Mazahua (jñatrjo / jñatjo)

Mazahua is an Oto-Manguean language spoken by about 128,000 people mainly in the Mexican state of México in the municipality of San Felipe del Progreso, also in the state of Michoacán. The language is known as Jñatjo by its speakers, who refer to themselves as Hñatho. The name Mazahua comes from Nahuatl and means "the owners of deer".

Mazahua has official status in the areas where it is spoken on an equal footing with Spanish. There are some Mazahua radio broadcasts on a radio station based in Tuxpan in Michoacán.

Mazahua is written with the Latin alphabet, and various ways to spell it have been developed during the 20th century. The one shown has been used by the Mexican goverment since 1989.

Mazahua alphabet and pronunciation

Download an alphabet chart for Mazahua (Excel)

Information about Mazahua pronunciation provided by Michael Peter Füstumum

Sample text

Texe yo nte̱'e̱ chjetrjoji, angezeji ximi xo'oji ñeje k'inchiji, nesta ra ngara na jo'o k'o dyaja e nte̱'e̱.

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)

Videos in and about Mazahua

Links

Information about Mazahua languages
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazahua_language
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idioma_mazahua
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazahua
http://www.native-languages.org/mazahua.htm

Oto-Manguean languages

Chinanteco, Chatino, Mazahua, Mazatec, Mazatec (Chiquihuitlán), Mazatec (Jalapa), Mixtec, Mixtec (Chayuco), Mixtec (Coatzospan), Otomi, Otomi (Acazulco), Otomi (Sierra), Otomi (Temoaya), Tlapanec, Triqui (Chicahuaxtla), Triqui (Copala), Triqui (San Martín Itunyos), Triqui (Santo Domingo del Estero), Zapotec (Aloápam), Zapotec (Choápam), Zapotec (Güilá), Zapotec (Isthmus), Zapotec (Miahuatlán), Zapotec (Rincón), Zapotec (San Dionisio Ocotepec), Zapotec (Zoogocho)

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 30.10.23

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