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Common Hmong Phrases
Essential Hmong (Hmoob) phrases with pronunciation guides.
👋Greetings & Basics
| English | Hmong | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Nyob zoo | nyaw zong |
| Good morning | Nyob zoo sawv ntxov | nyaw zong saw ntsaw |
| Good evening | Nyob zoo tsaus ntuj | nyaw zong tsow ntoo |
| Good night | Pw zoo | paw zong |
| Goodbye | Sib ntsib dua | see ntseeb dua |
| See you later | Pom koj dua | pom ko dua |
| Please | Thov | taw |
| Thank you | Ua tsaug | ua tsow |
| Thank you very much | Ua tsaug ntau | ua tsow ntow |
| You're welcome | Tsis ua li cas | tsee ua lee tsa |
| Yes | Yog | yog |
| No | Tsis yog | tsee yog |
| Excuse me | Thov txim | taw tseem |
| Sorry | Thov txim | taw tseem |
| How are you? | Koj nyob li cas? | ko nyaw lee tsa |
| I'm fine | Kuv nyob zoo | koo nyaw zong |
| What is your name? | Koj lub npe hu li cas? | ko loob npeh hoo lee tsa |
| My name is... | Kuv lub npe hu ua... | koo loob npeh hoo ua |
| Nice to meet you | Zoo siab ntsib koj | zong see ntseeb ko |
| Do you speak English? | Koj hais lus Askiv puas tau? | ko high loo as-kiv pua dow |
✈️Travel
| English | Hmong | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is...? | ...nyob qhov twg? | nyaw khaw tway |
| Airport | Tshav dav hlau | tshaw dav hlow |
| Hotel | Tsev so | tshev saw |
| Hospital | Tsev kho mob | tshev kaw mob |
| Pharmacy | Khw muag tshuaj | khaw muay tsuay |
| Police station | Chaw tub ceev xwm | chaw toob tsev shoom |
| Bus station | Chaw nres tsheb npav | chaw nreh tsheb nbav |
| Taxi | Tsheb ntiav | tsheb ntee-av |
| How much does it cost? | Nqi li cas? | ntsi lee tsa |
| Ticket | Pib | peeb |
| Passport | Ntawv hla teb chaws | ntaw hla teb chaws |
| I am lost | Kuv poob kev | koo pawb kev |
| Help me please | Thov pab kuv | taw pab koo |
| Left | Sab laug | sab low |
| Right | Sab xis | sab shee |
| Straight ahead | Ncaj qha | ntsa kha |
| Open | Qhib | khib |
| Closed | Kaw | kaw |
| Entrance | Qhov rooj nkag | khaw rog nkang |
| Exit | Qhov rooj tawm | khaw rog tawm |
🍽️Food & Dining
| English | Hmong | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant | Tsev noj mov | tshev noj maw |
| I'm hungry | Kuv tshaib plab | koo tshai plab |
| I'm thirsty | Kuv nqhis dej | koo nkhi dej |
| Water | Dej | dej |
| Food | Mov | maw |
| Rice | Mov | maw |
| Noodles | Kab laug sab | kab low sab |
| Meat | Nqaij | ntsi |
| Chicken | Nqaij qaib | ntsi tsai |
| Fish | Ntses | ntseh |
| Vegetables | Zaub | dzow |
| Fruit | Txiv hmab txiv ntoo | tsee hmab tsee ntaw |
| Tea | Dej khob | dej kawb |
| Coffee | Kas fes | kas feh |
| The check please | Them nqi thov | them ntsi taw |
| Delicious | Qab heev | tsa hev |
| Spicy | Kib | keeb |
| Sweet | Qab zib | tsa zeeb |
| Menu | Ntawv qhia zaub mov | ntaw khia dzow maw |
| Vegetarian | Noj zaub xwb | noj dzow shwb |
🚨Emergency
| English | Hmong | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | Pab! | pab |
| Call the police! | Hu tub ceev xwm! | hoo toob tsev shoom |
| Call a doctor! | Hu kws kho mob! | hoo kwash kaw mob |
| Call an ambulance! | Hu tsheb mob! | hoo tsheb mob |
| Fire! | Hluav taws kub! | hluay taws kub |
| I am sick | Kuv mob | koo mob |
| I am injured | Kuv raug mob | koo row mob |
| I need a doctor | Kuv xav tau kws kho mob | koo sha tow kwash kaw mob |
| Hospital | Tsev kho mob | tshev kaw mob |
| Emergency | Xwm txheej | shoom tshe |
| I am allergic to... | Kuv tsis nyiam... | koo tsee nyi-am |
| Pain | Mob | mob |
| I need help | Kuv xav tau kev pab | koo sha tow kev pab |
| Danger | Kev phom sij | kev pom see |
| Stop! | Nres! | nreh |
💼Business
| English | Hmong | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting | Sib tham | seeb tam |
| Office | Chaw ua haujlwm | chaw ua hoy-loom |
| Contract | Ntawv cog lus | ntaw tso loo |
| Company | Tuam txhab | tooa tsab |
| Manager | Tus thawj coj | too tow tso |
| Invoice | Ntawv them nqi | ntaw them ntsi |
| Price | Nqi | ntsi |
| Payment | Kev them nqi | kev them ntsi |
| Bank | Tuam txhab nyiaj | tooa tsab nyi |
| Money | Nyiaj | nyee |
| Business | Lag luam | lag luam |
| Partner | Tus khub ua lag luam | too khoob ua lag luam |
| Project | Phiaj xwm | phia shoom |
| Ntawv xa hauv internet | ntaw sha how internet |
🔢Numbers & Time
| English | Hmong | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Zero | Xoom | shoom |
| One | Ib | ee |
| Two | Ob | aw |
| Three | Peb | peh |
| Four | Plaub | plow |
| Five | Tsib | tseeb |
| Six | Rau | row |
| Seven | Xya | sha |
| Eight | Yim | yeem |
| Nine | Cuaj | tsooy |
| Ten | Kaum | kowm |
| Twenty | Nees nkaum | neh nkow |
| Hundred | Pua | pua |
| Thousand | Txhiab | tsia |
| What time is it? | Lub sijhawm yog li cas? | loob see-how yog lee tsa |
| Today | Hnub no | hnoo naw |
| Tomorrow | Tag kis | tag kee |
| Yesterday | Nag hmo | nag hmaw |
| Monday | Hnub Ib | hnoo ee |
| Friday | Hnub Tsib | hnoo tseeb |
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