Languages of Argentina
See language map.[See also SIL publications on the languages of Argentina.]
Argentine Republic, República Argentina. 38,747,000. Includes 100,000–150,000 American Indians (1997). National or official language: Spanish. Literacy rate: 92%–95%. Immigrant languages: Catalan-Valencian-Balear (174,000), Eastern Yiddish (200,000), Hunsrik, Italian (1,500,000), Japanese (32,000), Lithuanian, North Levantine Spoken Arabic (1,000,000), Paraguayan Guaraní (200,000), Plautdietsch (140), Slovene (10,000), South Levantine Spoken Arabic (1,000), Standard German (400,000), Turoyo, Ukrainian (27,000), Vlax Romani (52,000). Information mainly from A. Acebes 1966; A. Buckwalter 1981–1983; N. Drayson 1982–1984; SIL 1969–2003; A. Tovar 1961, 1966. Blind population: Estimates range from 14,300 (Barrett 1982) to 30,000 (1979). Deaf population: 2,056,145. Deaf institutions: 17. The number of individual languages listed for Argentina is 26. Of those, 25 are living languages and 1 has no known speakers.
| Abipon | [axb]
Extinct.
Dialects: Related to Kadiweu [kbc].
Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Guaicuruan
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| Argentine Sign Language | [aed]
Dialects: Córdoba Sign Language.
Classification: Deaf sign language
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| Aymara, Central | [ayr]
30,000 in Argentina.
Classification: Aymaran
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| Chiripá | [nhd]
Alternate names: Apytare, Ava Guaraní, Nhandeva, Ñandeva, Tsiripá, Txiripá.
Dialects: Apapocuva.
Classification: Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Subgroup I
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| Chorote, Iyojwa’ja | [crt]
800 (1982 N. Drayson). Northeast Salta Province.
Alternate names: Choroti, Eklenjuy, Yofuaha.
Dialects: Distinct from Iyo’wujwa Chorote [crq] (Drayson).
Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco
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| Chorote, Iyo’wujwa | [crq]
1,500 in Argentina. 50% monolinguals. Population total all countries: 2,038. In Argentina mixed with Iyojwa’ja Chorote [crt]. Only a few families in Bolivia. Also in Bolivia, Paraguay.
Dialects: Chorote (Iyowujwa), Manjui (Manjuy, Inkijwas, I’no’).
Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco
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| Guaraní, Mbyá | [gun]
3,000 in Argentina (2002 R. Dooley). Northeast Argentina.
Alternate names: Eastern Argentina Guaraní, Mbua, Mbyá.
Classification: Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Subgroup I
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| Guaraní, Western Argentine | [gui]
15,000 in Argentina. Jujuy, Salta.
Alternate names: “Chabanco” , “Chaguanco” , “Chawuncu” , “Chiriguano” , Eastern Bolivian Guaraní.
Dialects: Chané, Izoceño (Izocenyo, Isocenio).
Classification: Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Subgroup I
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| Kaiwá | [kgk]
510 in Argentina. Northeast Argentina.
Alternate names: Caingua, Caiwá, Kayova.
Classification: Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Subgroup I
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| Mapudungun | [arn]
100,000 in Argentina (2000). Neuquen, Rio Negro, Chubut, Buenos Aires, La Pampa provinces.
Alternate names: Araucano, Mapuche, Mapudungu, Maputongo.
Dialects: Pehuenche.
Classification: Araucanian
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| Mocoví | [moc]
4,530 (2000). South Chaco, northeast Santa Fe.
Alternate names: Mbocobí, Mocobí.
Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Guaicuruan
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| Nivaclé | [cag]
200 in Argentina. Salta Province, northeast.
Alternate names: Ashlushlay, “Chulupe” , “Chulupi” , “Chulupie” , “Churupi”.
Dialects: Forest Nivaclé, River Nivaclé.
Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco
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| Ona | [ona]
2 (1991 W. Adelaar). Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego.
Alternate names: Aona, Selknam, Shelknam.
Classification: Chon
Nearly extinct.
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| Pilagá | [plg]
4,000 (2004 FEL). Central and western Formosa Province, Bermejo and Pilcomayo river valleys; Chaco and Salta provinces.
Alternate names: Pilaca.
Dialects: Toba-Pilagá (Toba del Oeste, Sombrero Negro), Chaco Pilagá (Toba Sur). Intelligibility between dialects needs investigation.
Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Guaicuruan
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| Puelche | [pue]
5. Pampas.
Alternate names: Gennaken, Northern Tehuelche, Pampa.
Classification: Language isolate
Nearly extinct.
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| Quechua, South Bolivian | [quh]
855,000 in Argentina. 200,000 temporary laborers, about 100,000 looking for work, 500,000 living in Buenos Aires (1971 F. Hicks). Possibly 70,000 in Salta Province. Buenos Aires, some working on docks; Salta Province.
Alternate names: Central Bolivian Quechua.
Dialects: Northwest Jujuy (Colla).
Classification: Quechuan, Quechua II, C
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| Quichua, Santiago del Estero | [qus]
60,000 (2000 SIL), decreasing. No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 50,000–60,000. North central Argentina, Santiago del Estero Province, Departments of Figueroa, Moreno, Robles, Sarmiento, Brigadier J. F. Ibarra, San Martín, Silipica, Loreto, Atamisqui, Avellaneda, Salavina, Quebrachos, Mitre, Aguirre; southeast Salta Province, western Taboada Department along Salado River; Buenos Aires.
Alternate names: Santiagueño Quichua.
Dialects: Lexical similarity: 81% with Bolivian or other Quechua.
Classification: Quechuan, Quechua II, C
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| Spanish | [spa]
33,000,000 in Argentina (1995).
Dialects: Portuñol, Portunhol, Rioplatense, Lunfardo.
Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
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| Tapieté | [tpj]
100 in Argentina. Ethnic population: 384. Northeast, Tartagal, 1 village.
Alternate names: Guarayo, Guasurangue, Ñanagua, Tirumbae, Yanaigua.
Classification: Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Guarani I
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| Tehuelche | [teh]
4 (2000 W. Adelaar ). Ethnic population: 200 (Adelaar 2000). Patagonia.
Alternate names: Aoniken, Gunua-Kena, Gununa-Kena, Inaquen.
Classification: Chon
Nearly extinct.
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| Toba | [tob]
19,800 in Argentina (2000 WCD). Population total all countries: 21,410. Ethnic population: 40,000. Eastern Formosa Province; Chaco Province. Also in Bolivia, Paraguay.
Alternate names: Chaco Sur, Qom, Toba Qom, Toba Sur.
Dialects: Southeast Toba, Northern Toba.
Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Guaicuruan
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| Vilela | [vil]
20 (1981 A. Buckwalter). East central Chaco Province near Paraguay border, Resistencia.
Classification: Lule-Vilela
Nearly extinct.
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| Welsh | [cym]
25,000 in Argentina (1998 A. Leaver). Patagonia, Chubut Territory.
Dialects: Patagonian Welsh.
Classification: Indo-European, Celtic, Insular, Brythonic
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| Wichí Lhamtés Güisnay | [mzh]
15,000 (1999). North, Pilcomayo River area.
Alternate names: Güisnay, “Mataco” , “Mataco Güisnay” , “Mataco Pilcomayo”.
Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco
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| Wichí Lhamtés Nocten | [mtp]
100 in Argentina. Northern border south to Tartagal.
Alternate names: “Mataco Nocten” , Nocten, Noctenes, Oktenai.
Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco
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| Wichí Lhamtés Vejoz | [wlv]
25,000 in Argentina (1991 UBS). Northern areas of Chaco, Formosa, Salta, Jujuy, West of Toba, upper Bermejo River valley and Pilcomayo River. Also in Bolivia.
Alternate names: “Mataco Vejoz” , Vejos.
Dialects: Bermejo Vejoz. Not intelligible with other Chaco languages.
Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco
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