | eyi /ejiː/ | eyi /ejiː/ |
| Four | naó /nao/ | — | nauka /nauka/ | muaacua /mwaːkwa/ | nahui /nawi/ | nahui /nawi/ | nahui /naːwi/ |
| Five | marí /maˈɾi/ | — | auxɨwi /auʃɨwi/ | ansɨbi /ansɨbi/ | makuijli /makʷihli/ | macuili /maˈkʷili/ | makuili /maˈkʷili/ |
| Hundred | siénto /ˈsjento/ | — | xeitsienituyari /ʃeitsienitujari/ | anxɨ́te /anˈʃɨte/ | ciento /ˈsjento/ | cien /sjen/ | cien /sjen/ |
| Hello | kuira /kuiɾa/ | — /—/ | kekuanenki /kekwanenki/ | keʼkuanenki /keʔkwanenki/ | panolti /panolti/ | niltze /niltse/ | niltze /niltse/ |
| Thank you | matéterabá /mateteɾaba/ | — /—/ | paʼiwakaitsie /paʔiwakaitsje/ | atsipiraá /atsipiraː/ | tlazohcamati /tɬasoʔkamati/ | tlascamati /tɬaskamati/ | tlaskamati /tɬaskamati/ |
| Good | galá /ɡala/ | — /—/ | waxa /waʃa/ | huáʼi /hwaʔi/ | kuajli /kʷahli/ | cuali /kʷali/ | kuali /kʷali/ |
| New | bukulíwami /bukuliwami/ | *pɨtuwa /pɨtuwa/ | hekwa /hekʷa/ | jéjcua /ˈhehkwa/ | yencuic /ˈjenkʷik/ | yancuic /ˈjankʷik/ | yancuic /ˈjankʷik/ |
| Red | sitákame /siˈtakame/ | — /—/ | +aurawi /ʔaurawi/ | sabí /saˈbi/ | chichiltik /tʃitʃiltik/ | chichiltik /tʃitʃiltik/ | chichiltik /tʃitʃiltik/ |
| White | rosá /rosa/ | *tosa /tosa/ | tuxame /tuʃame/ | cuaiina /kʷaiˈina/ | istak /istak/ | chipahuac /tʃipawak/ | istak /istak/ |
| Black | chókami /tʃokami/ | — | yɨwime /jɨwime/ | súʼumuaraʼa /suʔumwaɾaʔa/ | capotztic /kaˈpotstik/ | yayahuic /jaˈjawik/ | yayahuic /jaˈjawik/ |
| Green | siyóname /siˈjoname/ | — | siïraïyeme /siɨraɨjeme/ | jamuámua /haˈmwamwa/ | xoxojki /ʃoˈʃohki/ | xoxohuic /ʃoˈʃowik/ | xoxohuic /ʃoˈʃowik/ |
| Blue | siyóname /siˈjoname/ | — | yuawime /juawime/ | — | azul /aˈsul/ | azultic /aˈsultik/ | azultic /aˈsultik/ |
| Coffee | kajé /kahe/ | — | — | — | café /kaˈfe/ | — | kafej /kafeh/ |
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