Awakatek (Qa'yol)

Awakatek is a Ixilan Mayan language spoken mainly in the department of Huehuetenango in western Guatemala by about 10,100 people. It is particularly spoken around the town of Aguacatán in the south of Huehuetenango.

Awakatek is also known as Awakateko, Aguacatec, Aguacateco, Coyotin or Chalchitec. The native name, Qa'yol means "our word", and speakers call themselves qatanum (our people). The name Awakatek comes from the town and municipality of Aguacatán, and means "place abundant in avocados".

Awakatek is an officially recognized language in Guatemala and is taught in primary schools. It is written with the Latin alphabet and is used in literature to some extent. Publications in Awakatek include grammars, a dictionary, and translations of Mayan texts, and the Bible.

Awakatek alphabet and pronunciation

Download an alphabet chart for Awakatek (Excel)

Hear how to pronounce the Awakatek letters:

Sample text in Awakatek (The Lord's Prayer)

Kataj yi atu' tcya'j, wi'nin xanil yi bi'u' Ta'. Sajku' tzone'j wuxtx'otx' tan cawu'n skibaj. Cawunku' tzone'j wuxtx'otx', chi na cawunu' tzi'n tcya'j. Tak' tzaju' kawa' tetz jalu'. Cuye'u' kapaj, chi na kacuy ketz chipaj yi e' mas wunak. Quil ko' stzakpninu' le il, ma na make'u' kawutz tan qui kabene'n tul. Na ilu' ajcaw tibaj cyakil. Nin chin cham nin ilu'. Nin at teru' k'eju' ben k'ej ben sak.

Sample text provided by Michael Peter Füsutumum

Sample videos in and about Awakatek

Information about Awakatek | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Links

Information about Awakatek
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awakatek_language
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idioma_aguacateco
http://www.native-languages.org/aguacateco.htm
https://www.ethnologue.com/language/agu

Mayan languages

Achi, Akatek, Awakatek, Chontal Maya, Ch’ol, Chorti, Chuj, Huasteco, Itzaʼ, Ixil, Jakaltek, Kaqchikel, Ki'che', Lacandon, Mam, Mocho’, Mopan, Poqomam, Poqomchiʼ, Q’anjob’al, Q'eqchi', Sakapultek, Sipakapense, Tektitek, Tojolabal, Tzeltal, Tzotzil, Tz'utujil, Uspantek, Yucatec Maya

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 08.12.21

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