The secong most populous Indian peoples in Oaxaca are the Mixtecs. This geographical affinity leads to an affinity in the Mixtecan and Zapotecan languages. Some Nahautl (Aztec) is also evident, like coatl. In fact, the zapotecs get their name from the Nahuatl "Tsapotecatl," which means "people of the zapote." The zapote is a tree common in the Zapotec areas of Oaxaca.
The following were taken from authors using Zapotec words while writing in the English language. Therefore, some of the words might depend on context for meaning and may differ in another context.
The Zapotecs call themselves the Cloud People or Ben 'Zaa.
Earlier scholars thought they called themselves Didjazaa.
Modern Zapotecs call "the ancients" Binii Gula'sa'
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