The Mixtec Language of Santa Catarina Estetla

Tu I Dau

The word Mixtec, originally Mixctli, comes from Nahuatl , the language of the Aztecs, and means "People of the Clouds". But in the Mixtec language, Tu I Dau means Word, Philosophy, or Doctrine of the Rain.

Santa Catarina Estetla is located in the Northeastern Upper Mixtecan highlands of the district of Etla in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.

A family from Corral de Piedra, Santa Catarina Estetla, Oaxaca:

left to right – Brigida, Hernan, Perla, Ofelia

Doña Alejandra Santiago, our Teacher of Mixtec

Tu Idau

The Mixtec Language of Santa Catarina Estetla

Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico
(A Variant of Peñoles Mixtec)

Glossary

Tu Idau, means, literally, “Word”, “Doctrine,” or “Philosophy of the Rain.”

Estetla is a village of the Northeastern Highland Mixtec region. The villages and “rancherías” which speak this dialect are Estetla, Corral de Piedra, Rio Hondo, Rancho El Progreso, Los Sabinos, and Santiago Huaxolotipac. The “Mixteca” is the poorest region of Oaxaca. The people are gentle, warm, loving, generous, and very hospitable.

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. It is more like a California “duh now.”

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 an apostrophe ( ').

Stress

A ´ marks a stressed syllable.

Tones

There are three tonal levels in Mixtec: high, medium, and low. These are not indicated here in any way.

Spelling and pronunciation contained herein are subject to revision.

I. Relations and Family Members

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 Functions
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 plants
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+
get up (from bed)	da ko
turn around	da kwi ko
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 to Good morning	Kobadiátu.
Good afternoon	Kobaadín Sakwaa.
Answer to Good afternoon	Kobadiátu Sakwaa.
Good evening	Arasío.
Nice to see you.	Ku kweni.
How are you?	Ku kwen'n deku?
Fine	Deku ba’i.
What are you doing?	Nan dau ku?
(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 to Goodbye	Kande ini yo tuku.
Farewell.	Kande tne tíu.
Have a tortilla.	Kaxin dita.
Have some water.	Ko'o ndute.
What's your name?	Naha 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