A collection of useful phrases in Hmong Daw / White Hmong (Hmongb Dleub), a variety of Hmong spoken in Vietnam, China and Laos.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).
| Phrase | Hmongb Dleub (Hmong Daw / White Hmong) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Zoo siab txais tos! |
| Hello (General greeting) | Nyob zoo (live well) |
| How are you? | Koj puas nyob zoo? (do you live well?) Koj nyob licas? (how do you live?) |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Kuv nyob zoo. |
| Long time no see | Kuv zoo siab tau pom koj. (I'm happy to see you) |
| What's your name? | Koj lub npe hu licas? |
| My name is ... | Kuv lub npe hu ua ... |
| Where are you from? | Koj tuaj qhov twg tuaj? |
| I'm from ... | Kuv tuaj ... tuaj |
| Pleased to meet you | Kuv zoo siab ntsib koj |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Nyob zoo (common any time of day) Nyob zoo sawv ntxov os (not common) Nyob zoo thaum sawv ntxov (not common) |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Nyob zoo (common any time of day) Nyob zoo yav tavsu os (not common) Nyob zoo thaum yav tavsu (not common) |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Nyob zoo (common any time of day) Nyob zoo yav tsaus ntuj os (not common) Nyob zoo thaum yav tsaus ntuj (not common) |
| Good night | Pw zoo os |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Sib ntsib dua |
| Good luck! | Hmoov zoo |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Zoo siab (good heart / happy) |
| Have a nice day | Thov kom koj tau txais koob hmoo tas hnub |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
Noj zoo Noj qab noj zoo Noj qab nyob zoo |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Thov kom txhob muaj dabtsi dawm koj tes koj taw |
| I understand | Kuv totaub |
| I don't understand | Kuv tsis totaub |
| Yes | Yog (it is) |
| No | Tsis Tsis yog (it isn't) |
| Maybe | Tej zaum |
| I don't know | Kuv tsis paub |
| Please speak more slowly | Thov hais majmam |
| Please say that again | Thov hais dua |
| Please write it down | Thov sau |
| Do you speak English? | Koj puas hais lus askiv? |
| Do you speak White Hmong? | Koj puas hais lus hmoob? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Kuv hais lus hmoob me me xwb (I only speak a little Hmong) |
| Speak to me in White Hmong | |
| How do you say ... in White Hmong? | ... lus hmoob hais licas? (how is ... called in Hmong?) ... lus hmoob hais hu licas? (how is... named in Hmong?) |
| Excuse me | Thov zam kev |
| How much is this? | Pestsawg? |
| Sorry | Thov txim |
| Please | Thov |
| Thank you | Ua tsaug |
| Reply to thank you | Tsis ua licas (it's nothing) Zoo siab pab (happy to help) |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Chav dej nyob qhovtwg? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | |
| This lady will pay for everything | |
| Would you like to dance with me? | |
| I miss you | Kuv nco koj |
| I love you | Kuv hlub koj |
| Get well soon | Thov kom koj zoo sai sai |
| Go away! | |
| Leave me alone! | Cia kuv nyob ib leeg |
| Help! | Pab |
| Fire! | Hluavtaws |
| Stop! | Tso tseg |
| Call the police! | Tso tseg |
| Christmas greetings | Nyob zoo hnub yug Yesxus |
| Easter greetings | |
| Birthday greetings | Zoo siab hnub yug |
| One language is never enough | |
| My hovercraft is full of eels |
Phrases supplied by Jennifer Runner of Jennifer's Language Pages
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Hear some phrases in Hmong Daw:
Information about: Hmong | Hmong Dau | Hmong Njua | Scripts for Hmong: Pahawh Hmong | Romanized Popular Alphabet | Pollard Miao | Nyiakeng Puachue Hmong | Phrases in: Hmong Dau | Numbers in: Hmong Dau | Iu Mien | Tower of Babel in: Hmong Dau | Hmong Njua | Iu Mien | Books about Hmong
Other collections of White Hmong phrases
http://www.davecurtis.net/phrasebook/phrasebook.en.mww.html
http://dcehmong.weebly.com/common-hmong-wordsphrases.html
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