List of endangered languages in South America


An endangered language is a language that it is at risk of falling out of use, generally because it has few surviving speakers. If it loses all of its native speakers, it becomes an extinct language. UNESCO defines four levels of language endangerment between "safe" and "extinct":
South America is a continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean; North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the northwest.

[Argentina]

LanguageCommentsSpeakersSource
Chiriguano language15,000Red Book
Chorote languageSee also Matacoan languagesRed Book
Guarani Correntino languageRed Book
Mapuche languageRed Book
Mbya Guarani languageRed Book
Mocovi language4,500Red Book
Nivacle languageRed Book
Pilaga language4,000Red Book
Quichua Santiagueno language60,000Red Book
Tapiete languageRed Book
TehuelcheChonan languagesextinct
Toba Sur languageRed Book
Wichi languageRed Book

[Bolivia]

LanguageCommentsSpeakersSource
Araona language110Red Book
Ayoreo languageRed Book
Baure language13
Bororo languageRed Book
Callahuaya languageRed Book
Cavinena language1,700Red Book
Chacobo language550Red Book
Chimane language5,300Red Book
Chipaya language1,200Red Book
Chiquitano languageRed Book
Chorote languageRed Book
Chulupi-Ashlushlay languageRed Book
Esse Ejja languageRed Book
Guarani Chiriguano language33,670Red Book
Guarayo languageRed Book
Ignaciano languageSee also Moxos languageRed Book
Itonama language5
Leco language20
Machineri languageRed Book
Mataco languageRed Book
Moseten languageRed Book
Movima language1,400Red Book
Pacahuara language17
18
Paunaca languageRed Book
Pauserna-Guarasugwe languageRed Book
Reyesano languagePossibly a few speakers
Siriono languageRed Book
Tacana languageRed Book
Tapiete languageRed Book
Toba languageRed Book
Toromona languageRed Book
Trinitario languageRed Book
Uru language2
Yaminahua languageRed Book
Yuqui language120Red Book
Yuracare language2,700Red Book

[Brazil]

LanguageCommentsSpeakersSource
Anambe language7
77
Apiaca language2
Arikapu language6
Arua language12
Arutani language17 in Brazil
Population total all countries: 19
Cafundo Creole language40.
Guato language40
382.
Himarima language40.
Jabuti language5.
Juma language4
There were 300 in 1940.
Karahawyana language40.
Karipuna language12 to 15.
Katawixi language10.
Katukina language1 360.
Kreye language30.
Mapidian language50 in Brazil.
Monde language30.
Ofaye language15
37.
Omagua languageThere may be none left in Brazil.
Oro Win language5
55.
Piraha language150 speakers in 2004.
Ethnic population: 200.
Purubora language2.
Sikiana language33 in Brazil
Population total all countries: 48.
Tariano language100 in Brazil
1,500 in Brazil.
Torá language40
120.
Xipaya language2.

[Chile]

LanguageCommentsSpeakersSource
Aymara languageRed Book
Huilliche languageRed Book
Kawesqar languageAlacaluf20
Population includes 10 in Puerto Eden.
Red Book
Mapuche languageRed Book
Ona languageRed Book
Yaghan language1

[Colombia]

[Ecuador]

LanguageCommentsSpeakersSource
Achuar-Shiwiar languageRed Book
Awapit languageRed Book
Chachi languageRed Book
Cofan languageRed Book
Epera languageRed Book
Huaorani languageRed Book
Secoya languageRed Book
Shuar languageRed Book
Siona languageRed Book
Tsafiqui languageRed Book
Zaparo language1
170.

[French Guiana]

[Guyana]

LanguageCommentsSpeakersSource
Akawaio languageRed Book
Arekuna languageRed Book
Karina languageRed Book
Lokono languageRed Book
Makushi languageRed Book
Mawayana language50
Patamona languageRed Book
Wapishana languageRed Book
Warao languageRed Book

[Paraguay]

[Peru]

[Suriname]

LanguageCommentsSpeakersSource
Akurio language10
Carib languageRed Book
Lokono languageRed Book
Mawayana languageRed Book
Sikiana language15 in Suriname.
Trio languageRed Book
Tunayana languageRed Book
Wayana languageRed Book

[Venezuela]

LanguageCommentsSpeakersSource
Akawaio languageRed Book
Anun languageRed Book
Arutani language2 in Venezuela.
Baniva languageRed Book
Bari languageRed Book
Cuiba languageRed Book
Guahibo languageRed Book
Guajiro languageRed Book
Hoti languageRed Book
Karina languageRed Book
Kurripako languageRed Book
Lokono languageRed Book
Mako languageRed Book
Makushi languageRed Book
Mandahuaca languageRed Book
Mapoyo language3.
Nengatu languageRed Book
Panare languageRed Book
Patamona languageRed Book
Pemono language1
Pepojivi languageRed Book
Piapoko languageRed Book
Piaroa languageRed Book
Puinave languageRed Book
Sape language5
Saliva languageRed Book
Sanema languageRed Book
Tunebo languageRed Book
Uruak languageRed Book
Warao languageRed Book
Warekena languageRed Book
Yabarana language20.
Yanam languageRed Book
Yanomam languageRed Book
Yanomami languageRed Book
Yaruro languageRed Book
Yekuana languageRed Book
Yukpa languageRed Book