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