List of unclassified languages of South America

Campbell & Grondona

Campbell & Grondona (2012:116-130) list the following 395 languages of South America as unclassified. Most are extinct.^[1] Many were drawn from Loukotka (1968)^[2] and Adelaar & Muysken (2004).^[3] The majority are not listed in Ethnologue. The list is arranged in alphabetical order.

Some of the greater families of South America: dark spots are language isolates or quasi-isolate, grey spots unclassified languages or languages with doubtful classification.

• Aarufi – Colombia
• Aburuñe – Bolivia
• Acarapi – Brazil
• Aconipa (Tabancal, Tabancara) – Ecuador; only 5 words known
• Aguano (Awano, Ahuano, Uguano, Aguanu, Santa Crucino) – Peru
• Alarua – Brazil
• Alon – Peru
• Amasifuin – Peru
• Amikoana (Amikuân) – Brazil
• Amoeca – Brazil
• Amuimo – Brazil
• Anetine – Bolivia
• Angara – Peru
• Anicun – Brazil
• Anserma (including Caramanta, Cartama) – Colombia
• Aparea – Argentina
• Apitupá – Brazil
• Apiyipán – Bolivia
• Aracadaini – Brazil
• Arae – Brazil
• Aramayu – Brazil
• Aramurú – Brazil
• Arapoá – Brazil
• Arara do Beiradão (Arara do Rio Branco, Arara do Aripuanã) – Brazil
• Ararau – Brazil
• Arda – Peru, Colombia [a purported language isolate called "Arda" has no relation, but was a misidentified vocabulary of the West African language Popo (Gen)]
• Arma-Pozo – Colombia (cf. Arma)
• Aroásene – Brazil
• Artane – Bolivia
• Atavila – Peru
• Aticum (Araticum) – Brazil
• Atunceta – Colombia
• Aueiko – Brazil
• Avis – Brazil
• Axata Darpa – Paraguay
• Ayacore – Peru
• Bagua – Peru; only 3 words known
• Baixóta – Brazil
• Bakurönchichi – Brazil
• Bauá – Brazil
• Bikutiakap – Brazil
• Bixarenren – Brazil
• Boimé (Poyme) – Brazil
• Bolona – Ecuador
• Bracamoro (Papamuru) – Peru
• Buritiguara – Brazil
• Caapina – Brazil
• Cachipuna – Peru
• Cafuana – Brazil
• Cagua – Colombia
• Caguan (Kaguan) – Argentina
• Cahan – Brazil
• Cajamarca – Peru
• Cajatambo – Peru
• Camana (Maje) – Peru
• Camaraxo – Brazil
• Camaré – Brazil
• Campaces – Ecuador; possibly Barbacoan, with Tsafiki, but unconfirmed
• Canelo – Ecuador
• Cañacure – Bolivia
• Capueni – Brazil
• Capua – Brazil
• Cara (Scyri, Caranqui, Otavalo) – Ecuador; possibly Barbacoan
• Carabayo (Yuri, "Amazonas Macusa")
• Caraguata – Brazil
• Carapacho – Peru
• Carára – Brazil
• Carari – Brazil
• Cararú (Cajurú) – Brazil
• Caripó (Curupeche) – Brazil
• Cascoasoa – Peru
• Casigara – Brazil
• Casota – Argentina
• Cauacaua (Kawakawa) – Brazil
• Cauauri – Brazil
• Caucahue – southern Chile
• Cauni – Brazil
• Caupuna – Brazil
• Cavana (Maje) – Peru
• Caxago – Brazil
• Cayú – Brazil
• Ceococe – Brazil
• Chachapoya (Chacha) – Peru
• Chancay – Brazil
• Chechehet ("Pampa") – Argentina
• Chedua – Peru
• Chicha – Bolivia
• Chincha – Peru
• Chinchipe – Peru
• Chipiajes – Colombia
• Chitarero – Colombia
• Cholto – Peru
• Chongo – Peru
• Chono – Ecuador
• Chumbivilca – Peru; possibly a variety of Puquina; might be Aymaran
• Chunanawa – Peru
• Churima – Bolivia
• Chusco – Peru
• Ciaman – Colombia
• Cognomona – Peru
• Colima^[4] – Ecuador; possibly Cariban
• Comanahua – Peru
• Comaní – Brazil
• Comechingón – near Córdoba, Argentina; possibly Huarpean
• Copallén (Copallín) – Peru; only 4 words known
• Coritananhó – Brazil
• Coxima (Koxima) – Colombia
• Culaycha – Argentina
• Cumayari – Brazil
• Cumbazá (Belsano) – Peru
• Curanave – Brazil
• Curi – Brazil
• Curiane – northeastern South America; precise location unknown
• Curierano – Brazil
• Curizeta – Peru
• Curubianan – Brazil
• Curumiá – Brazil
• Curumro (Kurumro) – Paraguay
• Curuzirari – Brazil
• Cutaguá – Brazil
• Cutría – Brazil
• Cuximiraíba – Brazil
• Cuxiuára – Brazil
• Damanivá – Brazil
• Dawainomol – Paraguay
• Demacuri – Brazil
• Diaguita (Cacan, Kakán) – northwest Argentina; subdivisions are Calchaquí, Capayán, Catamarcano, Hualfín, Paccioca [Pazioca], Pular, Quilme, Yacampis
• Divihet – Argentina
• Dokoro – Brazil
• Duri – Brazil
• Egualo – Argentina
• Eimi – Peru
• Emischata – Argentina
• Envuelo – Colombia
• Erema – Brazil
• Ewarhuyana – Brazil; possibly 12 speakers in Pará State
• Foklása – Brazil
• Gadio – Brazil
• Galache – Brazil
• Gambéla – Brazil
• Gorgotoqui – Bolivia
• Goyana – Brazil
• Guaca (and Nori) – Colombia
• Guacará – Argentina
• Guadaxo – Brazil
• Guaimute – Brazil
• Guajarapo (Guasaroca) – Bolivia
• Guanaca – Colombia; possibly a relative of Guambiano (Barbacoan)
• Guane – Colombia; possibly Chibchan
• Guanarú – Brazil
• Guanavena – Brazil
• Guarino – Brazil
• Guenta – Colombia
• Guyarabe – Brazil
• Hacaritama – Colombia
• Harritiahan – Brazil
• Hiauahim (Javaim) – Brazil
• Himarimã – Brazil; uncontacted group
• Huacavilca – Ecuador; extinct
• Huambuco – Peru; might be a misspelling of Huánuco
• Huayana – Peru
• Huayla – Peru
• Humahuaca (Omaguaca) – Argentina; apparent subdivisions are Fiscara, Jujuy, Ocloya, Osa, Purmamarca, Tiliar; Mason (1950:302) proposed an "Ataguitan" grouping that includes Humahuaca, Diaguita, and Atacameño
• Iapama – Brazil
• Ibabi Aniji – Peru
• Idabaez^[5] – Colombia; only 1 word and a chief's name are known
• Imaré – Brazil
• Ina – Brazil
• Iñajurupé – Brazil
• Irra – Colombia
• Iruri – Brazil
• Isolados do Massaco (?) – Brazil
• Isolados do Tanarú (?) – Brazil
• Itipuna – Brazil
• Itucá (Cuacá) – Brazil
• Jacariá – Brazil
• Jaguanai – Brazil
• Jaguanan – Brazil
• Jamundi – Colombia; may be Yurimangui, but no data
• Jeticó (Jiripancó) – Brazil
• Jitirijiti – Colombia; may be Chocó, but no data
• Jurema – Brazil
• Juruena – Brazil
• Jururu – Brazil
• Kaimbé (Caimbé, Caimbe) – Brazil; extinct
• Kamba (Camba) – Brazil; possibly Tupian, extinct
• Kambiwá (Cambiuá, Cambioá) – Brazil; extinct
• Kantaruré^[6] – Brazil
• Kapinawá – Brazil; extinct
• Karahawyana – Brazil; possibly Cariban
• Katembri (Kariri de Mirandela) – Brazil
• Kiapüre (Quiapyre) – Brazil
• Kohoroxitari – possibly Tocanoan; may be the same as Baniwa
• Kokakôre – Brazil
• Komokare – Brazil
• Korubo (Caceteiros) – Brazil; possibly Panoan; may be the same as Marúbo, or related to Yanomámi [Yanomaman]
• Koshurái – Brazil
• Kururu – Brazil
• Lache – Colombia; may be Chibchan, but no data
• Lambi – Brazil
• Lili – Colombia; may be Yurimangui, but no data
• Llamish – Peru
• Macamasu – Brazil
• Macarú – Brazil
• Macuani – Brazil
• Macuaré – Brazil
• Macuja – Brazil
• Macuruné – Brazil
• Mairajiqui – Brazil
• Malaba – Ecuador; may be Barbacoa (Chibchan), but no data
• Malibú – Colombia; possibly Chibchan
• Malquesi – Paraguay
• Manesono (Mopeseano) – Bolivia
• Manta – 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)
• Matará – Argentina
• Maynas (Mayna, Maina, Rimachu) – Peru; past attempts to link it to Jivaroan, Cahuapanan, Zaparoan, and Candoshi
• Maxiena (Ticomeri) – Bolivia
• Mayu – Brazil; possibly the same as Mayo (Panoan) or Morike (Arawakan); mayu is the Quechuan word for 'river, water'
• Menejou – Brazil
• Minhahá – Brazil
• Miarrã – Brazil
• Mocana – Brazil; may be related to Malibú, but only 2 words known
• Moheyana – Brazil
• Morcote – Colombia; may be Chibchan, but no data
• Moriquito – Brazil
• Morua – Brazil
• Moyobamba (Moyo-Pampa) – Peru
• Muriva – Brazil
• Muzapa – Peru
• Muzo^[7] – Colombia; may be Pijao (Cariban), but only 3 words known
• Natagaimas – Colombia; extinct
• Nacai – Brazil
• Nambu – Bolivia
• Nauna – Brazil
• Nindaso – Peru
• Nocadeth – Brazil
• Nomona – Peru
• Ñumasiara – Brazil
• Ocra – Peru
• Ocren – Brazil
• Ohoma – Argentina; may be the same as Hohoma or Mahoma
• Oivaneca – Brazil
• Olmos – Peru; possibly connected with Sechura
• Onicoré – Brazil
• Onoyóro – Brazil
• Orí – Brazil
• Ortue – Bolivia
• Otecua – Peru
• Otegua – Colombia
• Otí (Eochavante, Chavante) – Brazil; Greenberg classifies it as Macro-Gé, though this is unlikely according to Ribeiro (2006:422)
• Pacabuey – Colombia; may be Malibú (Chibchan), but no data
• Pacarará (Pakarara) – Brazil
• Pacimonari – Venezuela
• Paguara – Brazil
• Panatagua (Pantahua) – Peru; extinct, possibly Arawakan
• Panche^[8] – Colombia; possibly Cariban
• Pankararé (Pankaré) – Bahía, Brazil; extinct
• Pantágora (Palenque) – Colombia
• Pao – Venezuela
• Papamiän – Brazil
• Papana – Brazil
• Papavô – Brazil; uncontacted, may be Arawakan or Panoan (?)
• Paragoaru – Brazil?
• Paraparixana – Brazil
• Parapicó – Brazil
• Patagón – Peru; possibly Cariban
• Patiti – Brazil
• Payacú – Brazil
• Payanso – Peru
• Pehuenche (Peguenche) – Argentina
• Peria (Poria) – Brazil
• Perovosan – Bolivia
• Piapia – Brazil
• Pijao (Piajao, Pixao, Pinao) – Colombia
• Pipipan – Brazil
• Pocoana – Brazil
• Porcá – Brazil
• Porú (Procáze) – Brazil
• Pubenza [Popayan] – Colombia
• Puná (Puná Island) – Ecuador
• Puquina – Peru, Bolivia, Chile
• Quelosi – Argentina
• Querandí (Carendie)^[9] – Argentina, near Buenos Aires; may be related to Gününa Küne
• Quiquidcana (Quidquidcana, Kikidkana) – Peru
• Quijo (Kijo) – Ecuador; may be Barbácoa (Chibchan), but only 3 words are known
• Quillacinga (Quillasinga)^[10] – Ecuador; may be Sebondoy (Chibchan); Fabre (1998:676) reports that the Kamsa (speakers of a language isolate) are descended, at least in part, from the Quillasinga
• Quimbaya – Colombia; may be Chocó, but only 1 word is known
• Quimbioá – Brazil
• Quindío (Quindio) – Colombia
• Quingnam – Peru; extinct, possibly the same as Lengua (Yunga) Pescadora of colonial sources; according to Quilter et al. (2010), a list of numbers was recently found
• Qurigmã – Brazil
• Rabona – Ecuador; possibly Candoshi (Murato), but there are similarities with Aguaruna (Jivaroan)
• 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 to justify this.
• Sapeiné – Peru
• Seden – Brazil
• Siberi – Bolivia
• Sintó (Assek, Upsuksinta) – Paraguay
• Sinú (Zenú) – Colombia; may be Chocó, but no data
• Sipisipi – Peru
• Socorino – Bolivia
• Stanatevogyet – Paraguay
• Supuselo – Argentina
• Surucosi – Bolivia
• Suruim – Brazil
• Tacunbiacu – Bolivia
• Taguaylen – Argentina
• Tacarúba (Tacarua) – Brazil
• Taluhet – Argentina
• Tamacosi – Bolivia
• Tamaní – Colombia
• Tamaquéu – Brazil
• Tamararé – Brazil
• Tambaruré – Brazil
• Taminani – Brazil
• Tanquihua – Peru
• Tapacurá – Brazil
• Tapeba – Brazil
• Tapuisú – Brazil
• Tarairiú (Tarairiu, Ochucuyana) – Brazil
• Tarimoxi – Brazil
• Taripio – Brazil, Suriname
• Tavúri – Brazil
• Tchagoyána – Brazil
• Tchicoyna – Brazil
• Tegua – Colombia
• Tepqui – Peru
• Tevircacap – Brazil
• Tiboi – Bolivia
• Timaná – Colombia; may be Andaquí (Chibchan)
• Tingán – Peru
• Tingui-Boto – Brazil; extinct; also known as Tingui, Tingui-Botó, Carapató, Karapató
• Tobachana – Brazil
• Tohazana – Venezuela
• Tomata – Bolivia
• Tomina – Bolivia
• Tonocoté – Argentina, Chaco region
• Tororí – Brazil
• Truká – Brazil
• Tremembé (Teremembé, Taramembé) – Brazil
• Tubichaminí
• Tucumanduba – Brazil
• Tulumayo – Peru
• Tupijó – Brazil
• Tupiokón – Brazil
• Tutura – Bolivia
• Uairua – Brazil
• Uauarate – Brazil
• Uranaju – Brazil
• Urucuai – Brazil
• Uruma – Brazil
• Uru-Pa-In – Brazil
• Urupuca – Brazil
• Ururi – Brazil, Mato Grosso
• Vanherei – Brazil
• Vouve – Brazil
• Waitaká (Guaitacá, Goyatacá, Goytacaz) – Brazil; subdivisions: Mopi, Yacorito, Wasu, Miri
• Wakoná (Wacona, Acona) – Brazil
• Walêcoxô – Brazil
• Wasu (Waçu, Wassu) – Brazil
• Wau – Peru
• Xaquese – Bolivia
• Xaray – Bolivia
• Xibata – Brazil
• Xipará – Brazil
• Xiroa – Ecuador; mentioned in early sources, and may be a variant spelling of Jívaro
• Xokó – Brazil; only 4 words are known; also known as Chocó, Shoco, Shokó, Chocaz
• Yalcón – Colombia; may be Andaquí (Chibchan), but no data
• Yamesí – Colombia; may be Andaquí (Chibchan), but no data
• Yampará – Bolivia
• Yaperú (Naperú, Apirú) – Paraguay
• Yarí – Colombia; may be a Carijona (Cariban dialect), West Tucanoan, or Huitoto[an]
• Yariguí (Yarigüí) – Colombia; may be Opone (Karaib), but no data (Yarigui people)
• Yauei – Brazil
• Yenmu – Colombia
• Yoemanai – Brazil
• Yufiua – Brazil
• Yumbo – Ecuador; may be Barbácoa (Chibchan), but no data
• Zapazo – Peru
• Zuana – Brazil
• Yurimagua (Zurimagua, Jurimagua) – Peru
• Zurina – Brazil

Ethnologue

Ethnologue 17 lists the following languages of South America as unclassified:

• Abishira (Peru)
• Agavotaguerra (Brazil) (evidently one of the Paresi-Waura languages)
• Aguano (Peru)
• Aikanã (Brazil)
• Cagua (Colombia)
• Carabayo (Colombia)
• Chipiajes (Colombia)
• Coxima (Colombia)
• Himarimã (Brazil)
• Iapama (Brazil)
• Kaimbé (Brazil)
• Kamba (Brazil)
• Kambiwá (Brazil)
• Kapinawá (Brazil)
• Karahawyana (Brazil)
• Korubo (Brazil) [update article]
• Mato Grosso Arára (Brazil)
• Natagaimas (Colombia)
• Pankararé (Brazil)
• Pijao (Colombia)
• Pumé (Venezuela)
• Shenenawa (Brazil)
• Tapeba (Brazil)
• Tingui-Boto (Brazil)
• Tremembé (Brazil)
• Truká (Brazil)
• Uamué (Brazil) (counted as an isolate, but too poorly attested to classify)
• Wakoná (Brazil)
• Wasu (Brazil)
• Xukurú (Brazil)
• Yarí (Colombia)

See also

• Category:Unclassified languages of South America
• Extinct languages of the Marañón River basin
• Uto-Aztecan languages#Extinct languages
• List of extinct languages of South America
• Classification schemes for indigenous languages of the Americas
• Indigenous languages of the Americas
• Languages of South America

References