Qʼanjobʼal (IPA: [qʼanxoɓal]) (also Kanjobal)[3] is a Mayan language from the Q'anjobalan branch spoken primarily in Guatemala and part of Mexico.

According to 1998 estimates compiled by SIL International in Ethnologue, there were approximately 77,700 native speakers, primarily in the Huehuetenango Department of Guatemala.

The Qʼanjobʼalan branch includes not only Qʼanjobʼal itself but also Chuj, Akatek, and Jakaltek, also spoken in Mexico and Guatemala.

The letters of the alphabet are as follows:The ʼ in chʼ, kʼ, qʼ, tʼ, txʼ, and tzʼ represents an ejective or glottalic egressive, i.e., the consonant is accompanied by a puff of air from the glottis.

The letters tx and x represent retroflex consonants, pronounced with the tongue curled backward in the mouth.

Thus, in most utterances, one will indicate whether the action is incompletive, or whether it is completed, or may happen in the future, in which case it is considered 'unreal', or of irrealis mood, the event still only in the realm of thought or imagination.

Ch(i) is used to indicate that an event is incomplete or ongoing at some time: Chi-ØINC-A3StojgonaqCL:mascuninchildbʼaytoy-atut-alE3S-house-ABSkuy-oj.study-NZRChi-Ø toj naq unin bʼay y-atut-al kuy-oj.INC-A3S go CL:masc child to E3S-house-ABS study-NZR'The boy goes to school'.

'[14]The prefix hoq- with the suffix -oq are used to indicate that the event spoken of has not yet happened, but remains only in the realm of the 'unreal' with only the potential for occurrence in the future: Hoq-ØIRR-A3saqch-oqplay-IRRheb'.A3PHoq-Ø saqch-oq heb'.IRR-A3 play-IRR A3P'They will play.

'[17]Questions can be formed simply by using rising intonation with declarative syntax: Ch-Ø-oche-jINC-A3S-E2S-SFXcha-chINC-A2Skanal-w-idance-SFX-STATw-etoq?E1S-withCh-Ø-oche-j cha-ch kanal-w-i w-etoq?INC-A3S-E2S-SFX INC-A2S dance-SFX-STAT E1S-with'Do you want to dance with me?

These are subject to an ergative–absolutive pattern where arguments cross-referenced by ergative affixes must become absolutives prior to their fronting (focus, negation, etc.).

noʼCL:animaljunonechejhorsenoʼ jun chejCL:animal one horse'the horse'teʼCL:woodnahouseteʼ naCL:wood house'the house'ixCL:femuninchildix uninCL:fem child'the girl'naqCL:mascuninchildnaq uninCL:masc child'the boy'chʼenCL:metaltuminmoneychʼen tuminCL:metal money'the money'anCL:plantkaqfloweran kaqCL:plant flower'the flower'Reduplication, or duplication of a root word, is a minor process in the formation of Qʼanjobʼal vocabulary, as in the following: pux-puxpux-pux'belly of animal'txʼa-txʼatxʼa-txʼa'chewing gum'Qʼanjobʼal consists of groups of roots that can take affixes.

Words are traditionally classified as nouns, adjectives, adverbs, intransitive and transitive verbs, particles, and positionals.