Below are some common and useful Hmong words and phrases. You can also use the website in italics to hear the word read in Hmong. The word should be written in Hmong. Hmong Text Reader
Common Words
English Hmong (Pronunciation) Name: Npe (bae) School: Tsev kawm ntawv (chay ger therr) Education: Kev kawm ntawv (gay ger therr) Grade: Hoob (hong) Age: Hnub nyoog (nou nyau) Me/I: Kuv (goo) You: Koj (gaw) Him/Her: Nws (new) Hello: Nyob Zoo (nyaw zhong) Who: Leej twg (leng thuu) What: Dab tsi (da chee) When: Thaum twg (thow thuu) Where: Qhov twg (kaw thuu) Why: Vim li cas (vee lee cha) Read: Twm ntawv (thuu therr) Write: Sau ntawv (show therr) Protagonist: Phab ej (pha ay) Antagonist: Laib (lie) Good: Zoo (zhong) Not good: Tsis zoo (jee shong) Nice/Kind: Siab zoo (shia zhong) Bad: Phem (pay) Mom/Mother: Niam (nia) Dad/Father: Txiv (zhee) Son/Boy: Tub (tou/two) Daughter/Girl: Ntxhais or Maiv (zhy) or (mai) Teacher: Xibfwb/nais khus (see fuu) or (nai koo) Read: Twm ntawv (thuu therr) Like: Nyiam (nyia) Dislike: Tsis nyiam (jee nhia) Big/Large: Loj (law) Small/Little: Me (may) Alot/Many: Ntau (though) Few/Less: Tshawg (cherr) Know: Paub (bao) Excellent/Great: Zoo heev (zhong hang) House: Tsev (chay) Town/City: Zos (zhaw) Classroom: Hoob qhia ntawv (hong khia therr) Notebook: Phau ntawv (pow therr) Pencil: Xaum (so) Scissor: Txiab (xia) Bathroom: Chav dej (cha day) Food: Mov (maw) Eat: Noj (naw) Easy: Yooj yim (yong yee) Hard/difficult: Nyuab (nyoua) Please: Thov (thaw) Sick: Mob (maw) Food/Rice: Mov (maw) Fruit: Txiv (tzee) Vegetable: Zaub (zow) *rhymes with wow* Gracious/Polite: Paub cai (pow chai) Respect: Hwm or Hawm (hue or her) |
Common Phrases
English Hmong (Pronunciation) Hello: Nyob zoo (Nyaw zhong) How are you: Koj nyob li cas (Gaw nyaw lee cha) I am doing well/good: Kuv nyob zoo (Goo nyaw zhong) What is your name: Koj lub npe hu li cas (Gaw loo bae who lee cha) What is his/her name: Nws lub npe hu li cas (New loo bae who lee cha) My name is: Kuv lub npe yog (Goo loo bae yaw) Nice to meet you: Zoo siab ntsib koj (Zhong shia jee gaw) Good-bye: Sib ntsib dua (She jee doua) Sorry: Thov txim (Thaw zhee) Thank you: Ua tsaug (Oua jow) You are welcome: Tsis ua li cas (Jee oua lee cha) Help me: Pab kuv (Bah goo) Help him/her: Pab nws (Bah nuu) I am happy: Kuv zoo siab (Goo zhong shia) Do/Did you like it: Koj puas nyiam (Kaw boua nhia) What do you like to do: Koj nyiam ua dab tsi (Kaw nhia oua da chee) Can you repeat that: Thov koj hais dua (Thaw gaw hi doua) How come/why: Vim li cas (Vee lee cha) I don't know: Kuv tsis paub (Goo jee bao) It is: Yog (Yaw) It isn't: Tsis yog (Jee yaw) You are very nice: Koj siab zoo heev (Gaw shia zhong hang) Where is s/he: Nws nyob qhov twg (New nyaw khaw thuu) Who are you: Koj yog leej twg (Gaw yaw leng thuu) Are you okay: Koj puas nyob zoo (Gaw bous naw zhong) What is this: Qhov no yog dab tsi (Kaw naw yaw dah jee) Are you sick: Puas yog koj mob (Boua yaw gaw maw) Where does it hurt: Koj mob qhov twg (Gaw maw kaw thuu) How does it hurt: Nws mob li cas (New maw lee cha) What did you eat: Koj noj dab tsi (Gaw naw dah jee) Why didn't s/he come to school: Ua cas nws tsis tuaj kawm ntawv (Oua cha new jee toua ger ther) |