Hmong phrasebook

Hmong (𖬌𖬣𖬵, Hmoob) language is part of the Hmong-Mien language family. It's spoken by about 8 million ethnic Hmong living in Southern China, Northern Vietnam, Northern Laos, Northern Thailand, Eastern Myanmar, the U.S.A., Australia, and a few countries in Europe. It is a challenging language for non-Hmong to master, due to its tones. Any Hmong word can be pronounced with 7 or 8 different tones, resulting in 7 or 8 different meanings, depending on the context.

Writing

Hmong language has its own writing system called Pahawh Hmong (𖬖𖬰𖬝𖬵 𖬄𖬶𖬟 𖬌𖬣𖬵), but can also be written using the Hmong RPA (Romanized Popular Alphabet).

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

The vowel systems of Hmong Daw and Mong Leeg are as shown in the following charts. (Phonemes particular to Hmong Daw and Mong Leeg are color-coded respectively.)

1. 1st Row: IPA, Hmong RPA
2. 2nd Row: Pahawh

Monophthongs

	Front vowel|Front		Central vowel|Central		Back vowel|Back
	oral	nasal	oral	nasal	oral	nasal
Close	(IPA: i) ⟨i⟩ 𖬂, 𖬃		(IPA: ɨ) ⟨w⟩ 𖬘, 𖬙		(IPA: u) ⟨u⟩ 𖬆, 𖬇
Mid	(IPA: e) ⟨e⟩ 𖬈, 𖬉	(IPA: ẽ~eŋ) ⟨ee⟩ 𖬀, 𖬁		(IPA: ɔ) ⟨o⟩ 𖬒, 𖬓		(IPA: ɔ̃~ɔŋ) ⟨oo⟩ 𖬌, 𖬍
Open		(IPA: a) ⟨a⟩ 𖬖, 𖬗	(IPA: ã~aŋ) ⟨aa⟩ 𖬚, 𖬛

Diphthongs

	Closing	Centering
Close component is front	(IPA: ai) ⟨ai⟩ 𖬊, 𖬋	(IPA: iə) ⟨ia⟩ 𖬔, 𖬕
Close component is central	(IPA: aɨ) ⟨aw⟩ 𖬎, 𖬏
Close component is back	(IPA: au) ⟨au⟩ 𖬄, 𖬅	(IPA: uə) ⟨ua⟩ 𖬐, 𖬑

Consonants

Hmong makes a number of phonemic contrasts unfamiliar to English speakers. All non-glottal stops and affricates distinguish aspirated and unaspirated forms, and most also distinguish prenasalization independently of this. The consonant inventory of Hmong is shown in the chart below. (Consonants particular to Hmong Daw and Mong Leeg are color-coded respectively.)

1. 1st Row: IPA, Hmong RPA
2. 2nd Row: Pahawh

Hmong Daw and Mong Leeg consonants

		Labial		Alveolar			Retroflex		Palatal	Velar	Uvular	Glottal
		plain	lateral	plain	sibilant	lateral	plain	sibilant
Nasal	voicelessness	(IPA: m̥) ⟨hm⟩ 𖬣𖬵	((IPA: m̥ˡ) ⟨hml⟩ 𖬠𖬰	(IPA: n̥) ⟨hn⟩ 𖬩					(IPA: ɲ̥) ⟨hny⟩ 𖬣𖬰
	voiced	(IPA: m) ⟨m⟩ 𖬦	(IPA: mˡ) ⟨ml⟩ 𖬠	(IPA: n) ⟨n⟩ 𖬬					(IPA: ɲ) ⟨ny⟩ 𖬮𖬵		(IPA: ⟨ɴ⟩)
Plosive/ Affricate	tenuis	(IPA: p) ⟨p⟩ 𖬪𖬵	(IPA: pˡ) ⟨pl⟩ 𖬟𖬵	(IPA: t) ⟨t⟩ 𖬧𖬵	(IPA: ts) ⟨tx⟩ 𖬯𖬵	(IPA: tˡ) ⟨dl⟩ 𖬭	(IPA: ʈ) ⟨r⟩ 𖬡	(IPA: tʂ) ⟨ts⟩ 𖬝𖬰	(IPA: c) ⟨c⟩ 𖬯	(IPA: k) ⟨k⟩	(IPA: q) ⟨q⟩ 𖬦𖬵	(IPA: ʔ) ⟨au⟩ 𖬮𖬰
	aspirated	(IPA: pʰ) ⟨ph⟩ 𖬝𖬵	(IPA: pˡʰ) ⟨plh⟩ 𖬪	(IPA: tʰ) ⟨th⟩ 𖬟𖬰	(IPA: tsʰ) ⟨txh⟩ 𖬦𖬰	(IPA: tˡʰ) ⟨dlh⟩ 𖬭𖬴	(IPA: ʈʰ) ⟨rh⟩ 𖬢𖬵	(IPA: tʂʰ) ⟨tsh⟩ 𖬪𖬰	(IPA: cʰ) ⟨ch⟩ 𖬧	(IPA: kʰ) ⟨kh⟩ 𖬩𖬰	(IPA: qʰ) ⟨qh⟩ 𖬣
	voiced			(IPA: d) ⟨d⟩ 𖬞𖬰
	murmured			(IPA: dʱ) ⟨dh⟩ 𖬞𖬵
	prenasalized	(IPA: ᵐb) ⟨np⟩ 𖬨𖬵	(IPA: ᵐbˡ) ⟨npl⟩ 𖬫𖬰	(IPA: ⁿd) ⟨nt⟩ 𖬩𖬵	(IPA: ⁿdz) ⟨ntx⟩ 𖬢𖬰	(IPA: ⁿdˡ) ⟨ndl⟩ 𖬭𖬰	(IPA: ᶯɖ) ⟨nr⟩ 𖬜𖬰	(IPA: ᶯdʐ) ⟨nts⟩ 𖬝	(IPA: ᶮɟ) ⟨nc⟩ 𖬤𖬰	(IPA: ᵑɡ) ⟨nk⟩ 𖬢	(IPA: ᶰɢ) ⟨nq⟩ 𖬬𖬰
		(IPA: ᵐpʰ) ⟨nph⟩ 𖬡𖬰	(IPA: ᵐpˡʰ) ⟨nplh⟩ 𖬡𖬵	(IPA: ⁿtʰ) ⟨nth⟩ 𖬫	(IPA: ⁿtsʰ) ⟨ntxh⟩ 𖬥𖬵	(IPA: ⁿtˡʰ) ⟨ndlh⟩ 𖬭𖬵	(IPA: ᶯʈʰ) ⟨nrh⟩ 𖬨𖬰	(IPA: ᶯtʂʰ) ⟨ntsh⟩ 𖬯𖬰	(IPA: ᶮcʰ) ⟨nch⟩ 𖬨	(IPA: ᵑkʰ) ⟨nkh⟩ 𖬫𖬵	(IPA: ᶰqʰ) ⟨nqh⟩ 𖬬𖬵
Continuant	voiceless	(IPA: f) ⟨f⟩ 𖬜𖬵		(IPA: s) ⟨x⟩ 𖬮		(IPA: l̥) ⟨hl⟩ 𖬥	(IPA: ʂ) ⟨s⟩ 𖬤𖬵		(IPA: ɕ) ~ (IPA: ç) ⟨xy⟩ 𖬧𖬰			(IPA: h) ⟨h⟩ 𖬟
	voiced	(IPA: v) ⟨v⟩ 𖬜				(IPA: l) ⟨l⟩ 𖬞	(IPA: ʐ) ⟨z⟩ 𖬥𖬰		(IPA: ʑ~ʝ) ⟨y⟩ 𖬤
Approximant							(IPA: ⟨ɻ⟩)

Tones

Hmong is a tonal language and makes use of seven or eight (Hmong Daw and Mong Leeg).

Tone	Hmong Daw example	Hmong/Mong RPA spelling	Pahawh Hmong
High (IPA: ˥)	(IPA: /pɔ́/) 'ball'	pob	𖬒𖬰𖬪𖬵
Mid (IPA: ˧)	(IPA: /pɔ/) 'spleen'	po	𖬓𖬰𖬪𖬵
Low (IPA: ˩)	(IPA: /pɔ̀/) 'thorn'	pos	𖬓𖬲𖬪𖬵
High-falling (IPA: ˥˧)	(IPA: /pɔ̂/) 'female'	poj	𖬒𖬲𖬪𖬵
Mid-rising (IPA: ˧˦)	(IPA: /pɔ̌/) 'to throw'	pov	𖬒𖬶𖬪𖬵
Low checked (creaky) tone (IPA: ˩) (phrase final: long low rising (IPA: ˨˩˧))	(IPA: /pɔ̰̀/) 'to see'	pom	𖬒𖬪𖬵
Mid-falling breathy tone (IPA: ˧˩)	(IPA: /pɔ̤̂/) 'grandmother'	pog	𖬓𖬪𖬵

Phrase list

Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

Basics

Common signs OPEN 𖬂𖬲𖬣 (QHIB) CLOSED/SHUT 𖬏 (KAW) ENTRANCE 𖬏𖬰𖬧 𖬗𖬶𖬢 (CHAWS NKAG) EXIT 𖬏𖬰𖬧 𖬎𖬰𖬧𖬵 (CHAWS TAWM) PUSH 𖬎𖬟𖬰 (THAWB) PULL 𖬆𖬰𖬡 (RUB) TOILET 𖬗𖬧 𖬈𖬲𖬞𖬰 (CHAV DEJ) MEN 𖬂𖬶𖬯𖬵 𖬀𖬰𖬬 (TXIV NEEJ) WOMEN 𖬒𖬲𖬪𖬵 𖬔𖬰𖬬 (POJ NIAM) FORBIDDEN 𖬙𖬯𖬵 𖬃𖬰𖬝𖬰 𖬆𖬰𖬪𖬵 (TXWV TSIS PUB)

Hello.

𖬖𖬲 𖬖𖬲𖬝 (Kab ntsab)

Hello. (informal)

𖬒𖬰𖬮𖬵 𖬍𖬥𖬰 (Nyob zoo)

How are you?

𖬒𖬲 𖬑𖬲𖬪𖬵 𖬖𖬲𖬮𖬵 𖬀𖬶𖬮𖬷 (Koj puas nyab xeeb?)

Fine, thank you.

𖬍𖬥𖬰, 𖬑𖬮𖬰 𖬅𖬲𖬝𖬰 (Zoo, ua tsaug.)

What is your name?

𖬒𖬲 𖬆𖬰𖬞 𖬉𖬰𖬨𖬵 𖬓𖬤 𖬖𖬲𖬞𖬰 𖬃𖬝𖬰𖬷 (Koj lub npe yog dab tsi?)

My name is ______ .

𖬆𖬲 𖬆𖬰𖬞 𖬉𖬰𖬨𖬵 𖬓𖬤 ______ . (Kuv lub npe yog ______ .)

Nice to meet you.

𖬍𖬥𖬰 𖬔𖬤𖬵 𖬧𖬵 𖬂𖬲𖬝 𖬒𖬲. (Zoo siab tau ntsib koj.)

Please.

𖬒𖬶𖬟𖬰 (Thov)

Thank you.

𖬑𖬮𖬰 𖬅𖬲𖬝𖬰 (Ua tsaug)

Welcome.

𖬍𖬥𖬰 𖬔𖬤𖬵 𖬋𖬰𖬯𖬵 𖬓𖬲𖬧𖬵. (Zoo siab txais tos.)

Yes.

𖬓𖬤 (Yog)

No.

𖬃𖬰𖬝𖬰 𖬓𖬤 (Tsis yog)

Excuse me

(?)

I'm sorry.

𖬆𖬲 𖬒𖬶𖬟𖬰 𖬂𖬯𖬵 (Kuv thov txim)

Goodbye

𖬂𖬲𖬤𖬵 𖬂𖬲𖬝 𖬑𖬞𖬰 (Sib ntsib dua)

I can't speak Hmong [well]

𖬆𖬲 𖬋𖬰𖬟 𖬇𖬰𖬞 𖬌𖬣𖬵 𖬃𖬰𖬝𖬰 [𖬀𖬰𖬦] (Kuv hais lus Hmoob tsis [meej])

Do you speak English?

𖬒𖬲 𖬑𖬲𖬪𖬵 𖬐𖬶𖬪𖬵 𖬋𖬰𖬟 𖬇𖬰𖬞 𖬗𖬲𖬮𖬰 𖬂𖬶𖬷 (Koj puas puab hais lus As kiv?)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

𖬑𖬲𖬪𖬵 𖬐𖬰𖬦 𖬂𖬲𖬮𖬰 𖬇𖬲𖬧𖬵 𖬁𖬲𖬬 𖬑𖬲𖬪𖬵 𖬋𖬰𖬟 𖬇𖬰𖬞 𖬗𖬲𖬮𖬰 𖬂𖬶𖬷 (Puas muaj ib tug neeg puas hais lus As kiv?)

Help!

𖬖𖬲𖬪𖬵 𖬓𖬲𖬮𖬰𖬸 (Pab os!)

Look out!

𖬊𖬰𖬤𖬵 𖬈𖬰𖬤𖬵𖬸/𖬊𖬰𖬤𖬵 𖬓𖬲𖬮𖬰𖬸 (Saib seb!/Saib os!)

Good morning.

𖬖𖬲 𖬖𖬲𖬝 𖬎𖬶𖬤𖬵 𖬒𖬶𖬢𖬰. (Kab ntsab sawv ntxov.)

Good afternoon.

𖬖𖬲 𖬖𖬲𖬝 𖬗𖬧𖬵 𖬇𖬤𖬵. (Kab ntsab tav su.)

Good evening.

𖬖𖬲 𖬖𖬲𖬝 𖬅𖬰𖬝𖬰 𖬆𖬶𖬩𖬵. (Kab ntsab tsaus ntuj.)

Good night.

𖬖𖬲 𖬖𖬲𖬝 𖬓𖬰𖬣𖬵 𖬆𖬶𖬩𖬵. (Kab ntsab hmo ntuj.)

I don't understand.

𖬆𖬲 𖬃𖬰𖬝𖬰 𖬗𖬶𖬢 𖬔𖬤𖬵. (Kuv tsis nkag siab.)

Where is the toilet?

[𖬆𖬰𖬞] 𖬗𖬧 𖬈𖬲𖬞𖬰 𖬒𖬰𖬮𖬵 𖬒𖬶𖬣 𖬙𖬶𖬧𖬵𖬷 ([Lub] Chav dej nyob qhov twg?)

Problems

(?)

Numbers

0

𖭐 - 𖬊𖬲𖬢𖬰 (Ntxaiv)

1

𖭑 - 𖬂𖬲𖬮𖬰 (Ib)

2

𖭒 - 𖬒𖬰𖬮𖬰 (Ob)

3

𖭓 - 𖬈𖬰𖬪𖬵 (Peb)

4

𖭔 - 𖬄𖬰𖬟𖬵 (Plaub)

5

𖭕 - 𖬂𖬲𖬝𖬰 (Tsib)

6

𖭖 - 𖬡 (Rau)

7

𖭗 - 𖬗𖬰𖬧𖬰 (Xya)

8

𖭘 - 𖬂𖬤 (Yim)

9

𖭙 - 𖬐𖬰𖬯 (Cuaj)

10

𖭑𖭐 - 𖬄 (Kaum)

11

𖭑𖭑 - 𖬄 𖬂𖬲𖬮𖬰 (Kaum ib)

12

𖭑𖭒 - 𖬄 𖬒𖬰𖬮𖬰 (Kaum ob)

13

𖭑𖭓 - 𖬄 𖬈𖬰𖬪𖬵 (Kaum peb)

14

𖭑𖭔 - 𖬄 𖬄𖬰𖬟𖬵 (Kaum plaub)

15

𖭑𖭕 - 𖬄 𖬂𖬲𖬝𖬰 (Kaum tsib)

16

𖭑𖭖 - 𖬄 𖬡 (Kaum rau)

17

𖭑𖭗 - 𖬄 𖬗𖬰𖬧𖬰 (Kaum xya)

18

𖭑𖭘 - 𖬄 𖬂𖬤 (Kaum yim)

19

𖭑𖭙 - 𖬄 𖬐𖬰𖬯 (Kaum cuaj)

20

𖭒𖭐 - 𖬁𖬰𖬬 𖬄𖬢 (Nees nkaum)

21

𖭒𖭑 - 𖬁𖬰𖬬 𖬄𖬢 𖬂𖬲𖬮𖬰 (Nees nkaum ib)

22

𖭒𖭒 - 𖬁𖬰𖬬 𖬄𖬢 𖬒𖬰𖬮𖬰 (Nees nkaum ob)

23

𖭒𖭓 - 𖬁𖬰𖬬 𖬄𖬢 𖬈𖬰𖬪𖬵 (Nees nkaum peb)

24

𖭒𖭔 - 𖬁𖬰𖬬 𖬄𖬢 𖬄𖬰𖬟𖬵 (Nees nkaum plaub)

25

𖭒𖭕 - 𖬁𖬰𖬬 𖬄𖬢 𖬂𖬲𖬝𖬰 (Nees nkaum tsib)

26

𖭒𖭖 - 𖬁𖬰𖬬 𖬄𖬢 𖬡 (Nees nkaum rau)

27

𖭒𖭗 - 𖬁𖬰𖬬 𖬄𖬢 𖬗𖬰𖬧𖬰 (Nees nkaum xya)

28

𖭒𖭘 - 𖬁𖬰𖬬 𖬄𖬢 𖬂𖬤 (Nees nkaum yim)

29

𖭒𖭙 - 𖬁𖬰𖬬 𖬄𖬢 𖬐𖬰𖬯 (Nees nkaum cuaj)

30

𖭓𖭐 - 𖬈𖬰𖬪𖬵 𖬅𖬲𖬯 (Peb caug)

40

𖭔𖭐 - 𖬄𖬰𖬟𖬵 𖬅𖬲𖬯 (Plaub caug)

50

𖭕𖭐 - 𖬂𖬲𖬝𖬰 𖬅𖬲𖬯 (Tsib caug)

60

𖭖𖭐 - 𖬡 𖬄𖬯 (Rau caum)

70

𖭗𖭐 - 𖬗𖬰𖬧𖬰 𖬄𖬯 (Xya caum)

80

𖭘𖭐 - 𖬂𖬤 𖬄𖬯 (Yim caum)

90

𖭙𖭐 - 𖬐𖬰𖬯 𖬄𖬯 (Cuaj caum)

100

𖭑𖭐𖭐 - 𖬂𖬲𖬮𖬰 𖬑𖬲𖬪𖬵 (Ib puas)

1,000

𖭑,𖭐𖭐𖭐 - 𖬂𖬲𖬮𖬰 𖬔𖬦𖬰 (Ib txhiab)

10,000

𖭑𖭐,𖭐𖭐𖭐 - 𖬄 𖬔𖬦𖬰 (Kaum txhiab)

100,000

𖭑𖭐𖭐,𖭐𖭐𖭐 - 𖬂𖬲𖬮𖬰 𖬑𖬲𖬪𖬵 𖬔𖬦𖬰 (Ib puas txhiab)

1,000,000

𖭑,𖭐𖭐𖭐,𖭐𖭐𖭐 - 𖬂𖬲𖬮𖬰 𖬌𖬡 (Ib roob)

10,000,000

𖭑𖭐,𖭐𖭐𖭐,𖭐𖭐𖭐 - 𖬄 𖬌𖬡 (Kaum roob)

100,000,000

𖭑𖭐𖭐,𖭐𖭐𖭐,𖭐𖭐𖭐 - 𖬂𖬲𖬮𖬰 𖬑𖬲𖬪𖬵 𖬌𖬡 (Ib puas roob)

1,000,000,000

𖭑,𖭐𖭐𖭐,𖭐𖭐𖭐,𖭐𖭐𖭐 - 𖬂𖬲𖬮𖬰 𖬈 (Ib kem)

10,000,000,000

𖭑𖭐,𖭐𖭐𖭐,𖭐𖭐𖭐,𖭐𖭐𖭐 - 𖬄 𖬈 (Kaum kem)

100,000,000,000

𖭑𖭐𖭐,𖭐𖭐𖭐,𖭐𖭐𖭐,𖭐𖭐𖭐 - 𖬂𖬲𖬮𖬰 𖬑𖬲𖬪𖬵 𖬈 (Ib puas kem)

1,000,000,000,000

𖭑,𖭐𖭐𖭐,𖭐𖭐𖭐,𖭐𖭐𖭐,𖭐𖭐𖭐 - 𖬂𖬲𖬮𖬰 𖬗𖬧𖬵 (Ib tav)

Time

Now

𖬖𖬧𖬵 𖬂𖬤𖬵 𖬓𖬰𖬬 (Tam sim no)

After

𖬒𖬧𖬵 𖬖𖬲𖬦𖬵 (Tom qab)

Before

𖬑𖬮𖬰 𖬈𖬲𖬩𖬵 (Ua ntej)

Morning

𖬎𖬶𖬤𖬵 𖬒𖬶𖬢𖬰 (Sawv ntxov)

Afternoon

𖬗𖬧𖬵 𖬇𖬤𖬵 (Tav su)

Noon

𖬇𖬤𖬵 (Su)

Evening

𖬅𖬰𖬝𖬰 𖬆𖬶𖬩𖬵 (Tsaus ntuj)

Night

𖬓𖬰𖬣𖬵 𖬆𖬶𖬩𖬵 (Hmo ntuj)

Midnight

𖬂𖬲𖬮𖬰 𖬗𖬶𖬧𖬵 𖬓𖬰𖬣𖬵 (Ib tag hmo)

Clock time

1AM

𖬂𖬲𖬮𖬰 𖬅𖬰𖬟𖬰 𖬎𖬶𖬤𖬵 𖬒𖬶𖬢𖬰 (Ib thaus sawv ntxov)

2AM

𖬒𖬰𖬮𖬰 𖬅𖬰𖬟𖬰 𖬎𖬶𖬤𖬵 𖬒𖬶𖬢𖬰 (Ob thaus sawv ntxov)

1PM

𖬂𖬲𖬮𖬰 𖬅𖬰𖬟𖬰 𖬅𖬰𖬝𖬰 𖬆𖬶𖬩𖬵 (Ib thaus tsaus ntuj)

2PM

𖬒𖬰𖬮𖬰 𖬅𖬰𖬟𖬰 𖬅𖬰𖬝𖬰 𖬆𖬶𖬩𖬵 (Ob thaus tsaus ntuj)

Duration

Second(s)

𖬃𖬰𖬧𖬵 𖬊𖬲𖬢𖬰 (Tis ntxaiv)

Minute(s)

𖬕𖬲𖬩𖬵 𖬂𖬶𖬩𖬵 (Ntiag ntiv)

Hour(s)

𖬅𖬰𖬟𖬰 (Thaus)

Day(s)

𖬆𖬰𖬩 (Hnub)

Week(s)

𖬑𖬟𖬵 (Plua)

Month(s)

𖬃𖬥 (Hli)

Year(s)

𖬍𖬧𖬰 (Xyoo)

Days

today

𖬆𖬰𖬩 𖬓𖬰𖬬 (Hnub no)

yesterday

𖬗𖬶𖬬 𖬒𖬰𖬣𖬵 (Nag hmo)

tomorrow

𖬗𖬶𖬧𖬵 𖬃𖬰 (Tag kis)

day after tomorrow

𖬗𖬶𖬬 𖬃𖬰 (Nag kis)

[two, three, few, etc.] days ago

[𖬒𖬰𖬮𖬰, 𖬈𖬰𖬪𖬵,...] 𖬆𖬰𖬩 𖬞𖬵 𖬓𖬲𖬞 ([Ob, peb,...] hnub dhau los)

last week

𖬆𖬰𖬞 𖬑𖬟𖬵 𖬞𖬵 𖬓𖬲𖬞 (Lub plua dhau los)

next week

𖬆𖬰𖬞 𖬑𖬟𖬵 𖬒𖬧𖬵 𖬈𖬲𖬩𖬵 𖬓𖬰𖬬 (Lub plua tom ntej no)

Sunday

𖬘𖬲𖬥𖬰 𖬆𖬰𖬩 (Zwj hnub)

Monday

𖬘𖬲𖬥𖬰 𖬃𖬥 (Zwj hli)

Tuesday

𖬘𖬲𖬥𖬰 𖬑𖬶𖬦𖬵 (Zwj quag)

Wednesday

𖬘𖬲𖬥𖬰 𖬀𖬶𖬜𖬵 (Zwj feeb)

Thursday

𖬘𖬲𖬥𖬰 𖬀𖬶𖬧𖬵 (Zwj teeb)

Friday

𖬘𖬲𖬥𖬰 𖬐𖬶 (Zwj kuab)

Saturday

𖬘𖬲𖬥𖬰 𖬗𖬶𖬯 (Zwj cag)

Months

January

𖬀𖬰𖬤 𖬀𖬶𖬯 (Yeej ceeb) (Informal: 𖬂𖬲𖬮𖬰 𖬃𖬥 (Ib hli))

February

𖬆𖬰 𖬀𖬶𖬮 (Kub xeeb) (Informal: 𖬒𖬰𖬮𖬰 𖬃𖬥 (Ob hli))

March

𖬖𖬰𖬤 𖬔𖬲 (Yaj kiav) (Informal: 𖬈𖬰𖬪𖬵 𖬃𖬥 (Peb hli))

April

𖬀 𖬒𖬯 (Keem com) (Informal: 𖬄𖬰𖬟𖬵 𖬃𖬥 (Plaub hli))

May

𖬆𖬰 𖬆𖬶𖬬 (Kub nuj) (Informal: 𖬂𖬲𖬝𖬰 𖬃𖬥 (Tsib hli))

June

𖬒𖬶𖬧𖬵 𖬔𖬶𖬞 (Tov liaj) (Informal: 𖬡 𖬃𖬥 (Rau hli))

July

𖬐𖬰𖬟 𖬀𖬶𖬮 (Huaj xeeb) (Informal: 𖬗𖬰𖬧𖬰 𖬃𖬥 (Xya hli))

August

𖬀𖬶𖬯 𖬑𖬯 (Ceeb cua) (Informal: 𖬂𖬤 𖬃𖬥 (Yim hli))

September

𖬔𖬝𖬰 𖬆𖬰 𖬀𖬰𖬞 (Tsiab kub leej) (Informal: 𖬐𖬰𖬯 𖬃𖬥 (Cuaj hli))

October

𖬀𖬪𖬵 𖬋𖬰𖬪𖬰 (Peem tshais) (Informal: 𖬄 𖬃𖬥 (Kaum hli))

November

𖬌𖬲𖬞 𖬀𖬲 𖬀𖬦𖬰 (Looj keev txheem) (Informal: 𖬄 𖬂𖬲𖬮𖬰 𖬃𖬥 (Kaum ib hli))

December

𖬑𖬶𖬨𖬵 𖬎𖬯 (Npuag cawb) (Informal: 𖬄 𖬒𖬰𖬮𖬰 𖬃𖬥 (Kaum ob hli))

Colors

Color

𖬒𖬰 (Kob)

Blue

𖬔𖬲𖬮 (Xiav)

Yellow

𖬖𖬰𖬞𖬰 (Daj)

Green

𖬐𖬶𖬝 (Ntsuab)

Red

𖬔𖬞 (Liab)

Brown

𖬗𖬮𖬰/𖬗𖬲 𖬉𖬲𖬜𖬵 (Av/Kas fes)

Black

𖬆𖬰𖬞𖬰 (Dub)

Orange

𖬖𖬲 𖬙𖬢𖬰 (Kab ntxwv)

White

𖬎𖬞𖬰 (Dawb)

Purple

𖬖𖬝𖬰 𖬈𖬮 (Tsam xem)

Grey

𖬓𖬰𖬦𖬰 (Txho)

Pink

𖬖𖬰𖬪𖬵 𖬀𖬶𖬤 (Paj yeeb)

Transportation

(?)

Bus and train

(?)

Directions

Street

𖬒𖬲𖬯𖬵 𖬉 (Txoj kev)

Right

𖬖𖬲𖬤𖬵 𖬂𖬮 (Sab xim)

Left

𖬖𖬲𖬤𖬵 𖬅𖬲𖬞 (Sab laug)

Straight

𖬖𖬰𖬤𖬰 [𖬊𖬜𖬰] (Ncaj [nraim])

North

Formal: 𖬈𖬪𖬵 𖬖𖬲𖬜𖬵 (Pem fab); (Informal: 𖬖𖬲𖬤𖬵 𖬄𖬦𖬵 𖬈𖬰𖬧𖬵 (Sab qaum teb))

South

Formal: 𖬂𖬲𖬮 𖬖𖬲𖬜𖬵 (Xib fab); (Informal: 𖬖𖬲𖬤𖬵 𖬖𖬲𖬦𖬵 𖬈𖬰𖬧𖬵 (Sab qab teb))

East

Formal: 𖬖𖬰𖬞 𖬖𖬲𖬜𖬵 (Laj fab); (Informal: 𖬖𖬲𖬤𖬵 𖬆𖬰𖬩 𖬐𖬰𖬧𖬵 (Sab hnub tuaj))

West

Formal: 𖬌𖬧𖬵 𖬖𖬲𖬜𖬵 (toob fab); (Informal: 𖬖𖬲𖬤𖬵 𖬆𖬰𖬩 𖬌𖬪𖬵 (Sab hnub poob))

Northwest

Formal: 𖬈𖬪𖬵 𖬌𖬧𖬵 𖬖𖬲𖬜𖬵 (Pem toob fab); (Informal: 𖬖𖬲𖬤𖬵 𖬄𖬦𖬵 𖬈𖬰𖬧𖬵 𖬆𖬰𖬩 𖬌𖬪𖬵 (Sab qaum teb hnub poob))

Northeast

Formal: 𖬈𖬪𖬵 𖬖𖬰𖬞 𖬖𖬲𖬜𖬵 (Pem laj fab); (Informal: 𖬖𖬲𖬤𖬵 𖬄𖬦𖬵 𖬈𖬰𖬧𖬵 𖬆𖬰𖬩 𖬐𖬰𖬧𖬵 (Sab qaum teb hnub tuaj))

Southwest

Formal: 𖬂𖬲𖬮 𖬌𖬧𖬵 𖬖𖬲𖬜𖬵 (Xib toob fab); (Informal: 𖬖𖬲𖬤𖬵 𖬖𖬲𖬦𖬵 𖬈𖬰𖬧𖬵 𖬆𖬰𖬩 𖬌𖬪𖬵 (Sab qab teb hnub poob))

Southeast

Formal: 𖬂𖬲𖬮 𖬖𖬰𖬞 𖬖𖬲𖬜𖬵 (Xib laj fab); (Informal: 𖬖𖬲𖬤𖬵 𖬖𖬲𖬦𖬵 𖬈𖬰𖬧𖬵 𖬆𖬰𖬩 𖬐𖬰𖬧𖬵 (Sab qab teb hnub tuaj))

There/Over there

[𖬒𖬰𖬮𖬵] 𖬒𖬱/[𖬒𖬰𖬮𖬵] 𖬂𖬱 ([Nyob] tod/[Nyob] tid)

Here/Over here

[𖬒𖬰𖬮𖬵] 𖬎𖬱𖬩𖬵 ([Nyob] ntawd)

Up there

[𖬒𖬰𖬮𖬵] 𖬄𖬱𖬤𖬵 ([Nyob] saud)

Down there

[𖬒𖬰𖬮𖬵] 𖬄𖬲𖬟 ([Nyob] Hauv)

Taxi

Where do you want to go?

𖬒𖬲 𖬗𖬮 𖬇𖬰𖬦 𖬒𖬶𖬣 𖬙𖬶𖬧𖬵𖬷 (Koj xav mus qhov twg?)

Lodging

How much is for a [one, two, etc.] bedroom?

[𖬂𖬲𖬮𖬰, 𖬒𖬰𖬮𖬰,...] 𖬗𖬧 𖬙𖬰𖬪𖬵 𖬓𖬤 𖬉𖬲𖬪𖬵 𖬏𖬲𖬝𖬰𖬷 ([Ib, Ob,...] chav pw yog pes tsawg?)

Is lunch free?

𖬒𖬲𖬬 𖬇𖬤𖬵 𖬑𖬲𖬪𖬵 𖬓𖬤 𖬆𖬰𖬪𖬵 𖬎𖬞𖬰𖬷 (Noj su puas yog pub dawb?)

Is breakfast free?

𖬒𖬲𖬬 𖬋𖬰𖬪𖬰 𖬑𖬲𖬪𖬵 𖬓𖬤 𖬆𖬰𖬪𖬵 𖬎𖬞𖬰𖬷 (Noj tshais puas yog pub dawb?)

Money

What's the price?

𖬇𖬰𖬧𖬵 𖬃𖬬𖬰 𖬓𖬤 𖬃𖬞 𖬗𖬲𖬯𖬷 (Tus nqi yog li cas?)

That's too expensive!

𖬂 𖬑𖬮𖬰 𖬐𖬶𖬞𖬸 (Kim ua luab!)

It looks too cheap

[𖬙𖬲𖬬] 𖬀𖬰𖬝𖬵 𖬃𖬲𖬤 𖬇𖬰𖬮𖬰 𖬐𖬶𖬞 ([Nws] Pheej yig ua luab)

Eating

Fruits

𖬂𖬶𖬯𖬵 𖬖𖬲𖬣𖬵 𖬂𖬶𖬯𖬵 𖬍𖬩𖬵 (Txiv hmab txiv ntoo)

Vegetables

𖬄𖬰𖬥𖬰 (Zaub)

Apple

(?)

Breakfast

𖬒𖬲𖬬 𖬋𖬰𖬪𖬰 (Noj tshais)

Lunch

𖬒𖬲𖬬 𖬇𖬤𖬵 (Noj su)

Dinner

𖬒𖬲𖬬 𖬓𖬰𖬣𖬵 (Noj hmo)

Chicken

𖬊𖬰𖬦𖬵 (Qaib)

Beef

𖬊𖬶𖬬𖬰 𖬆𖬶𖬮𖬵 (Nqaij nyuj)

Meat

𖬊𖬶𖬬𖬰 (Nqaij)

Fish

𖬉𖬲𖬝 (Ntses)

Cheese

(?)

Egg

𖬉𖬰𖬦𖬵 (Qe)

Salad

(?)

Bread

(?)

Rice

(?)

Noodles

(?)

[Very] delicious

𖬖𖬲𖬦𖬵 [𖬀𖬲𖬟] (Qab [heev])

Meal

𖬑𖬲𖬟𖬵 𖬒𖬶𖬦 (Pluas mov)

Bars

Can I buy you a drink?

𖬒𖬲 𖬑𖬲𖬪𖬵 𖬖 𖬆𖬲 𖬐𖬲𖬤 𖬂𖬲𖬮𖬰 𖬒𖬰𖬩𖬰 𖬈𖬲𖬞𖬰 𖬡 𖬒𖬲𖬷 (Koj puas kam kuv yuav ib khob dej rau koj?)

Shopping

Is there a discount for this?

𖬒𖬶𖬣 𖬓𖬰𖬬 𖬑𖬲𖬪𖬵 𖬐𖬰𖬦 𖬆𖬲𖬞 𖬃𖬬𖬰𖬷 (Qhov no puas muaj luv nqi?)

Driving

(?)

Authority

(?)