List of unclassified languages of South America Last updated August 11, 2025
The following purported languages of South America are listed as unclassified in Campbell (2012), Loukotka (1968), Ethnologue , and Glottolog . Nearly all are extinct. It is likely that many of them were not actually distinct languages, only an ethnic or regional name.
Campbell & Grondona (2012:116–130) lists the following 395 languages of South America as unclassified. Most are extinct. [ 1] Many were drawn from Loukotka (1968) [ 2] and Adelaar & Muysken (2004). [ 3] The majority are not listed in Ethnologue . The list is arranged in alphabetical order.
Aconipa (Tabancal, Tabancara) – Ecuador; only 5 words known Aguano (Awano, Ahuano, Uguano, Aguanu, Santa Crucino) – Peru Amikoana (Amikuân) – Brazil Anserma (including Caramanta , Cartama) – Colombia, likely Choco Arara do Beiradão (Arara do Rio Branco, Arara do Aripuanã) – Brazil Arda Popo (Gen))Arma ) – Colombia Aticum (Araticum) – Brazil Bagua – Peru; only 3 words known, possibly Cariban Cagua – Colombia; ISO 639 code retired for being spurious Cara (Scyri, Caranqui, Otavalo) – Ecuador; possibly Barbacoan Carabayo (Yuri, "Amazonas Macusa"), grouped in the Ticuna–Yuri languages [ 4] Johann Natterer which shows no resemblance to known languages Chachapoya (Chacha) – Peru; known entirely from toponyms chivil 'two', chu 'earth', and hati 'great'. May be the same as Gününa Küne [ 5] Chipiajes – Colombia Chono – Chile; considered language isolate. -nawa [ 6] – Ecuador; possibly Cariban, linked with Pijao Comechingón – near Córdoba, Argentina; possibly Huarpean Copallén (Copallín) – Peru; only 4 words known Coxima (Koxima) – Colombia Diaguita (Cacan, Kakán) – northwest Argentina; subdivisions are Calchaquí, Capayán, Catamarcano, Hualfín, Paccioca [Pazioca], Pular, Quilme, Yacampis Gününa Küne Ewarhuyana – Brazil; possibly 12 speakers in Pará State, now considered synonym of Tiriyó Fulniô according to the Fulni-ô ethnic group Gorgotoqui – Bolivia; all documentation lost Guanaca – Colombia; possibly a relative of Guambiano (Barbacoan) Wayuu Himarimã – Brazil; uncontacted group, apparently Arawan based off of lost wordlist Humahuaca (Omaguaca) – Argentina; apparent subdivisions are Fiscara, Jujuy, Ocloya, Osa, Purmamarca, Tiliar; Mason (1950:302) proposed an "Ataguitan" grouping that includes Humahuaca, Diaguita, and Atacameño Iapama – Brazil [ 7] [ 8] – Colombia; only 1 word (tubete [ 9] and a chief's name are known; Pacific coast, Bahía Solano to Cape Marzo in Colombia (Loukotka 1968) [ 10] (Man of the Hole ) Kaimbé (Caimbé, Caimbe) – Brazil; extinct Kamba (Camba) – Brazil; possibly Tupian, extinct Kambiwá (Cambiuá, Cambioá) – Brazil; extinct [ 11] – Brazil; the Kantaruré are descendants of the Pankararú but their linguistic identificaztion is impossible [ 12] Kapinawá – Brazil; extinct, possibly descended from the Paratió Karahawyana – Brazil (now classified as a dialect of the Waiwai language ) Katembri (Kariri de Mirandela) – Brazil Kohoroxitari – possibly Tucanoan; may be the same as Baniwa Korubo (Caceteiros) – Brazil; known to be Panoan Yurumangui , but no data Malibú – Colombia; formerly considered Chibchan Maynas (Mayna, Maina, Rimachu) – Peru; past attempts to link it to Jivaroan, Cahuapanan, Zaparoan, and Candoshi Maxiena (Ticomeri) – Bolivia Mayo (Panoan) or Morike (Arawakan); mayu is the Quechuan word for 'river, water' Miarrã – Brazil Mocana – Brazil; may be related to Malibú , but only 2 words known [ 13] – Colombia; may be Pijao (Cariban) Natagaimas – Colombia; extinct Olmos – Peru; possibly connected with Sechura Otí (Eochavante, Chavante) – Brazil; Greenberg classifies it as Macro-Gé, though this is unlikely according to Ribeiro (2006:422), otherwise considered isolate, only around 110 words known Pacabuey – Colombia; may be Malibú (Chibchan), but no data Panche – Colombia; possibly Cariban Pankararé (Pankaré) – Bahía, Brazil; extinct and unattested, cannot be assumed to be a dialect of Pankararú Pantágora (Palenque) – Colombia Papavô – Brazil; uncontacted, may be Arawakan or Panoan (?), according to Glottolog refers to groups of Harákmbut , Kulina , Amawaka and Yawanawa [ 14] Patagón – Peru; possibly Cariban, only 4 known words Pehuenche (Peguenche) – Argentina; distinct from Pehuenche dialect of Mapudungun Pijao (Piajao, Pixao, Pinao) – Colombia; sometimes grouped with Cariban Pipipan [ pt ] Popayan ) – Colombia Puquina – Peru, Bolivia, Chile [ 15] – Argentina, near Buenos Aires; may be related to Gününa Küne. Loukotka (1968) gives the words zobá 'moon' and afia 'bow' [ 16] – Ecuador; may be Sebondoy; Fabre (1998:676) reports that the Kamsa (Camsá , speakers of a language isolate ) are descended, at least in part, from the Quillasinga Quimbaya – Colombia; may be Chocó, but only 8 words are known Kambiwá Quingnam – Peru; extinct, possibly the same as and geographcally related to Lengua (Yunga) Pescadora of colonial sources; according to Quilter et al. (2010), a list of numbers was recently found [ sic ] (Quirigmã) – BrazilRabona – Ecuador; possibly Candoshi (Murato), but there are similarities with Aguaruna (Jivaroan) Sácata (Sacata, Zácata, Chillao) – Peru; extinct; may be Candoshi or Arawakan, but only 3 words known Sanavirón – Argentina, near Córdova. Loukotka classified it as an isolate, but there is insufficient data (only 6 or 7 words) to justify this. Tapeba – Brazil Tarairiú (Tarairiu, Ochucuyana) – Brazil Andaquí (isolate) Tingui-Boto – Brazil; extinct; also known as Tingui, Tingui-Botó, Carapató, Karapató, Tingui-Botó people were also called Wakoná [ 17] Tonocoté – Argentina, Chaco region Truká – Brazil; unattested Tremembé (Teremembé, Taramembé) – Brazil; unattested Querandí and Chechehet Uru-Pa-In – Brazil; Tupian language of isolated group Waitaká (Guaitacá, Goyatacá, Goytacaz) – Brazil; subdivisions: Mopi, Yacorito, Wasu, Miri, possibly Purian Wakoná (Wacona, Acona) – Brazil; unattested Wasu (Waçu, Wassu) – Brazil; unattested Xokó (Chocó, Shoco, Shokó, Chocaz) – Brazil Yarí – Colombia; may be a Carijona (Cariban) dialect, West Tucanoan, or Huitoto(an) Opone (Karaib), but no data (Yarigui people ) Loukotka (1968) lists the following languages of South America as unclassified. They are extinct unless otherwise noted.
Southern South America and Chacos Region Divisions A (South) and B (Chaco) (Loukotka 1968: 63):
Aperea – unknown language of the old mission of Santiago Sánchez in the province of Corrientes, Argentina. Axata Darpa – unknown language of an unknown tribe of the Gran Chaco of Paraguay. Casota – unknown language of the old mission of Santa Lucía, Corrientes , Argentina. Culaycha – unknown language of the old mission of Santa Lucía, Corrientes , Argentina. Dawainomol – unknown language from the Gran Chaco of Paraguay. Divihet – Colorado River and Sauce Chico River , province of La Pampa, Argentina. Egualo – unknown language of the old mission of Santiago Sánchez , province of Corrientes, Argentina. Emischata – unknown language of the old mission of Santa Lucía, Corrientes , Argentina. Jaguanan – Iguape , Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Kaguan – mission of Santiago Sánchez , Corrientes, Argentina. Kurumro – language of an unknown tribe of the Paraguayan Gran Chaco . Malquesi – western shore of Laguna Porongos , province of Córdoba, Argentina. Masa – unknown language of the old mission of Santiago Sánchez . Ohoma – extinct and unknown language near the old mission of Homa or Ohoma, province of Corrientes, Argentina. Peguenche non-araucano – a lost language of the Neuquén province, Argentina. Quelosi – unknown language east of the Mar Chiquita , province of Córdoba, Argentina. Sintó or Assek or Upsuksinta – language of an unknown tribe in the interior of the Gran Chaco of Paraguay, north of the Choroti tribe. Stanatevogyet – unknown language of the Paraguayan Gran Chaco . Santa Lucía, Corrientes province.Taguaylen – lost language of the old mission of Santa Lucía, Corrientes province. Central Brazil Division C (Central Brazil) (Loukotka 1968: 86–87):
Arae – unknown language left bank of the Araguaia River south of Bananal Island . Buritiguara – unknown language state of Mato Grosso near the confluence of the Araguaia River and Manso River . Cahan – Iguatimí River (Iguatemi River ) and Espocil River , state of Mato Grosso. Curumiá – sources of the Brilhante River , Mato Grosso. Cutaguá – state of Mato Grosso on the Dourados River . Gaelio – state of Espirito Santo, exact locality unknown. Guadaxo – upper course of the Anhandui River , Mato Grosso. Guaimute – near the falls of Salto Grande, Espirito Santo. Guariteré – Mato Grosso, exact locality unknown. Imaré – Taquari River , state of Mato Grosso. Ina – unknown language, Paranaíba River , Mato Grosso. Iñajurupé – lost language of the old mission of Gracioso, Goiás state. Jurema – unknown language of Piauí state, exact locality unknown. Kokakôre – Mato Grosso state along the Tocantins River . Komokare – unknown language of Goiás state, exact locality unknown. Koróge – Pogúbe River (Poguba River ), Mato Grosso. Kururu – state of Mato Grosso on the Carinhanha River . Macuruné – Mucunis River (Mucuri River ?), state of Minas Gerais. Papana – between the Doce River and Jequitinhonha River , Minas Gerais. Urupuca – Urupuca River (Urupaça River ), Minas Gerais. Ururi – state of Mato Grosso, exact location unknown. Vanherei – sources of the Piquiri River , state of Mato Grosso. Yaperú or Naperú or Apirú – Paraguay near Asunción. Northeast Brazil Division D (Northeast Brazil) (Loukotka 1968: 92–95):
Aconan or Wakoná – originally spoken around Lagoa Comprida and in Penedo ; now survivors of the original tribe who speak only Portuguese are found in the city of Porto Real do Colégio . Anicun – source of the Uruhu River (Uru River ) and Dos Bois River . Apitupá – unknown language, Aquitipi River , Bahia state. Aramurú – state of Sergipe on the São Francisco River . Arapoá – around Jaboatão in the state of Pernambuco. Arariú – unknown language near Meruoca on the Acatajú River , state of Ceará. Aticum or Araticum – Pernambuco, near Carnaubeira . The survivors now speak only Portuguese. Avis – unknown language of the state of Pernambuco, valley of the Pajeú River . Baixóta – now speak Portuguese in the Serra Catolé , Pernambuco. Boime or Poyme – state of Sergipe near Aracajú on the São Francisco River . Caimbé – village of Masacara near Mirandela , state of Bahia. The survivors now speak only Portuguese. Camaraxo – between Ilhéus and Serra dos Aimorés , state of Bahia. Cambioá – Serra Negra , Pernambuco state. Cararú or Cajurú – Soroabé Island in the São Francisco River , Pernambuco state. Caripó or Curupehe – São Francisco River near Boa Vista , Pernambuco. Caxago – state of Sergipe on the São Francisco River . Ceococe – São Pedro, Pernambuco and Serra Pão de Açúcar , Pernambuco. Foklása – state of Pernambuco in the Serra dos Cavalos . Galache – near Macaubas , state of Bahia. Gambéla – unknown language near Ourém and São José, Maranhão state. Guarino – middle course of the Tijuco River , Mato Grosso. Itucá or Cuacá – originally spoken in the Serra Negra , Pernambuco state. The last survivors now speak only Portuguese. Jeriticó or Jiripancó – village of Pindaé near Brejo dos Padres in Tacaratu , Pernambuco. Survivors now speak only Portuguese. Jururu – state of Ceará, but exact location is unknown. Macamasu – the exact location of which is unknown. Macarú – village of Brejo dos Padres , Tacaratu . A few survivors now speak only Portuguese. Mairajiqui – Bahia de Todos os Santos , state of Bahia. Moriquito – Alagoas state on the lower course of the São Francisco River . Nacai – Aquitipi River , Bahia. Ocren – Bahia on the São Francisco River near Salitre . Orí – Bahia, between the Itapicuru River and Vaza-Barris River . Pacarará – state of Pernambuco in the Serra Cacaréa and Serra Arapuá . Parapicó – Serra Comonati , Pernambuco. Peria or Poria – village of Rodelas , Bahia. A few survivors now speak only Portuguese. Pipipan – lower course of the Moxotó River , Pernambuco. Porcá – on Várgea Island in the São Francisco River , Pernambuco. Porú or Procáze – originally spoken in the Serra Nhumarana and Serra Cassuca , later on the Várgea Islands and Nossa Senhora de O Islands in the São Francisco River . Now probably extinct. Quiambioá – Serra Negra , Pernambuco. Qurigmã – the first inhabitants of São Salvador Bay (Salvador, Bahia ), state of Bahia. Romarí or Omarí – originally spoken in the Serra de Pao de Açúcar , state of Pernambuco. Now there are a few survivors with an unknown language in the village of Propriá , Sergipe state. Sacracrinha or Sequaquirihen – state of Bahia near the mouth of the Salitre River in the São Francisco River . Tacarúba or Tacarua – island of Soroabé in the São Francisco River , state of Pernambuco. Tamaquéu – São Francisco River in the state of Pernambuco, at the confluence with the Salitre River . Tchili – city of Cimbres , Pernambuco. Teremembe or Tremembé or Taramembé – originally spoken by a tribe on the coast between the mouth of the Monim River and the mouth of the Chorro River (Choró River ), state of Ceará. Tupijó – state of Bahia by the neighbors of the Maracá tribe. Uruma – state of Sergipe on the São Francisco River . Vouve – Piancó River , Pernambuco state. Walêcoxô – unknown language from the city of Cimbres , Pernambuco. Xibata – unknown language of a tribe in the state of Ceará. Exact location is unknown. North Central South America Tropical North Central South America (Loukotka 1968: 165–168):
Aburuñe – Xarayes Lagoon (Pantanal ), Bolivia. Anetine – near Mojos , Bolivia. Apiyipán – language of an unknown tribe of the Aripuanã River , Amazonas. Artane – unknown language of Xarayes Lagoon (Pantanal ), Bolivia. Aueiko – Paranaíba River , Mato Grosso. Bakurönchichi – language of an unknown tribe of the Branco River , Rondônia. Bikutiakap – unknown language from Brazil, spoken on the right bank of the Pimenta Bueno River . Bixarenren – Tiucunti River , a tributary of the Jamachiua River , Rondônia. Cabixi – Steinen River , Mato Grosso. Cañacure – Mamoré River , Bolivia. Capua – spoken on the Rolim de Moura River , Rondônia. Cayú – spoken on the left bank of the Pimenta Bueno River , Rondônia. Churima – old mission of San José de Maharenos , Beni province, Bolivia. Cutriá – spoken on the middle course of the Branco River , Rondônia. Cuximiraíba – spoken at the mouth of the Aripuanã River , Amazonas. Djupá – spoken on the Ji-Paraná River , Rondônia. Dokoro – Paranaíba River , Mato Grosso. Duri – Paranaíba River , Mato Grosso. Erema – Paranaíba River , Mato Grosso. Guajarapo or Guasaroca – around Villa María and Santa Ana de Chiquitos , Santa Cruz province, Bolivia. Hiauahim or Javaim – "a tribe of cannibals" on the middle course of the Tapajós River , Pará state, Brazil. Iruri – right bank of the Madeira River , between the Maici River and Aripuanã River , Amazonas. Juruena – spoken on the Juruena River , Mato Grosso. Kiapüre or Quiapyre – Mequéns River , Rondônia. Koshurái – language of an unknown tribe on the lower course of the Ji-Paraná River , Amazonas. Lambi – extinct language between the Branco River and São Miguel River , Rondônia. Macuarê – spoken on the left bank of the Pimenta Bueno River , Rondônia. Manesono or Mopeseano – old mission of San Francisco Borja , Beni province, Bolivia. Marapanã – spoken by an unknown tribe on the right bank of the Uaimberê River (Uimeerê River ), a tributary of the Pimenta Bueno River , Rondônia. Maricoxi – sources of the Branco River , Rondônia. Maxiena or Ticomeri – Mojos Plains west of the mission of Trinidad , Beni province, Bolivia. Minhahá – Paranaíba River , Mato Grosso. Muriva – mouth of the Jamachim River (Jamanxim River ) to the Tapajós River , Pará state, Brazil. Nambu – Guapay River , Santa Cruz province, Bolivia. Nocadeth – spoken on the Aripuanã River , state of Amazonas. Onicoré – between the mouths of the Manicoré River and Marmelos River , state of Amazonas. Onoyóro – Paranaíba River , Mato Grosso. Ortue – on Xarayes Lagoon (Pantanal ), Bolivia. Papamiän – spoken on the São Simão River , Rondônia. Paraparixami – between the Manicoré River and Aninde River , Amazonas. Patiti – Rondônia territory on the Mequéns River. Perovosan – south of the Xarayes Lagoon (Pantanal ), Bolivia. Piapai – between the Jamachim River (Jamanxim River ) and Iriri River , state of Pará. Sacosi – ancient Puerto de los Reyes , Bolivia. Siberi – on Xarayes Lagoon (Pantanal ), Bolivia. Socorino – Bolivia. Surucosi – Bolivia. Suruim – spoken on the right bank of the Machado River , Rondônia. Tacunbiacu – between the Guapay River and the Chiquitos Plains , Bolivia. Tamacosi – Guapay River near La Barranca, Santa Cruz province, Bolivia. Tamararé – sources of the Juruena River and Galera River , Mato Grosso. Tambaruré – Rondônia at the mouth of the Apaxoná River . Tapacurá – Tapacurá-assú River , state of Pará. Tarimoxi – language of an unknown tribe to the north of the Guratégaja tribe, Rondônia. Tavúri – Paranaíba River , Mato Grosso. Tevircacap – spoken on the right bank of the Pimenta Bueno River , Rondônia. Tiboi – unknown language, exact location unknown, Bolivia. Ticaõ or Tonore or Chikaõ – language of an unknown tribe on the right bank of the Culiseú River , a tributary of the Xingú River , Mato Grosso. Tororí – right bank of the Madeira River north of the Parintintin tribe, state of Amazonas. Tupiokón – unknown language spoken on the Paxiúba River , Mato Grosso. Urucuai – Corumbiara River , Rondônia. Xacuruina – Sangue River , Mato Grosso. Xaquese – Puerto de los Reyes , Bolivia. Xaray – Xarayes Lagoon (Pantanal ), Bolivia. Yauei – left bank of the Madeira River across from the mouth of the Aripuanã River , state of Amazonas. Zurina – mouth of the Mamoriá River , Amazonas. South Central South America Tropical South Central South America (Loukotka 1968: 178–179):
Alon – Huambo River, department of San Martín, Peru. Amasifuin – right bank of the Huallaga River , Peru. Ayacore – Curaray River , Loreto, Peru. Becaba – department of Loreto near San Miguel, on the Putumayo River . Bracamoro or Papamuru – near the city of Jaén , department of Cajamarca, Peru. Chedua – department of San Martín on the Huambo River. Chinchipe – department of Cajamarca on the Chinchipe River . Monzón River and Chinchao River, department of Huánuco.Cognomona – Cognomona region on the upper course of the Huallaga River . Comanahua – department of Huánuco by the neighbors of the Tepqui tribe. Cumbazá or Belsano – between Santa Catalina and Yanayacu , department of San Martín. Curizeta – Cosanga River , Loreto, Peru. Eimi – language of an unknown tribe that lived on the Napo River , department of Loreto. Ibabi Aniji – language of an unknown tribe of Peru. (Alvarez 1938) Muzapa – by the neighbors of the Cognomona tribe in the department of San Martín. Otecua – spoken on the Sucumbío River , Loreto. Payanso – Chipurana River, Loreto. Quidquidcana – department of Huánuco in the Magdalena Valley. Sapeiné – language of an unknown tribe of the Napo River , Loreto. Tepqui – Santa María River , Huánuco, Peru. Tingán – spoken at the mouth of the Monzón River, Huánuco. Tulumayo – Muna River , Azul River , and Aguaytia River , Huánuco. Wau – language of an unknown tribe on the Coca River , Loreto. Central South America Tropical Central South America (Loukotka 1968: 196–198):
Aarufi – unknown language from the Quebrada de Oksikgnaná , territory of Caquetá, Colombia. Acarapi – Parime River , territory of Rio Branco, Brazil. Alarua – between the Japurá River and Auatí-Paraná River , Amazonas state. Amoeca – language of an unknown tribe living on the Morarô River , state of Amazonas. Aracadaini – Corodoá River and Aroá River (Arauã River ), tributaries of the Cunhuá River (Cuniuá River ), state of Amazonas. Arda – between the Nanay River and the upper course of the Mazán River , Loreto, Peru. Bauá – Motum River and Corneg River , Amazonas. Cafuana – Japurá River south of the Wariwa tribe. Capueni – between the Amazon River and Ixié River , Amazonas. Caraguara – between the Amazon River and Lake Anama . Carari – mouth of the Mucoin River (Mucum River ?), Amazonas. Casigara – mouth of the Juruá River . Cauacaua or Kawakawa – Japurá River . Cauni – between the Juruá River and Jutaí River , Amazonas. Caupuna – mouth of the Purus River . Cumayari – spoken by an unknown tribe of the Cumayari region. Curi – Curi region south of the Pariana tribe. Curuzirari – between the mouths of the Juruá River and Tefé River . Cuxiuára – right bank of the Purus River near the mouth. Envuelto – language of an unknown tribe that lived on the Quebrada de Jirijirima , Caquetá territory, Colombia. Guanarú – Juruá River , north of the Marawa tribe, Amazonas, Brazil. Guyarabe – between the Amazon River and Auatí-Paraná River , Amazonas. Itipuna – between the Juruá River and Jutaí River . Jacariá – Abuna River , territory of Rondônia, Brazil. Jaguanai – between the mouth of the Japurá River and the Zuana tribe, Rondônia. Jarauára – unknown language of a tribe living on the Apituán River and Curiá River , tributaries of the Cataichi River , Amazonas. Macuja – spoken by an unknown tribe on the Poré River , Amazonas. Mamori – language of an unknown tribe on the Cunhuá River . Mariman – spoken on the Riozinho River , tributary of the Cunhuá River . Maripá – Tonantins River , Amazonas. Maruquevene – between the mouths of the Japurá River and Auatí-Paraná River . Masarari – south of the Jutaí River , Amazonas. Mayu – unknown language spoken on the Jaquirana River , tributary of the Javari River, Amazonas. Morua – Japurá River south of the Maruquevene tribe. Nauna – Jutaí River south of the Marawa tribe. Ñumasiara – unknown language spoken on the Giraparaná River and Canamari River . Paguara – Tefé River . Pariana – mouth of the Auatí-Paraná River , Amazonas. Pauana – Cafua River , Amazonas. Pocoana – between the Amazon River and Lake Maracaparu . Taiguana – unknown language spoken in the Sierra Araracuára , Caquetá territory, Colombia. Tamaní – unknown language spoken on the Quebrada de Tamaní in Caquetá territory, Colombia. Tobachana – between the Juruá River and Juri River south of the Itipuna tribe, state of Amazonas. Tucumanduba – spoken on the upper course of the Canacau River , a tributary of the Cunhuá River , Amazonas. Uaia – Içá River west of the Passé tribe. Uairua – between the Juruá River and Jaracui River . Uauarate – Jutaí River north of the Catuquina tribe. Yenmu – unknown language spoken on the Cure River , Amazonas territory, Colombia. Yoemanai – right bank and at the mouth of the Purus River , Amazonas state, Brazil. Yufiua – south of the Coeruna tribe on the Japurá River . Zuana – Amazon River south of the mouth of the Cafua River , state of Amazonas. Northeast South America Tropical Northeast South America (Loukotka 1968: 228–230):
Amuimo – language of an unknown tribe that lived on the Nhamundá River , state of Amazonas. Aramayu – Oiapoque River , Amapá territory, Brazil. Ararau – unknown language spoken on the Jatapu River , state of Amazonas. Aroasene – unknown language spoken at the sources of the Nhamundá River and Jatapu River , state of Amazonas. Caapina – between the Maicuru River and Jari River , state of Pará. Camare – Camoó River (Camaiú River ), a tributary of the Trombetas River , Amazonas. Carara – sources of the Jatapu River , Amazonas. Cauauri – south of the Curanave tribe, Amazonas. Comanl – area north of Lake Saracó , state of Pará. Coritanaho – Ajubacabo River , a tributary of the Trombetas River , state of Pará. Curanave – west of the Negro River , Amazonas. Curiane – language of a tribe the location of which is not known exactly. Curierano – south of the sources of the Orinoco River , territory of Amazonas, Venezuela. Curubianan – Urubu River and Jatapu River , Amazonas Damanivá – spoken on the Igarapé do Pacú ; a tributary of the Caratirimani River and in the Serra do Urubu , Rio Branco territory. Demacuri – spoken on the Caburi River (Cauaburi River ) near São Pedro, state of Amazonas. Goyana – lower course of the Branco River , territory of Rio Branco. Guanavena – between the Urubu River and Jatapu River , Amazonas. Harritiahan – middle course of the Matapi River , Amapá territory. Macuani – Oiapoque River , Amapá territory. Maniba – unknown language spoken on the Inirida River and Pupunagua River , Vaupés territory, Colombia. Maracano – unknown language spoken on the central part of Maracá Island , Rio Branco territory, Brazil. Maricupi – lower course of the Montoura River , Amapá territory. Menejou – middle course of the Jarí River , Amapá territory. Mepuri – middle course of the Negro River , south of the Baré tribe, state of Amazonas. Moheyana – language of an unknown tribe that lived between the Erepecurú River and Acapú River , state of Pará. Oivaneca – Tartarugal River , Amapá territory, Brazil. Pacimonari – lower course of the Siapa River , Amazonas territory, Venezuela. Pao – Pao River , state of Monagas, Venezuela. Paragoaru – Capó River . Seden – between the Negro River and Uatumã River , Amazonas. Taminani – Uaçá River and Curupi River (Curapi River ), Amapá territory. All of the last survivors now speak only a French creole dialect. Tapuisú – mouth of the Maicurú River , Amapá territory. Taripio – unknown language of an unknown tribe that lived to the north of the Rangú tribe in the frontier area of the Brazilian state of Pará and Dutch Guiana. Tchagoyána – unknown language spoken between the Erepecurú River and Acapú River , state of Pará. Tchicoyna – unknown language spoken in the state of Pará, on the Cuátari River . Tohazana – Venezuela. Uranaju – middle course of the Araguari River , Amapá. Waruwádu – language of an unknown tribe that lived between the Ventuari River and Erebato River , state of Bolívar; Venezuela. Xipará – between the Urubu River and Jatapu River , state of Amazonas. Northern Andes Northern Andean region (Loukotka 1968: 259):
Chirú – southwest of the Coiba tribe, Panama. Santiago, Panama .Guenta – department of Huila, Colombia. Masaya – sources of the Caguán River , north of the Guaque tribe. Natá – on Parita Bay , Panama. Otegua – department of Huila, Colombia. Urraca or Esquegua – north of the modern city of Cañazas , Panama. Yeral – unknown language of Colombia, exact location unknown. South Central Andean region (Loukotka 1968: 272–273):
Angara – ancient Inca province of Angara , department of Ayacucho, Peru. Arequipa – department of Arequipa . Atavila – ancient province of Canta , department of Lima. Cachipuna – Puna de Quillpaco , department of Lima. Cajamarca – around the city of Cajamarca . Cajatambo – around the city of Cajatambo , department of Lima. Camana or Maje – Majes River , Arequipa department. Cavana – middle course of the Majes River , department of Arequipa. Chachapoya – around the city of Chachapoya , Amazonas department, Peru. (Bandelier 1940, only a few toponyms.) Chancay – Chancay River, department of Lima. Chicha – Cordillera de Chorolque , Potosí province, Bolivia. Chincha – Chincha River in the department of Ica. Chongo – near the city of Jauja , Junín department. Chucurpu or Chocorvo – spoken in the Conquest days at the sources of the Churchinga River , Huancavelica department. Conchuco – around the city of Pomabamba , department of Ancash. Cutervo or Huambo – sources of the Chancay River, department of Junín. Huacho – around the city of Huacho , Lima department. Huamachi – on Chongos Alto , department of Junín. Huamachuco – Condebamba River, department of Libertad. Huamalí – Panao River, Huánuco department. Huamanga – Peru. Huambuco – Chinchipe River , Amazonas department. Huanca or Wanka – Mantaro River , Junín department, now Quechuanized. Huayla – middle course of the Santa River , Ancash department, now Quechuanized. Hunacabamba – Chamaya River , Piura department. Ica – Ica River , Ica department. Lampa – Pativilca River, Ancash department. Llamish – department of Lima in the Cordillera de Huantán . Mizque – Mizque River , Cochabamba province, Bolivia; now Quechuanized. Moquegua – department of Moquegua , Peru; possibly a dialect of Aymara. Moyobamba – around the city of Moyobamba , San Martín department; now Quechuanized. Nazca – mouth of the Grande River, Ica department. Ocro – sources of the Santa River , Ancash department. Pocra – Peru. Rimac – spoken in the Conquest days around the capital of Peru, Lima. Rucana – near Andamarca , Ayacucho department. Sipisipi – Peru. Sora – Pampas River , Apurimac department. Supe – Huaura River, department of Lima. Tanquihua – around the city of Ayacucho , department of Ayacucho. Tarapaca – province of Tarapacá, Chile. Tomata – near the city of Tupiza , Potosí province, Bolivia. Tomina – between the Mizque River and Pilcomayo River , Chuquisaca province, Bolivia; now Quechuanized. Tutura – around the city of Totora , Cochabamba province, Bolivia; now Quechuanized. Yampará – middle course of the Pilcomayo River , Chuquisaca province, Bolivia. Yauyo – department of Lima, Peru, on the Mala River and Huaco River. Ethnologue Ethnologue 26 lists the following languages of South America as unclassified:
However, Glottolog states that Agavotaguerra is not unclassified, but unattested; the only reports are that the Agavotaguerra speak Yawalapiti .
In addition, Ethnologue classifies Aikanã , Uamué and Xukurú , all of Brazil as isolates, but they are too poorly attested to classify.
Additional languages at Glottolog
Apoto [ 18] - lower Amazon, unattested Cálenche (Cálen) = Fayjatases [ 19] - Chile, 10 words Envuelto [ 20] - Colombia, 9 words Guachipa(s) [ 21] - Guachipas , Argentina, 3 words, Viegas Barros (2009) Guaicaro (Guaïcaro) - Chile, possibly Alacalufan Hoxa [ 22] - Colombia Pacahuaras-Castillo [ 23] - Pacaguara , collected by Castillo Pitaguary [ 24] - Ceará, Brazil Quepo(s) [ 25] - Quepos , Costa Rica, 1 word, Lehmann (1920:238) Tapajó - 3 words Tembey [ 26] - upper Paraná, 2 words, Ambrosetti (1896:332) Unainuman [ 27] - Içá River basin, short word list, Adelaar & Brijnen 2014 Urucucú(s) [ 28] - Tapajós River, unattested (see under Tapajó language) Yanacona [ 29] - name is the Quechua word for 'serf'; perhaps early Colombian Quechua Other Some additional languages have not made in into the lists above. [ 30] [ 31]
Boreal Pehuelche - Argentina, 1 word (apparently not the same as Puelche ) Cabixi [ 32] The name 'Kabixí ' is a generic name for any hostile group, and has been used for a number of unattested languages. An ISO code for it (xbx) has been retired. It may be tonal. [ 33] Enoo - Chile, a few words (a neighbor of the Alacalufe ) Gamela of Viana - Maranhão, Brazil, 19 words (Nimendajú 1937:64) - the same as Gamela Further reading Durbin, M.; Seijas, H. (1973). A Note on Panche, Pijao, Pantagora (Palenque), Colima and Muzo. International Journal of American Linguistics, 39:47-51. References ↑ Campbell, Lyle, and Verónica Grondona (eds). 2012. The indigenous languages of South America: a comprehensive guide . Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. [ ISBN missing ] ↑ Loukotka, Čestmír. 1968. Classification of South American Indian Languages Los Angeles: Latin American Studies Center, UCLA. ↑ Adelaar, Willem F. H.; Muysken, Pieter (2004). The languages of the Andes . Cambridge language surveys. Cambridge, UK New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-511-48685-2 ↑ Seifart, Frank; Echeverri, Juan Alvaro (2014-04-16). Aronoff, Mark (ed.). "Evidence for the Identification of Carabayo, the Language of an Uncontacted People of the Colombian Amazon, as Belonging to the Tikuna-Yurí Linguistic Family" . PLOS ONE . 9 (4): e94814. Bibcode :2014PLoSO...994814S . doi : 10.1371/journal.pone.0094814 . ISSN 1932-6203 . PMC 3989239 . PMID 24739948 . ↑ Campbell, L. (2024). "Phantom, False, and Spurious Languages of South America" . The Indigenous Languages of the Americas: History and Classification . Oxford University Press . pp. 333– 334. ISBN 978-0-19-767346-1 . Retrieved 2025-03-01 . ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Colima" . Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. ↑ Alvarez, Jose (1938). Un nuevo triunfo : la tribu del Ibabi-Aniji en la mision / ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Idabaez" . Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. ↑ Howland Rowe, John. "THE IDABAEZ: UNKNOWN INDIANS OF THE CROCO COAST" (PDF) . digitalassets.lib.berkeley.edu . ↑ Isolado do Tanaru [aka Isolado do Buraco] at the Endangered Languages Project . ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Kantarure" . Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. ↑ "Kantaruré - Indigenous Peoples in Brazil" . pib.socioambiental.org . Retrieved 2025-07-10 . ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Muzo" . Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. ↑ "Glottolog 5.1 - Papavô" . glottolog.org . Retrieved 2025-04-09 . ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Querandi" . Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Quillacinga" . Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. ↑ "Reserva Indígena Aconã | Drupal" . localhost . Retrieved 2025-04-11 . ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Apoto" . Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Fayjatases" . Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Envuelto" . Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Guachipas" . Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Hoxa" . Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Pacahuaras-Castillo" . Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Pitaguary" . Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Quepos" . Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Tembey" . Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Unainuman" . Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Urucucús" . Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Yanacona" . Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. ↑ Q. Shormani, Mohammed (March 2017). "First-person n and second-person m in Native America: a fresh look" (PDF) . Italian Journal of Linguistics . 29 (2). doi :10.26346/1120-2726-112 (inactive 1 July 2025). {{cite journal }}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link ) ↑ Zamponi, Raoul (December 2017). "First-person n and second-person m in Native America: a fresh look" . Italian Journal of Linguistics . 29 (2): 189– 230. doi :10.26346/1120-2726-113 (inactive 1 July 2025). ISSN 1120-2726 . {{cite journal }}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link ) ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "List of unclassified languages of South America" . Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. ↑ Adelaar, Willem F. H.; Brijnen, Hélène B. (2014). "Natterer's Linguistic Heritage". In Weltmuseum Wien Friends (ed.). Archiv 63-64 ISBN 978-3-643-99824-8
Language families
Proposed groupings Unclassified Linguistic areas Countries Lists † indicates an
extinct language ,
italics indicates independent status of a language,
bold indicates that a language family has at least 6 members, * indicates moribund status
This page is based on this
Wikipedia article Text is available under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
