Useful Tsotsil phrases

A collection of useful phrases in Tsotsil, a Mayan language spoken in the Mexican state of Chiapas..

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See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.

Key to abbreviations: inf = informal, frm = formal

English Bats'i k'op (Tsotsil/Tzotzil)
Welcome Lek oy li la tale
Lek oy li la talike
Hello (General greeting) K'uxi
Alo
Alotalel
Jech
Lek
Hello (on phone) K'usi
How are you? K'uxa-elan jo'ote?
K'uxa-elan?
Reply to 'How are you?' Lek oyun kolaval, jo'oto
Lek oyun, jo'oto
Long time no see K'uxa ora kilojbatik
Vo'one xa kilojbatik
What's your name? K'usi abi? (inf)
Jo'ote k'usi abi? (frm)
My name is ... Ja' jbi ...
Where are you from? Bu likemot talel?
Bu likemot tal?
Pleased to meet you  
Good morning
(Morning greeting)
Mi li'ote
Good afternoon
(Afternoon greeting)
Mi li'ote
Good evening
(Evening greeting)
Mi li'ote
Goodbye
(Parting phrases)
Batan
Te xkiljbatik
Ja' to ok'ob
Good luck! Lekuk me avo'ra
Have a nice day Ech'ukme lek abun li k'ak'ale
Bon appetit /
Have a nice meal
Yalchox
Lek ve'el
Bon voyage /
Have a good journey
Ech'ume lek avu'un ti paxiale
I don't understand Mu xka'i
Please speak more slowly Avokoluk k'opojan k'un
Please write it down Xu' xa ts'iba avokoluk
Do you speak Tsotsil? Xa na' xa k'opoj ta kaxlan k'op?
Yes, a little
(reply to 'Do you speak ...?')
Jech, jutuk
Jech, na' xi k'opoj jutuk ta kaxlank'ope
How do you say ... in Tsotsil? K'usba ta alel ta kaxlank'op ...?
Excuse me Perton
How much is this? K'uxi stojol
K'uxi stojol li'e
Sorry Perton
Thank you Kolaval
Kolaval tajmek
Reply to thank you Mu'yuk k'usi
Where's the toilet / bathroom? Bu oy li tsa'anebale?
Bu oy li atinajebale?
Bu oy li snail li atinajebale?
This gentleman/lady will pay for everything Li vinike ta stoj skotol
Would you like to dance with me? Chak to'ox ak'otajuk xchu'uk jo'on? (frm)
Chak to'ox ak'otajan xchu'uk jo'on? (inf)
Chak ak'otajan xchu'uk jo'on? (frm)
Chak ak'otajan xchu'un jo'on? (inf)
I love you Jk'anojot
Get well soon Xa meltsal
Xa poxtaj ta oratikno'ox
Leave me alone! Iktaun mu xa xa tijun!
Help! Koltaun!
Fire! K'ok'!
Stop! Te' no'ox!
Call the police! Aptao li jabteletike!
Christmas greetings Xmuyubajuk ti avo'one ti ta k'ine xchu'uk ti ta ach' jabile
Easter greetings Lek me ech'an ti ta k'uxul orae
Birthday greetings Lekuk me ech'an ti avi chlok' ti a jabilale
One language is never enough Jun k'op mauk ja' no'ox
My hovercraft is full of eels Li j-xulem tak'ine noj ta conoetik

Tsotsil translations provided by Fabien Guillard of La Casa en el Árbol Spanish language school, which also offers courses in Tsotsil and Tseltal

If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.

Information about Tsotsil | Phrases | Tower of Babel | Books about Mayan languages | Books about Mayan on: Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk [affilate links]

Links

Phrases in Tsotsil
http://www.globalencounter.net/languages-tzotzil/

Phrases in Mayan languages

Kaqchikel, Mam, Tsotsil, Yucatec Maya

Phrases in other languages

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