Central Alaskan Yup’ik (Yugtun) is a Yupik language of the Eskimo-Aleut family spoken in western and southwestern Alaska. It is the second most spoken Indigenous language in the United States after Navajo as of 2010, with about 19,750 native speakers listed in 2013, and it is an official language of Alaska. UNESCO classifies it as vulnerable [1].
| Speakers (2013) | About 19,750 |
|---|---|
| Region | Western and southwestern Alaska |
| Dialects | Five, including Yugtun and Cup’ik |
| Writing | Latin alphabet (1960s); earlier syllabary (c. 1900) |
| Status | Official in Alaska; UNESCO vulnerable |
| Rank | Second most spoken Indigenous US language (2010) |
Region and Speakers
Central Alaskan Yup’ik is spoken from Norton Sound in the north to the Alaska Peninsula in the south, and from Lake Iliamna to Nunivak Island. The Yukon-Kuskokwim region is home to the Yugtun dialect. The infobox lists 19,750 native speakers in 2013, while the text cites more than 14,000 speakers within a population of over 23,000 [1]. The Alaska Native Language Center table lists about 10,000 speakers among 21,000 people in its earlier count [2].
Dialects
Typically five dialects are recognized: Norton Sound, General Central Yup’ik (Yugtun), Nunivak (Cup’ig), Hooper Bay-Chevak (Cup’ik) and the extinct Egegik. All extant dialects are mutually intelligible, though pronunciation and vocabulary differ [1].
Language Transmission
Children still learn Yup’ik as a first language in 17 of 68 Yup’ik villages, mainly along the lower Kuskokwim River and on Nelson Island. Younger speakers’ Yup’ik shows strong English influence [1].
Writing System
A syllabary was created around 1900 by the native speaker Uyaquq. The language is now mostly written in a Latin-script alphabet, developed in the 1960s by Irene Reed and colleagues at the Alaska Native Language Center [1].
Schooling
A 1972 state law required a fluent native-language teacher in schools with at least 15 pupils whose primary language was not English, and a 1975 statute mandated bilingual-bicultural programs. Bilingual programs began in four Yup’ik villages in the early 1970s. In 2018 Anchorage launched its first Yup’ik immersion program at College Gate Elementary, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks offers bachelor’s degrees and certificates in Yup’ik [1].
Related Pages
See the entries on the Alaska Native Language Center, the Alutiiq people and the culture of Alaska.
FAQs
What is Yugtun? The Yugtun dialect of Central Alaskan Yup’ik, spoken in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region.
How many people speak Yup’ik? About 19,750 native speakers were listed in 2013.
Is Yup’ik an official language of Alaska? Yes.
Who created the first Yup’ik writing system? Uyaquq created a syllabary around 1900.
Where can you study Yup’ik? At the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which offers bachelor’s degrees and certificates.
Sources
More in Languages & Linguistics
Key facts
Quick checkWhich Indigenous US language has more speakers than Yup’ik?Show answer
Navajo
Sources
- Wikipedia. Central Alaskan Yupʼik. 2026 (accessed 2026-11-12)
- Wikipedia. Alaska Native Language Center. 2026 (accessed 2026-11-12)
Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 12, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue