| Total population | |
|---|---|
| c. 157,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Guatemala | 112,432[1] |
 Honduras | 33,256 (2013)[2] |
 El Salvador | Estimated 11,000 |
| Languages | |
| Chʼortiʼ,Spanish | |
| Religion | |
| Catholic,Evangelicalist,Maya religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Maya people | |
TheChʼortiʼ people (alternatively,Chʼortiʼ Maya orChorti) are one of theIndigenousMaya peoples, who primarily reside in communities and towns of southeasternGuatemala, northwesternHonduras, and northernEl Salvador. Theirindigenous language, also known asChʼortiʼ, is a survival of Classic Choltian, the language of the inscriptions inCopan. It is the first language of approximately 15,000 people, although the majority of present-day Chʼortiʼ speakers arebilingual inSpanish as well.
The Chʼortiʼ area, which hadCopán as its cultural center, was the headquarters of the ancientMayan civilization. The Chʼortiʼ people in Honduras are known for their first ruler Yax K'uk' Mo' (pronounced 'Yash Kook Mo') who was the founder and first king of the dynasty that ruled the Maya city of Copan (also known as Oxwitik) for nearly 400 years. Known formally by his royal name,K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo', he reigned for eleven years from 426 to 437 CE. His name is translated as "Radiant First Quetzal Macaw" or "Sun-Eyed Green Macaw" or even "Sun In The Mouth of the Quetzal Bird".
The Chʼortiʼ belong to the Meridional Mayans, and are closely related to the Mayans inYucatán,Belize and NorthernGuatemala. They are also somewhat related to theCholes, Mayans who currently live inChiapas.
Historically, the Chʼortiʼ Maya were located in theOcotepeque andCopan departments, as well as in the northern strip of theCortes andSanta Barbara departments. This geographical area extends all the way toEl Salvador to the northwest and all the way toChiquimula on the west, and to theGolfo Dulce to the north. Currently, the majority of the Chʼorti are located inGuatemala (inChiquimula,Jocotan,Esquipulas,Quezaltenango andLa Union).
The current Guatemalan Chʼortiʼ population estimate is 46,833.
The Chʼortiʼ population inHonduras live in areas of difficult access in the Copan and Ocotepeque departments, like Chonco, Colon Jubuco, San Rafael, Tapescos, Carrizalon, La Laguna,Santa Rita, Antigua Ocotepeque,Nueva Ocotepeque, andSensenti.
The remaining Ch’orti descendants of El Salvador are mostly in the department ofChalatenango in the municipality ofTejutla is where most Ch’orti descendants are still found. This town was founded in the 5th century, becoming an important place for the Chortis tribes. It was originally founded in the place known as Las Mataras, which was destroyed with the arrival of the Spanish.
The current Honduran Chʼortiʼ population estimate is 4,200. They are mostly farmers, and they lived in areas mixed withmestizos.
The Chʼortiʼ in Copan speakSpanish; mostChʼortiʼ speakers are in Guatemala. This is because the political division between Honduras and Guatemala, and the inherent movement restriction between the two countries.
However, the traditional customs of dress have been kept, as well as musical traditions, expressed using instruments like teponangas, drums, whistles, chinchins, sonajas and horns. The most traditional dance is called the "dance of the giants".
Their food is based mainly on corn and beans. Corn is prepared in different ways: as a drink, like chilate, pozol, sweet atole, and sour atole (chuco), tortillas, tamales, totoposte and also alcoholic drinks like chicha.
Chʼortiʼ religion is based on admiring and adoring nature, through rituals dedicated to the gods of the Earth and the Wind.
Ancestral background ofGuatemalan citizens | |
| Guatemalan native groups (Maya and others) | |
| Former and extinct | |
| Guatemalan mestizo | |
| Descendants of Europeans (white orCriollo) | |
| Descendants of Asians | |
| Afro-descendants | |
| Americas | |