Bolivia

Languages

Araona aro

La Paz department: Manupari river headwaters; Puerto Araona. Users: 110 (2006 PIB). Ethnic population: 160 (Crevels 2012). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Cavina Classification: Tacanan, Tacana

Aymara aym

Users: Population total all languages: 1,677,100. Status:

Aymara, Central ayr

La Paz, Oruro, and Potosí departments: west of eastern Andes. Users: 998,000 in Bolivia (2014 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 1,464,100. Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Aimara Autonym: Aymar, Aymar aru Classification: Aymaran, Aymara

Ayoreo ayo

Santa Cruz department: Ángel Sandoval, Chiquitos, Germán Busch, and Ñuflo de Chávez provinces; Santa Cruz de la Sierra city, Zapocó, Poza Verde, Puesto Paz, Guidai Ichai, Santa Teresita, Tobité, Urucú, Motacú, Rincón del Tigre, Belen. Users: 2,190 in Bolivia (2012 census). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Ayoeo, Ayoré, Ayoweo, Moro, Morotoco, Pyeta, Yovai Classification: Zamucoan

Baure brg

El Beni department: Iténez and Mamoré provinces, Baures, Huacaraje, Magdalena municipalities, Baures and El Carmen, San Miguel, Tujure, Cairo, Alta Gracia, Jasiaquini, Bereuro, San Francisco, San Pedro, Buena Hora, Las Peñas, and Pueblo Baure villages; between Iténez and Río Blanco rivers. Users: 67 (Crevels 2012), decreasing. Ethnic population: 980 (2006 PIB). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Chiquimiti, Maure Classification: Maipurean, Southern, Southern Outlier, Mojo

Bolivian Sign Language bvl

Scattered, especially Cochabamba, La Paz, and Santa Cruz departments; El Beni Department, Riberalta municipality. Users: 22,600 (2008 WFD). Approximately 0.24% of the total population in 2008. Status: 5 (Developing). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language

Borôro bor

Santa Cruz department: Ángel Sandoval province. Users: 2 in Bolivia (2004 S. Anonby), decreasing. Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Boe, Boe Wadáru Classification: Bororoan

Callawalla caw

La Paz department: Charazani; highlands north of Lake Titicaca. Users: No known L1 speakers. Last known speakers survived into the first decade of the 2000s. Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Callahuaya, Callawaya, Kallawaya, Pohena Classification: Language isolate

Canichana caz

El Beni department: Puerto del Carmen area. Users: No known L1 speakers. Last known speakers survived into the late 1990s. Ethnic population: 1,550 (2001 DNPI). Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Kanichana Classification: Language isolate

Cavineña cav

El Beni department: Baqueti, Bolívar, California, Candelaria, El Choro, Francia, Galilea, Misión Cavinas, Natividad, Pando, Paraíso, Peña Guarayo, San José, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Catalina; southeast of Riberalta along Beni river. Users: 600 (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 1,680 (Crevels 2012). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Kavinenya Classification: Tacanan

Cayubaba cyb

El Beni department: Yakuma province; west of Mamore river, north of Santa Ana. Users: No known L1 speakers. Cayubaba ceased to be spoken several generations ago (Crevels and Muysken 2012). Ethnic population: 650 (2006 PIB). Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Cayuvava, Cayuwaba, Kayuvava Classification: Language isolate

Chácobo cao

El Beni department: Alto Ivon, California, Cayuses, Motacusal, Núcleo, Nuevo Mojos, Siete Almendros; south of Riberalta on Alto Ivon river. Users: 1,400 (Tallman 2018). Ethnic population: 1,800 (Tallman 2018). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Chákobo Classification: Panoan, Bolivian Panoan, Chákobo

Chipaya cap

Oruro department: Atahuallpa province. Users: 1,800 (Crevels 2012), increasing. 90 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 2,130 (Crevels 2012). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Puquina Autonym: Chipaya Classification: Chipaya-Uru

Chiquitano cax

Santa Cruz department: Ángel Sandoval and Germán Busch, Chiquitos, Concepción, Florida, Lomerío, Ñuflo de Chávez, Roboré, San Ignacio, San Javier, San José, San Miguel, San Rafael, San Ramón, Santa Rosa de la Roca, and Velasco provinces. Users: 4,620 in Bolivia (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 47,100 (Adelaar 2004). Total users in all countries: 4,670. Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Besïro, Chikitano, Chiquito, Tarapecosi Classification: Language isolate

Ese Ejja ese

El Beni, La Paz, and Pando departments; Portachuelo Alto, Portachuelo Bajo, Portachuelo Medio; into foothills on Beni and Madre de Dios rivers. Users: 520 in Bolivia (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 730 (Crevels 2012). Total users in all countries: 1,110. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Ese Eja, Ese Exa, Ese’eha, Eseejja, Essejja, Huarayo, Tiatinagua, “Chama” (pej.) Autonym: Ese’ejja Classification: Tacanan, Chama

Guaraní, Eastern Bolivian gui

Chuquisaca, Santa Cruz, and Tarija departments; south central Parapeti river area. Users: 52,000 in Bolivia (2014 UNSD). Ethnic population: 125,000 (Crevels 2012). Total users in all countries: 69,530. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Western Argentine Guaraní, “Chawuncu” (pej.), “Chiriguano” (pej.) Autonym: Guaraní Classification: Tupian, Tupí-Guaraní, Guaraní, Guaraní, Bolivian Guaraní

Guaraní, Western Bolivian gnw

Chuquisaca department: south to Pilcomayo river, east to Cuevo, north to Monte Agudo; Santa Cruz and Tarija departments. Users: 7,000 (2002 J. Russell). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Simba, Simba Guaraní Autonym: Guaraní Classification: Tupian, Tupí-Guaraní, Guaraní, Guaraní, Bolivian Guaraní

Guarayu gyr

Santa Cruz department: Ascensión de Guarayos, Urubichá, Salvatierra, San Pablo, Yaguarú y Yotaú, El Puente, Nueva Jerusalén, El Verano, Santa María, Cururú, Momené, Surucusi, San José Obrero, Cerro Chico, Cerro Grande, Cachuela, Puerto Ñuflo de Chávez. Users: 8,430 (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 12,000 (Crevels 2012). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Chapacura, Guapore, Huachi, Iten, Maré, Tapacura, Ñañañe, “Guarayo” (pej.) Autonym: Gwarayu Classification: Tupian, Tupí-Guaraní, Guarayú

Ignaciano ign

El Beni department. Users: 1,080 (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 2,000 (Crevels 2012). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Ignaciano Mojo, Moja, Mojeño, Mojo, Moxo Autonym: Inaciànurupi Classification: Maipurean, Southern, Southern Outlier, Mojo, Mojo

Itene ite

El Beni department: junction of Mamoré and Iténez rivers. Users: 44 in Bolivia (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 64 (Crevels 2012). Total users in all countries: 45. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Guarayo, Iten, Iteneo, Iténez, Maré, Moré Classification: Chapacuran, Itene

Itonama ito

El Beni department: Chumano, Huaracajes, La Selva, Magdalena, Nueva Calama, San Borja, San Ramón, Versalles. Itonamas river area. Users: 1 (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 2,940 (2006 PIB). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Itonama-Saramo, Itoname, Machoto, Saramo, Sihnipadara Classification: Language isolate

Jorá jor

Santa Cruz department. Users: No known L1 speakers. 5 speakers in 1976 (Danielsen and Gasparini 2015). Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Hora Classification: Tupian, Tupí-Guaraní, Guarayú, Sirionó

Leco lec

La Paz department: Apolo area, Karura, Candelaria, Tutilimundi, and Uyapi, Coroico river in Trapichiponte in KeleKelera, Pucasucho, Inca, Trinidad, Mulihuara, Chirimayo, Muiri, Ilipana Yuyo, Munaypata, Irimo, Correo, Santo Domingo. Lake Titicaca east; scattered on Mapiri-Kaka river. Users: 20 (2001 S. van de Kerke). Ethnic population: 4,190 (Crevels 2012). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Leko, Rik’a Classification: Language isolate

Machinere mpd

Pando department: Nicolás Suárez province, Bolpebra municipality, San Miguel; on Acre river. Users: 13 in Bolivia (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 30 (Crevels 2012). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Machineri, Manchinere, Manchineri, Manitenerí, Manitenére, Maxinéri Classification: Maipurean, Southern, Southern Outlier, Piro, Piro

Movima mzp

El Beni department: 18 de Noviembre, 20 de Enero, Bella Flor, Buen Día, Carmen de Iruyañez, Carnavales, Ipimo, Miraflores, Navidad, San Lorenzo, Santa Ana del Yacuma. Users: 1,170 (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 12,200 (Crevels 2012). Status: 8a (Moribund). Autonym: Chosineɬ di’ mowi:maj Classification: Language isolate

Pacahuara pcp

El Beni department: Vaca Díez province, Puerto Tujuré; Pando department: Federico Román province, between Río Negro and Río Pacahuaras. Users: 3 (Tallman 2018). Ethnic population: 18 (Adelaar 2004). Possibly as many as 50 in 8 scattered families (Crevels 2007). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Pacawara Classification: Panoan, Bolivian Panoan

Paunaka pnk

Santa Cruz department: San José de Chiquitos province. Users: 5 (Crevels 2012). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Pauna, Paunaca Classification: Maipurean, Southern, Southern Outlier, Mojo

Pauserna psm

El Beni department: Guaporé river. Users: No known L1 speakers. Last speakers survived into the late 20th century. 1 semi-speaker reported in Bolivia. Ethnic population: 46 (Adelaar 2004). Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Guarasugwé, Guarasú’we, Guarayu-Ta, Paucerne, Pauserna-Guarasugwé, Warázu Classification: Tupian, Tupí-Guaraní, Guarayú

Plautdietsch pdt

Santa Cruz department. Users: 60,000 in Bolivia (Salminen 2007). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: German, Mennonite German Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Saxon

Quechua, North Bolivian qul

La Paz department: Franz Tamayo province, Apolo region. Users: 116,000 in Bolivia (1978 census), increasing. 18,500 monolinguals. Status: 2 (Provincial). Recognized language (2009, Constitution, Article 5(1)). Alternate Names: North La Paz Quechua Autonym: Quechua Classification: Quechuan, Peripheral Quechua, Chinchay, Southern Chinchay

Quechua, South Bolivian quh

Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, Oruro departments; La Paz department: except Franz Tamayo, Apolo area; mainly Potosí department; Tarija department. Users: 1,610,000 in Bolivia (2014 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 1,616,120. Status: 5* (Developing). Recognized language (2009, Constitution, Article 5(1)). Alternate Names: Central Bolivian Quechua, Cochabamba Quechua, Quechua, Quechua Boliviano Autonym: Runasimi Classification: Quechuan, Peripheral Quechua, Chinchay, Southern Chinchay

Reyesano rey

El Beni department: José Ballivián province, San Borja area. Users: 12 (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 4,920 (Crevels 2012). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Maropa, San Borjano Classification: Tacanan, Tacana

Saraveca sar

Santa Cruz department: Velasco province. Users: No known L1 speakers (Crevels 2007). Probably extinct by the 1970s. Status: 10 (Extinct). Classification: Maipurean, Southern, Central, Paresí

Sirionó srq

El Beni and Santa Cruz departments: Ibiato (Eviato); Salvatierra on Río Blanco river. Users: 190 (Crevels 2012), increasing. 30 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 980 (2016 L. Evans). More than half the ethnic group is under 15 years old (Crevels 2007). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Mbia Chee, Mbya Classification: Tupian, Tupí-Guaraní, Guarayú, Sirionó

Spanish spa

Users: 11,470,000 in Bolivia, all users. L1 users: 9,520,000 in Bolivia (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 1,950,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2009, Constitution, Article 5(1)). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian

Tacana tna

La Paz department: Iturralde province, Tumupasa and Ixiamas cantons; Capaina, Napashe, San Buenaventura, Tahua; along Orton, Beni, and Madre de Dios rivers. Users: 1,150 (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 7,350 (Crevels 2012). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Takana, Tupamasa Classification: Tacanan, Tacana

Tapieté tpj

Tarija department: Gran Chaco province, Villa Montes municipality, Samayhuate and Cutaiqui; left bank Pilcomayo river. Users: 29 in Bolivia (Crevels 2012). Most elders and women are monolingual in Tapiete (Crevels 2007). Ethnic population: 41 (Crevels 2012). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Guasurango, Tirumbae, Yanaigua, Ñanagua Classification: Tupian, Tupí-Guaraní, Guaraní, Guaraní

Toba tob

Tarija department: Pilmacayo river, between Villa Montes and Paraguay border. Users: No known L1 speakers in Bolivia. The Toba speakers were pushed out of Bolivia to neighboring countries by 1936 (Crevels 2007). Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Namqom, Qom, Qom l’aqtac, Qoml’ek Classification: Guaykuruan, Southern

Toromono tno

La Paz department: Abel Iturralde province; between Madidi and Heath river. Users: No known L1 speakers. Probably became extinct early in the 20th century. Ethnic population: 200 (Adelaar 2004). Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Toromona Classification: Tacanan, Chama

Trinitario trn

El Beni department. Users: 3,140 (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 30,000 (Crevels 2012). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Mojeño, Mojeño Trinitario, Mojo, Mojos, Moxeño, Moxo, Moxos Classification: Maipurean, Southern, Southern Outlier, Mojo, Mojo

Tsimané cas

El Beni department: San Miguel de Huachi and Santa Ana de Alto Beni; along Maniqui river; La Paz department: north of La Paz city. Users: 7,300 (Crevels 2012). 950 Mosetén, 6,350 Tsimané (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 10,200 (Crevels 2012). 1,590 Mosetén, 8,610 Tsimané (Crevels 2012). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Chimané, Moseteno, Mosetén Classification: Mosetenan

Uru ure

La Paz department: Lake Titicaca, Desaguadero river area; Oruro department: Atahuallpa province. Users: No known L1 speakers (Crevels 2012). Last speaker died in 2004 (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 230 (Crevels 2012). Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Iru-Itu, Morato, Muratu, Uchumataqu Classification: Chipaya-Uru

Weenhayek mtp

Tarija department: Cordillera de Pirapo; southwest of Pilcomayo river. Users: 1,930 (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 2,020 (1994). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Bolivian, Noctenes, Noctén, Oktenai, Wichí Lhamtés Nocten, “Mataco” (pej.), “Mataco Nocten” (pej.) Autonym: ’weenhayeklhayhi’, ’weenhayeklhàmet Classification: Matacoan, Mataco

Yaminahua yaa

Pando department: Nicolás Suárez province, Puerto Yaminawa; headwaters of Alto Yuruá and Purús rivers. Users: 51 in Bolivia (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 93 (Crevels 2012). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Yamanawa, Yaminawá Classification: Panoan, Mainline, Tri-State

Yuqui yuq

Foothills north of Cochabamba; Chimoré river. Users: 140 (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 210 (Crevels 2012). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Bia, Mbia, Yuki Autonym: Biá yë Classification: Tupian, Tupí-Guaraní, Guarayú, Sirionó

Yuracare yuz

El Beni and Cochabamba departments, primarily along Chapare river. Users: 1,810 (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 2,830 (Crevels 2012). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Yura, Yuracar, Yurakar, Yurakaré, Yurucare, Yurujare, Yurujuré Classification: Language isolate