P'urhépecha
Purépecha
isolate
Purépecha (P’urhépecha; ISO 639-3: tsz), historically called Tarascan, is an Indigenous language isolate spoken mainly in Michoacán, Mexico. Its principal regional groupings include the Lake Pátzcuaro area, the Sierra or Meseta, and the Cañada, with substantial variation within and between communities; many speakers prefer Purépecha because Tarascan is a colonial name. The language is strongly suffixing and agglutinative, has flexible constituent order described as both SVO and SOV, and uses extensive spatial and body-part suffixes. It is written in Latin-based orthographies, but spelling and grammatical standardization remain contested across regional varieties. Mexican law recognizes Purépecha and other Indigenous languages as national languages with the same validity as Spanish in their relevant settings, yet intergenerational shift to Spanish and uneven Indigenous-language schooling threaten transmission in many communities.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Purépecha
Sources
- Lathrop, Maxwell. 2007. Vocabulario del idioma purépecha, 2nd electronic ed., Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, México
- Velásquez Gallardo, Pablo. 1978. Diccionario de la lengua phorhépecha (cited in words/foot.js for jantsíri)
- en.wiktionary Purepecha lemmas (Chamoreau 2003, Gilberti 1559)
- Diósïri Karakata P'urheepecha Jimbo, bible.com version 3546
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: isolate
| Meaning | Purépecha | Extremaduran | Central Huasteca Nahuatl | Chavacano | Sicilian | Corsican | Asturian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | itsï /iˈtsɨ/ | augua /ˈawɣwa/ | atl /atɬ/ | agua /ˈaɡwa/ | acqua /ˈakkwa/ | acqua /ˈakwa/ | agua /ˈaɣwa/ |
| Fire | chpíri /ˈtʃpʰiɾi/ | huegu /ˈhweɣu/ | tlitl /tɬitɬ/ | fuego /ˈfweɡo/ | focu /ˈfɔku/ | focu /ˈfɔku/ | fueu /ˈfweu/ |
| Sun | jurhiata /xuɽˈjata/ | sol /sɔl/ | tonati /tonati/ | sol /sol/ | suli /ˈsuli/ | sole /ˈsɔle/ | sol /sol/ |
| Moon | kutsi /ˈkutsi/ | luna /ˈluna/ | metztli /metstɬi/ | luna /ˈluna/ | luna /ˈluna/ | luna /ˈluna/ | lluna /ˈʎuna/ |
| Star | jóskua /ˈxoskʷa/ | estrella /ehˈtɾeʎa/ | sitlalij /siˈtɬalih/ | estrellas /esˈtɾejas/ | stidda /ˈstɪɖːa/ | stella /ˈstella/ | estrella /esˈtɾeʎa/ |
| Night | churikua /tʃuɾikʷa/ | nochi /ˈnotʃi/ | youali /jowali/ | noche /ˈnotʃe/ | notti /ˈnɔtti/ | notte /ˈnɔtːe/ | nueche /ˈnwetʃe/ |
| Rain | janikua /xanikʷa/ | lluvia /ˈʎuβja/ | kiyawit /kiˈjawit/ | ulan /uˈlan/ | chiuvuta /kjuˈvuta/ | pioggia /ˈpjɔdʒa/ | lluvia /ˈʎuβja/ |
| Snow | iéjta /ˈjexta/ | ñevi /ˈɲeβi/ | sital set /sital set/ | nieve /ˈnjebe/ | nivi /ˈniːvi/ | neve /ˈneve/ | nieve /njeβe/ |
| Wind | tarhiata /taˈɽiata/ | ventu /ˈbentu/ | ajakatl /ahakatɬ/ | viento /ˈbjento/ | ventu /ˈvɛntu/ | ventu /ˈventu/ | vientu /ˈbjentu/ |
| Earth | echeri /etʃeɾi/ | tierra /ˈtjera/ | tlali /tɬali/ | tierra /tjera/ | terra /ˈtɛrra/ | terra /ˈtɛrra/ | tierra /ˈtjera/ |
| Stone | tsakapu /tsaˈkapu/ | piedra /ˈpjeðɾa/ | tetl /tetɬ/ | piedra /ˈpjedɾa/ | petra /ˈpɛːtra/ | petra /ˈpɛtra/ | piedra /ˈpjeðɾa/ |
| Mountain | uata /wata/ | montaña /monˈtaɲa/ | tepetl /ˈtepeːtɬ/ | monte /ˈmonte/ | muntagna /munˈtaɲɲa/ | muntagna /munˈtaɲɲa/ | monte /ˈmonte/ |
| Sea | kʼéri japunta /ˈkʰeɾi xapunta/ | mar /maɾ/ | hueyatl /ˈwejatɬ/ | mar /maɾ/ | mari /ˈmari/ | mare /ˈmare/ | mar /maɾ/ |
| Mother | nana /ˈnana/ | mai /mai/ | nana /nana/ | nana /ˈnana/ | matri /ˈmatri/ | mamma /ˈmamma/ | madre /ˈmaðɾe/ |
| Father | tata /ˈtata/ | pairi /ˈpajɾi/ | tata /tata/ | tata /ˈtata/ | patri /ˈpatri/ | babbu /ˈbabːu/ | padre /ˈpaðɾe/ |
| I | ji /xi/ | yo /ʝo/ | na /na/ | yo /jo/ | iu /ju/ | eiu /ˈɛju/ | yo /ʝo/ |
| You | tʼu /tʰu/ | tú /tu/ | ta /ta/ | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ | tù /tu/ | tu /tu/ |
| We | juchá /xuˈtʃa/ | nusotrus /nusoˈtɾus/ | tohuanti /toˈwanti/ | kita / kame /kiˈta / kaˈme/ | nuàutri /nuˈawtri/ | noi /ˈnoi/ | nosotros /noˈsotɾos/ |
| Name | arhikua /aɽiˈkʷa/ | nombri /ˈnombɾi/ | tocaxtli /toˈkaʃtɬi/ | nombre /ˈnombɾe/ | nomu /ˈnɔmu/ | nome /ˈnome/ | nome /ˈnome/ |
| Person | kʼuiripu /kʰʷiˈɾipu/ | presona /pɾeˈsona/ | masehuali /maseˈwali/ | gente /ˈhente/ | pirsuna /pirˈsuna/ | persona /perˈsona/ | persona /peɾˈsona/ |
| Head | ejpu /expu/ | cabeça /kaˈβesa/ | tzontecomitl /tsonteˈkomitɬ/ | cabeza /kaˈbesa/ | testa /ˈtɛsta/ | capu /ˈkapu/ | cabeza /kaˈβeθa/ |
| Eye | éskua /ˈeskʷa/ | oju /ˈohu/ | ixtioli /iʃtioli/ | ojos /ˈohos/ | occhiu /ˈɔkkju/ | ochju /ˈɔcu/ | güeyu /ˈɡweʝu/ |
| Ear | kutsïkua /kuˈtsɨkʷa/ | oreja /oˈɾexa/ | nacastli /nakastɬi/ | orejas /oˈɾexas/ | aricchia /aˈrikkja/ | arechja /aˈrɛca/ | oreya /oˈɾeʝa/ |
| Nose | úrhi /ˈuɽi/ | narís /naˈɾis/ | yakatsoli /jakatsoli/ | nariz /naˈɾis/ | nasu /ˈnaːsu/ | nasu /ˈnazu/ | nariz /naˈɾiθ/ |
| Mouth | penchumikua /pentʃumikʷa/ | boca /ˈboka/ | camactli /kaˈmaktɬi/ | boca /ˈboka/ | vucca /ˈvukka/ | bocca /ˈbɔkka/ | boca /ˈboka/ |
| Tooth | sïni /sɨni/ | dienti /ˈdjenti/ | tlankoch /tɬankotʃ/ | diente /ˈdjente/ | denti /ˈdɛnti/ | dente /ˈdɛnte/ | diente /ˈdjente/ |
| Tongue | katamba /katamba/ | luenga /ˈlweŋɡa/ | nenepili /nenepili/ | lengua /ˈleŋɡwa/ | lingua /ˈlinɡwa/ | lingua /ˈliŋɡwa/ | llingua /ˈʎiŋɡwa/ |
| Hand | jájki /ˈhaxki/ | manu /ˈmanu/ | maitl /maitɬ/ | mano /ˈmano/ | manu /ˈmanu/ | manu /ˈmanu/ | mano /ˈmano/ |
| Foot | jantsíri /xanˈtsiɾi/ | pie /pje/ | icxitl /ikʃitɬ/ | pies /pjes/ | pedi /ˈpɛdi/ | pede /ˈpɛde/ | pie /pje/ |
| Heart | mintsita /minˈtsita/ | curaçón /kuɾaˈsɔn/ | yolotl /jolotɬ/ | corazon /koraˈson/ | cori /ˈkɔri/ | core /ˈkɔre/ | corazón /koɾaˈθon/ |
| Bone | úni /ˈuni/ | güesu /ˈɡwesu/ | omitl /omitɬ/ | hueso /ˈweso/ | ossu /ˈɔssu/ | ossu /ˈɔssu/ | güesu /ˈɡwesu/ |
| Blood | iurhiri /juɽiɽi/ | sangri /ˈsaŋɡɾi/ | estli /estɬi/ | sangre /ˈsaŋɡre/ | sangu /ˈsaŋɡu/ | sangue /ˈsaŋɡwe/ | sangre /ˈsaŋɡɾe/ |
| Poop | kuatsita /kʷatsita/ | — | cuitlatl /ˈkʷitɬatɬ/ | — | cacca /ˈkakka/ | caca /ˈkaka/ | caca /ˈkaka/ |
| Love | uekpini /wekpini/ | amol /aˈmol/ | tlazohtla /tɬasoʔtɬa/ | ama /ˈama/ | amuri /aˈmuri/ | amore /aˈmɔre/ | amor /aˈmoɾ/ |
| Tree | anhatapu /aŋaˈtapu/ | arbol /ˈaɾβol/ | cuahuitl /kʷawitɬ/ | palo /ˈpalo/ | àrbulu /ˈarbulu/ | arburu /ˈarburu/ | árbol /ˈaɾβol/ |
| Dog | uíchu /ˈwitʃu/ | perru /ˈperu/ | chichi /tʃitʃi/ | perro /ˈpeɾo/ | cani /ˈkani/ | cane /ˈkane/ | perru /ˈperu/ |
| Cat | misitu /miˈsitu/ | gatu /ˈɡatu/ | misto /misto/ | gato /ˈɡato/ | jattu /ˈjattu/ | ghjattu /ˈɟattu/ | gatu /ˈɡatu/ |
| Fish | kurucha /kuɾutʃa/ | pexi /ˈpeʃi/ | michi /mitʃi/ | pescao /pesˈkaw/ | pisci /ˈpiʃi/ | pesciu /ˈpeʃu/ | pexe /ˈpeʃe/ |
| Bird | kuini /kʷini/ | páxaru /ˈpaxaɾu/ | tototl /tototɬ/ | pajaro /paxaɾo/ | aceddu /aˈtʃɛɖːu/ | uccellu /utˈtʃɛllu/ | páxaru /ˈpaʃaɾu/ |
| Butterfly | parakata /paˈɾakata/ | — | papalotl /paˈpalotɬ/ | mariposa /maɾiˈposa/ | parpagghiuni /parpaɟˈɟuni/ | farfalla /farˈfalla/ | caparina /kapaˈɾina/ |
| Egg | kuaxanda /kʷaʃanda/ | güevu /ˈɡweβu/ | tejsistli /tehsistɬi/ | huevo /ˈweβo/ | ovu /ˈɔvu/ | ovu /ˈɔvu/ | güevu /ˈɡweβu/ |
| Bear | osu /osu/ | ossu /ˈosu/ | oso /oso/ | oso /ˈoso/ | ursu /ˈursu/ | orsu /ˈorsu/ | osu /ˈosu/ |
| Horse | kabaiu /kaˈbaju/ | caballu /kaˈβaʎu/ | kauayoj /kaˈwajoh/ | caballo /kaˈbajo/ | cavaddu /kaˈvaɖːu/ | cavallu /kaˈvallu/ | caballu /kaˈβaʎu/ |
| House | taa /ta/ | casa /ˈkasa/ | kali /kali/ | casa /ˈkasa/ | casa /ˈkasa/ | casa /ˈkaza/ | casa /ˈkasa/ |
| Milk | lechi /letʃi/ | lechi /ˈletʃi/ | lechi /letʃi/ | leche /ˈletʃe/ | latti /ˈlatti/ | latte /ˈlatte/ | lleche /ˈʎetʃe/ |
| Honey | tékua /ˈtekʷa/ | miel /mjel/ | necti /nekti/ | miel /mjel/ | meli /ˈmɛli/ | mele /ˈmɛle/ | miel /mjel/ |
| Salt | itúkua /iˈtukʷa/ | sal /sal/ | istatl /istatɬ/ | sal /sal/ | sali /ˈsali/ | sale /ˈsale/ | sal /sal/ |
| Wine | binu /ˈbinu/ | vinu /ˈbinu/ | xocomeca at /ʃokomeka at/ | vino /ˈbino/ | vinu /ˈvinu/ | vinu /ˈvinu/ | vinu /ˈbinu/ |
| Iron | tiámu /ˈtjamu/ | hierru /ˈhjeru/ | tepostli /tepostɬi/ | hierro /ˈjero/ | ferru /ˈfɛrru/ | ferru /ˈfɛrru/ | fierro /ˈfjero/ |
| Book | karakata /kaɾakata/ | libru /ˈliβɾu/ | amochtli /aˈmotʃtɬi/ | libro /ˈlibro/ | libbru /ˈlibbru/ | libru /ˈlibru/ | llibru /ˈʎiβɾu/ |
| Eat | tʼireni /tʰiˈɾeni/ | comel /koˈmel/ | tlacua /tɬakʷa/ | come /koˈme/ | manciari /manˈtʃari/ | manghjà /manˈɟa/ | comer /koˈmeɾ/ |
| Drink | itsïmani /itsɨmani/ | bebel /beˈβel/ | atli /atɬi/ | toma /toˈma/ | vìviri /ˈviviri/ | beie /ˈbeje/ | beber /beˈβeɾ/ |
| Sleep | kʼuíni /ˈkʰʷini/ | durmil /duɾˈmil/ | cochi /ˈkotʃi/ | durmi /duɾmi/ | dòrmiri /ˈdɔrmɪrɪ/ | durmì /durˈmi/ | dormir /dorˈmir/ |
| One | ma /ma/ | un /un/ | ce /se/ | uno /ˈuno/ | unu /ˈunu/ | unu /ˈunu/ | ún /un/ |
| Two | tsimani /tsiˈmani/ | dos /dos/ | ome /ˈome/ | dos /dos/ | dui /ˈduɪ/ | dui /ˈdui/ | dos /dos/ |
| Three | tanimu /tanimu/ | tres /tɾes/ | eyi /ejiː/ | tres /tɾes/ | tri /tri/ | trè /trɛ/ | tres /tɾes/ |
| Four | tʼamu /tʰamu/ | cuatru /ˈkwatɾu/ | nahui /naːwi/ | cuatro /ˈkwatɾo/ | quattru /ˈkwattru/ | quattru /ˈkwatːru/ | cuatro /ˈkwatɾo/ |
| Five | yumu /jumu/ | cincu /ˈθiŋku/ | makuili /maˈkʷili/ | cinco /ˈsiŋko/ | cincu /ˈtʃiŋku/ | cinque /ˈtʃiŋkwe/ | cinco /ˈθiŋko/ |
| Hundred | yumu ekuatsi /jumu ekʷatsi/ | cien /θjen/ | cien /sjen/ | cien /sjen/ | centu /ˈtʃɛntu/ | centu /ˈtʃɛntu/ | cien /θjen/ |
| Hello | — /—/ | salú /saˈlu/ | niltze /niltse/ | buenas /ˈbwenas/ | salutamu /salutamu/ | salute /saˈlute/ | hola /ˈola/ |
| Thank you | diosï meyamu /diosɨ meˈjamu/ | gracias /ˈɣɾasjas/ | tlaskamati /tɬaskamati/ | gracias /ˈɡɾasjas/ | grazii /ˈɡrattsii/ | grazie /ˈɡratsje/ | gracies /ˈɡɾaθjes/ |
| Good | sesi /ˈsesi/ | güenu /ˈɡwenu/ | kuali /kʷali/ | bueno /ˈbweno/ | bonu /ˈbɔnu/ | bonu /ˈbɔnu/ | bonu /ˈbonu/ |
| New | jimbanhi /ximbaŋi/ | nuevu /ˈnweβu/ | yancuic /ˈjankʷik/ | nuevo /ˈnwebo/ | novu /ˈnɔvu/ | novu /ˈnɔvu/ | nuevu /ˈnweβu/ |
| Red | charhápiti /tʃaˈɽapiti/ | coloráu /koloˈɾaw/ | chichiltik /tʃitʃiltik/ | colorao /koloˈɾaw/ | russu /ˈrussu/ | rossu /ˈrossu/ | bermeyu /beɾˈmeʝu/ |
| White | urapiti /uɾapiti/ | blancu /ˈblaŋku/ | istak /istak/ | blanco /ˈblaŋko/ | biancu /ˈbjaŋku/ | biancu /ˈbjaŋku/ | blancu /ˈblaŋku/ |
| Black | turhipiti /tuɽipiti/ | negru /ˈneɣɾu/ | yayahuic /jaˈjawik/ | negro /ˈneɡro/ | nìuru /ˈniuru/ | neru /ˈneru/ | negru /ˈneɣɾu/ |
| Green | xunhupiti /ʃuŋupiti/ | verdi /ˈbeɾði/ | xoxohuic /ʃoˈʃowik/ | verde /ˈberde/ | virdi /ˈvɪrdɪ/ | verde /ˈverde/ | verde /ˈbeɾðe/ |
| Computer | komputadora /komputadoɾa/ | ordenaol /oɾðenaˈol/ | computadora /komputaˈdora/ | — | computer /komˈpjuter/ | urdinatore /urdinaˈtore/ | ordenador /oɾðenaˈðoɾ/ |
| Tea | té /te/ | té /te/ | té /te/ | cha /tʃa/ | tè /tɛ/ | tè /tɛ/ | té /te/ |
| Coffee | kafe /kafe/ | café /kaˈfe/ | kafej /kafeh/ | cafe /kaˈfe/ | cafè /kaˈfɛ/ | caffè /kafˈfɛ/ | café /kaˈfe/ |
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