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Tzotzil Indian Language (Tsotsil)
Tzotzil is a Mayan
language spoken by around 300,000 people in Mexico. There are five or six Tzotzil dialects (depending on how they are grouped.)
Some of these dialects are quite divergent (one is a tone language, for example, while the others are not,) and for this reason
some linguists consider them distinct languages. However, despite these differences, Tzotzil speakers can usually understand each other
fairly well. Tzotzil can use either VOS or SVO word order.
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Tzotzil Vocabulary
Our list of vocabulary words in the Tzotzil language, with comparison to words in other Mayan languages.
Tzotzil Maya Pronunciation Guide:
How to pronounce Tzotzil words.
Tzotzil Animal Words:
Illustrated glossary of animal words in the Tzotzil language.
Tzotzil Body Parts:
Online and printable worksheets showing parts of the body in Tzotzil.
Tzotzil Colors:
Worksheet showing color words in Tzotzil.
Tzotzil Language Resources
Sk'op Sotz'leb: The Tzotzil of Zinacantán:
Online grammar of Zinancateco Tzotzil, with audio files and bibliography.
AILLA: Tzotzil:
Archive of Tzotzil language recordings available for download.
Human Rights: Tzotzil:
Translation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into Tzotzil.
Rosetta Project: Tzotzil
Scanned-in Tzotzil language materials.
Tsotsil Alphabet:
Phonological inventory of the Tzotzil language, with a sample text.
The Bible in Tzotzil de Chamula 
Tzotzil de San Andres Tzotzil de Huixtan:
Tzotzil de Chenalho y de Chalchihuitan Tzotzil Genesis Translation Zinacanteco Tzotzil Genesis:
Tzotzil translations of Biblical passages.
Tzotzil Prayers Tzotzil de San Andrés Larrainzar Tzotzil de Chenalho Tzotzil de Huixtan:
Language Museum: Tzotzil de Chamula Tzotzil de Zinacanteco Prayer:
Tzotzil translations of the Lord's Prayer and other Christian prayers.
Lengua Tzotzil
Information on the Tzotzil language, including a linguistic map of Mexico. Page in Spanish.
Creencias Tzotzil:
Online exhibit of photographs by an indigenous Tzotzil artist, with narration in Tzotzil and Spanish.
Wikipedia: Tzotzil:
Article on the Tzotzil language including phonology, grammar and links.
Mayan Placenames of Mexico:
Chart of Mexican place names in the Tzotzil and Yucatec Maya languages.
Chamula Tzotzil Chenalhó Tzotzil Huixtán Tzotzil IMG SRC="star.gif" ALT="*"> Zinacantán Tzotzil:
Venustiano Carranza Tzotzil San Andrés Larrainzar Tzotzil:
Demographic information about Tzotzil from the Ethnologue of Languages.
Tzotzil Language Tree:
Theories about Tzotzil's language relationships compiled by Linguist List.
Chamula Tzotzil Language Structures Zinacantán Tzotzil Language Structures San Andrés Tzotzil Language Structures:
Tzotzil linguistic profiles and academic bibliographies.
Tzotzil People
Encyclopedia articles on the Tzotzil Indians.
Tzotzil of Chamula Tzotzil of San Andres Larraínzar Tzotzil of San Bartolomé de los Llanos Tzotzil of Zinacantan Tzotzil and Tzeltal of Pantelhó
Articles on Tzotzil culture and history.
Books for sale on the Tzotzils
Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links
Four Creations: An Epic Story of the Chiapas Mayas
Collection of legends of the Tzotzil and Chol Mayans for sale online.
Juan the Chamula
Interesting biography of a Tzotzil man and his community.
The Ancient Maya:
Excellent historical overview of ancient Mayan civilization in general.
Native American Books:
Evolving list of books about Mayas and Native Americans in general.
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Links, References, and Additional Information
Endangered Languages Project: Tzotzil:
Bibliography of Tzotzil language resources.
Los Tzotziles: Pueblo Tzotzil Paso Hondo:
Information about the Tzotzil tribe in Spanish.
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