Learn about the 68 indigenous languages of Mexico and the places where they are spoken
by the news services of El Reportero
There are 68 indigenous languages in Mexico and each language belongs to one of the 11 linguistic families found in our country and which, in turn, are subdivided into an impressive number of variants.
Based on a study carried out by the National Institute of Indigenous Languages (INALI), we tell you what the indigenous languages of Mexico are, the places where they are spoken, to which family they belong and their variants. Learn more about our native peoples!
However, due to the short space in this print edition, we will focus on a few, but you can read the full article at www.elreporteroSF.com
Indigenous languages of Mexico
algic language family
Kickapo
This indigenous language of Mexico is spoken especially in Ranchería Nacimiento in Coahuila, in addition to some places in the United States.
Yuto-Nahua language family
O’otam (papago)
This indigenous Mexican language is spoken mainly in the state of Sonora, in municipalities such as Altar, Caborca and General Plutarco Elías Calles.
Oichkama no’oka/oishkam no’ok (pima)
This variant is subdivided into northern pima, southern pima, and eastern pima.
The indigenous languages of Mexico Pima del Norte and Pima del Sur are spoken in the state of Chihuahua, in the municipalities of Madera and Moris and Ocampo and Temósachi, respectively.
Pima del Este corresponds to the state of Sonora, in the municipality of Yécora.
Odami (Northern Tepehuan)
This is an indigenous language of Mexico that is only spoken in the municipalities of Guadalupe and Calvo, Chihuahua.
O’dam (Southern Tepehuano)
The southern Tepehuano is divided into high and low.
High Southern Tepehuano is spoken in the municipality of Pueblo Nuevo in Durango; Acaponeta and Huajicori in Nayarit and Escuinapa in Sinaloa.
Southern Low Tepehuano is spoken in Mezquital and Súchil in Durango and Valparaíso in Zacatecas.
Ralámuli raicha (Tarahumara)
This is one of the indigenous languages of Mexico that are divided:
– West Tarahumara: Spoken in the municipalities of Chínipas, Guazapares, Maguarichi, Urique and Uarache in Chihuahua.
Northern Tarahumara: Spoken in the municipalities of Bocoyna, Carichi, Cuáutemoc, Guerrero, Nonoava and San Francisco de Borja in Chihuahua.
Tarahumara de Cumbres: Mainly spoken in the municipalities of Guachochi and Urique in Chihuahua.
Central Tarahumara: Indigenous language spoken mainly in the municipalities of Balleza, Batopilas, El Tule, Guachochi and Morelos in Chihuahua.
Southern Tarahumara: The last division of this indigenous language is spoken in the municipality of Guadalupe y Calvo in Chihuahua.
Guarijío
This language can be divided into northern and southern Guarijío.
– Guarijío del norte: This indigenous language of Mexico is spoken in the municipalities of Chínipas, Moris and Uruachi in Chihuahua.
– Guarijío del Sur: This variant is spoken in the municipalities of Quriero and Álamo in Sonora.
