Matagalpa is an extinct Misumalpan language formerly spoken in the central highlands of Nicaragua. The language became extinct{{}} in the 19th century, and only few short wordlists remain. It was closely related to Cacaopera. The ethnic group, which numbers about 20,000, now speaks Spanish.
According to local inhabitants familiar with remote regions, the language may still be spoken in the highland areas of Azancor, Musún, and Pancasan, located in Matagalpa Department.
References
Campbell, Lyle (2021-10-25). Middle American Languages. University of Texas Press. doi:10.7560/746244-018. ISBN 978-0-292-76851-2. 978-0-292-76851-2 ↩
Wierzbicka, Anna (1994). "Semantic and Lexical Universals". Semantic and Lexical Universals: 1–520. https://www.torrossa.com/en/resources/an/5063254?digital=true ↩
"Discovering The Beauty And Complexity Of Matagalpa Language: A Journey Through Nicaragua's Indigenous Culture". 24x7 Offshoring. Retrieved 14 April 2025. https://24x7offshoring.com/discovering-beauty-and-complexity-of-matagalpa/ ↩
"Vestiges of Ancient Indigenous Language Still Found Today in Matagalpa's Northern Highlands". The Tico Times. 11 January 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2025. https://ticotimes.net/2008/01/11/vestiges-of-ancient-indigenous-language-still-found-today-in-matagalpa-s-northern-highlands ↩