The Mayan languages are a group of languages spoken by the Maya peoples. The Maya form a group of approximately 7 million people who are descended from an ancient Mesoamerican civilization and spread across the modern-day countries of: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Speaking descendant languages from their original Proto-Mayan language, some of their languages were recorded in the form of 'glyphs' of a Mayan script.
Languages
The languages are shown along with their population estimates, as available.
| Language
|
Speakers
|
Year
|
Countries
|
| Achi
|
120,000
|
2019 census
|
Guatemala (Baja Verapaz)
|
| Akatek
|
68,000
|
2019-2020
|
Guatemala (Huehuetenango), Mexico (Chiapas)
|
| Awakatek
|
10100
|
2019 census
|
Guatemala (Huehuetenango), Mexico
|
| Chicomuceltec
|
0
|
Extinct
|
Guatemala (Huehuetenango), Mexico (Chiapas)
|
| Chontal
|
60,563
|
2020 census
|
Mexico (Tabasco)
|
| Chuj
|
63,000
|
2019-2020
|
Guatemala (Huehuetenango), Mexico (Chiapas)
|
| Chʼol
|
254,715
|
2020 census
|
Mexico (Chiapas)
|
| Chʼoltiʼ
|
0
|
extinct
|
Guatemala, Belize
|
| Chʼortiʼ
|
30,000
|
2000
|
Guatemala, Honduras
|
| Coxoh
|
0
|
extinct
|
Mexico
|
| Itzaʼ
|
410
|
2019 census
|
Guatemala (El Petén)
|
| Ixil
|
120,000
|
2019 census
|
Guatemala (El Quiché), Mexico
|
| Jakaltek
|
33,000
|
2019
|
Guatemala (Huehuetenango), Mexico (Chiapas),
|
| Kaqchikel
|
410,000
|
2019 census
|
Guatemala, Mexico (Chiapas)
|
| Kʼicheʼ
|
1,055,407
|
2020
|
Guatemala, Mexico
|
| Lacandon
|
770
|
2020
|
Mexico (Chiapas)
|
| Mam
|
610,000
|
2019-2020
|
Guatemala, Mexico (Chiapas)
|
| Maya (Yucatec)
|
812,633
|
2010-2014
|
Mexico, Belize
|
| Mochoʼ
|
124
|
2020
|
Mexico (Chiapas)
|
| Mopan
|
13,000
|
2014-2019
|
Belize, Guatemala (El Petén)
|
| Poqomam
|
11,000
|
2019 census
|
Guatemala
|
| Poqomchiʼ
|
130,000
|
2019 census
|
Guatemala (Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, El Quiché)
|
| Qʼanjobʼal
|
180,000
|
2019
|
Guatemala (Huehuetenango), Mexico (Chiapas)
|
| Qʼeqchiʼ
|
1,371,606
|
2020
|
Guatemala, Belize, Mexico
|
| Sakapultek
|
6500
|
2019
|
Guatemala (El Quiché)
|
| Sipakapense
|
4200
|
2019 census
|
Guatemala (San Marcos)
|
| Tektitek
|
3100
|
2019
|
Guatemala (Huehuetenango), Mexico (Chiapas)
|
| Tének
|
168,729
|
2020 census
|
Mexico (San Luis Potosi, Veracruz)
|
| Tojol-abʼal
|
67,000
|
2020 census
|
Mexico (Chiapas)
|
| Tzeltal
|
589,144
|
2020 census
|
Mexico (Chiapas)
|
| Tzotzil
|
550,274
|
2020 census
|
Mexico (Chiapas)
|
| Tzʼutujil
|
72,000
|
2019 census
|
Guatemala
|
| Uspantek
|
5100
|
2019
|
Guatemala (El Quiché)
|
In addition, Chalchitek is considered by some to be a distinct language, while others consider it a dialect of Awakatek.
See also