In Chile, altogether with Castilian, which it was a Spanish legacy, that is the official language of the country, exist some native languages which they survive to the present time due to the surviving of the native communities in his closed nuclei of life, being this is transmitted of parents to children.
But they are in danger to be extinguished almost totally of our daily life, product of the necessity to integrate itself of its members to the national society, because these people, for reasons of study, work, economic and the mestization, separate from their communities.
Already practically extinguished they are the native languages like chango, the diaguita, atacameńo, yagan, chono and selk'nam (onas).
The languages that still survive are: it will aimará, quechua, mapuche, to kaweshar (alacalufe) and the pascuense or rapa nui.
The Aimará language is spoken in the altiplánica zone, in Chile in the I and II Region, in this zone them has been possible to conserve its language, because those aimarás that move to the cities, are it losing and either they do not transmit his children, by the importance that they grant to their integration.
The Quechua language is spoken in the zone of the first region, by some few old inhabitants of Toconce, San Pedro and Cupo-Turi, weighs to be a well-known language by all the zone of Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, has not had the same force in Chile to stay effective in massive form.
The Mapuche language is the one that has greater presence in the country, is known him as mupudungu "Earth language" or mapudungun "speaks of people", extending its use between regions VIII, IX, and X Region, being greater in the zone of Araucan (IX Region) and in other places, as they are Huapi island, San Juan of the Coast, Catrihuela, Biobío Stop, between the rivers Itata and Biobío, Toltén, Malleco, Cautín
Some Mapuches Words:
| Co | Water |
| Antu | Sun |
| Kueyen | Moon |
| Che | People |
| Melipal | Southern Cross |
| Meli | Four |
| Pale | Stars |
| Yepun | Syrian Star |
DICTIONARY MAPUCHE (AUSTRAL UNIV. OF CHILE)
The language Alacalufe or Kaweshkar is a language that is being lost by the gradual reduction of its community, still conserves thanks to its few surviving members in the zones of Puerto Edén and Punta Arenas.
Some Kaweskar Words:
| Asaqe | Food |
| Jekstás | Flower |
| Jelá | Small plum tree |
| Jemókar | Paddle |
| Kájev | Canoe |
| Kejéro | Red |
| Kep | Not |
| Kiável | Without |
| Kutéke | Also |
| L´jep | Beautiful |
KAWESHKAR TEXTS (UNIVERSITY OF CHILE)
The language Pascuense or Rapa Nui is spoken by the adult members of Easter Island, the entrance of the radio, the television to the life of the native ones, altogether with the tourism have made be losing the learning between the children who receive educative formation in Spanish, at the present time the Ancient Council, is in process of negotiations with the Seremi de Education (Chilean Goverment Statement) so that the children can express in both languages in bilingual way.
Some Rapa Nui Words:
| Au Koa Ri a Ria Oteki | I am very happy |
| Hanga Rahi au Kia Koe | I love you much |
| Ioranaá | Welcome - Hi ! |
| Kote Tavohe Mee Nei | Is beautiful that |
| Mai Hekoe | Where do you come from ? |
| Matou onei o Rapanui | We are islanders |
| Maururu | Thanks |
| Pehe Koe | How are you ? |
| Peti | Pretty |
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© Copyright, Blanca Luz Camucet Ortiz, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002.