# Matacoan languages

Matacoan (also Mataguayan, Matákoan, Mataguayo, Mataco–Mataguayo, Matacoano, Matacoana) is a language family of northern Argentina, western Paraguay, and southeastern Bolivia.

## Family division

Matacoan consists of four clusters of languages. The family also has a clear binary split between Wichí-Chorote and Maká-Nivaclé according to Nikulin (2019). Gordon (2005) in Ethnologue divides Wichí into three separate languages and Chorote into two languages.
* Matacoan
** Wichí-Chorote
*** Wichí (also known as Mataco, Wichi, Wichí Lhamtés, Weenhayek, Noctenes, Matahuayo, Matako, Weʃwo. The name Mataco is common but pejorative.)
**** Vejoz (also known as Vejo, Pilcomayo, Bermejo, Wichí Lhamtés Vejoz)
**** Noktén (also known as Noctén, Wichí Lhamtés Nocten)
**** Wiznay (also known as Güisnay, Wichí Lhamtés Güisnay)
**** Matawayo (also known as Matahuayo).
*** Chorote (also known as Chorotí, Yofúaha, Tsoloti)
**** Manhui (also known as Manjuy, Iyo’wujwa Chorote)
**** Eklenhui (also known as Eclenjuy, Eklehui, Iyojwa’ja Chorote, Chorote, Choroti).
** Maká-Nivaclé
*** Nivaclé (also known as Chulupí–Ashlushlay, Chulupí, Ajlujlay, Alhulhai, Niwaklé, Niwaqli, Churupi, Chulupe. The name Chulupí is common but pejorative.)
**** Forest Nivaclé
**** River Nivaclé
*** Maká (also known as Macá, Maca, Towolhi, Toothle, Nynaka, Mak’á, Enimaca, Enimaga)
**** Ma’ká (also known as Towolhi)
**** Enimaga (also known as Enimaa, Kochaboth)

### Mason (1950)

Internal classification by Mason (1950):
* Mataco-Maca
** Mataco
*** Mataco-Mataguayo
**** Mataco
***** Guisnay
***** Nocten (Octenai)
**** Mataguayo
***** Northern: Hueshuo, Pesatupe, Abucheta
***** Southern: Vejoz
*** Chorotí-Ashluslay
**** Chorotí (Yofuaha)
**** Ashluslay (Chulupí, Chonopí, Sukin, Sotiagay, Tapieté)
** Macá (Enimagá, Cochaboth, Guaná, Lengua)
*** Enimagá
**** Macá (Towothli, Toosle)
*** Guentusé
*** Cochaboth-Lengua

## Vocabulary

Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items for the Matacoan languages.
| gloss | Choroti | Choropí | Suhín | Sotsiagay | Ashlusláy | Mataco | Vejoz | Nocten | Guisnai | Enimaga | Makká |
| head | sétek | satík | shutich | | shatish | nu-xleték | litek | etek | oːn-sleták | | in-hitla |
| tooth | sá-hue | huetseːute | tsaute | | seuté | no-tsoté | no-chete | zoté | oːs-totéʔi | | kon-xeti |
| water | inát | naːʔate | inaat | inaːat | inát | inót | guag | inat | inát | gualé | iwalü |
| fire | houat | itox | itox | itox | itóx | itóx | itag | ütax | etáx | feit | fat |
| sun | kilé | nʔkoklái | hankuklai | fünchokʔlaai | fingoklai | xuála | ixuala | ixuala | ixuála | tátla | xunnu |
| moon | huelä | xuékla | hiuerkla | xiwekla | huela | ihuälä | iguelach | iguelä | ivaʔedla | | xuwãl |
| star | katés | | katés | katéss | katís | katäs | katés | ketes | | | foʔoteki |
| dog | nóo | nuuːx | niuʔux | niuʔux | níu | sidnóx | signag | esinax | atsüná | | nunnax |
| jaguar | ayä | yaáx | yáox | yáʔox | iyox | haiyüx | yag | eyax | haróx | | kometenax |
| black | lämi | klím | klim | | lim | palüx | pelag | | peláx | | fo |

## Proto-language

For a reconstruction of Proto-Mataguayo by Viegas Barros (2002), see the corresponding Spanish article. A competing theory is advanced by Nikulin and Carol