一苗语是苗族人语言的统称,属于苗瑶语族的苗语支。苗语大致可以分为以下三个主要分支:湘西方言、黔东方言、川黔滇方言。
当中以川黔滇方言最为复杂,可以分成19种不同的方言:以下为苗语的三个主要分支:湘西方言(GhaobXongb;Xiangxi),又名“东部方言”或“红苗”;西部土语[mmr];东部土语[muq];黔东方言(Hmub;Qiandong),又名“中部方言”或“黑苗”;北部土语[hea];南部土语[hms];东部土语[hmq];川黔滇方言(Hmongb或Hmaob;Chuanqiandian),又名“西部方言”;滇东北次方言(Hmong,NortheasternDian)[hmd],又名“威宁苗”;罗泊河次方言(Hmong,Luopohe)[hml];重安江次方言(Hmong,Chong'anjiang)[hmj];川黔滇次方言;第一土语(HmongNjua)[blu];第二土语(HmongDaw)[mww];贵阳次方言;北部土语(Hmong,NorthernGuiyang)[huj];西部土语(Hmong,SouthwesternGuiyang)[hmg];南部土语(Hmong,SouthernGuiyang)[hmy];惠水次方言;北部土语(Hmong,NorthernHuishui)[hmi];西南土语(Hmong,SouthwesternHuishui)[hmh];中部土语(Hmong,CentralHuishui)[hmc];东部土语(Hmong,EasternHuishui)[hme];麻山次方言;中部土语(Hmong,CentralMashan)[hmm];北部土语(Hmong,NorthernMashan)[hmp];西部土语(Hmong,WesternMashan)[hmw];南部土语(Hmong,SouthernMashan)[hma]