Mongolian phrasebook

Pronunciation guide / Vowels / Consonants / Common diphthongs / Writing / Phrase list / Basics / Problems / Numbers / Time / Clock time / Duration / Days / Months / Writing time and date / Colors / Transportation / Bus and train / Directions / Taxi / Lodging / Money / Eating / Mongolian phrasebook nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Shopping / Driving / Authority

Mongolian is the main language of Mongolia, and also an official language in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region of China as well as in some other autonomous prefectures.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

a: like the "a" in father
e: like the "e" in met
i: like the "ee" in seen or the "i" in machine
o: like the "o" in pond
у: like the "oo" in cartoon
u: like the "oo" in noodle

If a word is written with double vowel, for example: Ulaanbaatar, treat it like an accent in Spanish or French.

Consonants

ch: the "ch" in chat
j: the "j" in jewel
kh/h: the "h" in hug
sh: the "sh" in shoe
ts: the "zz" in pizza
z

If an "N" is followed by a vowel, the vowel is silent and the "N" is pronounced like the English "N". For example: Baina is actually pronounced "Bain"

If an "N" is followed by a consanent or comes at the end of a word, then it is pronounced "NG". For example: Ulaanbaatar is pronounced "Ulangbatar".

Common diphthongs

Writing

Mongolian is written using the Cyrillic alphabet in Mongolia and written using the traditional Mongolian script in Inner Mongolia.

Phrase list

Basics

Hello.: Sain bainuu . ( )
Hello.: Sain'uu(informal) : . ( )
How are you?: Sain bainuu? ( ?)
Fine, thank you.: Sain bainaa. ( )
What is your name?: Tany ner khen be? ( ?)
Who are you / Who is it?: Chi khen be? ( ?)
My name is ______ .: Mini ner ______ . ( _____ .)
Nice to meet you.: Uulzsandaa taatai baina. ( )
Please.: . ( )
Thank you.: Bayarlalaa . ( )
You're welcome.: Zuuger . ( )
Yes.: Tiim . ( )
No.: Ugui . ( )
Sorry.: Uuchlaarai : . ( )
Goodbye: Bayartai . ( )
I can't speak Mongolian: Bi Mongoloor yaridaggui [ ]. ( [ ])
Do you speak English?: Chi angliar yaridaguu? ( ?)
Help!: Tuslaarai! ( !)
Look out!: Haraach! ( !)
Good morning.: uglunii mend . ( )
Good afternoon.: udriin mend . ( )
Good night.: oroin mend . ( )
Good night (to sleep): saikhan amraarai . ( )
I don't understand.: bi oilgokhgui baina . ( )
Where is the toilet?: Biy zasah gazar haana ve? ( ?)

Problems

Don't touch me!: Nadad buu khur!

I'll call the police.: Bi tsagdaa duudlaa

Police!: Tsagdaa!

Stop! Thief!: Zogsoogooroi! Khulgaich!

I need your help.: Nadad chinii toslamj kheregtei baina.

I'm lost.: Bi toorchihloo.

I lost my bag.: Bi tsunkhee geechihlee.

I lost my wallet.: Bi turuivchee geechihlee.

I'm sick.: Bi uvchtei baina.

I've been injured.: Bi gemtchihsen.

I need a doctor.: Nadad emch heregtei baina.

Can I use your phone?: Bi utsiig chini hereglej boloh uu?

Numbers

0: teg
1: neg
2: hoyor
3: gurav
4: dorov
5: tav
6: zurgaa
7: doloo
8: naim
9: yus
10: arav
11: arvan neg
12: arvan hoyor
20: hori
21: horin neg
30: guch
31: guchin neg
40: doch
41: dochin neg
50: tavi
60: jar
70: dal
80: naya
90: ir
100: zuu
200: hoyor zuu
1000: myanga
3451: gurvan myanga dorvon zuun tavin neg
1,000,000: saya
number ____ (train, bus, etc.): nomer/dugaar ____
half: tal
a lot: ih
a little: joohon

Time

now: odoo
later: daraa
before: umnu
after: daraa
morning: ugluu
afternoon: udur
evening: oroi
night: shono

Clock time

one o'clock AM: shoniin neg tsag
noon: udriin arvan hoyor tsag
one o'clock PM: udriin neg tsag
midnight: shoniin arvan hoyor tsag

Duration

___ minute(s): ___ minut
___ hour(s): ___ tsag
___ day(s): ___ udur
___ week(s): ___ doloo honog
___ month(s): ___ sar
___ year(s): ___ jil

Days

today: unuudur
tomorrow: margaash
yestersay: uchigdur
this week: ene doloo honog
last week: ungursun doloo honog
next week: daraagiin doloo honog
Monday: davaa
Tuesday: myagmar
Wednesday: lkhavga
Thursday: purev
Friday: baasan
Saturday: byamba
Sunday: nyam

Months

January: neg dugaar sar
February: hoyor dugaar sar

(etc. The number of the month (1-12), followed by "dugaar sar")

Writing time and date

When writing the date with digits, 14/11/08. The 24 hour clock is used, rather than the 12 hour clock.

Colors

black: har
white: tsagaan
gray: saaral
red: ulaan
blue: tsenkher
yellow: shar
green: nogoon
orange: ulbar shar
purple: chirnelen yagaan
brown: bor
pink: yagaan

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to ___?: ___ yavah biletnii une hed ve?
One ticket to ___, please.: ___ yavah neg bilet avya.
Where does this train/bus go?: Ene galt tereg/avtobus haashaa yavah ve?
Where is the bus/train to ___?: ___ yavah avtobus/galt teregnii zogsool haana baina ve?
Does this train/bus stop in ___?: Ene galt tereg/avtobus ___-d zosgoh uu?
When does the train/bus to ___ leave?: ___ yavah galt tereg/avtobus hodloh ve?
When will the train/bus arrive in ___?: ___-t galt tereg/avtobus hezee ochih ve?

Directions

How do I get to ___?: Bi yaj ___-d ochih ve?
... the train station: galt teregnii buudal
... the bus station: avtobusnii buudal
... the airport: ongotsnii buudal
... downtown: hotiin tuv
... the hotel: zochid buudal
... the American/British/Canadian/Australian embassy: Amerik/Angli/Kanad/Avstir elchin saidiin yam
street: gudamj
Turn left: zuun tiishee erge
Turn right: baruun tiishee erge
straight ahead: chigeeree
towards the ___: ___ tiishee
north: hoid
south: urd
east: zuun
west: baruun

Taxi

Taxi!: Taxi!
Take me to ___, please.: namaig ___ ruu hurgej ogooch.
How much does it cost to get to ___?: ___ ruu yavhad hed ve?

Lodging

Do you have rooms available?: Uruu baina uu?
How much is a room for one person/two people?: Neg/hoyor hunii uruu hed ve?
Does the room come with ___?: Uruund ___ bii uu?
...bedsheets: ornii davuu
...a bathroom: bannii uruu
...a telephone: utas
...a TV: zuragt
May I see the room first?: Uruug ehleed uzej boloh uu?
Do you have anything quieter?: Chimee bagatai uruu bii uu?
...bigger: tomhon
...cleaner: tseverhen
...cheaper: hyamdhan
OK, I'll take it.: Za, avya.
I will stay for ___ nights.: Bi ___ udur honono.
Can you suggest another hotel?: Uur zochid buudal haana baidag ve?
Do you have a safe?: Safe baigaa uu?
Is breakfast included?: Ugluunii hool orson uu?
Please clean my room.: Minii uruug tseverlej ugnu uu.
Can you wake me at ___?: Ta namaig ___ tsagt sereej ugnu uu?
I want to check out.: Bi buudlaasaa garya.

Money

Do you accept American/British/Canadian/Australian currency?: Ta Amerik/Angli/Kanad/Avstrali mungu avdag uu?
Do you accept credit cards?: Kredit kart avdag uu?
Can you change money for me?: Mungu solij ugnu uu?
Where can I get money changed?: Bi munguu haana soliulj boloh ve?
How much for one ___?: Neg ___ hed ve?

Eating

A table for one/two, please.: Neg/hoyor hunii shiree.
Can I look at a menu, please?: Bi hoolnii zes harj boloh uu?
I'm a vegetarian.: Bi mah iddeggui.
I don't eat pork.: Bi gahain mah iddeggui.
I don't eat beef.: Bi uhriin mah iddeggui.
Breakfast: ugluunii hool
Lunch: udriin hool
Dinner: oroin hool
I want ___: ___-g avya.
Chicken: tahianii mah
Beef: uhriin mah
Pork: gahain mah
Fish: zagasnii mah
Soda: undaa
Cheese: byaslag
Eggs: ondog
Salad: salat
Vegetable: nogoi
Fruit: jims
Bread: talh
Noodles: goimon
Rice: budaa
Corn: erdene shish
Apple: alim
Orange: mandrin
Lemon: limon
Banana: banan
May I have a glass of ___?: Bi neg ayga ___ avch boloh uu?
May I have a bottle of ___?: Bi neg lonh ___ avch boloh uu?
Coffee: coffee
Tea: tsai
Juice: shuus
Milk: suu
Water: us
Beer: pivo
Alcohol: arhi
Wine: vino
Salt: davs
Pepper: pierts
Butter: maslo
I'm finished (full.): Bi tsadchihlaa.
It was delicious.: Goyo amttai baisan.
The check, please.: Bi munguu tolyo.