According to Ethnologue, there are six distinct dialects of Chatino, which exhibit varying degrees of mutual intelligibility: Eastern Highland, Nopala, Tataltepec, Western Highland, Zacatepec and Zenzontepec.
The Triques, Amuszos and Cuicatecos are related to the Mixtecs and have similar languages, The Chochopopolocas and Ixcatecos are similar to the Mazatecos; the Zoques are related to the Mixes, and the Chatinos are related to the Zapotecs.