Catío Emberá (Catío, Katío) is an indigenous American language spoken by the Embera people of Colombia and Panama.

The language was spoken by 15,000 people in Colombia, and a few dozen in Panama, according to data published in 1992. 90 to 95% of the speakers are monolingual with a 1% literacy rate. The language is also known as Eyabida, and like most Embera languages goes by the name Embena 'human'.

Writing system

Catio is written with the Latin script.

Vowels
aãeiĩoõuũʉʉ̃
Consonants
mkbptchszgjrrrdnywñ

Phonology

Consonants

Consonants
BilabialAlveolarPalatalVelarGlottal
Plosive/ Affricateaspiratedt͡ʃʰ
ejectivet͡ʃʼ
voicedbdd͡ʒ
Fricativeaspiratedh
ejective
Nasalmn
Rhotictrillr
tapɾ
Semivowelw

Vowels

Vowels
FrontCentralBack
unroundedrounded
Highi ĩɯ ɯ̃u ũ
Mide o õ
Lowa ã

Notes

Bibliography

  • Silva Vallejo, Fabio; Majore, Iván Antonio Dominico (2018). . Oraloteca (in Spanish). 9: 64–84. Archived from on 5 October 2022.