The Malecu (Maleku, Malecu lhaíca, Malecu jaíca, maléku lhaíca, Maléku jaíca, traditionally known as Guatuso in the language descriptions) is spoken in the canton of Guatuso, province of Alajuela. While there are no detailed studies on this, based on a pronunciation feature, the members of this town often claim that there are two geographical varieties: the one spoken in the villages of Margarita and El Sol, and the one spoken in the village of Tonjibe. However, it is sometimes said that the malecu of El Sol and Margarita also differ from one another by a few words, and it is even believed that the variation depends on the old groups (Lhyja maráma or jíja maráma) in which the village was divided (Sánchez 2012). The language belongs to the votic group of the Chibcha family (Constella 2008). According to the 2011 National Population Census, 67.5% of the population living in the official territory declared themselves speaking the language; however, the state of vitality varies from village to village and even by family (Sánchez 2011). In any case, following the parameters of UNESCO, language can be catalogued as in definitive danger (Sánchez 2013).