Uto-Aztecan languages | Native American, Indigenous, Mesoamerican | Britannica

Uto-Aztecan languages, family of American Indian languages, one of the oldest and largest—both in terms of extent of distribution (Oregon to Panama) and number of languages and speakers. The Uto-Aztecan languages are generally recognized by modern linguists as falling into seven branches: Numic, Takic, Hopi, and Tübatulabal, which some scholars consider to make up Northern Uto-Aztecan; and Piman, Taracahitic, Corachol-Aztecan, which some consider to be Southern Uto-Aztecan.

The languages of the Northern division (all of which are or were spoken in the United States) are as follows:

• Numic

  • Western Numic: Monache (Mono) and Northern Paiute (includes Paviotso, Bannock, and Snake)

  • Central Numic: Comanche, Panamint, and Shoshone-Goshiute

  • Southern Numic: Chemehuevi, Kawaiisu, Southern Paiute, and Ute

• Takic

  • Serrano-Kitanemuk

  • Cahuilla- Cupeño

  • Luiseño-Juaneño

  • Gabrieleño-Fernandeño

• Tübatulabal

The languages of the Southern Uto-Aztecan division are as follows:

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• Piman (Tepiman)

  • Pima-Papago (aka O’odham)

  • Pima Bajo

  • Northern Tepehuan-Southern Tepehuan

  • Tepecano

• Taracahitic

  • Tarahumaran: Tarahumara and Guarijío

  • Cahitan: Yaqui, Mayo, and Cahita

  • Tubar

  • Ópatan: Eudeve and Ópata

• Corachol-Aztecan

  • Cora-Huichol: Cora and Huichol

  • Aztecan (aka Nahuan): Pochutec (extinct) and Core Nahua (consisting of Nahuatl and Pipil [aka Nahuate, Nawat])