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Native Guatemalan Animals

Here are the indigenous words for six native animals of Guatemala. We have given their names in four different Indian languages: Garifuna, Kanjobal, Mam, and Quiche.

Three of these languages are related to each other. Can you guess which ones are related from the Guatemalan animal words listed here? (Hint: Not every word will sound similar even in closely related languages, so you will need to look at several different animals to figure it out!) You can find the answer on this page: Mayan languages.

Native Guatemalan Animal Names

Kanjobal: chej Garifuna: usai Mam: masat Quiche: maasaat	Kanjobal: txitx Garifuna: masaraga Mam: xik Quiche: imul
Kanjobal: b'alam Garifuna: garigusi Mam: b'alunh Quiche: b'aalam	Kanjobal: tz'ikin Garifuna: dunuru Mam: ch'it Quiche: tz'ikin
Kanjobal: sotz' Garifuna: musagalu Mam: sotz' Quiche: sotz'	Kanjobal: labaj Garifuna: hewe Mam: lb'aj Quiche: kumatz

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