List of unclassified languages of South America

The following purported languages of South America are listed as unclassified in either Campbell (2024), Loukotka (1968), Ethnologue, or Glottolog. Nearly all are extinct. It is likely that many of them were not actually distinct languages, only ethnic or regional names.

Campbell (2024)

Campbell (2024) lists the following languages of South America as unclassified. Most are extinct. Many were drawn from Loukotka (1968)Loukotka, Čestmír. 1968. Classification of South American Indian Languages Los Angeles: Latin American Studies Center, UCLA. and Adelaar & Muysken (2004). The majority are not listed in Ethnologue. The list is arranged in alphabetical order.

Aarufi – Colombia Aburuñe – Bolivia; spoken near Pantanal Acarapi – Brazil Aconipa (Tabancale, Tabancara) – Ecuador; only 5 words known which are dissimilar to other languages Aguano (Awano, Ahuano, Uguano, Aguanu, Santa Crucino) – Peru; completely unattested but thought to be Arawakan Alarua – Brazil Alon – Peru; along the Huallaga River Amasifuin – Peru; along the Huallaga River Amikoana (Amikuân, Amicuan) – Brazil; appears to be nonexistent and is certainly extinct now, classified by Loukotka (1968) as a Cariban language related to Wayana, Arakajú and Apalaí Amoeca – Brazil Amuimo – Brazil Anetine – Bolivia Angara – Peru Anicum – Brazil Anserma (including Caramanta, Cartama) – Colombia, is considered Chocoan Aperea – Argentina Apitupá – Brazil Apiyipán – Bolivia Aracadaini – Brazil Arae – Brazil Aramayu – Brazil Aramurú – Brazil Arapoá – Brazil Ararau – Brazil Arda – Peru, Colombia; a misidentified vocabulary and texts of the West African language Popo (Gen) Arma (Arma-Pozo) – Colombia; known from one word only Aroásene – Brazil Artane – Bolivia; spoken near Pantanal Atavila – Peru Aticum (Araticum, Uamué) – Brazil; data from Meader (1978) likely to be faked Atunceta (Tunceta, Atunseta) – Colombia, unclassifiable for lack of data Aueiko – Brazil Avis – Brazil Ayacore – Peru Baenan (Baenã) – Brazil; only 9 words known Bagua – Peru; only 3 words known, thought to be Cariban and incorrectly conflated with likely related Patagón Baixóta – Brazil Bakurönchichi – Brazil Barbacoas (Barbácoa, Colima) – Colombia; ISO 639 code retired in 2020 for being nonexistent Bauá – Brazil Bikutiakap – Brazil Bixarenren – Brazil Boimé (Poyme) – Brazil Bolona – Ecuador; linked with Chicham and Cañari Bracamoro (Papamuru) – Peru Buritiguara – Brazil Caapina – Brazil Cabixi (Kabixi) - Mato Grosso, Brazil; a short word-list. The name 'Kabixí' is a generic name for any hostile group, and has been used for a number of unattested and already known languages. It may be tonal. Cachipuna – Peru Cafuana – Brazil Cagua – Colombia; ISO 639 code retired as spurious Caguan (Kaguan) – Argentina Cahan – Brazil Caimbé (Kaimbé, Caimbe) – Brazil; extinct, known from 7 words Cajamarca – Peru Cajatambo – Peru Camana (Maje) – Peru Camaraxo – Brazil Camaré – Brazil Campaces – Ecuador; possibly Barbacoan, with Tsafiki, but unconfirmed Canelo (Penday) – Ecuador; synonym of Shiwiar Cañacure – Bolivia Capua – Brazil Capueni – Brazil Cara (Scyri, Caranqui, Otavalo) – Ecuador; thought to be Barbacoan Caraguata – Brazil Carapacho – Peru; synonym of Kashibo Carára – Brazil Carari – Brazil, Amazonas; a short word-list recorded by Johann Natterer which shows no resemblance to known languages, but considered Arawakan Cararú (Cajurú) – Brazil Caripó (Curupeche) – Brazil Cascoasoa – Peru Casigara – Brazil Casota – Argentina Catuquinaru – Brazil; known only from a short wordlist Cauacaua (Kawakawa) – Brazil Cauauri – Brazil Cauca – Colombia; retired from ISO 639 for being nonexistent or synonymous with Quimbaya Caucahue – southern Chile; retired from ISO 639 for being nonexistent Cauni – Brazil Caupuna – Brazil Cavana (Maje) – Peru Caxago – Brazil Cayú – Brazil Ceococe – Brazil; synonym of Xocó Chachapoya (Chacha) – Peru; known entirely from toponyms and family names, linked with Cahuapanan, Hibito–Cholon, Copallén and the hypothetical of Cajamarca Department Chancay – Brazil Chechehet ("Pampa") – Argentina; Loukotka (1968) gives the words chivil 'two', chu 'earth', and hati 'great'. Is the same as Gününa Küne. Chedua – Peru Chicha – Bolivia Chincha – Peru Chinchipe – Peru Chipiajes – Colombia; retired from ISO 639 in 2016 Chitarero – Colombia; classified as Chibchan by Loukotka (1968), unclassifiable for lack of data according to Adelaar (2004) Cholto – Peru Chongo – Peru Chono – Ecuador; synonym of Tsafiki according to Loukotka (1968) Chumbivilca – Peru; possibly a variety of Puquina; might be Aymaran Chunanawa – Peru; possibly Panoan based on suffix in Fleck (2013) Churima – Bolivia Chusco – Peru Ciaman – Colombia; classified as Chocoan by Loukotka (1968) unclassifiable for lack of data according to Adelaar (2004) Cognomona – Peru; along the Huallaga river Colima – Colombia; possibly Cariban, linked with Pijao Colima – Ecuador; classified as Barbacoan by Loukotka (1968) and distinct from the possibly Cariban Colima above Comanahua – Peru; along the Huallaga river Comaní – Brazil Comechingón – near Córdoba, Argentina; possibly Huarpean, very few words known Copallén (Copallín) – Peru; only 4 words known Coritananhó – Brazil Coxima (Koxima) – Colombia; retired from ISO 639 in 2016 for having no evidence of its existence Culaycha – Argentina Cumayari – Brazil Cumeral – Colombia; purportedly Arawakan but retired from ISO 639 in 2016 Cumbazá (Belsano) – Peru Curanave – Brazil Curi – Brazil Curiane – northeastern South America; precise location unknown Curierano – Brazil Curizeta – Peru Curubianan – Brazil Curumiá – Brazil Curuzirari – Brazil Cutaguá – Brazil Cutría – Brazil Cuximiraíba – Brazil Cuxiuára – Brazil Damanivá – Brazil Demacuri – Brazil Diaguita (Cacan, Kakán) – northwest Argentina; subdivisions are Calchaquí, Capayán, Catamarcano, Hualfín, Paccioca [Pazioca], Pular, Quilme, Yacampis Divihet – Argentina; considered a synonym of Gününa Küne Dokoro – Brazil Duri – Brazil Egualo – Argentina Eimi – Peru Emischata – Argentina Emok – Paraguay; retired in 2014 for being nonexistent, is not the name of any language Envuelto – Colombia; 8 words known Erema – Brazil Ewarhuyana – Brazil; 12 Ewarhuyana people in Pará State, who now speak Tiriyó Foklása – Brazil; the ethnic group speaks Fulniô according to the Fulni-ô ethnic group Gadio – Brazil Galache (Galaxe) – Brazil Gambéla – Brazil Gamela (Gamela of Viana, Curinsi, Acobu, Gamella) – Maranhão, Brazil, 19 words known Garañun – Brazil; listed by Louktka (1968) as a Xukuruan language but undocumented Gorgotoqui – Bolivia; all documentation lost, possibly Bororoan Goyana – Brazil Guaca – Colombia; known from only one word, being 'devil' Guacará – Argentina Guadaxo – Brazil Guaimute – Brazil Guajarapo (Guasaroca) – Bolivia Guanaca – Colombia; possibly a relative of Guambiano (Barbacoan) Guane – Colombia; possibly Chibchan but no documentation Guanarú – Brazil Guanavena – Brazil Guarino – Brazil Guenta – Colombia Guyarabe – Brazil Hacaritama – Colombia; supposed wordlist shown to be from Wayuu Harritiahan – Brazil Hiauahim (Javaim) – Brazil Himarimã – Brazil; uncontacted group, apparently Arawan based on a lost wordlist Huancavilca – Ecuador; extinct, only 4 words known Huamachi – Peru Humahuaca (Omaguaca) – Argentina; known from only proper names, apparent subdivisions are Fiscara, Jujuy, Ocloya, Osa, Purmamarca, Tiliar; Mason (1950:302) proposed an "Ataguitan" grouping that includes Humahuaca, Diaguita, and Atacameño Huambuco (Wámpuku) – Peru; alternative name for the Aguaruna people Huayana – Peru Huayla – Peru Iapama (Ápama) – Brazil; retired in 2016 from ISO 639 due to absence of evidence of existence, uncontacted group synonymous with either Wayampi or Apalaí Ibabi Aniji – Peru, name of a river inhabited by the Ese Ejja people (Huarayo) Idabaez – Colombia; only 1 word ( 'medicine man') and a chief's name () are known; Pacific coast, Bahía Solano to Cape Marzo in Colombia (Loukotka 1968) Imaré – Brazil Ina – Brazil Iñajurupé – Brazil Irra – Colombia; unclassifiable for lack of data, listed as Chocoan by Loukotka (1968) Iruri – Brazil Isolados do Massaco (?) – Brazil; possibly identified with Sirionó or Papiamän Isolados do Tanarú (?) – Brazil Isolado do Tanaru [aka Isolado do Buraco] at the Endangered Languages Project. (Man of the Hole) Itipuna – Brazil Itucá (Cuacá) – Brazil Jacariá – Brazil Jaguanai – Brazil Jaguanan – Brazil Jamundi – Colombia; no data Jeticó (Jiripancó) – Brazil; the Jiripancó are descendants of the Pankararú Jitirijiti (Jitirigiti) – Colombia; no data Jurema – Brazil Juruena – Brazil Jururu – Brazil Kamba (Camba) – Brazil; retired as spurious from ISO 639; either Eastern Bolivian Guaraní or duplicate of Chiquitano Kambiwá (Cambiuá, Cambioá) – Brazil; extinct and known from only a few words Kantaruré – Brazil; the Kantaruré are descendants of the Pankararú but their linguistic identification is impossible Kapinawá – Brazil; extinct, possibly descended from the Paratió Karahawyana (Karapawyana, Karafawyana) – Brazil; now classified as a dialect of the Waiwai language Katembri (Kariri de Mirandela) – Brazil Kiapüre (Quiapyre) – Brazil Kohoroxitari – supposedly possibly Tucanoan; is actually the name of a Sanöma-speaking village Kokakôre – Brazil Komokare – Brazil Korubo (Caceteiros) – Brazil; known to be Panoan Koshurái – Brazil Kurumro (Curumro) – Paraguay; identified by Loukotka (1931) as related to an Mascoian-speaking group Kururu – Brazil Lache – Colombia; may be Chibchan, but no data Lambi – Brazil Lili – Colombia; may be Yurumangui, but no data Llamish – Peru Macamasu – Brazil Macarú – Brazil Macuani – Brazil Macuarê – Brazil Macuja – Brazil Macuruné – Brazil Mairajiqui – Brazil Malaba – Ecuador; may be Barbacoa (Chibchan), but no data Malibú – Colombia; formerly considered Chibchan Malquesi – Argentina Manesono (Mopeseano) – Bolivia Manta (Manabi) – Ecuador; possibly Chimú, but only a few patronyms are known Maracano – Brazil Marapaña – Brazil Maricoxi – Brazil Maricupi – Brazil Maripá – Brazil Maruquevene – Brazil Masa – Argentina Masarari – Brazil Masaya – Colombia Mashco – Peru; uncontacted, possibly related to Piro (Arawakan), or "Preandine" (Arawakan), known from 24 words Matará – Argentina; may be related to Tonocoté Maynas (Mayna, Maina, Rimachu) – Peru; a Cahuapanan language, past attempts to link it to Jivaroan, Zaparoan, and Candoshi Maxiena (Ticomeri) – Bolivia; completely unknown Mayu – Brazil; possibly the same as Mayo (Panoan) or Morike (Arawakan); mayu is the Quechuan word for 'river, water' Menejou – Brazil Minhahá – Brazil Mocana – Brazil; may be related to Malibú, but only 2 words known Mocoa – Colombia; may be related to Kamëntšá Miarrã – Brazil; retired from ISO 639 for being unattested Moheyana – Brazil Morcote – Colombia; may be Chibchan, but no data Moriquito – Brazil Morua – Brazil Moyobamba (Moyo-Pampa) – Peru Muriva – Brazil Mure – Bolivia; apparently not Chapacuran as previously thought Muzapa – Peru Muzo – Colombia; may be Pijao (Cariban) Nacai – Brazil Nambu – Bolivia Natagaimas – Colombia; retired from ISO 639 as a synonym of Pijao Natú – Brazil; known from 18 words, unclassified Nauna – Brazil Nindaso – Peru Nocadeth – Brazil Nomona – Peru Nori – Colombia; unclassifiable for lack of data Ñumasiara – Brazil Ocro – Peru Ocren – Brazil Ohoma – Argentina; may be the same as Hohoma or Mahoma Oivaneca – Brazil Olmos – Peru; possibly connected with Sechura Omejes – Colombia; retired in 2016 from ISO 639 for being nonexistent Onicoré – Brazil Onoyóro – Brazil Orí – Brazil Ortue (Ortu, Urtue) – Bolivia Otecua – Peru Otegua – Colombia Otí (Eochavante, Chavante) – Brazil; Greenberg classifies it as Macro-Gê, though this is unlikely according to Ribeiro (2006:422), otherwise considered isolate, only 110 words known Pacabuey – Colombia; may be Malibú, but no data Pacarará (Pakarara) – Brazil Pacimonari – Venezuela Paguara – Brazil