Chácobo language

Chácobo
Native toBolivia
RegionBeni Department
Ethnicity1,100 Chacobo (2006), possibly 50 Pacahuara (2007)
Native speakers
(600 cited 2000–2007)
Panoan
  • Mainline Panoan
    • Nawa
      • Bolivian
        • Chácobo
Official status
Official language in
Bolivia
Language codes
ISO 639-3cao
Glottologchac1251
ELPChácobo

Chácobo is a Panoan language spoken by about 550 of 860 Chácobo people of the Beni Department northwest of Magdalena, Bolivia. Chácobo children are learning the language as a first language, but the Pakawara dialect is moribund. Karipuna may have been a variant; alternative names for it are Jaunavô (Jau-Navo, Jaũn Àvo) and Éloe.

Several unattested extinct languages were reported to have been related, perhaps dialects. These include Capuibo and Sinabo/Shinabo of the Mamoré River. However, nothing is actually known of these purported languages.