Batsʼil kʼop
Tzeltal
Mayan (Cholan-Tseltalan)
Tzeltal (Bats'il kʼop, "true language") is a Mayan language of the Tseltalan branch, spoken in highland Chiapas, Mexico, with ~600K speakers — sister to Tzotzil within the Tseltalan branch. The largest Mayan language by L1 speakers in Mexico after Yucatec Maya. The Tzeltal Maya are concentrated in the Los Altos region (San Cristóbal de las Casas area), with notable communities in Oxchuc, Tenejapa, Bachajón, and other towns. Each town has its own variety. Recognized as a national language of Mexico (2003 law). Has the typical Mayan ergative-absolutive case system, person markers, and rich verbal aspect morphology. Latin orthography uses apostrophe for ejectives.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Tzeltal
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Mayan (Cholan-Tseltalan)
| Meaning | Tzeltal | Tzotzil | Tojolabal | Chol | Classical Maya | Tabasco Chontal | Itzá Maya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | jaʼ /haʔ/ | voʼ /voʔ/ | jaʼ /haʔ/ | jaʼ /haʔ/ | haʼ /haʔ/ | jaʼ /haʔ/ | jaʼ /haʔ/ |
| Fire | kʼajkʼ /kʼahkʼ/ | kʼokʼ /kʼokʼ/ | kʼakʼ /kʼakʼ/ | kʼajk /kʼahk/ | kʼahkʼ /kʼahkʼ/ | kʼakʼ /kʼakʼ/ | kʼakʼ /kʼakʼ/ |
| Sun | kʼajkʼal /kʼahkʼal/ | kʼakʼal /kʼakʼal/ | kʼakʼu /kʼakʼu/ | kʼiñ /kʼiɲ/ | kʼin /kʼin/ | kʼin /kʼin/ | kʼin /kʼin/ |
| Moon | u /u/ | u /ʔu/ | ixaw /iʃaw/ | uw /uw/ | uh /uh/ | ä /æ/ | uj /uh/ |
| Star | ekʼ /ekʼ/ | kʼanal /kʼanal/ | kʼanal /kʼanal/ | ekʼ /ʔekʼ/ | ekʼ /eːkʼ/ | ekʼ /ʔekʼ/ | ekʼ /ekʼ/ |
| Night | ajkʼabal /ahkʼaɓal/ | akʼubal /akʼubal/ | aʼkwal /aʔkʷal/ | akʼälel /akʼɨlel/ | akʼabʼ /akʼaɓ/ | akʼäb /akʼɨb/ | akʼabʼ /akʼaɓ/ |
| Rain | jaʼal /haʔal/ | voʼ /voʔ/ | — | jaʼal /haʔal/ | haʼal /haʔal/ | — | — |
| Wind | ikʼ /ʔikʼ/ | ikʼ /ʔikʼ/ | ikʼ /ʔikʼ/ | ikʼ /ikʼ/ | ikʼ /ikʼ/ | — | ikʼ /ikʼ/ |
| Earth | lum /lum/ | lum /lum/ | luʼum /luʔum/ | lum /lum/ | kab /kab/ | lum /lum/ | luʼum /luʔum/ |
| Stone | ton /ton/ | ton /ton/ | ton /ton/ | xajlel /ʃahlel/ | tuun /tuːn/ | jiʼtun /hiʔtun/ | tunich /tunitʃ/ |
| Mountain | wits /wits/ | vits /vits/ | wits /wits/ | wits /wits/ | witz /wits/ | tzʼik /tsʼik/ | — |
| Sea | mar /mar/ | nab /naɓ/ | niwan paman jaʼ /niwan paman haʔ/ | ñajb /ɲahɓ/ | kʼahkʼ nab /kʼahkʼ nab/ | nab /nab/ | — |
| Mother | meʼ /meʔ/ | meʼ /meʔ/ | nan /nan/ | ñaʼ /ɲaʔ/ | naʼ /naʔ/ | naʼ /naʔ/ | naʼ /naʔ/ |
| Father | tat /tat/ | tot /tot/ | tat /tat/ | tat /tat/ | yuum /juːm/ | tat /tat/ | tat /tat/ |
| Daughter | antsil nichʼan /antsil nitʃʼan/ | tzeb /tseɓ/ | ʼixukil /ʔiʃukil/ | ixikʼal /iʃikʼal/ | — | jixik chʼok /hiʃik tʃʼok/ | — |
| I | joʼon /hoʔon/ | voʼon /voʔon/ | keʼn /keʔn/ | joñoñ /hoɲoɲ/ | hiin /hiːn/ | noʼon /noʔon/ | ten /ten/ |
| You | jaʼat /haʔat/ | voʼot /voʔot/ | weʼn /weʔn/ | jatyet /hatʲet/ | hat /hat/ | neʼet /neʔet/ | tech /tetʃ/ |
| We | joʼotik / joʼotikon /hoʔotik / hoʔotikon/ | voʼotik / voʼonkutik /voʔotik / voʔonkutik/ | keʼntik / keʼntikon /keʔntik / keʔntikon/ | joñonla / joñon lojon /hoɲonla / hoɲon lohon/ | — /—/ | noʼonla /noʔonla/ | toʼon /toʔon/ |
| Name | biil /ɓiːl/ | biil /ɓiːl/ | bʼiʼil /ɓiʔil/ | kʼabaʼ /kʼaɓaʔ/ | kʼabaʼ /kʼaˈɓaʔ/ | kʼabaʼ /kʼaɓaʔ/ | kʼabaʼ /kʼaɓaʔ/ |
| Person | ants winik /ants winik/ | krixchano /kriʃtʃano/ | winkil /winkil/ | kixtyañu /kiʃtʲaɲu/ | winik /winik/ | winik /winik/ | — |
| Head | jol /hol/ | jolol /holol/ | ʼolom /ʔolom/ | jol /hol/ | jol /hol/ | pam /pam/ | — |
| Eye | sit /sit/ | sat /sat/ | satej /sateh/ | wut /wut/ | ut /ut/ | wich /witʃ/ | ich /itʃ/ |
| Ear | chikin /tʃikin/ | chikinil /tʃikinil/ | chikin /tʃikin/ | chikin /tʃikin/ | chikin /tʃikin/ | chikin /tʃikin/ | xikin /ʃikin/ |
| Nose | niʼ /niʔ/ | niʼ /niʔ/ | niʼ /niʔ/ | niʼ /niʔ/ | niʼ /niʔ/ | niʼ /niʔ/ | niʼ /niʔ/ |
| Mouth | tiʼ /tiʔ/ | e /e/ | tiʼ /tiʔ/ | tiʼ /tiʔ/ | tiʼ /tiʔ/ | tiʼ /tiʔ/ | chiʼ /tʃiʔ/ |
| Tooth | ehal /ehal/ | tanal eal /tanal ʔeal/ | ex /eʃ/ | ej /eh/ | eh /eh/ | ej /eh/ | koh /koh/ |
| Tongue | akʼ /akʼ/ | okʼ /ʔokʼ/ | akʼ /akʼ/ | akʼ /aʔkʼ/ | akʼ /akʼ/ | akʼ /akʼ/ | akʼ /akʼ/ |
| Hand | kʼab /kʼab/ | kʼob /kʼoɓ/ | kʼabʼ /kʼaɓ/ | kʼäb /kʼɨɓ/ | kʼab /kʼab/ | kʼäb /kʼɨb/ | kʼab /kʼab/ |
| Foot | ok /ok/ | okol /ʔokol/ | ok /ok/ | ok /ok/ | ook /oːk/ | ok /ok/ | — |
| Heart | oʼtan /oʔtan/ | oʼon /ʔoʔon/ | altzil /altsil/ | pusʼikʼal /pusʼikʼal/ | pixan /piʃan/ | pixan /piʃan/ | pukʼsikʼal /pukʼsikʼal/ |
| Bone | bak /ɓak/ | bak /ɓak/ | bakel /ɓakel/ | bäk /ɓɨk/ | baak /ɓaːk/ | bak /ɓak/ | bʼak /ɓak/ |
| Blood | chʼichʼ /tʃʼitʃʼ/ | chʼichʼ /tʃʼitʃʼ/ | chikʼel /tʃikʼel/ | chʼichʼ /tʃʼitʃʼ/ | kʼikʼ /kʼikʼ/ | chʼichʼ /tʃʼitʃʼ/ | kʼikʼ /kʼikʼ/ |
| Poop | tsaʼ /tsaʔ/ | tzoʼ /tsoʔ/ | kʼoy /kʼoj/ | taʼ /taʔ/ | — | taʼ /taʔ/ | — |
| Love | kʼanbey /kʼanbej/ | kʼanel /kʼanel/ | skʼana /skʼana/ | kʼuxbiñ /kʼuʃbiɲ/ | yaah /jaːh/ | kʼuxbe /kʼuʃbe/ | yakunti /jakunti/ |
| Tree | teʼ /teʔ/ | teʼ /teʔ/ | teʼ /teʔ/ | teʼ /teʔ/ | cheʼ /tʃeʔ/ | teʼ /teʔ/ | cheʼ /tʃeʔ/ |
| Dog | tsʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ | tzʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ | tsʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ | tsʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ | peekʼ /peːkʼ/ | wichuʼ /witʃuʔ/ | pekʼ /pekʼ/ |
| Cat | mis /mis/ | mis /mis/ | mis /mis/ | mis /mis/ | miis /miːs/ | ajmis /ahmis/ | mis /mis/ |
| Fish | chay /tʃaj/ | choy /tʃoj/ | chay /tʃaj/ | chäy /tʃɨj/ | kay /kaj/ | buchʼ /butʃʼ/ | käy /kɨj/ |
| Bird | mut /mut/ | mut /mut/ | yal chan /jal tʃan/ | mut /mut/ | mut /mut/ | mut /mut/ | chʼiichʼ /tʃʼiːtʃʼ/ |
| Butterfly | pejpen /pehpen/ | pepen /pepen/ | pejpen /pehpen/ | pejpem /pehpem/ | — | ajpempem /ahpempem/ | — |
| Egg | tomut /tomut/ | tanal /tanal/ | nolobʼ /noloɓ/ | tumut /tumut/ | — | säktokʼ /sɨktokʼ/ | jeʼ /heʔ/ |
| Bear | oso /oso/ | oso /oso/ | oso /oso/ | oso /oso/ | — | oso /ˈoso/ | — |
| Horse | kawu /kawu/ | kaʼ /kaʔ/ | kawu /kawu/ | cawayuʼ /kawajuʔ/ | — | tzimim /tsimim/ | — |
| House | na /na/ | na /na/ | naj /nah/ | otyot /otjot/ | otoch /otoːtʃ/ | otot /otot/ | nah /nah/ |
| Milk | lech /letʃ/ | lech /letʃ/ | lech /letʃ/ | chuʼ /tʃuʔ/ | — | leche /letʃe/ | — |
| Honey | chab /tʃab/ | ajapom /ahapom/ | chab /tʃaɓ/ | chab /tʃaɓ/ | — | chab /tʃaɓ/ | — |
| Salt | atsʼam /atsʼam/ | atzʼam /atsʼam/ | atsʼam /atsʼam/ | atsʼam /atsʼam/ | — | atzʼam /atsʼam/ | tab /tab/ |
| Wine | vino /bino/ | vino /vino/ | yaalel tzʼusub /jaːlel tsʼusub/ | vino /ˈbino/ | — | vino /ˈbino/ | — |
| Iron | takʼin /takʼin/ | tzatzal takʼin /tsatsal takʼin/ | takʼin /takʼin/ | — | — | palib /palib/ | — |
| Silk | seda /seda/ | xela /ʃela/ | seda /seda/ | seda /seda/ | — | seda /ˈseda/ | — |
| Book | jun /hun/ | vun /vun/ | juʼun /huʔun/ | juñ /huɲ/ | huun /huːn/ | jun /hun/ | Juʼumilxok /huʔumilʃok/ |
| Eat | weʼel /weʔel/ | veʼel /veʔel/ | waʼel /waʔel/ | kʼux /kʼuʃ/ | weʼ /weʔ/ | weʼ /weʔ/ | jant /hant/ |
| Drink | uchʼel /utʃʼel/ | uchʼ /utʃʼ/ | ukʼ /ukʼ/ | ucʼ /utsʼ/ | ukʼ /ukʼ/ | ukʼe /ukʼe/ | ukʼ /ukʼ/ |
| Sleep | way /waj/ | vay /vaj/ | wayel /wajel/ | wäyel /wɨjel/ | way /waj/ | wäye /wɨje/ | wenel /wenel/ |
| One | jun /hun/ | jun /hun/ | jun /hun/ | jun /hun/ | jun /hun/ | un /un/ | jun /hun/ |
| Two | cheb /tʃeb/ | chib /tʃiɓ/ | chabʼ /tʃaɓ/ | chaʼ /tʃaʔ/ | chaʼ /tʃaʔ/ | chaʼ /tʃaʔ/ | kaʼ /kaʔ/ |
| Three | oxeb /oʃeb/ | oxib /ʔoʃiɓ/ | oxe /oʃe/ | uxpʼejl /uʃpʼehl/ | ox /oʃ/ | ux /uʃ/ | ox /oʃ/ |
| Four | chaneb /tʃaneb/ | chanib /tʃaniɓ/ | chane /tʃane/ | chämpʼejl /tʃɨmpʼehl/ | kan /kan/ | chan /tʃan/ | kan /kan/ |
| Five | joʼeb /hoʔeɓ/ | voʼob /voʔoɓ/ | joʼe /hoʔe/ | joʼ /hoʔ/ | hoʼ /hoʔ/ | joʼ /hoʔ/ | — |
| Hundred | joʼ winik /hoʔ winik/ | joʼvinik /hoʔvinik/ | joʼ winkeʼ /hoʔ winkeʔ/ | joʼkʼal /hoʔkʼal/ | — | cien /sjen/ | — |
| Hello | banti winik /banti winik/ | kʼusi avokoluk /kʼusi avokoluk/ | lekilukʼ /lekilukʼ/ | kabʼ /kaɓ/ | bix a beel /biʃ a beːl/ | bin a bel /bin a bel/ | bʼix a tʼan /biʃ a tʼan/ |
| Thank you | wokol awal /wokol awal/ | kolaval /kolaval/ | yuj /juh/ | wokox /wokoʃ/ | nibʼoolal /nibʼoːlal/ | dios boʼtik /dios boʔtik/ | dios bʼotik /dios botik/ |
| Good | lek /lek/ | lek /lek/ | lek /lek/ | utsat /utsat/ | utz /uts/ | tsʼak /tsʼak/ | malobʼ /malob/ |
| New | achʼ /atʃʼ/ | achʼ /atʃʼ/ | yajkʼachil /jahkʼatʃil/ | tsijiʼ /tsihiʔ/ | achʼ /atʃʼ/ | tzijib /tsihib/ | — |
| Red | tsajal /tsahal/ | tzajal /tsahal/ | chak /tʃak/ | chächäk /tʃɨtʃɨk/ | chak /tʃak/ | chäk /tʃɨk/ | chäk /tʃɨk/ |
| White | sak /sak/ | sak /sak/ | sak /sak/ | säsäk /sɨsɨk/ | sak /sak/ | säk /sæk/ | säk /sək/ |
| Black | ijkʼal /ihkʼal/ | ikʼal /ikʼal/ | kʼikʼ /kʼikʼ/ | iʼikʼ /iʔikʼ/ | — | ikʼ /ikʼ/ | — |
| Green | yax /jaʃ/ | yaxal /jaʃal/ | yaʼax /jaʔaʃ/ | yäjyäx /jɨhjɨʃ/ | yax /jaʃ/ | yäx /jɨʃ/ | yaʼax /jaʔaʃ/ |
| Blue | yax /jaʃ/ | yox /joʃ/ | yaʼax /jaʔaʃ/ | yäjyäx /jɨhjɨʃ/ | — | yäx /jɨʃ/ | — |
| Computer | komputadora /komputadora/ | komputadora /komputadora/ | computadora /komputadora/ | computadora /komputadoɾa/ | — | — | — |
| Tea | té /te/ | te /te/ | té /te/ | té /te/ | — | — | — |
| Coffee | kajpel /kahpel/ | kajve /kahve/ | kajpe /kahpe/ | kajpe /kahpe/ | — | — | — |
| Sugar | sakil asukal /sakil asukal/ | asuka /ʔasuka/ | sakal askal /sakal ʔaskal/ | asukal /asukal/ | — | — | chʼuuk /tʃʼuːk/ |
| Orange | alaxax /alaʃaʃ/ | alaxa /alaʃa/ | naranja /naranha/ | alaxax /alaʃaʃ/ | — | aranxax /aranʃaʃ/ | — |
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