Western Numic languages

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July 23, 2026

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The Western Numic languages are a group of Indigenous North American languages spoken by Native Americans in parts of Nevada, Utah, California, Oregon, and Idaho. These languages are part of the larger Numic language group, which itself is a branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family.12

The primary languages within Western Numic include Mono and Northern Paiute. Linguistic evidence suggests that the Numic peoples, including those speaking Western Numic languages, may have been spreading across the Great Basin from southeastern California for the last 2,000 years.12

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Indigenous peoples of the Great Basin
Language
Western Numic languages are spoken by the Owens Valley Paiute (Eastern Mono), several Northern Paiute groups, and the Bannock. Central Numic languages are spoken by the Panamint (Koso) and several Shoshone groups, including the Gosiute, Timbisha, Western Shoshone, and Comanche
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Western Numic languages are spoken by the Owens Valley Paiute (Eastern Mono), several Northern Paiute groups, and the Bannock. Central Numic languages are spoken by the Panamint (Koso) and several Shoshone groups, including the Gosiute, Timbisha, Western Shoshone, and Comanche
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Numic languages
…usually divided into three groups: Western Numic, including Mono and Northern Paiute; Central Numic, including Panamint, Shoshoni (or Shoshoni-Goshiute), and Comanche; and Southern Numic, including Kawaiisu, Ute and Chemehuevi, and Southern Paiute. Numic represents the northernmost extension of the Uto-Aztecan language family. Together with Tubatulabal, the Takic languages, and Hopi,…
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…usually divided into three groups: Western Numic, including Mono and Northern Paiute; Central Numic, including Panamint, Shoshoni (or Shoshoni-Goshiute), and Comanche; and Southern Numic, including Kawaiisu, Ute and Chemehuevi, and Southern Paiute. Numic represents the northernmost extension of the Uto-Aztecan language family. Together with Tubatulabal, the Takic languages, and Hopi,…
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