This Vocabulary contains 804 words and morphemes commonly found in the documents and some of their variant spellings. There are two main parts: the main dictionary (Zapotec to English) and the English-to-Zapotec Reverse Index, which can be used to look up a word in the main section.
If you know what the word might mean, but do not know what the Zapotec word might look like, the index will likely be the most useful place for you to look. Be sure to try looking under synonyms, as well.
If you are trying to figure out what an unidentified Zapotec word might mean, recall that spelling can be quite variable. Here are some tips for finding a Zapotec word in the dictionary:
change | to |
double consonants | single consonants |
double vowels | single vowels |
<ij> | <i> |
There are two types of entries. Main entries, like anachi and beni below, and cross references for spelling variants, like anachihi below. Cross-references always contain the headword and the cross reference to the main entry. Main entries minimally contain the headword and the definition. They may optionally contain other elements, such as notes on the composition of the word, a list of spelling variants, and sub-entries of words related to that headword. Below, three entries are broken down and their component parts are numbered. A key to these numbered parts follows directly below the sample entries.
1 | headword | Each definition starts with a headword. |
2 | definition | The headword is followed by a definition. If there are multiple senses to a word, they are numbered. |
3 | notes on morphological composition | The component parts of a word may be noted. For example anachi is made up of ana ‘now’ and chi ‘day’. |
4 | spelling variants | Some possible spelling variants are listed. |
5 | cross-reference from a spelling variant | Some spelling variants (sp. var.) are listed in the vocabulary with a cross reference to the main headword. |
6 | sub-entry | Some subentries are listed under headwords. These can also be found as headwords with more information. |
7 | example | Some entries have examples. The examples are introduced with a reference to the text from which they come, followed by the Zapotec examples in italics and the English translation in quotes. |
8 | cross-reference | Some entries contain cross-references to other entries. |
9 | modern cognate with audio | Some entries contain cognates with audio. Click on the blue play button to hear a native speaker pronounce the cognate in that modern Valley Zapotec variety. Click on the black arrow to jump to that entry in the corresponding Talking Dictionary. |
The modern cognates with audio come from four Talking Dictionaries of modern Valley Zapotec languages. These dictionaries are collaborations with native speakers and were made possible by Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages, K. David Harrison, and Jeremy Fahringer. We owe special thanks to Fahringer for enabling the mechanism whereby Ticha can interact with the Talking Dictionaries. The language varieties are listed below with links to the Talking Dictionaries and the names of the contributing speakers.
http://www.talkingdictionary.org/tlacochahuaya
Speakers: Moisés García Guzmán, Angélica Guzmán Martínez, Antonio García Cruz, María Mercedes Méndez Morales.
http://www.talkingdictionary.org/sanlucasquiavini
Speakers: Felipe H. Lopez and Victoria Lopez.
http://www.talkingdictionary.org/teotitlan
Speakers: Camillo Alavéz Alavéz, Gario Angeles, Manuel Bazan Chávez, Froilán Carreño Gutiérrez, Natalia Carreño Hernandez, Janet Chávez Santiago, Federico Chávez Sosa, Elena García Jimenez, Noel Alejandro García Juárez, Silvia González Ruiz, Ambrocio Gutiérrez, Bibiana Gutiérrez, Zenón Pablo Gutiérrez, Erasto Gutiérrez López, Celso Gutiérrez Montaño, Jorge David Hernández Sosa, Edison Hipólito de los Ángeles, Camelia Lazo Chávez, Teresa Martínez Chavez, Adrián Martínez Mendoza, Leonardo Martínez Sosa, Miguel Ángel Mendoza Bautista, Rocío Mendoza Bazán, Manuel de Jesús Mendoza Chávez, Teresa Manuela Mendoza Ruíz, Miros Laba, Cristina Ruiz, Rosa Ruiz González, Francisco Ruiz Gutiérrez, Mariano Sosa Martinez.
http://www.talkingdictionary.org/tlacolula
Speakers: Roberto Antonio Ruiz, and Josefina Antonio Ruiz.
Lillehaugen, Brook Danielle, George Aaron Broadwell, Michel R. Oudijk, Laurie Allen, May Helena Plumb, and Mike Zarafonetis. 2017. "Colonial Valley Zapotec to English Vocabulary." Ticha: a digital text explorer for Colonial Zapotec, first edition. Online: https://ticha.haverford.edu/en/vocabulary
Hear it in San Lucas Quiaviní Zapotec: zhily
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: xhi’ily
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: bëny
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: benny
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: jees
Hear it in Santiago Matatlán Zapotec: gaaz
Hear it in Macuilxochitl: gats
Hear it in San Bartolomé Quialana Zapotec: gaz
Hear it in Tlacolula de Matamoros Zapotec: gaz
Hear it in Tlacolula de Matamoros Zapotec: gaz
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: jaly
Hear it in Santiago Matatlán Zapotec: gaal
Hear it in San Lucas Quiaviní Zapotec: gaiyua
Hear it in Macuilxochitl: tib gayua
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: cha
Hear it in San Bartolomé Quialana Zapotec: txa
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: tsï
Hear it in Tlacolula de Matamoros Zapotec: tsë
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: tsë
Hear it in Tlacolula de Matamoros Zapotec: tseinyabtap
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: tsomptap
Hear it in Macuilxochitl: tso’ny
Hear it in San Bartolomé Quialana Zapotec: tza’any
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: tso’ny
Hear it in Macuilxochitl: tsoni
Hear it in San Bartolomé Quialana Zapotec: tza’an
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: tsoni
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: txonn
Hear it in Tlacolula de Matamoros Zapotec: chon
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: gubidx
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: gubixh
Hear it in Macuilxochitl: gubich
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: gu’n
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: gu’n
Hear it in San Lucas Quiaviní Zapotec: guan
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: ja’
Hear it in Macuilxochitl: ga'a
Hear it in Tlacolula de Matamoros Zapotec: ga
Hear it in Tlacolula de Matamoros Zapotec: ga
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: jai’
Hear it in Tlacolula de Matamoros Zapotec: gai
Hear it in San Lucas Quiaviní Zapotec: lazh
Hear it in Macuilxochitl: lach
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: la’z
Hear it in Santiago Matatlán Zapotec: lastho
Hear it in Macuilxochitl: laz do
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: laz do
Hear it in Macuilxochitl: la’nia
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: la’nia
Hear it in Macuilxochitl: lani
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: lani
Hear it in Tlacolula de Matamoros Zapotec: lo
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: lo
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: lady
Hear it in San Lucas Quiaviní Zapotec: lady
Hear it in Macuilxochitl: lo nya
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: lo nya
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: txel
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: txel
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: txiel
Hear it in Macuilxochitl: chel
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: chiel
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: lis gib
Hear it in Macuilxochitl: niz gib
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: ludxa
Hear it in Macuilxochitl: luch
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: ludx
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: bdxie
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: bdxie
Hear it in Macuilxochitl: nare'e
Hear it in San Bartolomé Quialana Zapotec: na’a
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: nare
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: gots
Hear it in Macuilxochitl: ngats
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: nagats
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: nis
Hear it in Tlacolula de Matamoros Zapotec: nyis
Hear it in Tlacolula de Matamoros Zapotec: becw
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: be’kw
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: behld
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: behld
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: behld
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: gie
Hear it in San Lucas Quiaviní Zapotec: gyia
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: xhii
Hear it in Tlacolula de Matamoros Zapotec: yzhi
Hear it in Tlacochahuaya Zapotec: zhi
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: rap
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: rap
Hear it in San Lucas Quiaviní Zapotec: rni
Hear it in Santiago Matatlán Zapotec: rny
Hear it in Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec: rini