Lenca Putum (Sai I Putum) is an Indigenous language of the Lencan language family that was historically spoken by the Lenca people in what is now El Salvador. The Lenca homeland lies within the Mesoamerican region, where Lenca communities have lived for centuries and maintained strong cultural connections to the land. Today, the language is considered sleeping, with no known fluent first-language speakers remaining. The Lenca people are one of the largest Indigenous groups in Central America, with an estimated population of more than 600,000 across El Salvador and Honduras.
Lenca Putum is one of two languages in the Lencan language family, alongside Lenca Kotik, which was historically spoken in Honduras. Although the two languages are related, they are not mutually intelligible. Following centuries of Spanish colonization and the widespread adoption of Spanish, the use of Lenca Putum declined significantly. In recent years, however, community members, linguists, and language advocates have led efforts to reclaim and revitalize the language through documentation, education, and the creation of learning resources. This Lenca language course was created by Andy Amaya, a student of the Lencan languages and advocate for language revitalization, with the goal of helping future generations reconnect with their linguistic heritage.
“Lenca yasha pis i shakinishanpi” means “One day we will speak Lenca.”