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Glite Dictionary
Yucatec language

Yucatec language

9.9
A Mayan language spoken mainly in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and in nearby parts of Belize and Guatemala
  • noun
: idioma yucateco
  • The Yucatec language is still widely spoken in rural areas of the Yucatán Peninsula.

Examples

  • She decided to study the Yucatec language to help preserve indigenous culture.

  • Several ancient manuscripts were written in the Yucatec language.

  • The Yucatec language is rich in history and culture.

  • Many people in Mexico speak the Yucatec language.

  • The Yucatec language is still widely spoken in rural areas of the Yucatán Peninsula.

  • She decided to study the Yucatec language to help preserve indigenous culture.

  • Several ancient manuscripts were written in the Yucatec language.

Synonyms

Yucatec
vsYucatec language
1 9.9

A Mayan language spoken in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico

is broader and includes speakers in Belize and Guatemala
Yucateco language
vsYucatec language
9.9

A Mayan language spoken on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico and parts of Belize and Guatemala

has identical meaning but uses a different name form
Yucateco
vsYucatec language
9.9

A Mayan language spoken by people in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico

covers the same language but also notes speakers in Belize and Guatemala
Yucatecan
vsYucatec language
9.9

A Maya language spoken in the Yucatán Peninsula

is the specific language used by local people across Mexico Belize and Guatemala

Surface Forms

Yucatec language singular
Yucatec languages plural

Morphology

Yucatec + language

This is a directly compositional noun phrase: 'Yucatec' names the people/region/language and 'language' denotes the category, so the meaning 'the language of the Yucatec people' is immediately derivable from the parts. The formation matches common cross-linguistic naming patterns (X + language), so a learner who knows both constituents will understand it.

Etymology

Yucatec language comes from the region Yucatán. One popular story says Spanish explorers asked the local people the place name, the people replied with a phrase meaning 'I don't understand', and the explorers heard 'Yucatán', so Yucatec language means 'the language of Yucatán'.