The Maya language is spoken throughout the Yucatan Peninsula and the surrounding Lowlands area. It is spoken with minor differences from region to region. Persons speaking different dialects of the same language can usually understand one another.

PRONUNCIATION CONSONANTS

Most consonants are pronounced the same as in English: b, ch, l, m, n, p, s, t, w, y.

h is pronounced as in English, but more gently aspirated.
j and d are not used in Maya
r is a loan from Spanish
k is pronounced like a hard c as in cold
x is pronounced like the English sh as in shoe
ts is pronounced like the ds in suds

VOWELS

a is pronounced like in the a car
e is pronounced like the a in play
i is pronounced like the e in ear
o is pronounced like the o in go
u is pronounced like the oo in boot

The stress in the Maya language is always on the last syllable, except in loan words from other languages.

GREETINGS AND OTHER PHRASES

Biix a beel?
How are you? (lit. how is your way?)
¿Cómo estás?
Ma' lob!
O.K., fine. (lit. not bad)
Muy bien. Bueno.
Dyos bootik.
Thanks. (in the North of Yucatan Peninsula; lit. god pays it)
Gracias.
Ku' ku bootikech.
Thanks. (in the South of Y. P.; lit. may the gods repay you)
 Gracias.
Ma'.
No.
No.
Hah.
(It is) true.
(Es) verdad.
Saman.
Tomorrow.
Mañana.
As tal saman.
Until tomorrow. (see you in the morning)
Hasta mañana.
U laak k'in.
Later.
Más tarde.
Ten xan.
Me too.
Yo también.
Baax a k'aaba?
What is your name?
¿Cómo se (te) llama(s)?
Hwan, in k'aaba'.
My name is John. (lit. John, my name)
Mi nombre es Juan.
Baax ka waik?
What do you say?
¿Qué dice usted?
Tuux ka bin?
Where are you (singular) going?
¿A dónde va(s)?
Tuux ka bin (eex)?
Where are you (plural) going?
¿A dónde van?
Uts wenech?
Did you sleep well?
¿Dormiste bien? ¿Durmió bien?
Koox.
Let's go.
Vámonos.





































MEAL AND FOOD PHRASES

Koox hanal.
Let's go eat.
Vámonos a comer.
Koox tuun.
Let's go (then!)
Entonces, ¡vámonos!
Wihech?
Are you hungry?
¿Tiene(s) hambre?
Hach wihen.
I am very hungry.
Tengo mucha hambre.
Uk'a hech?
Are you thirsty?
¿Tiene(s) sed?
Hach uk'ahen.
I'm thirsty.
Tengo mucha sed.
Tak a hanal beora?
Do you want to eat now?
¿Quiere(s) comer ahora?
Yaab.
That's enough/too much.
Es mucho. Es demasiado.
Hach ki'.
Very tasty.
 (Es) Muy sabroso.
A k'aat uhel?
Do you want another?
¿Quiere(s) otro?
Minaan.
There isn't any.
No hay.
Bak'
Meat.
Carne.
Buul.
Bean.
Frijol.
Chakow/chokow.
Hot. (in temperature)
Caliente.
Ha'.
Water.
Agua.
Kay.
Fish.
 Pescado.
Paap.
Spicy hot.
Picante.
Pibil.
Pit oven baked/roasted.
 Barbacoa.
Siis.
Cold. (in temperature)
Frío.
Taab/ch'och.
Salt.
Sal.
Ah nal/Xiim.
Maize.
Maíz.
Xni' pek'.
Hot sauce (lit. dogs nose)
Salsa picante.
Ah ik.
Chili pepper.
Chile.














































BUYING THINGS

Hayp'el?
How many?
¿Cuántos(as)?
Bahux?
How much? (in the North of Yucatan peninsula)
¿Cuánto(a)?
Bon?
How much? (in the South of Yucatan peninsula)
¿Cuánto(a)?
U tohol? (South)
The price? (when showing the money)
¿El precio?
U boolil? (North)
The price?
¿El precio?
Bon kin p'ax?
How much do I owe?
¿Cuánto debo?
Wah a p'axik en?
Will you give me credit?
 ¿Me lo fiaría?
Kin bootikech samal.
I'll pay you tomorrow.
Le pagaré mañana.
Chen lelo'?
Is that all?
¿Es todo?
Wa baax mas?
Something else?
¿Algo más?
(Baax u hel?)
(Something else?)
 ¿Algo más?
Bahux u tohol? (North)
How much does it cost?
¿Cuánto cuesta?
Bon u boolil? (South)
How much does it cost?
¿Cuánto cuesta?
Hach kooh.
Very expensive.
Muy caro.
Ts'a ten hum'pel koka.
Give me a Coke.
Dame una Coca Cola.
Ts'a ten oxtul wich.
Give me three fruits.
Dame tres frutas.

































This information on the Maya language is according to William J. Litzinger in Spoken Maya.

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