List of endangered languages in Mexico
An endangered language is a language that it is at risk of falling out of use, generally because it has few surviving speakers. If it loses all of its native speakers, it becomes an extinct language. UNESCO defines four levels of language endangerment between "safe" (not endangered) and "extinct":[1]
- Vulnerable
- Definitely endangered
- Severely endangered
- Critically endangered
Languages[]
Language | Speakers | Status | Comments | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Acatepec Mazatec language, Acatepec Mazatec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Akatek language, Akatek[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Awakatek language, Awakatek[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Ayapanec language, Ayapanec[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Ayautla Mazatec language, Ayautla Mazatec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Central Cuicatec language, Central Cuicatec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Central Náhuatl language, Central Náhuatl[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Central Otomí language, Central Otomí[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Central Pame language, Central Pame[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Central Popoloc language, Central Popoloc[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Central Tlapanec language, Central Tlapanec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Central Zoque language, Central Zoque[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Chatino of the western lowlands[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Chatino of Zacatepec language, Chatino of Zacatepec[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Chichimec language, Chichimec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Chihuahua Lower Pima language, Chihuahua Lower Pima[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Chilchotla Mazatec language, Chilchotla Mazatec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Chiquihuitlán Mazatec language, Chiquihuitlán Mazatec[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Chontal Tabasco language, Chontal Tabasco[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Chuj language, Chuj[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Cocopa language, Cocopa[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Eastern Chocho language, Eastern Chocho[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Eastern Cuicatec language, Eastern Cuicatec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Eastern Mazahua language, Eastern Mazahua[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Eastern Popoloc language, Eastern Popoloc[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Eastern Tlapanec language, Eastern Tlapanec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Eloxochitlán Mazatec language, Eloxochitlán Mazatec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Filomeno Mata Totonac language, Filomeno Mata Totonac[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Higher Reservoir Mazatec language, Higher Reservoir Mazatec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Highland Chontal language, Highland Chontal[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Highland Mazatec language, Highland Mazatec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Huasteca Náhuatl language, Huasteca Náhuatl[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Huehuetla Tepehua language, Huehuetla Tepehua[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Huehuetlán Mazatec language, Huehuetlán Mazatec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Huichol language, Huichol[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Isthmus Náhuatl language, Isthmus Náhuatl[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Ixcatec language, Ixcatec[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Ixcatlán Mazatec language, Ixcatlán Mazatec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Ixil language, Ixil[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Ixtenco Otomí language, Ixtenco Otomí[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Jakaltek language, Jakaltek[1] | Severely endangered | |||
K'iche' language, K'iche'[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Kaqchikel language, Kaqchikel[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Kickapoo language, Kickapoo[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Kiliwa language, Kiliwa[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Lacandón language, Lacandón[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Lower Mixe language, Lower Mixe[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Lower Northwestern Otomí language, Lower Northwestern Otomí[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Lowland Chontal language, Lowland Chontal[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Lowland Mazatec language, Lowland Mazatec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Malinaltepec Tlapanec language, Malinaltepec Tlapanec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Mam language, Mam[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Matlatzinca language, Matlatzinca[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Mayo language, Mayo[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Mazatlán Mazatec language, Mazatlán Mazatec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Mezquital Otomí language, Mezquital Otomí[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Misantla Totonac language, Misantla Totonac[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Mixtec of San Miguel Piedras language, Mixtec of San Miguel Piedras[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Mixtec of San Pedro Tidaá language, Mixtec of San Pedro Tidaá[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Mixtec of Santa Cruz Itundujia language, Mixtec of Santa Cruz Itundujia[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Mixtec of Santa Inés de Zaragoza language, Mixtec of Santa Inés de Zaragoza[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Mixtec of the central Ravine[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Mixtec of the northeast lowlands[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Mixtec of the Puebla-Oaxaca border[1] (several Mixtec languages go by this name; UNESCO intends Chazumba Mixtec) |
Definitely endangered | |||
Mixtec of the southwest of Puebla[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Mixtec of Tlaltempan language, Mixtec of Tlaltempan[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Mixtec of Villa de Tututepec language, Mixtec of Villa de Tututepec[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Mixtec of Zapotitlán language, Mixtec of Zapotitlán[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Motocintlec language, Motocintlec[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Mountain Guarijío language, Mountain Guarijío[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Northern Cuicatec language, Northern Cuicatec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Northern Pame language, Northern Pame[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Northern Popoloc language, Northern Popoloc[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Northern Tepehuán language, Northern Tepehuán[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Northern Tlapanec language, Northern Tlapanec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Northern Totonac language, Northern Totonac[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Northwestern Otomí language, Northwestern Otomí[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Northwestern Tarahumara language, Northwestern Tarahumara[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Northwestern Tlapanec language, Northwestern Tlapanec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
O'odham language, O'odham[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Ocopetatillo Mazatec language, Ocopetatillo Mazatec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Ocoyoacac Otomí language, Ocoyoacac Otomí[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Olultecan language, Olultecan [typo][1] | Severely endangered | |||
Ozumatlán Totonac language, Ozomatlán Totonac[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Paipai language, Paipai[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Papantla Totonac language, Papantla Totonac[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Patla-Chicontla Totonac language, Patla-Chicontla Totonac[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Purépecha language, Purépecha[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Pisaflores Tepehua language, Pisaflores Tepehua[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Puebla Mazatec language, Puebla Mazatec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
River Guarijío language, River Guarijío[1] | Vulnerable | |||
San Dionisio del Mar Huave language, San Dionisio del Mar Huave[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
San Francisco del Mar Huave language, San Francisco del Mar Huave[1] | Critically endangered | |||
San Mateo del Mar Huave language, San Mateo del Mar Huave[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Santa María del Mar Huave language, Santa María del Mar Huave[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Sayultec language, Sayultec[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Seri language, Seri[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Sierra de Puebla Nahuatl language, Sierra de Puebla Náhuatl[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Sierra Otomí language, Sierra Otomí[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Sierra Popoluca language, Sierra Popoluca[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Sierra Totonac language, Sierra Totonac[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Sonora Lower Pima language, Sonora Lower Pima[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Southeastern Tarahumara language, Southeastern Tarahumara[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Southern Chocho language, Southern Chocho[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Southern Tlapanec language, Southern Tlapanec[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Southern Zoque language, Southern Zoque[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Southwestern Tepehuan language, Southwestern Tepehuan[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Southwestern Tlapanec language, Southwestern Tlapanec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Soyaltepec Mazatec language, Soyaltepec Mazatec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Tabasco Náhuatl language, Tabasco Náhuatl[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Tecóatl Mazatec language, Tecóatl Mazatec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Teko language, Teko[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Texistepecan language, Texistepecan[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Tilapa Otomí language, Tilapa Otomí[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Tipai language, Tipai[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Tlachichilco Tepehua language, Tlachichilco Tepehua[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Tlahuica language, Tlahuica[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Tuzantec language, Tuzantec[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Valle Nacional Chinantec language, Valle Nacional Chinantec[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Western Chocho language, Western Chocho[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Western Mazahua language, Western Mazahua[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Western Mazatec language, Western Mazatec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Western Náhuatl language, Western Náhuatl[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Western Otomí language, Western Otomí[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Western Popoloc language, Western Popoloc[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Western Tarahumara language, Western Tarahumara[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Western Tlapanec language, Western Tlapanec[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Western Zoque language, Western Zoque[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Yaqui language, Yaqui[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Zapotec of Asunción Tlacolulita language, Zapotec of Asunción Tlacolulita[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Zapotec of Mixtepe language, Zapotec of Mixtepe[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Zapotec of Petapa language, Zapotec of Petapa[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Zapotec of San Antonino el Alto language, Zapotec of San Antonino el Alto[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Zapotec of San Bartolo Yautepec language, Zapotec of San Bartolo Yautepec[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Zapotec of San Felipe Tejalapan language, Zapotec of San Felipe Tejalapan[1] | Critically endangered | |||
eastern lowlands Zapotec of the Southern mountains[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
northeast Zapotec of the Southern mountains[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
[1] | Severely endangered | |||
central Zapotec of the Valleys[1] | Severely endangered | |||
middle northwest Zapotec of the Valleys[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
west Zapotec of the Valleys[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Zapotec of Zimatlán de Álvarez language, Zapotec of Zimatlán de Álvarez[1] | Definitely endangered |
Number of speakers[]
Language | Speakers |
---|---|
Nahuatl (Nahualt, Nahuat, Nahual, Melatahtol) | 1,376,026 |
Yucatec Maya (Maaya t'aan) | 759,000 |
Mixtec (Tu'un sávi) | 423,216 |
Zapotec (Diidxaza/Dizhsa) | 410,901 |
Tzeltal Maya (K'op o winik atel) | 371,730 |
Tzotzil Maya (Batsil k'op) | 329,937 |
Otomí (Hñä hñü) | 239,850 |
Totonac (Tachihuiin) | 230,930 |
Mazatec (Ha shuta enima) | 206,559 |
Ch'ol (Mayan) (Winik) | 185,299 |
Huastec (Téenek) | 149,532 |
Chinantec (Tsa jujmí) | 125,706 |
Mixe (Ayüük) | 115,824 |
Mazahua (Jñatho) | 111,840 |
Purépecha (P'urhépecha) | 105,556 |
Tlapanec (Me'phaa) | 98,573 |
Tarahumara (Rarámuri) | 75,371 |
Amuzgo (Tzañcue) | 43,761 |
Chatino (Cha'cña) | 42,791 |
Tojolab'al (Tojolwinik otik) | 43,169 |
Popoluca (Zoquean) (Tuncápxe) | 54,004 |
Chontal de Tabasco (Yokot t'an) | 43,850 |
Huichol (Wixárika) | 35,724 |
Mayo (Yoreme) | 32,702 |
Tepehuán (O'dam) | 31,681 |
Trique (Tinujéi) | 24,491 |
Cora (Naáyarite) | 17,086 |
Popoloca (Oto-manguean) | 18,926 |
Huave (Ikoods) | 15,993 |
Cuicatec (Nduudu yu) | 12,610 |
Yaqui (Yoem Noki or Hiak Nokpo) | 14,162 |
Q'anjob'al | 10,833 |
Tepehua (Hamasipini) | 10,625 |
Pame (Xigüe) | 9,768 |
Mam (Qyool) | 8,739 |
Chontal de Oaxaca (Slijuala sihanuk) | 5,534 |
Chuj | 2,143 |
Tacuate (Mixtec de Santa María Zacatepec) (Tu'un Va'a) | 2,067 |
Chichimeca jonaz (Úza) | 1,987 |
Guarijío (Warihó) | 1,905 |
Chocho (Runixa ngiigua) | 1,078 |
Pima Bajo (Oob No'ok) | 836 |
Q'eqchí (Q'eqchí) | 835 |
Lacandón (Hach t'an) | 731 |
Jakaltek (Poptí) (Abxubal) | 584 |
Matlatzinca/Ocuilteco (Tlahuica) | 522 |
Seri (Cmiique iitom) | 518 |
Ixcatec | 406 |
K'iche' | 286 |
Kaqchikel | 230 |
Paipai (Jaspuy pai) | 221 |
Cucapá (Kuapá) | 206 |
Mototzintleco (Qatok) | 186 |
Kumiai (Ti'pai) | 185 |
Pápago (O'odham) | 153 |
Kikapú (Kikapoa) | 144 |
Ixil | 108 |
Cochimí (Laymón, mti'pá) | 96 |
Kiliwa language (Ko'lew) | 55 |
Aguacatec | 27 |
Other languages 1 | 337 |
1 Including: Òpata, Soltec, and | |
Only includes population 5 and older. Source: INEGI (2005) [1] |
See also[]
References[]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej ek el em en Moseley, Christopher, ed. (2010). Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger. Memory of Peoples (3rd ed.). Paris: UNESCO Publishing. ISBN 978-92-3-104096-2. Retrieved 2015-04-11.
Categories:
- Lists of endangered languages
- Languages of Mexico