Quichean

Quichean refers to a branch of the Mayan language family and the associated ethnolinguistic groups in Guatemala. It is often used to denote the Quichean–Mamean subgroup and, in common usage, to refer to the Quiché (K'iche') people and their language as well as related languages spoken by neighboring communities. The term highlights both linguistic relationships and shared cultural heritage among these communities.

The Quichean languages encompass several related varieties, the best known of which is K'iche' (Quiché). Other languages commonly grouped within the Quichean family include Kaqchikel and Tz'utujil, with additional varieties such as Uspantek and related dialects in the Guatemalan highlands. While mutually intelligible to varying degrees, these languages differ in phonology, vocabulary, and grammar, reflecting diverse local histories and identities.

Historically, the Quichean-speaking peoples established important polities in the Guatemalan highlands before and during the Spanish conquest. The K'iche' kingdom became a dominant political and cultural center in the Postclassic period. Written texts in K'iche', including the Popol Vuh, are among the most significant sources for pre-Columbian Mayan literature and worldview. The conquest and subsequent colonial and modern pressures affected language transmission, but Quichean languages have persisted through community use, religious practice, and cultural traditions.

In contemporary Guatemala, Quichean languages continue to be spoken by indigenous communities and are the focus of ongoing revitalization efforts. Bilingual education programs, language documentation projects, and community initiatives aim to strengthen transmission to younger generations, while recognition and preservation efforts seek to support linguistic diversity in the region.