Zoque

Zoque refers to a group of indigenous peoples of southern Mexico and to the languages they speak, collectively called Zoquean languages. The Zoque are primarily located in Chiapas, with communities in Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Tabasco. They are one of the region's historic Indigenous populations.

Linguistically, Zoque languages form a branch within the Mixtecan subgroup of the Oto-Manguean language family. They comprise several varieties, some mutually unintelligible, and classification among them remains an area of scholarly study. Most Zoque-speaking communities are bilingual in Spanish, and in many places language transmission to children has diminished in recent decades.

Ethnographically, the Zoque have a long pre-Columbian presence in the southern highlands and foothills; their communities are known for traditional agriculture, crafts, and ceremonial practices. Contemporary Zoque life often blends indigenous traditions with Mexican institutions, including local governance and schooling.

Language endangerment is a concern for many Zoque varieties, though revitalization efforts, documentation projects, and bilingual education programs aim to support transmission and literacy in Zoque languages.