Diidxazá
Zapotec
Oto-Manguean (Zapotecan)
Zapotec (Diidxazá in the Isthmus variety) is an Oto-Manguean language complex of southern Mexico's Oaxaca region with ~440K speakers across 50+ varieties. The Zapotec civilization at Monte Albán (500 BCE-800 CE) was Mesoamerica's first city-state with hieroglyphic writing. Modern varieties are tonal and frequently have ejective consonants and complex aspect-mood verbal systems. The Isthmus Zapotec literary tradition flourished in the early 20th century with poet Andrés Henestrosa. Latin script with various community-specific orthographies.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Zapotec
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Oto-Manguean (Zapotecan)
| Meaning | Zapotec | Tlacolula Zapotec | Yucatec Maya | Metlatónoc Mixtec | Guerrero Nahuatl | Makhuwa | Tojolabal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | nisa /nisa/ | nis /nis/ | jaʼ /haʔ/ | tiakuii /cakʷiː/ | atl /atɬ/ | maasi /maːsi/ | jaʼ /haʔ/ |
| Fire | gui /ɡi/ | gui /ɡi/ | kʼáakʼ /kʼaːkʼ/ | ñuʼu /ɲuʔu/ | tlitl /tɬitɬ/ | moro /moɾo/ | kʼakʼ /kʼakʼ/ |
| Sun | gubidxa /ɡubidʒa/ | gubidx /ɡubidʒ/ | kʼiin /kʼiːn/ | ñuʼù /ɲuʔù/ | tonajli /tonahli/ | nsuwa /nsuwa/ | kʼakʼu /kʼakʼu/ |
| Moon | beeu /beːu/ | beuu /beːu/ | uj /uh/ | yoo /joː/ | metztli /metstɬi/ | mweeri /mweːɾi/ | ixaw /iʃaw/ |
| Star | béleguí /beleɡiʔ/ | balgui /balɡi/ | eekʼ /eːkʼ/ | kimi /kimi/ | sitlalin /siˈtɬalin/ | enettha /enetʰːa/ | kʼanal /kʼanal/ |
| Night | gueela /ɡeːla/ | gel /ɡel/ | áakʼabʼ /aːkʼaɓ/ | ñuu /ɲuː/ | yowalli /jowalːi/ | ohiyu /ohiju/ | aʼkwal /aʔkʷal/ |
| Rain | nisaguié /nisaɡie/ | nyisgyia /ɲisɡʲia/ | cháak /tʃáːk/ | savi /saβi/ | quiyahuitl /kijawitɬ/ | epula /epula/ | — |
| Snow | nieve /njebe/ | — | nieve /njebe/ | nieve /njeβe/ | nieve /ˈnjebe/ | nxotte /nʃotːe/ | sakal kʼinal /sakal kʼinal/ |
| Wind | bi /bi/ | bi /bi/ | iikʼ /iːkʼ/ | tachi /tatʃi/ | ajacatl /ahakatɬ/ | epheyo /epʰejo/ | ikʼ /ʔikʼ/ |
| Earth | yu /ju/ | yiu /jiu/ | luʼum /luʔum/ | ñuʼu /ɲuʔu/ | tlajli /tɬahli/ | etthaya /etʰːaja/ | luʼum /luʔum/ |
| Stone | guie /ɡie/ | gyia /ɡʲia/ | tuunich /tuːˈnitʃ/ | yuu /juu/ | tetl /teːtɬ/ | nluku /nluku/ | ton /ton/ |
| Mountain | dani /dani/ | dany /daɲ/ | wiits /wiːts/ | iku /iku/ | tepetl /ˈtepeːtɬ/ | mwaako /mwaːko/ | wits /wits/ |
| Sea | nisadoʼ /nisadoʔ/ | nyisdo /ɲisdo/ | kʼáaʼnáab /kʼaːʔnaːb/ | tyañuʼu /caɲuʔu/ | mar /mar/ | ephareya /epʰaɾeja/ | niwan paman jaʼ /niwan paman haʔ/ |
| Mother | jñaa /xɲaː/ | xnan /ʃnan/ | naʼ /naʔ/ | siʼi /siʔi/ | nanan /nanan/ | maama /maːma/ | nan /nan/ |
| Father | bixhoze /biʃoze/ | xtad /ʃtad/ | taata /taːta/ | tatá /tatá/ | tatah /tatah/ | paapa /paːpa/ | tat /tat/ |
| Daughter | xiñi dxaapa /ʃiɲi dʒaːpa/ | zhinyzhyap /ʒiɲʒjap/ | x aal /ʃaːl/ | seʼe ñaʼa /seʔe ɲaʔa/ | nochpoch /ˈnotʃpotʃ/ | mwaana mwa muthiyana /mwaːna mwa mutʰijana/ | ʼixukil /ʔiʃukil/ |
| I | naa /naːʔ/ | naa /naː/ | teen /teːn/ | yuʼu /juʔu/ | nejua /neˈwa/ | miyo /mijo/ | keʼn /keʔn/ |
| You | liiʼ /liːʔ/ | liʼ /liʔ/ | teech /teːtʃ/ | yoʼo /joʔo/ | tejua /teˈwa/ | weyo /wejo/ | weʼn /weʔn/ |
| We | laanu / laadu /laːnu / laːdu/ | nuʼ /nuʔ/ | toʼon /toʔon/ | yóʼó / yuʼu /jóʔó / juʔu/ | tejuamej /teˈwameh/ | hiyo /hijo/ | keʼntik / keʼntikon /keʔntik / keʔntikon/ |
| Name | lá /la/ | laʼ /laʔ/ | kʼaabaʼ /kʼaːɓaʔ/ | sivi /siβi/ | tocaitl /toˈkaitɬ/ | nsina /nsina/ | bʼiʼil /ɓiʔil/ |
| Person | binni /binːi/ | buny /buɲ/ | máak /maːk/ | yuvi /juβi/ | tlacatl /ˈtɬakatɬ/ | mutthu /mutʰːu/ | winkil /winkil/ |
| Head | ique /ike/ | guëcy /ɡəkʲ/ | pool /poːl/ | xini /ʃini/ | tzontecomitl /tsonteˈkomitɬ/ | muru /muɾu/ | ʼolom /ʔolom/ |
| Eye | lú /lú/ | bsloo /bsloː/ | ich /itʃ/ | nduchi /ndutʃi/ | ixtololo /iʃtololo/ | niitho /niːtʰo/ | satej /sateh/ |
| Ear | diaga /diaɡa/ | diaga /diaɡa/ | xikin /ʃikin/ | soʼo /soʔo/ | nacas /nakas/ | niyaru /nijaɾu/ | chikin /tʃikin/ |
| Nose | xii /ʃiː/ | zhi /ʒi/ | niʼ /niʔ/ | sitin /sitin/ | yacatl /jakatɬ/ | ephula /epʰula/ | niʼ /niʔ/ |
| Mouth | ruaa /ɾuaː/ | ru /ɾu/ | chiʼ /tʃiʔ/ | — | camactli /kaˈmaktɬi/ | eyano /ejano/ | tiʼ /tiʔ/ |
| Tooth | laya /laja/ | yalay /jalaj/ | koh /koh/ | nuʼu /nuʔu/ | tlan /tɬan/ | nino /nino/ | ex /eʃ/ |
| Tongue | ludxi /ludʒi/ | ludxy /ludʒj/ | aakʼ /aːkʼ/ | yaa /jaː/ | nenepil /nenepil/ | nlumi /nlumi/ | akʼ /akʼ/ |
| Hand | na /naʔ/ | na /na/ | kʼabʼ /kʼaɓ/ | ndaʼa /ndaʔa/ | maitl /maitɬ/ | ntata /ntata/ | kʼabʼ /kʼaɓ/ |
| Foot | ñee /ɲeː/ | nii /niː/ | ook /oːk/ | xaʼa /ʃaʔa/ | icxitl /ikʃitɬ/ | mwetto /mwetːo/ | ok /ok/ |
| Heart | ladxi /ladʒi/ | ladxdoo /ladʒdoː/ | puksiʼikʼal /puksiʔikʼal/ | ini /ini/ | yojlotl /johlotɬ/ | murima /muɾima/ | altzil /altsil/ |
| Bone | dxita /dʒita/ | dxit /dʒit/ | bʼaak /ɓaːk/ | iki /iki/ | omitl /omitɬ/ | nikhuva /nikʰuva/ | bakel /ɓakel/ |
| Blood | rini /rini/ | rén /ɾen/ | kʼiʼikʼ /kʼiʔikʼ/ | nii /niː/ | yestli /jestɬi/ | ephome /epʰome/ | chikʼel /tʃikʼel/ |
| Poop | guiʼ /ɡiʔ/ | — | taʼ /taʔ/ | — | — | mavi /mavi/ | kʼoy /kʼoj/ |
| Love | ranaxhii /ɾanaʃiː/ | rcaaz /ɾkaːz/ | yaakuntej /jaːkunteh/ | kunduu ini /kundúː iniʔ/ | tlazohtla /tɬasoʔtɬa/ | ophenta /opʰenta/ | skʼana /skʼana/ |
| Tree | yaga /jaɡa/ | yag /jaɡ/ | cheʼ /tʃeʔ/ | itun /itun/ | kojtli /kohtɬi/ | mwiri /mwiɾi/ | teʼ /teʔ/ |
| Dog | biʼcuʼ /biʔkuʔ/ | beecu /beːku/ | peekʼ /peːkʼ/ | tina /tina/ | itzcuintli /itskʷintɬi/ | mwalapwa /mwalapwa/ | tsʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ |
| Cat | mistuu /mistuː/ | mishu /miʃu/ | miis /miːs/ | vilu /βilu/ | miston /miston/ | paaka /paːka/ | mis /mis/ |
| Fish | benda /benda/ | beld /beld/ | kay /kaj/ | tyaka /caka/ | michin /mitʃin/ | ehopa /ehopa/ | chay /tʃaj/ |
| Bird | maniʼ huiiniʼ /maniʔ wiːniʔ/ | — | chʼíichʼ /tʃʼiːtʃʼ/ | saa /saa/ | tototl /ˈtototɬ/ | mwaanuni /mwaːnuni/ | yal chan /jal tʃan/ |
| Butterfly | biguidiʼ /biɡidiʔ/ | bëguidy /bəɡidj/ | péepen /peːpen/ | — | papalotl /paˈpalotɬ/ | nikuruthu /nikuɾutʰu/ | pejpen /pehpen/ |
| Egg | dxita bere /dʒita bere/ | — | jeʼ /heʔ/ | ndivi /ndiβi/ | totoltetl /totolˈtetɬ/ | nooce /noːtʃe/ | nolobʼ /noloɓ/ |
| Bear | oso /oso/ | — | oso /oso/ | oso /oso/ | oso /ˈoso/ | ursu /uɾsu/ | oso /oso/ |
| Horse | maniʼ /maniʔ/ | cabay /kabaj/ | tsíimin /tsiːmin/ | kuayu /kʷaju/ | caballo /kaˈbajo/ | ekhavalo /ekʰavalo/ | kawu /kawu/ |
| House | lidxi /lidʒi/ | yu /ju/ | naj /nah/ | veʼe /βeʔe/ | kajli /kahli/ | empa /empa/ | naj /nah/ |
| Milk | leche /letʃe/ | lech /letʃ/ | leche /letʃe/ | chichin /tʃitʃin/ | leche /ˈletʃe/ | eleeti /eleːti/ | lech /letʃ/ |
| Honey | dxiña yaga /dʒiɲa jaɡa/ | — | kaab /kaːb/ | ñuñu /ɲuɲu/ | necutli /neˈkutɬi/ | oravo /oɾavo/ | chab /tʃaɓ/ |
| Salt | zidi /zidi/ | zeidy /zeidj/ | taʼab /taʔaɓ/ | ñii /ɲiː/ | istatl /istatɬ/ | maakha /maːkʰa/ | atsʼam /atsʼam/ |
| Wine | vinu /binu/ | vin /vin/ | vino /bino/ | vino /ˈbino/ | vino /ˈbino/ | eviinyu /eviːɲu/ | yaalel tzʼusub /jaːlel tsʼusub/ |
| Rice | arros /aɾos/ | rros /ros/ | arroz /aros/ | — | arroz /aˈros/ | nzoro /nzoɾo/ | ʼaros /ʔaros/ |
| Chocolate | dxuladi /dʒuladi/ | nax /naʃ/ | chukwaʼ /tʃukwaʔ/ | chocolate | chikolatl /tʃikoˈlatɬ/ | — | tsʼanubʼal kakaw /tsʼanuɓal kakaw/ |
| Iron | guiibaʼ /ɡiːbaʔ/ | gyieb /ɡʲieb/ | máaskab /maːskab/ | kaa /kaː/ | tepostli /tepostɬi/ | eyuuma /ejuːma/ | takʼin /takʼin/ |
| Wheel | rueeda /ɾweːda/ | rrued /rued/ | rueda /rweda/ | llanta /janta/ | — | nroota /nɾoːta/ | rweda /rweda/ |
| Silk | seda /seda/ | sed /sed/ | seda /seda/ | — | seda /ˈseda/ | seda /seda/ | seda /seda/ |
| Book | guiʼchi /ɡiʔtʃi/ | liebr /liebɾ/ | juʼun /huʔun/ | tutu /tutu/ | libro /ˈlibro/ | eliivuru /eliːvuɾu/ | juʼun /huʔun/ |
| Eat | ro /ɾo/ | rau /ɾau/ | jaant /haːnt/ | kuxi /kuʃi/ | tlakua /tɬakʷa/ | olya /olja/ | waʼel /waʔel/ |
| Drink | ge /ɡe/ | re /ɾe/ | ukʼul /ukʼul/ | koʼo /koʔo/ | koni /koni/ | owurya /owuɾja/ | ukʼ /ukʼ/ |
| Sleep | rasi /ɾasi/ | rasi /ɾasi/ | wenel /wenel/ | kixi /kiʃi/ | cochi /ˈkotʃi/ | orupa /oˈɾupa/ | wayel /wajel/ |
| One | tobi /tobi/ | tuby /tubj/ | jun /hun/ | iʼin /iʔin/ | ce /se/ | mosa /mosa/ | jun /hun/ |
| Two | chupa /tʃupa/ | tyop /tjop/ | kaʼ /kaʔ/ | uu /uː/ | ome /ˈome/ | piili /piːli/ | chabʼ /tʃaɓ/ |
| Three | chonna /tʃonːa/ | chon /tʃon/ | óox /ʔoːʃ/ | uni /ùnì/ | yeyi /jeji/ | tharu /tʰaru/ | oxe /oʃe/ |
| Four | tapa /tapa/ | tap /tap/ | kan /kan/ | kuun /kũũ/ | nahui /nawi/ | xexe /ʃeʃe/ | chane /tʃane/ |
| Five | gaayuʼ /ɡaːjuʔ/ | gai /ɡai/ | joʼ /hoʔ/ | uʼun /ũʔũ/ | makuijli /makʷihli/ | thanu /tʰanu/ | joʼe /hoʔe/ |
| Hundred | gayuaa /ɡajuaː/ | gayuaa /ɡajuaː/ | joʼokʼáal /hoʔokʼaːl/ | ciento /sjento/ | ciento /ˈsjento/ | emiya /emija/ | joʼ winkeʼ /hoʔ winkeʔ/ |
| Hello | padixhe /padiʃe/ | padiux /padiuʃ/ | baʼax ka waʼalik /baʔaʃ ka waʔalik/ | saʼa /saʔa/ | panolti /panolti/ | salaama /salaːma/ | lekilukʼ /lekilukʼ/ |
| Thank you | xtiozenu /ʃtjozenu/ | xclen loʼ /ʃklen loʔ/ | dios boʼotik /dios boʔotik/ | tatuʼun /tatuʔun/ | tlazohcamati /tɬasoʔkamati/ | kosheni /koʃeni/ | yuj /juh/ |
| Good | nazaaca /nazaːka/ | nazac /nazak/ | maʼalob /maʔalob/ | vaʼa /βaʔa/ | kuajli /kʷahli/ | ratteene /ɾatːeːne/ | lek /lek/ |
| New | nacubi /nakubi/ | ncweby /nkwebj/ | túumben /tuːmben/ | xaa /ʃaː/ | yencuic /ˈjenkʷik/ | esya /esja/ | yajkʼachil /jahkʼatʃil/ |
| Red | xiñaʼ /ʃiɲaʔ/ | xnia /ʃnia/ | chak /tʃak/ | kwaʼa /kʷaʔa/ | chichiltik /tʃitʃiltik/ | thiru /tʰiru/ | chak /tʃak/ |
| White | quichi /kitʃi/ | nguits /ŋɡits/ | sak /sak/ | — | istak /istak/ | otteela /otːeːla/ | sak /sak/ |
| Black | nayaaseʼ /najaːseʔ/ | ngas /ŋas/ | box /boʃ/ | ndiaa /ndiaː/ | capotztic /kaˈpotstik/ | oriipa /oɾiːpa/ | kʼikʼ /kʼikʼ/ |
| Green | naberde /naberde/ | nga /ŋa/ | yaʼax /jaʔaʃ/ | kuii /kʷiː/ | xoxojki /ʃoˈʃohki/ | ekori ya mathapa /ekoɾi ja matʰapa/ | yaʼax /jaʔaʃ/ |
| Blue | azul /asul/ | — | yaʼax /jaʔaʃ/ | kuii /kʷiː/ | azul /aˈsul/ | — | yaʼax /jaʔaʃ/ |
| Computer | computadora /komputadoɾa/ | — | computadora /komputadora/ | computadora | computadora /komputaˈdora/ | komputatore /komputatoɾe/ | computadora /komputadora/ |
| Sugar | dxiña /dʒiɲa/ | — | asukaar /asukaːr/ | azúcar /aˈsukaɾ/ | azúcar /aˈsukar/ | — | sakal askal /sakal ʔaskal/ |
| Orange | naranja /naɾanxa/ | — | pakʼáal /pakʼaːl/ | naranja /naˈɾaŋxa/ | naranja /naˈranxa/ | erarance /eɾaɾantʃe/ | naranja /naranha/ |
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