Like many Asian languages, the Hmong
language is tonal, which means that a word's meaning
depends not only on how it is pronounced but also its
pitch and whether the voice rises or falls. Hmong words are generally one syllable, a
typical word is made up of a consonant and a vowel or a combination of vowel sounds.
For a good history information about the origin of the
Hmong language,
click here. Below are some basic Hmong translation.
Hmong Numbers
Ib
One
Ob
Two
Peb
Three
Plaub
Four
Tsib
Five
Rau
Six
Xya
Seven
Yim
Eight
Cuaj
Nine
Kaum
Ten
Nees nkaum
Twenty
Peb caug
Thirty
Plaub caug
Forty
Tsib caug
Fifty
Rau caum
Sixty
Xya caum
Seventy
Yim caum
Eighty
Cuaj caum
Ninety
Ibpuas
One hundred
Time Expressions in Hmong
Hnub no
Today
Tas kig
Tomorrow
Nag hmo
Yesterday
Lub lim piam
Next week
Thaum tag kig sawv ntxov
In the morning
Thaum yav tav su dua
In the afternoon
Thaum yav tsaus ntuj
In the evening
Common Greetings in Hmong
Ua tsaug
Thank you
Thov
Please
Kuv hlub koj
I love you.
Koj puas nyob zoo?
How are you?
Kuv nyob zoo
I am doing fine.
Koj puas nyob zoo, tus phooj ywg?
How are you, friend?
(Greeting for a man)
Koj puas nyob zoo, tug muam?
How are you, Sister? (Greeting for an unmarried
woman)
Koj puas nyob zoo, niam tij/niam ntxawm?
How are you, Sister-in-law/Auntie? (Greeting for a
married woman)
Koj puas nyob zoo, txiv?
How are you, Father?
niam
Mother
txiv ntxawm
Uncle
yawg
Grandfather
pog
Grandmother
Here's an online
Hmong Dictionary if you'd like to learn more about
the Hmong words. If you want to download
Hmong Fonts here for your computer. .
