Tzeltal (Batz'il K'op)

Tzeltal is a Mayan language spoken by 372,730 people in the Mexican state of Chiapas, mainly in the municipalities of Ocosingo, Altamirano, Huixtán, Tenejapa, Yajalón, Chanal, Sitalá, Amatenango del Valle, Socoltenango, Villa las Rosas, Chilón, San Juan Cancun, San Cristóbal de las Casas and Oxchuc.

Tzeltal, which is also known as Ts'eltal, is closely related to Tzotzil and the two languages form the Tzeltalan branch of the Cholan-Tzaltalan sub-branch of the Ch'ol Mayan languages.

There are some Tzeltal programmes on a local radio station in Las Margaritas in Chiapas.

Tzeltal alphabet and pronunciation

Note: the letters tz and tz' are sometimes written ts and ts'.

Sample text

Spisil winiketik te ya xbejk´ajik ta k´inalil ay jrerechotik, mayuk mach´a chukul ya xbejka, ya jnatik stojol te jpisiltik ay snopibal sok sbijil joltik, ja´ me k´ux ya kaibatik ta jujun tul.

Translation (of all the above texts)

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 video in Tzeltal

Information about Tzeltal | Tower of Babel | Books about Mayan writing, history and culture | Mayan learning materials

Links

Information about Tzeltal language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzeltal_language
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idioma_tzeltal

Algunas palabras, conceptos y frases en tzeltal
http://vivon2pies.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/algunas-palabras-conceptos-y-frases-en.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, Tsotsil, Tzeltal, Tz'utujil, Uspantek, Yucatec Maya

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 23.04.21

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