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Uto-Aztecan languages
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Uto-Aztecan languages

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Written by
Lyle Campbell
Professor of Linguistics, University of Hawai'i, Manoa. Author of American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America and others.
Lyle Campbell
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Uto-Aztecan languages, family of American Indian languages, one of the oldest and largest—both in terms of extent of distribution (Oregon to Panama) and number of languages and speakers. The Uto-Aztecan languages are generally recognized by modern linguists as falling into seven branches: Numic, Takic, Hopi, and Tübatulabal, which some scholars consider to make up Northern Uto-Aztecan; and Piman, Taracahitic, Corachol-Aztecan, which some consider to be Southern Uto-Aztecan.

The languages of the Northern division (all of which are or were spoken in the United States) are as follows:

  • Numic
    • Western Numic: Monache (Mono) and Northern Paiute (includes Paviotso, Bannock, and Snake)
    • Central Numic: Comanche, Panamint, and Shoshone-Goshiute
    • Southern Numic: Chemehuevi, Kawaiisu, Southern Paiute, and Ute
  • Takic
    • Serrano-Kitanemuk
    • Cahuilla- Cupeño
    • Luiseño-Juaneño
    • Gabrieleño-Fernandeño
  • Tübatulabal

The languages of the Southern Uto-Aztecan division are as follows:

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  • Piman (Tepiman)
    • Pima-Papago (aka O’odham)
    • Pima Bajo
    • Northern Tepehuan-Southern Tepehuan
    • Tepecano
  • Taracahitic
    • Tarahumaran: Tarahumara and Guarijío
    • Cahitan: Yaqui, Mayo, and Cahita
    • Tubar
    • Ópatan: Eudeve and Ópata
  • Corachol-Aztecan
    • Cora-Huichol: Cora and Huichol
    • Aztecan (aka Nahuan): Pochutec (extinct) and Core Nahua (consisting of Nahuatl and Pipil [aka Nahuate, Nawat])
Lyle Campbell