Mixtec of Santa Catarina Estetla
(Variant of Peñoles Mixtec)
Pronunciation Guide
Vowels
There are 6 basic vowels. 5 of these correspond to Spanish vowels:
a = ah; e = ay; i = ee; o = oh; u = oo. (approximate pronunciations!)
The sixth, written "+", is formed by saying e and rounding the lips slightly, but not so much as to form the German Ö.
In addition, all vowels have a nazalized form, not indicated here in any way, with the exception of nazalised "+", written " n ".
Consonants
X = sh
Z = zh
In general, the consonants should be pronounced softer than English consonants, IE, let some air escape as you say them. In addition, there is the sound "Ñ", pronounced "Ny".
Glottal Stops
Some words have an interruption of sound caused by closing the throat momentarily. This is marked with a '.
Stress
A ´ marks a stressed syllable.
Tones
There are three tonal levels in Mixtec, high, medium, and low, which are not indicated here in any way.
Spelling and pronunciation contained herein are subject to revision.
| man | tee |
| woman | ñad+'+ |
| boy | te li'li |
| girl | sa li'li |
| mister | t+ sa cut'+ |
| mrs. | ña sa cut'+ |
| young man | te kwechi |
| young woman | sa kwechi |
| elder | ni z++ (uni z++) |
| elder woman | +ni sa'nu |
| person, people | ña z+ vu+ |
| family | iani tai+ (iani taii) |
| twins | kwachi |
| father | tate |
| mother | nante |
| dead person | d+i z+ |
| husband | z+i |
| wife | ña v+'i |
| grandfather | ta sa'nui |
| grandmother | na sa'nui |
| aunt | didi |
| uncle | dito |
| daughter | ndaiza d+'i |
| son | ndaiza te'i |
| grandson | te cuu chani |
| grandaughter | sa cu chani |
| niece, nephew | sobrinu+i * |
| cousin (male) | primuia * |
| cousin (female) | primari * |
| brother | yani |
| sister | cu'ai |
| stepmother | nana cha'i |
| stepfather | tata cha'i |
| stepson, stepdaughter | daya cha'a |
II. Jobs and Funtions |
|
| policeman (topil) | tatnu |
| priest | dutu |
| farmer | dexe tatna |
| healer (male) | xe tatna |
| healer (female) | xe tatnaya |
| witch, sorcerer | ñaozu tadi |
| president, authority | teku tiuu |
| worker, helper | tee chin deña a |
| carpenter | tee xetio kuan davi tu |
| mason | tee daka ve'e |
| cattle person | tee kui ka |
| business person | ñazuvu+n degun de negocio * |
| potter | ñazeva k+de |
| weaver | nia kanu do |
| cook | dundu |
III. Animals |
Dukutu; K+t+ |
| a. Insects | |
| fly | chukun |
| mosquito | xi kwen yuu |
| cockroach | t+dita |
| ant | choko tukwe'e cha'u |
| leaf cutter ant | choko rriera, choko rerru * |
| bee | ñuñu |
| wasp | tisaka |
| louse | chuku |
| flea | cho'o ya |
| termite | ke de nuyñ+ |
| tick | tuyñ+ abexio |
| butterfly | tikua |
| grub | tumasa |
| earthworm | cozik+ |
| grasshopper | t+ka |
| cricket | tuynch+ |
| firefly | t+t+yñ+u |
| spider | t+n do'o |
| tarantula | tigata ini |
| cicada | ch++ |
| weavil | t+kidi |
| b. Aracnids, amphibians, reptiles | |
| scorpion | d+lume |
| crab | choo |
| frog | la'va |
| toad | la'va d+zi |
| lizard | di che |
| snake | koo |
| coral snake | koo nund+v+ ("snake of colors") |
| rattlesnake | koo kaa |
| c. birds | t+daa |
| eagle | tado |
| chicken hawk | di'a |
| dove | kuku |
| buzzard | sengo |
| grackle | t+ kaka |
| owl | te kuku; za'a |
| egret | dami kuixi |
| hawk | chile'e |
| rooster | lo'o |
| hen | landu |
| chicken | chuun |
| turkey (male) | kolo |
| turkey (female) | kuni |
| woodpecker | ke tu'u |
| sparrow | t+da vico ("cloud bird") |
| d. mammals | |
| bat | d+ x++ |
| squirrel | kweñu |
| mouse | t+yñ+ |
| possum | saka |
| ringtail | ch+n v+ñ++ |
| fox | nu kuii |
| skunk | ch+'+ |
| armadillo | za'ku |
| rabbit (edible) | ido kwixi |
| hare | ido burru * |
| coyote | ñaña |
| deer | idu |
| calf | che'lu |
| mule | k+t+ xido |
| pig | kuchi |
| sheep | mbee |
IV. PLANTS (edible) |
|
| century plant (maguey) | zauu |
| prickly pear cactus | vi'nde |
| epazote (worm seed) | minu |
| mint | minu stila ("Spanish herb") |
| chepil | duandudu |
| quelite (wild spinach) | ix kukuii |
| pigweed | de kut'nu |
| sassafrass | duandoo |
| sweet corn | d+di itu |
| mushroom | xi'i |
| onion | d+kumi |
| potato | t+ku+ti |
| tomato | te nana |
| green (shell) tomato | t+ nana chauu |
| green beans | ndichi |
| garbanzo | duchi garbanzu * |
| squash | z+k+ |
| baby squash | z+k+n zute |
| chayote (choko, or vegetable pear) | naña |
| chilacayota (a squash from which a drink is made) | z+k+n tunduyu |
| sweet potato | ya'mi |
| beans | duchi |
| corn | nuni |
| avocado | t+chi |
| onion | dikumi |
| peanut | d+ vañu'u |
| b: Fruits | |
| wild cherry | deza |
| peach | qui'i |
| guava | t+kwee zu |
| anona | doko |
| citrus | t+kwee |
| banana | chite |
| black zapote | doko tnuu |
| white (sleeping) zapote | doko kuixi |
| sweet lemon | vidi zi |
| sweet potato | ña'mi vidi |
| INEDIBLE | |
| plant | yuku |
| flower | itu |
| grass | ite |
| palm | chiñuu |
| cornfield (milpa) | itu |
| cotton | cachi |
| cane (carrizo) | zoo |
| tree | yut'nu |
| oak tree | tu zaa |
| pine tree | tu zuza |
| pecan tree | tu nuez * |
| okote pine tree | it+ |
| thorn tree | tuiu |
| piñon tree | tu zaxi |
V. NATURE |
|
| a. celestial | |
| air | tachi |
| cloud | vico |
| fog | vico ñu'u |
| rain | dau |
| hail | ñiñi |
| lightning | cha'ngi |
| star | chodini |
| sun | nikaanchi |
| rainbow | cora'ngi |
| moon | zoo |
| cloudy | viko de'vu |
| heaven | n+ tachi |
| eclipse | zikanzi za'tan jen de zoo |
| day | duu |
| night | ñiu |
| b. Terrestrial | |
| earthquake | taa |
| river | zute |
| dew | zuzu |
| dust | zu'me |
| well | doko |
| arroyo | zuu |
| hill | yuku |
| mountain | ch++ |
| cave | de'va |
| stone | yuu |
| sand | ni kuchi |
| mud | de'iu |
| water | ndute |
| spring | do'zo |
| town | ñuu |
| road | ichi |
| plaza | nuzau |
| church | veñu'u (literally, "house of the elf") |
| house | ve'e |
| wall | z+ka ve'e |
| c. Household Utensils | |
| pitcher | q+le lo'o |
| petate (woven palm mat) | zodo |
| bed | nuxito |
| broom | tu t+tw+ (lit. "tree sweep") |
| door | zuzue'e (lit. "mouth house") |
| pestle (tejolote) | k+ za'a |
| knife | yuchi |
| hammock | zu'a |
| blanket | dod+ kachi |
| comal (griddle for making tortillas) | xio |
| paper | tutu |
| wax | ñume |
| oven | chit'nu |
| fire | ñu'u |
| firewood | nduku |
| metate (grinding stone) | zodo |
| ashes | zaa |
| plate | ka'a |
| stone mortar (molcahete) | ko zaa |
| fireplace | nuka duñu'u |
| incense | duza |
| fan (for fire) | vichi |
| leather | ñ++ |
| wood | yutu |
| viga (wooden beam) | t+ tukoo |
| palm | ñuu |
| rope | zo'o |
| adobe | da'o |
| smoke | ñu'me |
| hoe | grabatu |
| hatchet | kaa |
| rifle | zii |
| net | ñunu |
| tenate (palm basket for tortillas) | xide |
| money | vi'u |
| d. Clothing | |
| shirt | do'no |
| underpants | calzoni * |
| wool | idi |
| loom | ida |
| thread | zu'a |
| sandals (huaraches) | chauu |
| jorongo ("shepherd's coat") | do sakui'tnu |
| huipil (blouse) | diku |
| shawl | tayu |
| hat | mbelu |
| ring | se'e |
| sweater | do'na |
| shoes | chavi |
V. FOOD |
NDUCHUA |
| meat | kuñu |
| barbecued (deep pit) meat | kuñu xitu |
| tamal | xio |
| salsa | za'a |
| tortilla | dita |
| bread | pa kaxoo * |
| egg | d+vu+ |
| rice | kwa'a kaxoo |
| salt | ñ++ |
| atole (corn gruel) | tute |
| pulque | d+di kuixi |
| water | ndute |
VI. COLORS |
|
| red | t+kwe'e |
| orange | anaranjadu * |
| yellow | kwaa |
| green | kwii |
| blue | chi'i |
| purple | moradu * |
| brown | cafe * |
| black | tnuu |
VII. VERBS |
|
| come | vexi |
| go | cua'a |
| walk | kaka |
| stand up | da kw+n y+ |
| sit down | ngo |
| sing | xi tang |
| eat | kaxi |
| drink | ko'o |
| want | kwinin |
| think | kani ini ("think in your heart" |
| move | kanda |
| be born | niku |
| die | nixi |
| plant | dakuxu |
VIII: Useful Phrases |
|
| Good morning | Kobaadín. |
| Answer | Kobadiátu. |
| Good afternoon | Kobaadín Sakwaa. |
| Answer | Kobadiátu Sakwaa. |
| Good evening | Arasío. |
| Nice to see you. | Ku kweni. |
| Nice to see you too. | Ku kwen'n deku. |
| How are you? | Nan dauku. |
| Fine. | Deku bai. |
| (By your leave) I'm entering the house. | Vexi ve'e. |
| Come in. | Ne'e ve'e. |
| Where are you going? | De k+'n? |
| I'm going to the hill now. | Na k+'i zucu. |
| Get in (the car or truck). | Kwa saa. |
| See you. | Kau. |
| Goodbye (formal) | Kande ini. |
| Answer | Kande ini yo tuku. |
| Farewell. | Kande tne tíu. |
| Have a tortilla. | Kaxin dita. |
| Have some water. | Ko'o ndute. |
| What's your name? | Na nani? |
| My name's Sam. | Nani yu'u Samuel. |
| I don't understand. | A tu xini. |
| Thank you. | Ta xa'u zin. (informal) |
| Niku tab'i (formal - for one person) | |
| Niku tab'o (formal for two or more) | |
| Where are you from? | De te kuu? |
| How old are you? | Na dáa kwiaan? |
| Nice to meet you. | Kwa'a niku. |
| Yes | D+u |
| No | Ña d+u |
* Indicates Spanish loan words, or words derived from Spanish
Compiled by Samuel M. Johnson
oaxacasam@hotmail.com