Terêna or Etelena is spoken by 15,000 Brazilians. The language has a dictionary and written grammar. Many Terena people have low Portuguese proficiency. It is spoken in Mato Grosso do Sul. About 20% are literate in their language, 80% literate in Portuguese. Terêna has an active–stative syntax and verb-object-subject as default word order.

Varieties

Terêna had four varieties: Kinikinao, Terena proper, Guaná, and Chané. These varieties have sometimes been considered to be separate languages. Carvalho (2016) has since demonstrated all four to be the same language. Only Terena proper is still spoken.

Language contact

Terena originated in the Northwestern Chaco. As a result, many Northern Guaicuruan loanwords can be found in Terena. There are also many Tupi-Guarani loanwords in Terena and other southern Arawakan languages.

Phonology

Consonants

/w, ʃ, n, l/ may often be heard as [v, tʃ, ɲ, ʎ].

Vowels

[ɨ] is heard as an allophone of /i/.