List of unclassified languages of South America
The following purported languages of South America are listed as unclassified in either Campbell (2024), Loukotka (1968), Ethnologue , or Glottolog . Nearly all are extinct. It is likely that many of them were not actually distinct languages, only ethnic or regional names.
Campbell (2024)
Campbell (2024) lists the following languages of South America as unclassified. Most are extinct. Many were drawn from Loukotka (1968) and Adelaar & Muysken (2004). The majority are not listed in Ethnologue . The list is arranged in alphabetical order.
Aarufi – Colombia
Aburuñe – Bolivia; spoken near Pantanal
Acarapi – Brazil
Aconipa (Tabancale, Tabancara) – Ecuador; only 5 words known which are dissimilar to other languages
Aguano (Awano, Ahuano, Uguano, Aguanu, Santa Crucino) – Peru; completely unattested but thought to be Arawakan
Alarua – Brazil
Alon – Peru; along the Huallaga River
Amasifuin – Peru; along the Huallaga River
Amikoana (Amikuân, Amicuan) – Brazil; appears to be nonexistent and is certainly extinct now, classified by Loukotka (1968) as a Cariban language related to Wayana , Arakajú and Apalaí
Amoeca – Brazil
Amuimo – Brazil
Anetine – Bolivia
Angara – Peru
Anicum – Brazil
Anserma (including Caramanta , Cartama) – Colombia, is considered Chocoan
Aperea – Argentina
Apitupá – Brazil
Apiyipán – Bolivia
Aracadaini – Brazil
Arae – Brazil
Aramayu – Brazil
Aramurú – Brazil
Arapoá – Brazil
Ararau – Brazil
Arda – Peru, Colombia; a misidentified vocabulary and texts of the West African language Popo (Gen)
Arma (Arma-Pozo) – Colombia; known from one word only
Aroásene – Brazil
Artane – Bolivia; spoken near Pantanal
Atavila – Peru
Aticum (Araticum, Uamué) – Brazil; data from Meader (1978) likely to be faked
Atunceta (Tunceta, Atunseta) – Colombia, unclassifiable for lack of data
Aueiko – Brazil
Avis – Brazil
Ayacore – Peru
Baenan (Baenã) – Brazil; only 9 words known
Bagua – Peru; only 3 words known, thought to be Cariban and incorrectly conflated with likely related Patagón
Baixóta – Brazil
Bakurönchichi – Brazil; likely Arikapú
Barbacoas (Barbácoa, Colima) – Colombia; ISO 639 code retired in 2020 for being nonexistent
Bauá – Brazil
Bikutiakap – Brazil
Bixarenren – Brazil
Boimé (Poyme) – Brazil
Bolona – Ecuador; linked with Chicham and Cañari
Bracamoro (Papamuru) – Peru
Buritiguara – Brazil
Caapina – Brazil
Cabixi (Kabixi) - Mato Grosso, Brazil; a short word-list. The name 'Kabixí ' is a generic name for any hostile group, and has been used for a number of unattested and already known languages. It may be tonal.
Cachipuna – Peru
Cafuana – Brazil
Cagua – Colombia; ISO 639 code retired as spurious
Caguan (Kaguan) – Argentina
Cahan – Brazil
Caimbé (Kaimbé, Caimbe) – Brazil; extinct, known from 7 words
Cajamarca – Peru
Cajatambo – Peru
Camana (Maje) – Peru
Camaraxo – Brazil
Camaré – Brazil
Campaces – Ecuador; possibly Barbacoan, with Tsafiki , but unconfirmed
Canelo (Penday) – Ecuador; synonym of Shiwiar
Cañacure – Bolivia
Capua – Brazil
Capueni – Brazil
Cara (Scyri, Caranqui, Otavalo) – Ecuador; thought to be Barbacoan
Caraguata – Brazil
Carapacho – Peru; synonym of Kashibo
Carára – Brazil
Carari – Brazil, Amazonas; a short word-list recorded by Johann Natterer which shows no resemblance to known languages, but considered Arawakan
Cararú (Cajurú) – Brazil
Caripó (Curupeche) – Brazil
Cascoasoa – Peru
Casigara – Brazil
Casota – Argentina
Catuquinaru – Brazil; known only from a short wordlist
Cauacaua (Kawakawa) – Brazil
Cauauri – Brazil
Cauca – Colombia; retired from ISO 639 for being nonexistent or synonymous with Quimbaya
Caucahue – southern Chile; retired from ISO 639 for being nonexistent
Cauni – Brazil
Caupuna – Brazil
Cavana (Maje) – Peru
Caxago – Brazil
Cayú – Brazil
Ceococe – Brazil; synonym of Xocó
Chachapoya (Chacha) – Peru; known entirely from toponyms and family names, linked with Cahuapanan , Hibito–Cholon , Copallén and the hypothetical -cat language of Cajamarca Department
Chancay – Brazil
Chechehet ("Pampa") – Argentina; Loukotka (1968) gives the words chivil 'two', chu 'earth', and hati 'great'. Is the same as Gününa Küne .
Chedua – Peru
Chicha – Bolivia
Chincha – Peru
Chinchipe – Peru
Chipiajes – Colombia; retired from ISO 639 in 2016
Chitarero – Colombia; classified as Chibchan by Loukotka (1968), unclassifiable for lack of data according to Adelaar (2004)
Cholto – Peru
Chongo – Peru
Chono – Ecuador; synonym of Tsafiki according to Loukotka (1968)
Chumbivilca – Peru; possibly a variety of Puquina; might be Aymaran
Chunanawa – Peru; possibly Panoan based on suffix -nawa in Fleck (2013)
Churima – Bolivia
Chusco – Peru
Ciaman – Colombia; classified as Chocoan by Loukotka (1968) unclassifiable for lack of data according to Adelaar (2004)
Cognomona – Peru; along the Huallaga river
Colima – Colombia; possibly Cariban, linked with Pijao
Colima – Ecuador; classified as Barbacoan by Loukotka (1968) and distinct from the possibly Cariban Colima above
Comanahua – Peru; along the Huallaga river
Comaní – Brazil
Comechingón – near Córdoba, Argentina; possibly Huarpean, very few words known
Copallén (Copallín) – Peru; only 4 words known
Coritananhó – Brazil
Coxima (Koxima) – Colombia; retired from ISO 639 in 2016 for having no evidence of its existence
Culaycha – Argentina
Cumayari – Brazil
Cumeral – Colombia; purportedly Arawakan but retired from ISO 639 in 2016
Cumbazá (Belsano) – Peru
Curanave – Brazil
Curi – Brazil
Curiane – northeastern South America; precise location unknown
Curierano – Brazil
Curizeta – Peru
Curubianan – Brazil
Curumiá – Brazil
Curuzirari – Brazil
Cutaguá – Brazil
Cutría – Brazil
Cuximiraíba – Brazil
Cuxiuára – Brazil
Damanivá – Brazil
Demacuri – Brazil
Diaguita (Cacan, Kakán) – northwest Argentina; subdivisions are Calchaquí, Capayán, Catamarcano, Hualfín, Paccioca [Pazioca], Pular, Quilme, Yacampis
Divihet – Argentina; considered a synonym of Gününa Küne
Dokoro – Brazil
Duri – Brazil
Egualo – Argentina
Eimi – Peru
Emischata – Argentina
Emok – Paraguay; retired in 2014 for being nonexistent, is not the name of any language
Envuelto – Colombia; 8 words known
Erema – Brazil
Ewarhuyana – Brazil; 12 Ewarhuyana people in Pará State, who now speak Tiriyó
Foklása – Brazil; the ethnic group speaks Fulniô according to the Fulni-ô ethnic group
Gadio – Brazil
Galache (Galaxe) – Brazil
Gambéla – Brazil
Gamela (Gamela of Viana, Curinsi, Acobu, Gamella) – Maranhão, Brazil, 19 words known
Garañun – Brazil; listed by Louktka (1968) as a Xukuruan language but undocumented
Gorgotoqui – Bolivia; all documentation lost, possibly Bororoan
Goyana – Brazil
Guaca – Colombia; known from only one word, being guaca 'devil'
Guacará – Argentina
Guadaxo – Brazil
Guaimute – Brazil
Guajarapo (Guasaroca) – Bolivia
Guanaca – Colombia; possibly a relative of Guambiano (Barbacoan)
Guane – Colombia; possibly Chibchan but no documentation
Guanarú – Brazil
Guanavena – Brazil
Guarino – Brazil
Guenta – Colombia
Guyarabe – Brazil
Hacaritama – Colombia; supposed wordlist shown to be from Wayuu
Harritiahan – Brazil
Hiauahim (Javaim) – Brazil
Himarimã – Brazil; uncontacted group, apparently Arawan based on a lost wordlist
Huancavilca – Ecuador; extinct, only 4 words known
Huamachi – Peru
Humahuaca (Omaguaca) – Argentina; known from only proper names, apparent subdivisions are Fiscara, Jujuy, Ocloya, Osa, Purmamarca, Tiliar; Mason (1950:302) proposed an "Ataguitan" grouping that includes Humahuaca, Diaguita, and Atacameño
Huambuco (Wámpuku) – Peru; alternative name for the Aguaruna people
Huayana – Peru
Huayla – Peru
Iapama (Ápama) – Brazil; retired in 2016 from ISO 639 due to absence of evidence of existence, uncontacted group synonymous with either Wayampi or Apalaí
Ibabi Aniji – Peru, name of a river inhabited by the Ese Ejja people (Huarayo)
Idabaez – Colombia; only 1 word (tubete 'medicine man') and a chief's name (Hijuoba ) are known; Pacific coast, Bahía Solano to Cape Marzo in Colombia (Loukotka 1968)
Imaré – Brazil
Ina – Brazil
Iñajurupé – Brazil
Irra – Colombia; unclassifiable for lack of data, listed as Chocoan by Loukotka (1968)
Iruri – Brazil
Isolados do Massaco (?) – Brazil; possibly identified with Sirionó or Papiamän
Isolados do Tanarú (?) – Brazil (Man of the Hole )
Itipuna – Brazil
Itucá (Cuacá) – Brazil
Jacariá – Brazil
Jaguanai – Brazil
Jaguanan – Brazil
Jamundi – Colombia; no data
Jeticó (Jiripancó) – Brazil; the Jiripancó are descendants of the Pankararú
Jitirijiti (Jitirigiti) – Colombia; no data
Jurema – Brazil
Juruena – Brazil
Jururu – Brazil
Kamba (Camba) – Brazil; retired as spurious from ISO 639; either Eastern Bolivian Guaraní or duplicate of Chiquitano
Kambiwá (Cambiuá, Cambioá) – Brazil; extinct and known from only a few words
Kantaruré – Brazil; the Kantaruré are descendants of the Pankararú but their linguistic identification is impossible
Kapinawá – Brazil; extinct, possibly descended from the Paratió
Karahawyana (Karapawyana, Karafawyana) – Brazil; now classified as a dialect of the Waiwai language
Katembri (Kariri de Mirandela) – Brazil
Kiapüre (Quiapyre) – Brazil
Kohoroxitari – supposedly possibly Tucanoan; is actually the name of a Sanöma -speaking village
Kokakôre – Brazil
Komokare – Brazil
Korubo (Caceteiros) – Brazil; known to be Panoan
Koshurái – Brazil
Kurumro (Curumro) – Paraguay; identified by Loukotka (1931) as related to an Mascoian -speaking group
Kururu – Brazil
Lache – Colombia; may be Chibchan, but no data
Lambi – Brazil
Lili – Colombia; may be Yurumangui , but no data
Llamish – Peru
Macamasu – Brazil
Macarú – Brazil
Macuani – Brazil
Macuarê – Brazil
Macuja – Brazil
Macuruné – Brazil
Mairajiqui – Brazil
Malaba – Ecuador; may be Barbacoa (Chibchan), but no data
Malibú – Colombia; formerly considered Chibchan
Malquesi – Argentina
Manesono (Mopeseano) – Bolivia
Manta (Manabi) – Ecuador; possibly Chimú, but only a few patronyms are known
Maracano – Brazil
Marapaña – Brazil
Maricoxi – Brazil
Maricupi – Brazil
Maripá – Brazil
Maruquevene – Brazil
Masa – Argentina
Masarari – Brazil
Masaya – Colombia
Mashco – Peru; uncontacted, possibly related to Piro (Arawakan), or "Preandine" (Arawakan), known from 24 words
Matará – Argentina; may be related to Tonocoté
Maynas (Mayna, Maina, Rimachu) – Peru; a Cahuapanan language, past attempts to link it to Jivaroan, Zaparoan, and Candoshi
Maxiena (Ticomeri) – Bolivia; completely unknown
Mayu – Brazil; possibly the same as Mayo (Panoan) or Morike (Arawakan); mayu is the Quechuan word for 'river, water'
Menejou – Brazil
Minhahá – Brazil
Mocana – Brazil; may be related to Malibú , but only 2 words known
Mocoa – Colombia; may be related to Kamëntšá
Miarrã – Brazil; retired from ISO 639 for being unattested
Moheyana – Brazil
Morcote – Colombia; may be Chibchan, but no data
Moriquito – Brazil
Morua – Brazil
Moyobamba (Moyo-Pampa) – Peru
Muriva – Brazil
Mure – Bolivia; apparently not Chapacuran as previously thought
Muzapa – Peru
Muzo – Colombia; may be Pijao (Cariban)
Nacai – Brazil
Nambu – Bolivia
Natagaimas – Colombia; retired from ISO 639 as a synonym of Pijao
Natú – Brazil; known from 18 words, unclassified
Nauna – Brazil
Nindaso – Peru
Nocadeth – Brazil
Nomona – Peru
Nori – Colombia; unclassifiable for lack of data
Ñumasiara – Brazil
Ocro – Peru
Ocren – Brazil
Ohoma – Argentina; may be the same as Hohoma or Mahoma
Oivaneca – Brazil
Olmos – Peru; possibly connected with Sechura
Omejes – Colombia; retired in 2016 from ISO 639 for being nonexistent
Onicoré – Brazil
Onoyóro – Brazil
Orí – Brazil
Ortue (Ortu, Urtue) – Bolivia
Otecua – Peru
Otegua – Colombia
Otí (Eochavante, Chavante) – Brazil; Greenberg classifies it as Macro-Gê, though this is unlikely according to Ribeiro (2006:422), otherwise considered isolate, only 110 words known
Pacabuey – Colombia; may be Malibú, but no data
Pacarará (Pakarara) – Brazil
Pacimonari – Venezuela
Paguara – Brazil
Panatagua (Panatahua, Panatawa) – Peru; extinct, possibly Arawakan, presumed Panoan based on ethnonym by Fleck (2013)
Panche – Colombia; possibly Cariban
Pankararé (Pankaré) – Bahía, Brazil; extinct and unattested, can only be assumed to be a dialect of Pankararú
Pankararú – Brazil; too poorly known to be classified but sometimes considered an isolate
Pantágora (Palenque) – Colombia
Pao – Venezuela
Papamiän – Brazil; may be the same as the "Isolados do Massaco"
Papana – Brazil
Papavô – Brazil; uncontacted, may be Arawakan or Panoan (?), according to Glottolog, refers to groups of Harákmbut , Kulina , Amawaka and Yawanawa
Paragoaru – Brazil
Paraparixana – Brazil
Parapicó – Brazil
Patagón – Peru; Cariban, only 4 known words
Patiti – Brazil
Payacú – Brazil
Payanso – Peru; along the Huallaga river
Pehuenche (Peguenche) – Argentina; distinct from Pehuenche dialect of Mapudungun
Peria (Poria) – Brazil
Perovosan – Bolivia
Piapia – Brazil
Pijao (Piajao, Pixao, Pinao) – Colombia; sometimes grouped with Cariban
Pipipan [ pt ] (Pipipã) – Brazil
Pocoana – Brazil
Ponares – Colombia; retired from ISO 639 in 2016
Porcá – Brazil
Porú (Procáze) – Brazil
Pubenza (Popayan ) – Colombia; linked with Coconucan languages
Puná (Lapuná) – Ecuador
Puscajae (Pile) – Colombia; classified as Yurumanguí by Loukotka (1968)
Quelosi – Argentina
Querandí (Carendie) – Argentina, near Buenos Aires; may be related to Gününa Küne. Loukotka (1968) gives the words zobá 'moon' and afia 'bow'
Quiquidcana (Quidquidcana, Kikidkana) – Peru
Quijo (Kijo) – Ecuador; may be Barbácoan, but only 3 words are known
Quillacinga (Quillasinga) – Ecuador; may be Sebondoy; Fabre (1998:676) reports that the Kamsa (Camsá , speakers of a language isolate ) are descended, at least in part, from the Quillasinga
Quimbaya – Colombia; may be Chocó, but only 8 words are known
Quiambioá – Brazil; likely synonym for Kambiwá
Quindío (Quindio) – Colombia
Quingnam – Peru; extinct, possibly the same as and geographcally related to Lengua (Yunga) Pescadora of colonial sources; according to Quilter et al. (2010), a list of numbers was found
Quirigmã (Qurigmã [ sic ] ) – Brazil
Rabona – Ecuador; possibly Candoshi (Murato), but there are similarities with Aguaruna (Jivaroan)
Ramanos – Bolivia; known from 8 words
Roramí (Oramí) – Brazil
Sácata (Sacata, Zácata, Chillao) – Peru; extinct; may be Candoshi or Arawakan, but only 3 words known
Sacosi – Bolivia
Sacracrinha (Sequaquirihen) – Brazil
Sanavirón – Argentina, near Córdova. Loukotka classified it as an isolate, but there is insufficient data (only 6 or 7 words) to justify this.
Sapeiné – Peru
Seden
Shinabo – Bolivia; unattested but apparently related to Chácobo
Siberi – Bolivia
Sinú (Zenú) – Colombia; may be Chocó, but no data
Sintó (Assek, Upsuksinta, Dawainomol, Axata Darpa) – Paraguay. 6 words recorded.: 49 : 859
Sipisipi – Peru
Socorino – Bolivia
Stanatevogyet (Upsucksinta, Moianek)? – Paraguay; possibly "remnant of the [Matacoan ] Enimaga -Guentuse"
Supeselo – Argentina
Surucosi – Bolivia
Suruim – Brazil; apparently synonymous with Surui (Paiter)
Tacunbiacu – Bolivia
Taguaylen – Argentina
Tacarúba (Tacarua) – Brazil
Taluhet – Argentina; see Chechehet
Tamacosi – Bolivia
Tamaní – Colombia
Tamaquéu – Brazil
Tamararé – Brazil
Tambaruré – Brazil
Taminani – Brazil
Tanquihua – Peru
Tapacurá – Brazil; not to be confused with Chapacura language
Tapeba – Brazil; the Tapeba have a mixed origin and do not have any specific ancestral language
Tapuisú – Brazil
Tarairiú (Tarairiu, Ochucuyana) – Brazil
Tarimoxi – Brazil
Taripio – Brazil, Suriname
Tavúri – Brazil
Tchagoyána – Brazil
Tchicoyna (Tchikoyána) – Brazil; synonym of Sikiana
Tegua (Tecua) – Colombia; grouped with Caquetío by Loukotka (1968)
Tepqui – Peru; along the Huallaga river
Tevircacap – Brazil
Tiboi – Bolivia
Timaná (Timane) – Colombia; may be Andaquí (isolate) but no data
Tingán – Peru
Tingui-Boto – Brazil; extinct; also known as Tingui, Tingui-Botó, Carapató, Karapató, Tingui-Botó people's ancestral language is Dzubukuá
Tobachana – Brazil
Tohazana – Venezuela
Tomata – Bolivia
Tomedes – Colombia; retired from ISO 639 in 2016
Tomina – Bolivia
Tonocoté – Argentina, Chaco region; known from one sentence
Tororí – Brazil
Truká – Brazil; unattested
Tremembé (Teremembé, Taramembé) – Brazil; unattested
Tubichaminí – Argentina; grouped by Loukotka with Querandí and Chechehet; is apparently a name for certain regional groups of Querandí
Tucumanduba – Brazil
Tulumayo – Peru
Tupijó – Brazil
Tupiokón – Brazil
Tutura – Bolivia
Tuxá – Brazil; wordlists are inconsistent
Uairua – Brazil
Uauarate – Brazil
Unainuman (Vuainuman) - Içá River basin, short word list, Adelaar & Brijnen 2014
Uranaju – Brazil
Urucuai – Brazil
Uruma – Brazil
Uru-Pa-In – Brazil; possibly Tupian language of isolated group
Urupuca – Brazil
Ururi – Brazil, Mato Grosso
Vanherei – Brazil
Vouve (Vouvê) – Brazil
Waitaká (Guaitacá, Goyatacá, Goytacaz) – Brazil; subdivisions are Mopi, Yacorito, Wasu, Miri, possibly Purian
Wakoná (Wacona, Acona) – Brazil; unattested
Walêcoxô – Brazil
Wamoé – Brazil; wordlists likely to be faked
Wasu (Waçu, Wassu) – Brazil; unattested
Wau – Peru
Xaquese (Xaquete) – Bolivia
Xaray (Xaraye) – Bolivia; synonymous with Saraveca , an Arawakan language
Xibata – Brazil
Xipará – Brazil
Xipináwa – Brazil; claimed to be Panoan but unattested
Xiroa – Ecuador; mentioned in early sources, and may be a variant spelling of Jívaro
Xokó (Chocó, Shoco, Shokó, Chocaz) – Brazil; only a few words known
Yalcón – Colombia; may be Andaquí (isolate), but no data
Yamesí – Colombia; may be Antioquian (Chibchan), but only 1 word known
Yampará – Bolivia
Yaperú (Naperú, Apirú) – Paraguay
Yarí – Colombia; supposedly either a Carijona (Cariban) dialect, West Tucanoan, or Witotoan, retired from ISO 639 in 2016
Yariguí (Yarigüí) – Colombia; may be related to Opone (Karaib), but no data (Yarigui people )
Yauei – Brazil
Yenmu – Colombia
Yoemanai – Brazil
Yufiua – Brazil
Yumbo – Ecuador; may be Barbácoa (Barbacoan) or Panzaleo , but no data
Yurimagua (Zurimagua, Jurimagua) – Peru
Zapazo – Peru
Zuana – Brazil
Zurina – Brazil
Ethnologue
Ethnologue 26 lists the following languages of South America as unclassified:
However, Glottolog states that Agavotaguerra is not unclassified, but unattested; the only reports are that the Agavotaguerra speak Yawalapiti . Shanenawa and Lule are both considered to belong to other language families, Panoan and Lule-Vilela respectively; Tingui-Botó is not a language but an ethnic group which originally spoke Dzubukuá, and Awishira and Pumé (Yaruro) are generally considered isolates.
Glottolog
In addition to many of the languages above, Glottolog lists the following:
Apoto - lower Amazon, unattested; recorded as speaking the lingua geral in 1639 by Cristóbal Diatristán de Acuña
Cálenche (Cálen) = Fayjatases - Chile, 10 words
Guachipa (s) - Guachipas , Argentina, 3 words, Viegas Barros (2009)
Guaicaro (Guaïcaro) - Chile, possibly Central Alacaluf
Haxa - Colombia
Tapajó - 3 words
Tembey - upper Paraná, 2 words, Ambrosetti (1896:332)
Urucucú(s) - Tapajós River, unattested
Yanacona - name is the Quechua word for 'serf'; perhaps early Colombian Quechua
Other
Some additional languages have not made in into the lists above.
Boreal Pehuelche - Argentina, 1 word (apparently not the same as Puelche )
Enoo - Chile, a few words (a neighbor of the Alacalufe ); has been proposed to be a "mixed language" of Yahgan -Chonan origins
Language families and isolates
Proposed groupings Unclassified Linguistic areas Countries Lists † indicates an
extinct language ,
italics indicates independent status of a language,
bold indicates that a language family has at least 6 members, * indicates moribund status