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Maya languages

Words for day, sun, year, moon, and star in the Mayan languages, with the number of speakers today. Classic Maya, the language of the glyphs, comes first.

Classic Maya

Classic Maya The glyphs
day k’in
sun k’in
year ha’b
moon uuh
star ek’
Stuart (2011, p. 108).

How to read the lists

The living languages follow in the order Terrence Kaufman uses for the family, grouped by branch (Kaufman, 2003, pp. 38–42). Each word is spelled the way his dictionary prints it. He writes 7 for the glottal stop. A # marks a word from a colonial source, respelled (Kaufman, 2003, p. 27). His meanings are in Spanish. The English here is a translation.

In many of these languages one word means both day and sun. In Tzotzil, Tzeltal, and the Q’anjob’alan languages, a related word, k’in, q’in, or q’inh, means a fiesta instead (Kaufman, 2003, p. 461). Where a word is marked not yet found, the dictionary may still have it under another entry. Some gaps are filled from dictionaries of a single language, and each such word names its source beside it.

Speaker counts come from two censuses that ask different questions. Guatemala counted people age 4 and over by the language they learned first (INE, 2018). Mexico counted speakers age 3 and over (INEGI, 2020). Belize is not counted here yet. The Guatemalan figures are read from a copy of the census table, and the Mexican figures from a 2026 study that reprints the census, so both wait to be checked against the census reports. Counts are checked each January, and each count shows the date it was last updated.

Words

Wastek

Wastek (Teenek) Western Wastek
day k’iity.aaj
sun k’iity.aaj
year not yet found
moon 7iitx’
star not yet found
Kaufman (2003, pp. 470, 499).
speakers 164,938 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16).
Chicomuselteco (Kabil)
day not yet found
sun not yet found
year not yet found
moon not yet found
star not yet found
No entry found yet in Kaufman (2003).
speakers none updated November 6, 2026
No speakers counted. Not on the Mexican census list of Mayan languages (Petatillo Chan, 2026).

Yucatec branch

Yucatec
day k’iin
sun k’iin
year ha7b’
moon u(h)
star eek’
Kaufman (2003, pp. 455, 461, 481, 500).
speakers 768,379 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16). Speakers in Belize are not counted here. IWGIA (2021) gives about 774,000 for Mexico, so the figure is to verify.
Lakandon
day k’in
sun k’in also @k-yum, “our lord” (p. 110)
year not yet found
moon @k-mim
star ba’al-ka’an (“thing of the sky,” Boot, 1997, citing Bruce, 1968, p. 45)
Kaufman (2003, pp. 90, 461).
speakers 771 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16).
Itza’
day k’in
sun k’in
year jab’
moon not yet found
star ek’
Kaufman (2003, pp. 455, 461, 481).
speakers 406 in Guatemala (2018) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026).
Mopan
day k’in
sun k’in
year jaab’
moon uj
star not yet found
Kaufman (2003, pp. 455, 461, 500).
speakers 2,011 in Guatemala (2018) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026). Speakers in Belize are not counted here.

Ch’olan and Tzeltalan

Ch’orti’
day k’in
sun k’in
year jab’
moon u(j)
star e7ek’
Kaufman (2003, pp. 455, 461, 481, 500).
speakers 16,663 in Guatemala (2018) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026).
Ch’olti’ Colonial
day #quin
sun #quin
year #hab
moon #u
star xulab (Morán, 1695, manuscript p. 26, in Boot, 2004, p. 21)
Kaufman (2003, pp. 455, 461, 500).
speakers none updated November 6, 2026
No speakers counted. Known from a colonial source (Kaufman, 2003, p. 40).
Ch’ol
day k’in
sun k’in also ch’uj=tat (p. 460)
year jab’(il)
moon uj
star ek’
Kaufman (2003, pp. 455, 461, 481, 500).
speakers 254,715 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16).
Chontal (Yokot’an)
day not yet found
sun not yet found
year not yet found
moon not yet found
star not yet found
No entry found yet in Kaufman (2003).
speakers 60,563 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16).
Tzotzil
day k’ak’-al
sun k’ak’-al
year hab’-il
moon u
star k’anal
Kaufman (2003, pp. 456, 479, 500, 513).
speakers 550,274 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16).
Tzeltal
day k’ah(k’)-al
sun k’ah(k’)-al
year hab’-il
moon u
star ek’
Kaufman (2003, pp. 456, 481, 500, 513).
speakers 589,144 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16).

Q’anjob’alan

Tojolabal
day not yet found
sun not yet found
year jab’il
moon ix=aw
star k’anal
Kaufman (2003, pp. 456, 479, 501).
speakers 64,320 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16). El Sol del Soconusco (2026) gives 66,953, so the figure is to verify.
Chuj
day k’u
sun k’u
year hab’il
moon uj
star k’anal
Kaufman (2003, pp. 456, 458, 479, 500).
speakers 58,592 in Guatemala (2018) and 3,516 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026). INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16).
Q’anjob’al
day k’u
sun k’u
year ab’il
moon x=ajaw
star waykan (Academia de Lenguas Mayas de Guatemala, 2003, p. 161)
Kaufman (2003, pp. 456, 458, 501).
speakers 166,261 in Guatemala (2018) and 10,851 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026). INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16).
Akateko
day k’u7alil
sun k’uu
year aab’il
moon x=7aaw
star not yet found
Kaufman (2003, pp. 456, 458, 459, 501).
speakers 55,290 in Guatemala (2018) and 2,894 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026). INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16).
Popti’
day tz’ayik
sun tz’ayik
year hab’il
moon x=7ajaw
star tx’umel
Kaufman (2003, pp. 456, 480, 501, 515).
speakers 32,568 in Guatemala (2018) and 481 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026). INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16). The censuses call it Jakalteko.
Mocho’
day not yet found
sun not yet found
year jab’il
moon 7aj(a:)w
star not yet found
Kaufman (2003, pp. 456, 501).
speakers 126 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16). Counted with Tuzanteco as Qato’k, one language with two variants (Universidad Iberoamericana, n.d., citing INALI).
Tuzanteco
day tz’a7.ik
sun tz’a7.ik
year hab’il
moon x=aja:w
star not yet found
Kaufman (2003, pp. 455, 501, 515).
speakers 126 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16). Counted with Mocho’ as Qato’k. The 126 is for both.

Mamean

Teko
day q’iij
sun q’iij
year aq’b’i
moon q-yaa7
star che7w
Kaufman (2003, pp. 96, 404, 456, 461).
speakers 3,009 in Guatemala (2018) and 78 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026). INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16). Guatemala calls it Tektiteko.
Mam
day q’iij
sun q’iij
year ab’q’i
moon x=jaaw
star che7w
Kaufman (2003, pp. 404, 456, 461, 501).
speakers 590,641 in Guatemala (2018) and 11,369 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026). INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16).
Awakateko
day q’eej
sun q’eej
year yob’
moon x=aaw
star tx’uuml
Kaufman (2003, pp. 455, 461, 480, 501).
speakers 10,145 in Guatemala (2018) and 20 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026). INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16). Guatemala counts Chalchiteko, 21,550, as a language of its own.
Ixil
day q’ii
sun q’ii
year yaab’
moon ich’
star tx’umil
Kaufman (2003, pp. 455, 462, 480, 499).
speakers 114,997 in Guatemala (2018) and 117 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026). INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16).

K’iche’an

Uspanteko
day not yet found
sun q’iij
year jun=ab’
moon ik’
star ch’umil
Kaufman (2003, pp. 457, 462, 480, 499).
speakers 5,125 in Guatemala (2018) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026).
K’iche’
day q’iij
sun q’iij
year jun=aab’
moon iik’
star ch’umiil
Kaufman (2003, pp. 457, 462, 480, 499).
speakers 1,054,818 in Guatemala (2018) and 589 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026). INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16). Guatemala counts Achi, 124,338, as a language of its own. Kaufman lists the speech of Rabinal as Eastern K’iche’ (2003, p. 478).
Sipakapense
day q’ij
sun q’ij
year jn=ob’
moon ik’
star ch’mil
Kaufman (2003, pp. 457, 462, 480, 499).
speakers 4,155 in Guatemala (2018) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026).
Sakapulteko
day not yet found
sun q’iij
year jun=ab’
moon q-ate7t
star ch’imil
Kaufman (2003, pp. 95, 457, 462, 480).
speakers 6,528 in Guatemala (2018) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026).
Tz’utujil
day q’iij
sun q’iij
year jun=aa7
moon iik’
star ch’umiil
Kaufman (2003, pp. 457, 462, 480, 499).
speakers 72,436 in Guatemala (2018) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026).
Kaqchikel
day q’ij
sun q’ij
year jun=a7
moon ik’
star ch’umil
Kaufman (2003, pp. 457, 462, 480, 499).
speakers 411,089 in Guatemala (2018) and 169 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026). INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16).
Poqomam
day q’iij
sun q’iij
year jaab’ haab’ in San Luis Jilotepeque
moon poh
star ch’imiil
Kaufman (2003, pp. 455, 462, 480, 502).
speakers 10,787 in Guatemala (2018) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026).
Poqomchi’
day q’i(i)j
sun q’i(i)j
year haab’
moon poh
star ch’umil ~ ch’imil
Kaufman (2003, pp. 455, 462, 480, 502).
speakers 133,074 in Guatemala (2018) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026).
Q’eqchi’
day sa=q’eh
sun saq’e
year hab’
moon po
star chahim Kaufman asks whether it came from a Q’anjob’alan language
Kaufman (2003, pp. 404, 455, 468, 502).
speakers 1,127,387 in Guatemala (2018) and 1,599 in Mexico (2020) updated November 6, 2026
INE (2018), as reported by Living in Guatemala (2026). INEGI (2020), as reported by Petatillo Chan (2026, p. 16). Speakers in Belize are not counted here.

Sources

Forms checked against the dictionary on November 6, 2026.