The Otomi (Oto-Manguean) languages are a large family of closely related indigenous languages native to Mexico and Central America. The otomi language family is one of the largest in the Americas, with over two dozen members. The best known member of the family is Nahuatl, spoken by millions of people in Mexico and Central America. Other well-known members include Tarascan, spoken in Michoacán; Huastec, spoken in Veracruz and Hidalgo; and Mixtec, spoken in Oaxaca.
The Otomi language family is believed to be descended from a single ancestral language that was spoken in Mesoamerica prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. Today, Otomi languages are found throughout Mexico and into Honduras, but they are particularly concentrated in the central Mexican states of Hidalgo, Puebla, Guerrero, San Luis Potosí, Tlaxcala, and México State.
Many otomi languages are endangered or near extinction due to centuries of marginalization by speakers of Spanish and other dominant languages. In recent years however there has been a resurgence of interest in Otomi language and culture among younger generations who are seeking to reclaim their indigenous heritage.