aym

aym is the ISO 639-3 language code for Aymara, an indigenous language of the central Andes. The term is used in linguistic and cataloging contexts to identify Aymara separately from other languages in the region.

Aymara is spoken by the Aymara people in the Andean highlands, primarily in Bolivia, Peru, and northern Chile. In Bolivia it has official status alongside Spanish and Quechua, and it is used in education and government in many areas. In Peru and Chile, Aymara has regional recognition and is taught and used in certain communities, media, and cultural contexts. Estimates of speakers commonly range in the several millions, reflecting long-standing use across a broad geographic area.

Linguistically, Aymara belongs to the Aymaran language family, which also includes related varieties such as Jaqaru and Kawki. It is typically described as an agglutinative, subject–object–verb language with postpositions rather than prepositions. A notable feature of Aymara grammar is its evidential and epistemic verb system, which marks the speaker’s source of information. The language uses the Latin alphabet in its orthographies, with standardized conventions in Bolivia and Peru for writing and education.

Cultural and educational efforts support Aymara revitalization, including bilingual schooling, literature, radio, and digital media. The language remains a central element of Aymara identity in the Andean region, with ongoing initiatives to maintain intergenerational transmission and linguistic variety.