Tzotzil is a Mayan language spoken by about 550,000 people, mainly in the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico, and also in the states of Oaxaca and Veracruze. It is closely related to Tzeltal and Ch'ol, and is part of the Cholan-Tzeltalan branch of the Mayan language family.
Tzotzil is also known as Tsotsil, and native speakers call it Batsʼi kʼop [ɓatsʼi kʼopʰ] ("original language") or jkʼoptik ("our language"). It has six mainy dialects which are named after the dfferent regions of Chiapas in which they are spoken: Chamula, Zinacantán, San Andrés Larráinzar, Huixtán, Ch'enalho', and Venustiano Carranza. There is varying degrees of mutual intelligibility between them.
Tzotzil is used as a medium in instruction in some primary and secondary schools in central Chiapas. It is written with the Latin alphabet.
Download an alphabet chart for Tzotzil (Excel)
d, f, g, h and w are also used, but only in Spanish loanwords. H is silent when not combined with c.
Skotol vinik o ants ta spejel balumile kʼolem x-hayan i koʼol ta schʼulal i sderechoetik i, skotol kʼux-elan oyike oy srasonik y slekilalik, sventa skuxijik leknóo ta ju jun ju ju vo.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Information about Tzotzil | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel | Books about Mayan languages | Books about Mayan on: Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk [affilate links]
Information about Tzotzil language
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzotzil_language
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idioma_tsotsil
https://yaxito.blogspot.com/2012/07/alfabeto-en-tsotsil-y-ejemplos.html
https://www.sil.org/resources/search/language/tzo
Achi, Akatek, Awakatek, Chontal Maya, Ch’ol, Chorti, Chuj, Huasteco, Itzaʼ, Ixil, Jakaltek, Kaqchikel, Ki'che', Lacandon, Mam, Mocho’, Mopan, Poqomam, Poqomchiʼ, Q’anjob’al, Q'eqchi', Sakapultek, Sipakapense, Tektitek, Tojolabal, Tzeltal, Tzotzil, Tz'utujil, Uspantek, Yucatec Maya
Languages written with the Latin alphabet
Page last modified: 29.03.24
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