Guatemala
PrintPrimary tabs
Achi
[acr] Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, and El Progreso departments; Quiché department: Uspantan municipality. Users: 124,000 (2019 census). 5,000 monolinguals (2015 C. Barrera). Ethnic population: 161,000 (2019 census). Status: 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Autonym: Qach’a’teem. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, K’ichean-Mamean, K’ichean, Poqom-K’ichean, Core K’ichean.
Akateko
[knj] Huehuetenango department: San Miguel Acatán area. Users: 55,300 in Guatemala (2019 census). Ethnic population: 66,000 (2019 census). Total users in all countries: 58,190. Status: 4 (Educational). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Acatec, Acateco, Conob, Kanjobal, Q’anjob’al, San Miguel Acatán Kanjobal, Western Kanjobal, Western Q’anjob’al. Autonym: K’anjob’al. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, Q’anjob’alan-Chujean, Q’anjob’alan, Q’anjob’al-Akateko-Jakalteko.
Awakateko
[agu] Huehuetenango department. Users: 10,100 (2019 census). Ethnic population: 12,500 (2019 census). Status: 4 (Educational). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Aguacatec, Aguacateco. Autonym: Qa’yol. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, K’ichean-Mamean, Mamean, Awakateko-Ixil.
Chicomuceltec
[cob] Huehuetenango and Petén departments. Users: No known L1 speakers in Guatemala. The last speaker probably died in the 1930s (Campbell and Canger 1978). Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Cakchiquel Mam. Classification: Mayan, Huastecan.
Ch’orti’
[caa] Chiquimula and Zacapa departments; eastern border with Honduras. Users: 16,700 in Guatemala (2019 census). Ethnic population: 112,000 (2019 census). Status: 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Chortiꞌ. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, Core Mayan, Cholan-Tzeltalan, Cholan, Chorti-Cholti.
Chuj
[cac] Huehuetenango department: central western Coatán river area. Users: 58,600 in Guatemala (2019 census). Ethnic population: 91,400 (2019 census). Total users in all countries: 62,120. Status: 5* (Developing). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Chuh, Chuhe, Chuj de San Mateo Ixtatán, Chuje. Autonym: Koti’. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, Q’anjob’alan-Chujean, Chujean.
Garifuna
[cab] Izabal department: Livingston and Puerto Barrios villages; northeast coast. Users: 2,860 in Guatemala (2019 census). Ethnic population: 19,500 (2019 census). Status: 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Black Carib, Caribe, Central American Carib, Garífuna, Garínagu. Classification: Maipurean, Northern, Maritime, Ta-Maipurean, Iñeri.
Guatemalan Sign Language
[gsm] Scattered. Users: 50,000 (2021). Estimated 33,000–66,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of the total population. Another estimate: 28,000–256,000 signing deaf (Parks and Parks 2008). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: GSM, LENSEGUA, Lensegua. Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language.
Itza’
[itz] Petén department: north of Lake Petén Itzá. Users: 410 (2019 census). Ethnic population: 2,930 (2019 census). Status: 8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Icaiche Maya, Itz, Itzaj, Itzaj Maya, Itzá Maya, Maya, Petén Itza’ Maya. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, Yucatecan, Mopan-Itzá.
Ixil
[ixl] Quiché department: Chajul, Cotzal, and Nebaj municipalities. Users: 115,000 (2019 census). Ethnic population: 133,000 (2019 census). Status: 4 (Educational). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Autonym: Ixil. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, K’ichean-Mamean, Mamean, Awakateko-Ixil.
Jakalteko
[jac] Huehuetenango department: Concepción Huista and Jacaltenango areas, near Mexico border. Users: 32,600 in Guatemala (2019 census). Ethnic population: 54,200 (2019 census). Total users in all countries: 33,080. Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Jabxubal, Jabʼ xubʼal, Jakalteko-Popti’, Popti’. Autonym: Abxubal, Abꞌxubꞌal Poptiꞌ. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, Q’anjob’alan-Chujean, Q’anjob’alan, Q’anjob’al-Akateko-Jakalteko.
Kaqchikel
[cak] Baja Verapaz department: Granados municipality; Chimaltenango department: all municipalities; Escuintal department: Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa municipality; Guatemala department: Amatitlán, Chuarrancho, San Juan Sacatepéquez, San Pedro Ayampu, San Pedro Sacatepéquez, San Raymundo, and Villa Nueva municipalities; Sacatepéquez department: Alotenango, Jocotenango, Magdalena Milpas Altas, Pastores, San Antonio Aguas Calientes, San Bartolomé Milpas Altas, San Lucas Sacatepéquez, San Miguel Dueñas, Santa Catarina Barahona, Santa Lucía Milpas Altas, Santa María de Jesús, Santiago Sacatepéquea, Santo Domingo Xenacoj, and Sumpango municipalities; Sololá department: Concepción, Panajachel, San Andrés Semetab’äj, San Antonio Palopo, San José Chacaya’, San Juan La Laguna, San Lucas Tolimán, San Marcos La Laguna, Santa Catarina Palopo, and Santa Cruz La Laguna, and Sololá municipalities; Suchitepéquez department: Patulul, San Antonio Suchitepéquez, San Juan Bautista, and Santa Bárbara municipalities. Users: 411,000 (2019 census). Ethnic population: 1,070,000 (2019 census). Status: 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Cakchiquel, Kaqchiquel, Maya. Autonym: Kaqchikel. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, K’ichean-Mamean, K’ichean, Poqom-K’ichean, Core K’ichean, Kaqchikel-Tz’utujil.
Kaqchikel-K’iche’ Mixed Language
[ckz] Sacatepéquez department: Santa María Cauqué and Santiago. Users: 2,000 (1998 SIL). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Cauque Mixed Language. Classification: Mixed language, Cakchiquel-Quiché.
K’iche’
[quc] Quiché department: Chichicastenango, Chiché, Cunén, Joyabaj, Sacapulas, San Andrés Sajcabajá, Uspantán, Zacualpa municipalities; Quetzaltenango, Retalhuleu, Sololá, Suchitepéquez, and Totonicapán departments; some communities in Huehuetenango and Baja Verapaz departments. Users: 1,050,000 (2019 census). 300,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 1,680,000 (2019 census). Status: 4 (Educational). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Central K’iche’, Central Quiché, Chiquel, Quiché. Autonym: Qach’abel. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, K’ichean-Mamean, K’ichean, Poqom-K’ichean, Core K’ichean.
Mam
[mam] Huehuetenango department: San Sebastián and other towns; Quetzaltenango and Retalhuleu departments; San Marcos department: Ixchiguán, San Juan Ostuncalco, San Martín Sacatepéquez, Sibinal, Tectitán. Dialects in San Miguel Ixtahuacán (18,000) and Concepción Tutapa (30,000). Users: 591,000 in Guatemala (2019 census). Ethnic population: 842,000 (2019 census). Total users in all countries: 602,400. Status: 5* (Developing). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Huehuetenango Mam, Kyol, Qyol, Qyol Mam, Qyool. Autonym: B’anax Mam, Qyool Mam. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, K’ichean-Mamean, Mamean, Teco-Mam.
Maya, Mopán
[mop] Petén department: Lake Peten Itza road area, one enclave between Dolores and Poptun, the other near San Luis. Users: 2,010 in Guatemala (2019 census). Ethnic population: 3,360 (2019 census). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Maya Mopán, Mopane. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, Yucatecan, Mopan-Itzá.
Poqomam
[poc] Chiquimula department; Jalapa department: San Luis Jilotepeque; Guatemala department: 1 enclave northeast of Guatemala City, Chinautla; the other 20 km southwest, mostly in Escuintla department. Users: 10,800 (2019 census). Ethnic population: 46,500 (2019 census). Status: 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Pocomán, Pokomam. Autonym: Qaq’oral. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, K’ichean-Mamean, K’ichean, Poqom-K’ichean, Poqom, Poqomam.
Poqomchi’
[poh] Alta Verapaz department: San Cristobal Verapaz area; Baja Verapaz department: notheast of Salama; Quiché department: eastward from Uspantan. Users: 133,000 (2019 census). 40,000 monolinguals (2017 B. Ramirez). Ethnic population: 177,000 (2019 census). Status: 4 (Educational). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Pocomchí, Poconchí, Pokomchí, Pokonchí, Tactic Pokomchí. Autonym: Poqonchi. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, K’ichean-Mamean, K’ichean, Poqom-K’ichean, Poqom, Poqomchi’.
Q’anjob’al
[kjb] Huehuetenango department: Santa Eulalia; Quiché department: near Soloma. Users: 166,000 in Guatemala (2019 census). Ethnic population: 208,000 (2019 census). Total users in all countries: 176,900. Status: 5* (Developing). Recognized language (2013, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Conob, Eastern Kanjobal, Eastern Qanjobal, K’anjobal, Kanhobal, Kanjobal, Qanjobal, Santa Eulalia Kanjobal. Autonym: Q’anjob’al. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, Q’anjob’alan-Chujean, Q’anjob’alan, Q’anjob’al-Akateko-Jakalteko.
Q’eqchi’
[kek] Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, and Quiché departments; Izabal department: north from the lake; Petén department: south of Flores. Users: 1,130,000 in Guatemala (2019 census), increasing. Ethnic population: 1,370,000 (2019 census). Total users in all countries: 1,147,600. Status: 4 (Educational). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Cacche’, Kekchi’, Kekchí, Ketchi’, Kʼekchiʼ, Quecchi’. Autonym: Q’eqchi’. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, K’ichean-Mamean, K’ichean.
Sakapulteko
[quv] Quiché department: Sacapulas municipality; some in Guatemala City. Users: 6,530 (2019 census). Ethnic population: 12,900 (2019 census). Status: 7 (Shifting). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Sacapulas K’iche’, Sacapulteco, qač’ab’a:l. Autonym: Tujaal tziij. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, K’ichean-Mamean, K’ichean, Poqom-K’ichean, Core K’ichean.
Sipakapense
[qum] San Marcos department. Users: 4,160 (2019 census), increasing. Ethnic population: 17,400 (2019 census). Status: 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Sipacapa, Sipacapa Quiché, Sipacapense, Sipacapeño. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, K’ichean-Mamean, K’ichean, Poqom-K’ichean, Core K’ichean.
Spanish
[spa] Users: 15,840,000 in Guatemala, all users. L1 users: 12,100,000 in Guatemala (2018 World Factbook). L2 users: 3,740,000 (2018). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1985, Constitution, Article 143). Alternate Names: Castellano, Español. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian.
Tektiteko
[ttc] Huehuetenango department: Tectitán area, Cuilco. Users: 3,010 in Guatemala (2019 census). Ethnic population: 3,320 (2019 census). Total users in all countries: 3,088. Status: 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: K’onti’l, Maya-Tekiteko, Qyool, Teco, Tectitec, Tectiteco, Tectitán Mam, Tujqyol, “Teko” (pej.). Autonym: B’a’aj. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, K’ichean-Mamean, Mamean, Teco-Mam.
Tz’utujil
[tzj] Sololá department: Lake Atitlán, south and southwest shore; Suchitepéquez department: Chicacao area north. Users: 72,400 (2019 census), increasing. 17,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 106,000 (2019 census). Status: 4 (Educational). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Eastern Tzutujil, Santiago Atitlán Tzutujil, Tzutuhil, Tzutujil, Tzutujil Oriental. Autonym: Tz’utujil. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, K’ichean-Mamean, K’ichean, Poqom-K’ichean, Core K’ichean, Kaqchikel-Tz’utujil.
Uspanteko
[usp] Quiché department: Chicamán municipio, Las Pacayas village is center; San Miguel Uspantán municipio area. Users: 5,130 (2019 census). Ethnic population: 7,490 (2003 census). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Uspanteco. Autonym: Uspanteko. Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, K’ichean-Mamean, K’ichean.
Xinca
[xin] Jutiapa and Santa Rosa departments. Users: No known L1 speakers, but emerging L2 speakers. Last fluent speakers probably died by the 1970s; some semi-speakers survived into the 2000s. Ethnic population: 16,200 (2003 census). Status: 9 (Reawakening). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19). Alternate Names: Ikomagi, Jinca, Shinkan, Shinkan Complex, Sinca, Szinca, Xincan, Xinka, “Popoloco” (pej.). Classification: Language isolate.