Tz'unun K'iche'
Uspanteko
Mayan
Uspanteko (autonymously Tz'unun K'iche', "the language of Uspantán") is a K'ichean Mayan language of the Cuchumatanes highlands of Guatemala, spoken by around 5,000 people primarily in the Uspantán municipality of El Quiché department. Uspanteko is notable in linguistic typology as one of the few Mayan languages with tone, distinguished by its grammatical tone — most Mayan languages have lost their original Proto-Mayan tonal contrasts, but Uspanteko has innovated a new tonal system that is used for grammatical purposes (specifically, for marking perfective aspect on certain verbs). Linguistically, Uspanteko is part of the K'ichean branch alongside K'iche' (quc), Tz'utujil (tzj), Kaqchikel (cak), and Sakapulteko (skp), but with distinct phonological and lexical features. The Uspanteko community survived the 1980s Guatemalan Civil War genocide and have maintained their language through community isolation in the Cuchumatanes mountain valleys.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Uspanteko
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Mayan
| Meaning | Uspanteko | Kʼicheʼ | Kaqchikel | Poqomchi' | Proto-Mayan | Qʼeqchiʼ | Aguacateco |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | jaʼ /haʔ/ | jaʼ /xaʔ/ | yaʼ /jaʔ/ | haʼ /haʔ/ | *haʔ /haʔ/ | haʼ /haʔ/ | aʼ /aʔ/ |
| Fire | qʼaaqʼ /qʼaːqʼ/ | qʼaqʼ /qʼaqʼ/ | qʼaqʼ /qʼaqʼ/ | qʼaaq /qʼaːq/ | *qʼaaqʼ /qʼaaqʼ/ | xam /ʃam/ | qʼaq /qʼaq/ |
| Sun | qʼiij /qʼiːh/ | qʼij /qʼix/ | qʼij /qʼix/ | qʼiij /qʼiːx/ | *qʼiinh /qʼiinh/ | saqʼe /saqʼe/ | qʼijl /qʼihl/ |
| Moon | ikʼ /ikʼ/ | ikʼ /ikʼ/ | ikʼ /ikʼ/ | poh /poh/ | *uːh /uːh/ | po /po/ | xahaw /ʃahaw/ |
| Star | chʼumil /tʃʼumil/ | chʼumil /tʃʼumil/ | chʼumil /tʃʼumil/ | chʼumiil /tʃʼumiːl/ | *eʼq /eʼq/ | chahim /tʃahim/ | chumeʼl /tʃumeʔl/ |
| Night | laqʼabʼ /laqʼaɓ/ | aqʼabʼ /aqʼaɓ/ | aqʼaʼ /aqʼaʔ/ | aqʼabʼ /aqʼaɓ/ | *aqʼabʼ /aqʼaɓ/ | qʼojyin /qʼoχjin/ | aqʼbʼal /aqʼɓal/ |
| Rain | jabʼ /haɓ/ | jabʼ /xaɓ/ | jobʼ /xoɓ/ | jabʼ /xaɓ/ | *nhabʼ /ŋaɓ/ | habʼ /haɓ/ | abʼal /aɓal/ |
| Snow | chun tew /tʃun tew/ | saq tew /saq tew/ | nieve /ˈnjebe/ | miik /miːk/ | — | xchuʼi keh /ʃtʃuʔi keh/ | — |
| Wind | tew /tew/ | iqʼ /iqʼ/ | kaqʼiqʼ /kaqʼiqʼ/ | teew /teːw/ | *ʔiʔqʼ /ʔiʔqʼ/ | iqʼ /iqʼ/ | kyeqʼeqʼ /kjeqʼeqʼ/ |
| Earth | ulew /uleːw/ | ulew /ulew/ | ulew /uleːw/ | akʼal /akʼal/ | *chʼohchʼ /tʃʼohtʃʼ/ | chʼochʼ /tʃʼotʃʼ/ | txʼotxʼ /tʃʼotʃʼ/ |
| Stone | ábʼaj /ˈáɓax/ | abʼaj /aɓax/ | abäj /aˈɓəx/ | abʼaj /aˈɓax/ | *ʔaʔbʼaj /ʔaʔbʼaj/ | pek /pek/ | kʼubʼ /kʼuɓ/ |
| Mountain | witz /wits/ | juyubʼ /xujuɓ/ | juyuʼ /xuˈjuʔ/ | yuuqʼ /juːqʼ/ | *witz /wits/ | tzuul /tsuːl/ | witz /wits/ |
| Sea | mar /mar/ | plo /plo/ | palow /palow/ | palaw /palaw/ | — | palaw /palaw/ | pitzʼpuj aʼ /pitsʼpuh aʔ/ |
| Mother | nan /nan/ | nan /nan/ | teʼ /teʔ/ | tuut /tuːt/ | *naʔ /naʔ/ | naʼ /naʔ/ | naa /naː/ |
| Father | tat /tat/ | tat /tat/ | tataʼ /tataʔ/ | ajaaw /axaːw/ | *taat /taat/ | yuwaʼ /juwaʔ/ | mam /mam/ |
| Daughter | rabʼin /raɓin/ | miʼal /miʔal/ | meʼal /meʔal/ | ixqʼuun /iʃqʼuːn/ | — | rabʼin /raɓin/ | meʼal /meʔal/ |
| I | in /in/ | in /in/ | rïn /rɪn/ | hin /hin/ | *in /in/ | laaʼin /laːʔin/ | in /in/ |
| You | at /at/ | at /at/ | rat /rat/ | hat /hat/ | *ʔat /ʔat/ | laaʼat /laːʔat/ | naʼ /naʔ/ |
| We | oj /ox/ | uj /ux/ | röj /rʊx/ | hoj /hox/ | — /—/ | laaʼo /laːʔo/ | oʼ /oʔ/ |
| Name | bʼii /ɓiː/ | bʼiʼ /ɓiʔ/ | bʼiʼ /ɓiʔ/ | bʼih /ɓih/ | *bʼih /bʼih/ | kʼabʼaʼej /kʼaɓaʔeχ/ | bʼiʼ /ɓiʔ/ |
| Person | kristyan /kristjan/ | winaq /winaq/ | winäq /wiˈnəq/ | kʼachareel /kʼatʃareːl/ | *winaq /winaq/ | poyanam /pojanam/ | wunaq /wunaq/ |
| Head | bʼaa /ɓaː/ | jolom /xolom/ | jolom /xolom/ | nahis /nahis/ | — | jolom /χolom/ | wiʼaj /wiʔah/ |
| Eye | wach /watʃ/ | bʼaqʼwach /ɓaqʼwatʃ/ | runaqʼ ruwäch /runaqʼ ruwətʃ/ | naqʼ /naqʼ/ | *Haty /hatʲ/ | xnaqʼ ru /ʃnaqʼ ru/ | witzʼ /witsʼ/ |
| Ear | xikiin /ʃikiːn/ | xikin /ʃikin/ | xikin /ʃikin/ | xikin /ʃikin/ | *xikin /ʃikin/ | xik /ʃik/ | xhchin /ʃtʃin/ |
| Nose | tzaʼm /tsaʔm/ | tzaʼm /tsaʔm/ | tzaʼn /tsaʔn/ | juʼ /xuʔ/ | *nhiiʔ /ŋiːʔ/ | uʼuj /uʔuχ/ | juʼ /χuʔ/ |
| Mouth | chiʼ /tʃiʔ/ | chiʼ /tʃiʔ/ | chiʼ /tʃiʔ/ | chiʼhis /tʃiʔhis/ | *tyiiʔ /tʲiːʔ/ | e /e/ | tziʼaj /tsiʔah/ |
| Tooth | e /e/ | ware /waɾe/ | ey /ej/ | ehis /ehis/ | *ʔeeh /ʔeːh/ | ruuch e /ruːtʃ e/ | eʼ /eʔ/ |
| Tongue | aqʼ /aqʼ/ | aqʼ /aqʼ/ | aqʼ /aqʼ/ | aqʼ /aqʼ/ | *aaqʼ /aːqʼ/ | aqʼ /aqʼ/ | aqʼ /aqʼ/ |
| Hand | qʼaabʼ /qʼaːɓ/ | qʼabʼ /qʼaɓ/ | qʼaʼ /qʼaʔ/ | qʼabʼ /qʼaɓ/ | *qʼabʼ /qʼabʼ/ | ruqʼ /ruqʼ/ | qʼab /qʼab/ |
| Foot | aqan /aqan/ | aqan /aqan/ | aqän /aqən/ | ooq /oːq/ | *ʔooq /ʔoːq/ | oq /oq/ | aqan /aqan/ |
| Heart | kʼuʼx /kʼuʔʃ/ | animaʼ /animaʔ/ | kʼuʼx /kʼuʔʃ/ | kʼuxliis /kʼuʃliːs/ | — /—/ | chʼoolej /tʃʼoːlej/ | kʼuum /kʼuːm/ |
| Bone | bʼaaq /ɓaːq/ | bʼaq /ɓaq/ | bʼaq /ɓaq/ | bʼaq /ɓaq/ | *bʼaaq /ɓaːq/ | bʼaq /ɓaq/ | bʼaq /ɓaq/ |
| Blood | kikʼ /kikʼ/ | kikʼ /kikʼ/ | kïkʼ /kɪkʼ/ | kikʼ /kikʼ/ | *kikʼ /kikʼ/ | kikʼ /kikʼ/ | chichʼ /tʃitʃʼ/ |
| Love | lóqʼ /lóqʼ/ | loqʼoj /loqʼox/ | ajowabʼäl /axowaɓəl/ | rahaal /rahaːl/ | — /—/ | rahok /rahok/ | xajan /ʃahan/ |
| Tree | cheʼ /tʃeʔ/ | cheʼ /tʃeʔ/ | cheʼ /tʃeʔ/ | cheeʼ /tʃeʔ/ | *teʔ /teʔ/ | cheʼ /tʃeʔ/ | tzeʼ /tseʔ/ |
| Dog | tzʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ | tzʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ | tzʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ | tzʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ | *tzʼiʔ /tzʼiʔ/ | tzʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ | txʼiʼ /tʃʼiʔ/ |
| Cat | mis /mis/ | meʼs /meʔs/ | mes /mes/ | mees /meːs/ | — /—/ | mes /mes/ | mis /mis/ |
| Fish | kar /kar/ | kar /kaɾ/ | kar /kar/ | kar /kar/ | *kar /kar/ | kar /kar/ | kay /kaj/ |
| Bird | tzʼikin /tsʼikin/ | tzʼikin /tsʼikin/ | tzʼikin /tsʼikin/ | tzʼikin /tsʼikin/ | *tzʼikin /tzʼikin/ | tzʼik /tsʼik/ | chʼuʼl /tʃʼuʔl/ |
| Egg | saqmolobʼ /saqmoloɓ/ | saqmoʼl /saqmoʔl/ | saqmoloʼ /saqmoloʔ/ | miloj /milox/ | — | mol /mol/ | kʼolobʼ /kʼoloɓ/ |
| Horse | kwaʼy /kwaʔj/ | kej /kex/ | kej /kex/ | kaway /kawaj/ | — | kawaay /kawaːj/ | chej /tʃeh/ |
| House | jaa /haː/ | ja /xa/ | jay /xaj/ | paat /paːt/ | *nah /nah/ | ochoch /otʃotʃ/ | nya /ɲa/ |
| Milk | lech /letʃ/ | leche /letʃe/ | leche /ˈletʃe/ | chʼuuchʼ /tʃʼuːtʃʼ/ | — | leech /leːtʃ/ | lech /letʃ/ |
| Honey | kabʼ /kaɓ/ | kabʼ /kaɓ/ | kabʼ /kaɓ/ | kaabʼ /kaːɓ/ | *kaabʼ /kaːɓ/ | xyaʼal kabʼ /ʃjaʔal kaɓ/ | kabʼ /kaɓ/ |
| Salt | atzʼam /atsʼam/ | atzʼam /atsʼam/ | atzʼam /atsʼam/ | atzʼaam /atsʼaːm/ | *ʔaʔtzʼaam /ʔaʔtsʼaːm/ | atzʼam /atsʼam/ | aatzʼum /aːtsʼum/ |
| Wine | vin /bin/ | vino /ˈbino/ | vino /ˈbino/ | vino /ˈbino/ | — | bʼiin /ɓiːn/ | win /win/ |
| Iron | chʼiichʼ /tʃʼiːtʃʼ/ | chʼichʼ /tʃʼitʃʼ/ | chʼichʼ /tʃʼitʃʼ/ | chʼihchʼ /tʃʼihtʃʼ/ | — | chʼiichʼ /tʃʼiːtʃʼ/ | chʼichʼ /tʃʼitʃʼ/ |
| Book | wuuj /wuːx/ | wuj /wux/ | wuj /wux/ | huuj /huːx/ | — | hu /hu/ | liwr /liwr/ |
| Eat | waʼ /waʔ/ | tijow /tixow/ | waʼin /waʔin/ | wai /wai/ | *waʔ /waʔ/ | waʼak /waʔak/ | wii /wiː/ |
| Drink | ukʼ /ukʼ/ | ukʼaaj /ukʼaːx/ | kumun /kumun/ | uukʼ /uːkʼ/ | *ʔukʼ /ʔukʼ/ | ukʼ /ukʼ/ | uuk /uːk/ |
| Sleep | war /war/ | war /waɾ/ | war /war/ | wirik /wirik/ | *war /war/ | war /war/ | watl /waːtl/ |
| One | jun /hun/ | jun /xun/ | jun /xun/ | jinaj /xinax/ | *jun /jun/ | jun /χun/ | jun /hun/ |
| Two | quiibʼ /kiːɓ/ | kebʼ /keɓ/ | kaʼiʼ /kaʔiʔ/ | kiʼibʼ /kiʔiɓ/ | *kaʼ /kaʼ/ | wiibʼ /wiːɓ/ | kaʼwutz /kaʔwuts/ |
| Three | oxibʼ /oʃiɓ/ | oxibʼ /oʃiɓ/ | oxiʼ /oʃiʔ/ | ixibʼ /iʃiɓ/ | *ʼoxibʼ /ʔoʃiɓ/ | oxibʼ /oʃiɓ/ | oxox /oʃoʃ/ |
| Four | kajibʼ /kaxiɓ/ | kajibʼ /kaxiɓ/ | kajiʼ /kaxiʔ/ | kijibʼ /kixiɓ/ | *kaŋibʼ /kaŋiɓ/ | kaahibʼ /kaːhiɓ/ | kyaj /kjah/ |
| Five | joobʼ /hoːɓ/ | jobʼ /xoɓ/ | woʼoʼ /woʔoʔ/ | hoʼoobʼ /hoʔoːɓ/ | *hoʔ /hoʔ/ | oobʼ /oːɓ/ | oʼ /oʔ/ |
| Hundred | jun cient /hun sjent/ | jokʼal /xokʼal/ | wokʼal /wokʼal/ | hoʼkʼahl /hoʔkʼahl/ | — | oʼkʼaal /oʔkʼaːl/ | jun cient /hun sjent/ |
| Hello | saʼbʼal /saʔbal/ | saqarik /saqaɾik/ | utz iwäch /uts iwətʃ/ | ma chaa /ma tʃaː/ | — /—/ | ma saʼ laachʼool /ma saʔ laːtʃʼoːl/ | kʼamta /kʼamta/ |
| Thank you | maltyox /maltjoʃ/ | maltyox /maltjoʃ/ | matyox /matjoʃ/ | tioxlaab /tjoʃlaːb/ | — /—/ | bantyox /bantjoʃ/ | tixwajʼ /tiʃwahʼ/ |
| Good | tzi /tsi/ | utz /uts/ | ütz /ʊts/ | holohik /holohik/ | *utz /utz/ | us /us/ | balaj /balah/ |
| New | akʼ /akʼ/ | kʼakʼ /kʼakʼ/ | kʼakʼaʼ /kʼakʼaʔ/ | akʼ /akʼ/ | *ʔa(a)kʼ /ʔakʼ/ | akʼ /akʼ/ | akʼaj /aːkʼah/ |
| Red | kyeq /kjeq/ | kaq /kaq/ | käq /kəq/ | kaq /kaq/ | *kaq /kaq/ | kaq /kaq/ | kyaq /kjaq/ |
| White | saq /saq/ | saq /saq/ | säq /səq/ | saq /saq/ | *saq /saq/ | saq /saq/ | saq /saq/ |
| Black | qʼeq /qʼeq/ | qʼeq /qʼeq/ | qʼeq /qʼeq/ | qʼeq /qʼeq/ | *ʔejqʼ /ʔejqʼ/ | qʼeq /qʼeq/ | qʼeq /qʼeq/ |
| Green | rax /raʃ/ | rax /raʃ/ | räx /rəʃ/ | rax /raʃ/ | *raʔx /raʔʃ/ | rax /raʃ/ | txaʼx /tʃaʔʃ/ |
| Blue | xaar /ʃaːr/ | xar /ʃaɾ/ | räx /rəʃ/ | rax /raʃ/ | — | rax /raʃ/ | xew /ʃew/ |
| Ninety-nine | junmuchʼ bʼelejlajuj /hunmutʃʼ ɓelexlaxux/ | junmuchʼ bʼelej lajuj /xunmutʃʼ ɓelex laxux/ | — | belejlaj roʼkʼahl /belexlax roʔkʼahl/ | — | — | jun mutxʼ tu belujlaj /hun muʈʂʼ tu beluhlah/ |
Page 1/9
Open the interactive map: Word Map · HanMap · Name Map · Word Order · Tree
Part of LangMap — a linguistic visualization project. This is a static, crawlable summary; the interactive maps offer pronunciation audio, filters, and a globe view.
Made by Heuron Inc. · GitHub · cho@heuron.com · LangMap home