Basic Tsotsil Phrases for Visitors to Chiapas

INALI’s official Bats’i K’op Tsotsil courtesy prontuario provides the greetings, thanks, introductions and leave-taking phrases below. It should not be treated as a universal script for every Tsotsil-speaking community. INALI describes Tsotsil as having seven linguistic variants, and the prontuario is not labelled as the specific variety of San Juan Chamula, Zinacantán or another nearby community.

Quick answer

• Start with one or two courtesy phrases, especially a greeting or thank-you.
• Use the spelling below as a respectful reference, not as proof that your pronunciation is perfect.
• Current INALI materials use Tsotsil; Tzotzil is also common in older and international sources.
• Ask a speaker, teacher or local guide to check pronunciation when it matters.
• Do not confuse Tsotsil with Tseltal; they are distinct but related Mayan languages. See Tsotsil vs Tseltal.

Courtesy phrases from INALI

The forms and Spanish glosses below follow INALI’s official Tsotsil prontuario. The English uses a natural visitor translation where the Spanish gloss is idiomatic.

| Tsotsil form | Meaning | When it fits | | --- | --- | --- | | Bats’i okol aval | Many thanks | After help, a purchase or an introduction | | Yu jpech vaj | Enjoy your meal | Before or during a meal | | Sak osil | Good morning | In the morning | | Mal k’ak’al | Good afternoon | In the afternoon | | Ak’ubal | Good night | In the evening or at night | | Ti jbie ja’… | My name is… | Introducing yourself | | Okol aval ti natañike | Welcome; thanks for coming | A welcoming exchange | | Ochan avokoluk | Please come in / go ahead | When inviting someone to pass | | Ech’kun ta ts’el | Excuse me / with permission | Passing, interrupting or asking permission | | Chi’ino batel kajvaltik | May you go well; may our Lord accompany you | A good-wish phrase with religious wording | | Jk’opon jbatik yan velta | Goodbye; we will speak another day | Leaving | | Junuk no’ox me avo’ontonik li’ ta tsobleje | Enjoy this gathering | A meeting or group setting |

INALI translates these phrases into Spanish as Muchas gracias, Buen provecho, Buenos días, Buenas tardes, Buenas noches, Mi nombre es, Bienvenidos, Pase usted, Con permiso, Que te vaya bien, Adiós and Que disfruten de esta reunión. The longer forms are useful to recognize, but a visitor does not need to memorize them all.

Pronunciation and spelling

The spellings below follow INALI’s written forms rather than an invented phonetic transcription. Tsotsil sounds and contrasts can be flattened when written with English or Spanish assumptions, so a written phrase may not sound natural without a speaker’s help.