Mam (Qyol Mam)

Mam is a Mayan language spoken by about half a million people in Guatemala, mainly in the departments of Quetzaltenango, Huehuetenango and San Marcos. It is also spoken in the Mexican state of Chiapas along the border with Guatemala.

There are three main varieties of Mam: Northern Mam, which is spoken in Huehuetenango; Southern Mam, which is spoken in Quetzaltenango, and Central Mam, which is spoken in San Marcos. Each of these has many sub-dialects and there is considerable variation in the language from village to village, however Mam speakers are able to understand one another reasonably well.

Mam alphabet and pronunciation

Hear the Mam alphabet

Download an alphabet chart for Mam (Excel)

Sample text (Northern Mam)

Kyaqiilqe winaq nchi itz'aj tuj kopib'il, juunx kychuwiinqal b'ix kyokleen, kyja'tzan tuj tb'aanal xiinv'il tu'n kyanq'iin tuj b'ank'u'j kyxool.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Sample videos in Mam

Links

Information about Mam language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mam_language
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idioma_mam
http://www.native-languages.org/mam.htm
http://www2.stetson.edu/~rsitler/TodosSantos/

Mam courses
http://users.elite.net/runner/jennifers/Country%20Greetings%20Guatemala.htm
http://www.mayatikal.com/2009/03/26/comunidad-linguistica-mam-palabras-y-frases/

Mam dictionaries
http://talkingdictionary.swarthmore.edu/mam/?lang=es
http://www.cscd.osaka-u.ac.jp/user/rosaldo/Mam_Esp_DICC_COM.html

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: 15.12.21

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