Where were Tupian languages spoken before European contact?

Before European contact, Tupian languages were spoken across a vast region of South America, primarily south of the Amazon River. Their range extended from the Andes Mountains in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east, and southward as far as the Río de la Plata.12

While the majority of these languages were concentrated south of the Amazon, there were notable exceptions, such as the Emerillon and Oyampi groups located in French Guiana and northeastern Brazil. At the time of European arrival, Tupí-Guaraní tribes were actively expanding throughout these territories, often moving into new areas and influencing or subjugating other indigenous groups. Aboriginal speakers were found both along the Atlantic coastline and throughout the interior, where they thrived as tropical rain forest farmers and river navigators.23