List of unclassified languages of South America

Campbell (2024)

• Aarufi – Colombia
• Aburuñe – Bolivia; spoken near Pantanal
• Acarapi – Brazil
• Aconipa – Ecuador; only 5 words known, which are dissimilar to other languages
• Aguano – Peru; completely unattested but thought to be Arawakan
• Alarua – Brazil
• Alon – Peru; along the Huallaga River
• Amasifuin – Peru; along the Huallaga River
• Amikoana – Brazil; appears to be nonexistent and is certainly extinct now, classified by Loukotka as a Cariban language related to Wayana, Arakajú and Apalaí
• Amoeca – Brazil
• Amuimo – Brazil
• Anetine – Bolivia
• Angara – Peru
• Anicum – Brazil
• Anserma – Colombia, is considered Chocoan
• Aperea – Argentina
• Apitupá – Brazil
• Apiyipán – Bolivia
• Aracadaini – Brazil
• Arae – Brazil
• Aramayu – Brazil
• Aramurú – Brazil
• Arapoá – Brazil
• Ararau – Brazil
• – Peru, Colombia
• Arma – Colombia; known from 1 word only
• Aroásene – Brazil
• Artane – Bolivia; spoken near Pantanal
• Atavila – Peru
• Aticum – Brazil; data from Meader likely to be faked
• Atunceta – Colombia, unclassifiable for lack of data
• Aueiko – Brazil
• Avis – Brazil
• Axata Darpa – Paraguay
• Ayacore – Peru
• Baenan – 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 – Colombia; ISO 639 code retired in 2020 for being nonexistent
• Bauá – Brazil
• Bikutiakap – Brazil
• Bixarenren – Brazil
• Boimé – Brazil
• Bolona – Ecuador; linked with Chicham and Cañari
• Bracamoro – Peru
• Buritiguara – Brazil
• Caapina – Brazil
• Cabixi - 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 – Argentina
• Cahan – Brazil
• Caimbé – Brazil; extinct, known from 7 words
• Cajamarca – Peru
• Cajatambo – Peru
• Camana – Peru
• Camaraxo – Brazil
• Camaré – Brazil
• Campaces – Ecuador; possibly Barbacoan, with Tsafiki, but unconfirmed
• Canelo – Ecuador; synonym of Shiwiar
• Cañacure – Bolivia
• Capua – Brazil
• Capueni – Brazil
• Cara – 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 possibly Arawakan
• Cararú – Brazil
• Caripó – Brazil
• Cascoasoa – Peru
• Casigara – Brazil
• Casota – Argentina
• Catuquinaru – Brazil; known only from a short wordlist.
• Cauacaua – 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 – Peru
• Caxago – Brazil
• Cayú – Brazil
• Ceococe – Brazil
• Chachapoya – Peru; known entirely from toponyms and family names, linked with Cahuapanan, Hibito–Cholon, Copallén and the hypothetical -cat language of Cajamarca Department
• Chancay – Brazil
• Chechehet – Argentina; Loukotka 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, unclassifiable for lack of data according to Adelaar
• Cholto – Peru
• Chongo – Peru
• Chono – Ecuador; synonym of Tsafiki according to Loukotka
• Chumbivilca – Peru; possibly a variety of Puquina; might be Aymaran
• Chunanawa – Peru; possibly Panoan based on suffix -nawa in Fleck
• Churima – Bolivia
• Chusco – Peru
• Ciaman – Colombia; classified as Chocoan by Loukotka unclassifiable for lack of data according to Adelaar
• Cognomona – Peru; along the Huallaga river
• Colima – Colombia; possibly Cariban, linked with Pijao
• Colima – Ecuador; classified as Barbacoan by Loukotka 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 – Peru; only 4 words known
• Coritananhó – Brazil
• Coxima – Colombia; retired from ISO 639 in 2016
• Culaycha – Argentina
• Cumayari – Brazil
• Cumeral – Colombia; retired from ISO 639 in 2016
• Cumbazá – 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
• Dawainomol
• Demacuri – Brazil
• Diaguita – northwest Argentina; subdivisions are Calchaquí, Capayán, Catamarcano, Hualfín, Paccioca , 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 – Brazil
• Gambéla – Brazil
• Gamela – Maranhão, Brazil, 19 words
• Garañun – Brazil; listed by Louktka as a Xukuruan language but undocumented
• Gorgotoqui – Bolivia; all documentation lost, possibly Bororoan
• Goyana – Brazil
• Guaca – Colombia; known from only 1 word guaca 'devil'
• Guacará – Argentina
• Guadaxo – Brazil
• Guaimute – Brazil
• Guajarapo – Bolivia
• Guanaca – Colombia; possibly a relative of Guambiano
• 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 – Brazil
• Himarimã – Brazil; uncontacted group, apparently Arawan based off of lost wordlist
• Huancavilca – Ecuador; extinct, only 4 words known
• Huamachi – Peru
• Humahuaca – Argentina; known from only proper names, apparent subdivisions are Fiscara, Jujuy, Ocloya, Osa, Purmamarca, Tiliar; Mason proposed an "Ataguitan" grouping that includes Humahuaca, Diaguita, and Atacameño
• Huambuco – Peru; alternative name for the Aguaruna people
• Huayana – Peru
• Huayla – Peru
• Iapama – Brazil; retired in 2016 from ISO 639
• Ibabi Aniji – Peru
• Idabaez – Colombia; only 1 word and a chief's name are known; Pacific coast, Bahía Solano to Cape Marzo in Colombia
• Imaré – Brazil
• Ina – Brazil
• Iñajurupé – Brazil
• Irra – Colombia; unclassifiable for lack of data, listed as Chocoan by Loukotka
• Iruri – Brazil
• Isolados do Massaco – Brazil; possibly identified with Sirionó or Papiamän
• Isolados do Tanarú – Brazil
• Itipuna – Brazil
• Itucá – Brazil
• Jacariá – Brazil
• Jaguanai – Brazil
• Jaguanan – Brazil
• Jamundi – Colombia; may be Yurumangui, but no data
• Jeticó – Brazil; the Jiripancó are descendants of the Pankararú
• Jitirijiti – Colombia; may be Chocóan, but no data
• Jurema – Brazil
• Juruena – Brazil
• Jururu – Brazil
• Kamba – Brazil; retired as spurious from ISO 639
• Kambiwá – 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 – Brazil; now classified as a dialect of the Waiwai language
• Katembri – Brazil
• Kiapüre – Brazil
• Kohoroxitari – possibly Tucanoan; is actually the name of a Sanöma-speaking village
• Kokakôre – Brazil
• Komokare – Brazil
• Korubo – Brazil; known to be Panoan
• Koshurái – Brazil
• Kurumro – Paraguay; identified by Loukotka as related to an Enlhet-Enenlhet-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, but no data
• Malibú – Colombia; formerly considered Chibchan
• Malquesi – Argentina
• Manesono – Bolivia
• Manta – 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, or "Preandine", known from 24 words
• Matará – Argentina; may be related to Tonocoté
• Maynas – Peru; a Cahuapanan language, past attempts to link it to Jivaroan, Zaparoan, and Candoshi
• Maxiena – Bolivia; completely unknown
• Mayu – Brazil; possibly the same as Mayo or Morike ; 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
• Moheyana – Brazil
• Morcote – Colombia; may be Chibchan, but no data
• Moriquito – Brazil
• Morua – Brazil
• Moyobamba – Peru
• Muriva – Brazil
• Mure – Bolivia; apparently not Chapacuran as previously thought
• Muzapa – Peru
• Muzo – Colombia; may be Pijao
• Nacai – Brazil
• Nambu – Bolivia
• Natagaimas – Colombia; extinct, 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
• Onicoré – Brazil
• Onoyóro – Brazil
• Orí – Brazil
• Ortue – Bolivia
• Otecua – Peru
• Otegua – Colombia
• Otí – Brazil; Greenberg classifies it as Macro-Gê, though this is unlikely according to Ribeiro, otherwise considered isolate, only 110 words known
• Pacabuey – Colombia; may be Malibú, but no data
• Pacarará – Brazil
• Pacimonari – Venezuela
• Paguara – Brazil
• Panatagua – Peru; extinct, possibly Arawakan, presumed Panoan based on ethnonym by Fleck
• Panche – Colombia; possibly Cariban
• Pankararé – Bahía, Brazil; extinct and unattested, can only be assumed to be a dialect of Pankararú
• Pankararú – Brazil; too poorly known to be classified but sometimes considered an isolate
• Pantágora – Colombia
• Pao – Venezuela
• Papamiän – Brazil; may be the same as the "Isolados do Massaco"
• Papana – Brazil
• Papavô – Brazil; uncontacted, may be Arawakan or Panoan, according to Glottolog, refers to groups of Harákmbut, Kulina, Amawaka and Yawanawa
• Paragoaru – Brazil
• Paraparixana – Brazil
• Parapicó – Brazil
• Patagón – Peru; possibly Cariban, only 4 known words
• Patiti – Brazil
• Payacú – Brazil
• Payanso – Peru; along the Huallaga river
• Pehuenche – Argentina; distinct from Pehuenche dialect of Mapudungun
• Peria – Brazil
• Perovosan – Bolivia
• Piapia – Brazil
• Pijao – Colombia; sometimes grouped with Cariban
• – Brazil
• Pocoana – Brazil
• Ponares – Colombia; retired from ISO 639 in 2016
• Porcá – Brazil
• Porú – Brazil
• Pubenza – Colombia; linked with Coconucan languages
• Puná – Ecuador
• Puscajae – Colombia; classified as Yurumanguí by Loukotka
• Quelosi – Argentina
• Querandí – Argentina, near Buenos Aires; may be related to Gününa Küne. Loukotka gives the words zobá 'moon' and afia 'bow'
• Quiquidcana – Peru
• Quijo – Ecuador; may be Barbácoa, but only 3 words are known
• Quillacinga – Ecuador; may be Sebondoy; Fabre reports that the Kamsa are descended, at least in part, from the Quillasinga
• Quimbaya – Colombia; may be Chocó, but only 8 words are known
• Quiambioá – Brazil; likely synonym for Kambiwá
• Quindío – Colombia
• Quingnam – Peru; extinct, possibly the same as and geographcally related to Lengua Pescadora of colonial sources; according to Quilter et al., a list of numbers was recently found
• Qurigmã – Brazil
• Rabona – Ecuador; possibly Candoshi, but there are similarities with Aguaruna
• Ramanos – Bolivia; known from 8 words
• Roramí – Brazil
• Sácata – Peru; extinct; may be Candoshi or Arawakan, but only 3 words known
• Sacosi – Bolivia
• Sacracrinha – Brazil
• Sanavirón – Argentina, near Córdova. Loukotka classified it as an isolate, but there is insufficient data to justify this.
• Sapeiné – Peru
• Seden
• Shinabo – Bolivia; unattested but apparently related to Chácobo
• Siberi – Bolivia
• Sintó – Paraguay
• Sinú – Colombia; may be Chocó, but no data
• Sipisipi – Peru
• Socorino – Bolivia
• Stanatevogyet ? – Paraguay; possibly "remnant of the Enimaga-Guentuse"
• Supeselo – Argentina
• Surucosi – Bolivia
• Suruim – Brazil; apparently synonymous with Surui
• Tacunbiacu – Bolivia
• Taguaylen – Argentina
• Tacarúba – Brazil
• Taluhet – Argentina; see Chechehet
• Tamacosi – Bolivia
• Tamaní – Colombia
• Tamaquéu – Brazil
• Tamararé – Brazil
• Tambaruré – Brazil
• Taminani – Brazil
• Tanquihua – Peru
• Tapacurá – Brazil; not to be confused with Chapacura language
• Tapeba – Brazil; the Tapeba have a mixed origin and do not have any specific ancestral language
• Tapuisú – Brazil
• Tarairiú – Brazil
• Tarimoxi – Brazil
• Taripio – Brazil, Suriname
• Tavúri – Brazil
• Tchagoyána – Brazil
• Tchicoyna – Brazil
• Tegua – Colombia; grouped with Caquetío by Loukotka
• Tepqui – Peru; along the Huallaga river
• Tevircacap – Brazil
• Tiboi – Bolivia
• Timaná – Colombia; may be Andaquí but no data
• Tingán – Peru
• Tingui-Boto – Brazil; extinct; also known as Tingui, Tingui-Botó, Carapató, Karapató, Tingui-Botó people were also called Wakoná, their ancestral language is Dzubukuá
• Tobachana – Brazil
• Tohazana – Venezuela
• Tomata – Bolivia
• Tomedes – Colombia; retired from ISO 639 in 2016
• Tomina – Bolivia
• Tonocoté – Argentina, Chaco region; known from one sentence
• Tororí – Brazil
• Truká – Brazil; unattested
• Tremembé – Brazil; unattested
• Tubichaminí – Argentina; grouped by Loukotka with Querandí and Chechehet; is apparently a name for certain regional groups of Querandí
• Tucumanduba – Brazil
• Tulumayo – Peru
• Tupijó – Brazil
• Tupiokón – Brazil
• Tutura – Bolivia
• Tuxá – Brazil; wordlists are inconsistent
• Uairua – Brazil
• Uauarate – Brazil
• Unainuman - Içá River basin, short word list, Adelaar & Brijnen 2014
• Uranaju – Brazil
• Urucuai – Brazil
• Uruma – Brazil
• Uru-Pa-In – Brazil; possibly Tupian language of isolated group
• Urupuca – Brazil
• Ururi – Brazil, Mato Grosso
• Vanherei – Brazil
• Vouve – Brazil
• Waitaká – Brazil; subdivisions are Mopi, Yacorito, Wasu, Miri, possibly Purian
• Wakoná – Brazil; unattested
• Walêcoxô – Brazil
• Wamoé – Brazil; wordlists likely to be faked
• Wasu – Brazil; unattested
• Wau – Peru
• Xaquese – Bolivia
• Xaray – Bolivia; synonymous with Saraveca, an Arawakan language
• Xibata – Brazil
• Xipará – Brazil
• Xipináwa – Brazil; claimed to be Panoan but unattested
• Xiroa – Ecuador; mentioned in early sources, and may be a variant spelling of Jívaro
• Xokó – Brazil; only a few words known
• Yalcón – Colombia; may be Andaquí, but no data
• Yamesí – Colombia; may be Antioquian, but only 1 word known
• Yampará – Bolivia
• Yaperú – Paraguay
• Yarí – Colombia; may be a Carijona dialect, West Tucanoan, or Huitoto, retired from ISO 639 in 2016
• Yariguí – Colombia; may be related to Opone, but no data
• Yauei – Brazil
• Yenmu – Colombia
• Yoemanai – Brazil
• Yufiua – Brazil
• Yumbo – Ecuador; may be Barbácoa or Panzaleo, but no data
• Yurimagua – Peru
• Zapazo – Peru
• Zuana – Brazil
• Zurina – Brazil