| Pankararú | |
|---|---|
| Brancararu | |
| Native to | Brazil |
| Region | Pernambuco, Alagoas |
| Ethnicity | 8.184 Pankararú (2014), ?1,648 Pankararé (2014) |
| Extinct | by 1961 |
| Dialects |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | paz – inclusive code (Pankararú)Individual code: pax – Pankararé |
| Glottolog | pank1250 Pankararupank1235 Pankarare |
| Linguasphere | 89-CAA-a |
 Map of Tacaratu, where the Pankararu language was spoken | |
Pankararú (Pancaré, Pankaré, Pancaru, Pankaruru, Pankarará, Pankaravu, Pankaroru, Pankarú, Brancararu) is an extinct language, probably a language isolate, of eastern Brazil. There are 6,000 ethnic Pankararú, but they all speak Portuguese. In 1961, only two elders could remember anything of the language. Today, they live in Brejo dos Padres and other villages of Tacaratu, Pernambuco State. The language was originally spoken between the Moxotó River and the Pajeú River.
In the 19th century the people split into multiple ethnic groups, including the Pankararú and the Pankararé. One quarter of the Pankararé retain their traditional religion. Their language, however, is unattested, and can only be assumed to be a dialect of Pankararu. According to Meader (1978), the Pankararu regarded themselves as belonging to the "Macarú" nation.