Boruca language


The Boruca language is the native language of the Boruca people of Costa Rica. It is one of the Chibchan languages. It is nearly extinct; it was spoken fluently by only five women in 1986, while 30 to 35 others spoke it non-fluently. The rest of the tribe's 1,000 members speak Spanish. The language is taught as a second language at the local primary school Escuela Doris Z. Stone. One can hear Bronka words and phrases mixed into Spanish conversations but it is extremely rare to hear prolonged exchanges in Bronka.
Greetings:
¿Ishójcre rában? = What's up?
Morén, morén. = Fine, well.
The personal pronouns in Boruca
PersonSingularPlural
1státdiᵛ / diᵛ rójc
2ndbiᵛ / biᵛ rójc
3rdii rójc / iᵛ rójc

The numbers
NumbersBronka
1éᵛxe, éᵛxi
2búᵛc
3man̈
4bájcan̈
5shishcán̈
6téshan
7cúj, cújc
8éjtan̈
9cújtan̈, éjcuj
10téjcuj, cróshtan̈, búᵛc cúj