Dzongkha phrasebook

Dzongkha (རྫོང་ཁ་) is the national language of Bhutan. Most educated Bhutanese are able to communicate in English as well, though attempting to speak Dzongkha will almost certainly impress your hosts.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Vowels are [a ɛ e i ø y ɜ ɨ o u]. Diphthongs are [ai au ei øy ɤu/ou iɛ uɔ/yɔ]. The only coda is eng, in /aŋ eŋ oŋ/ and syllabic [ŋ̩].

Consonants

  Bilabial Labio-
dental
Alveolar Alveolo-
palatal
Palatal Velar Glottal
Nasal m   n ȵ   ŋ
Plosive voiced b   d     ɡ  
voiceless p   t     k  
aspirated        
Fricative voiced   v z       ɦ
voiceless   f s ɕ     h
Affricate voiced     dz      
voiceless     ts      
aspirated     tsʰ tɕʰ      
Approximant       j    
Lateral Approximant     l        

Phrase list

Basics

Hello (formal)
Kuzoozangpo la
Hello (informal)
Kuzoozangpo
How are you?
Gadaybay Zhu yi Ga?
I'm fine
Legshom (Layshom) or Legshom bey rang yoe (full)
What is your name?
Chhoe gi ming ga chi mo?: What is your name (formal)
Na ge tshen ga chi zhuwu eena?
My name is _____
Nge gi ming _____ in
I am from ____
Nga ____ lay in la
Thank you
Kadrin chhe
See you later (formal)
Shoo lay log jay gay
See you later (alternate)
Tama chhay gay
See you tomorrow
Naba chhay gay
Where
Gatey
How much
Gademchi

Problems

Where is the bathroom?

chhab sang gatey inna la?

We need to go to the hospital.

Nga chey (plural)/ nga (singular) menkhang na jo go bay.

Doctor:

Drung tsho

What is the Problem?
Choe gi Ka Ngyel ga chi mo?
Where is the Bank?
Ngyul Khang Ga teey mo?

Numbers

0
leykor
1
chi
2
nyi
3
sum
4
zhi
5
nga
6
dru
7
dhuen
8
ghay
9
gu
10
chutham
11
chu chi
12
chu nyi

Clock time

time
(...)
o'clock
bazaar
8 o'clock
bazaar gyed/ chhutsed gyed

Duration

_____ minute(s)
karma
_____ hour(s)
chhutsed
_____ day(s)
Zha/nim
_____ week(s)
dhuenthra
_____ month(s)
Daw
_____ year(s)
Lo

Days

Monday
Migmar
Tuesday
Lhagpa
Wednesday
Phurba
Thursday
Pasang
Friday
Penpa
Saturday
Nima
Sunday
Dawa

Months

January
indha dangpa
February
indha nyipa
March
indha sumpa, indha zhipa, indha ngapa, indha drukpa, indha duenpa, indha gyepa, indha gupa and indha chunyepa for December
Note
For the months of lunar calendar the prefix is rangda, indha is used for the months of the international calendar.

Colors

Green
Changkha
Red
Marp
White
Karp
Blue
Hoem
Black
Naap
Yellow
Sep
Orange
Leewang

Taxi

Identified by the yellow top (hood) and BT registration affixed before the number.

Taxi
la khor
Fare
la
how much
ga day chi in na la

Money

How much is this/it ? Ngultrum ga them chi mo

Eating

Meal : Toh /zhay go

Breakfast: dom zer

Lunch: nima ge toh

Dinner: tsho

eating : zhaygo za ni

delicious : zhim bay

bitter  ; khag tay

sweet  : ngam

sour  ; chup

Water  ; chhu

Tea  : ja

Curry  : tshoem

Soup :thup

Chilli  : ema

Cheese :datshi

cook(verb)  : toh bey ni

eat  : zhey (formal)/ za (informal)

Dry Chilli : ema kam

Bars

May I please have _____: Nga lu ______ nang mey la
Alcoholic Beverage
Changg
Bar
Changkhang
Tip
soera
Whats the bill
Ga de chi mo
I am drunk
changg dang so ye
Water
chu

HOT Water

Chu-tse

Local Drink
Ara
It is strong(spirit)
ah ni ga tra du
It is mild
lha si si du

Shopping

shop : tsongkhang

how much : ga de chi mo?

discount please : gong phab nang mey la

Driving

Car : Numkhor

Drive : Numkhor tang ni

Licence : Lak Kher

Police  : thrim sung

Road  : Lam

High speed : joba joba/ shuk bay tang

Low speed  : drey gay bay tang

please take caution(driving) : reb drim di tang

Lets go  : jogay

stop  ; numkor kag nang

Risky  : ngyen khag

Love

I love you: nga gi che lu ga

I miss you: nga choe drem mey

I can't stay without you: nga che me pa me cha bay

I will make you a phone call: nga gi che lu juthen tang gay

Do you miss me: che nga dem mey ga

You're so beautiful: che namay samay jarim dhu


I miss you very nuch : na may sa may dren yi

w:Dzongkha

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