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Ayoreo Indian Language

Language: Ayoreo is a Zamucoan language, spoken by more than 3000 people in Bolivia and Paraguay. It is closely related to the Zamuco language, which is sometimes considered to be an Ayoreo dialect. Ayoreo is a fusional language with SVO word order.

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Names: The tribal name Ayoreo comes from the word for "person" in their own language; the plural form, Ayoreode ("people") is also used. They are also known as Pyta Jovai, Yanaigua, or Tsiragua, which are their names in the languages of the neighboring Guarani and Tapiete tribes, or as the Moros, a Spanish name for them. These names are also spelled many other ways including Ayoré, Ayore, Ayoréo, Ayoréi, Ayureo, Ayuréo, Avoreo, Ayoweo, Ayoeo; Ayoréode, Ayoréiode, Ayorédie, Ayo'reode; Pyeta Jovai, Pyeta Yovai, Pyta Jovái; Tsirákua, Tsiricua, Tsirakaua; and Morotoco. Important band names of the Ayoreos include Guarañoca (or Guarañoka), Poturero, Totobiegosode, and Guidaigosode. Those names are also sometimes used to refer to their associated dialects of the Ayoreo language. The Guarañoca dialect is particularly distinct and is considered by some linguists to be a separate language of its own. Other names which the Ayoreos have been called in older literature, such as Takrat, Coroino, Corazo, and Kursu, were probably Spanish corruptions of place names.

Ayoreo Language

Ayoreo language samples and resources.

Ayoreo Culture and History

Information and links about the Ayoreo tribe past and present.

Ayoreo Language Resources

Our Online Ayoreo Materials

Ayoreo Vocabulary:
Our list of vocabulary words in the Ayoreo language, with comparison to words in other Zamucoan languages.

Ayoreo Animals:
Illustrated glossary of animal words in the Ayoreo language.

Ayoreo Dictionaries and Language Books for Sale
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Languages of the Amazon:
Linguistic information about Ayoreo and dozens of other Amazonian languages.

Oe chojninga: Relatos bilingues, ayoreo-castellano:
Book in Spanish about the Ayoreo language.

Ayoreo Language Lessons and Linguistic Descriptions

Language Map of the Chaco

Map of Bolivia

Bolivian Languages:

Map of Paraguay:
Language maps of the Gran Chaco region of South America, showing the locations where Ayoreo is spoken.

Ayoré Language:
Language learning materials and texts in the Ayoreo language.

Ayoreo Phonology:
Linguistic chart of phonemes in the Ayoreo language.

House of Languages: Ayoreo
Information about Ayoreo language usage.

Ayoreo (Zamuco), a grammatical sketch:
Linguistics paper on the grammar of the Ayoreo language.

Ayoreo Language Tree:
Theories about Ayoreo's language relationships compiled by Linguist List.

Vocabulario Idioma Ayoreo:
Ayoreo-Spanish wordlist.

Ayoreo Language Structures:
Ayoreo linguistic profile and academic bibliography.

Ayoreo Papers:
Archive of linguistics papers on Ayoreo, in English and Spanish.

Literature and Texts in the Ayoreo Language

Ayoréode Ate Bajade:
Legends and folktales in the Ayoreo language.

UDHR: Ayoreo:
Translation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into the Ayoreo language.

Genesis in Ayoreo:

Ayore Words of Life:
Translations of Bible passages into Ayoreo.

Links, References, and Additional Information

Endangered Languages Project: Ayoreo

Glottolog: Ayoreo:
  Bibliography of Ayoreo language resources.
  OLAC: Ayoreo:
  Reference list of Ayoreo language materials.
  Wikipedia: Ayoreo:
  Encyclopedia article on the Ayoreo language.
  La Lengua Ayoréo

Idioma de los Ayoreos:

Fonetico Ayoweo:

Ayoreos Bolivianos:
Information about the Ayoreo Indians and their language in Spanish.

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