Kalmyk phrasebook
Kalmyk (Хальмг келн) is the main language of Kalmykia. The language is part of the Mongolic language family and is mutually intelligible with Oirat spoken in Dzungaria. It is written with the Cyrillic alphabet although it was historically written in a traditional script called "Todo Bichig." About 90,000-150,000 people can speak the language. It is the only Mongolic language in Europe.
Pronunciation guide
The pronunciation of Kalmyk Cyrillic letters is more or less the same as that of the Russian Cyrillic alphabet but with the addition of 6 letters: "Әә/Ää", "Һһ/Hh", "Җҗ/Jj", "Ңң/Ññ", "Өө/Öö", and "Үү/Üü." Moreover, the letter Вв is sometimes pronounced as "w" although it is also pronounced as "v" as it usually is in Russian and the letter "Ее" is usually pronounced as "ye" only at the beginning of a word.
Vowels
Аа Әә Ее Ёё Ии Оо Өө Уу Үү Ыы Ээ Юю Яя
Consonants
Бб Вв Гг Һһ Дд Жж Җҗ Зз Йй Кк Лл Мм Нн Ңң Пп Рр Сс Тт Фф Хх Цц Чч Шш Щщ Ъъ Ьь
Common diphthongs
аа әә ии ий нь өө уу үү
Phrase list
Pronouns
I = Би
We = Бидн
You = Чи
You (Plural/Polite) = Та
He/She/It = Тер
They = Тедн
My = Мини
Our = Мана
Your = Чини
Your (Plural/Polite) = Тана
His,Her/Its = Терүнә/Түүнә
Their = Теднә
Basics
Common signs
|
- Hello.
- Сән бәәцхәнт! or Мендут. (Sän bäätsxänt) or (Mendut)
- Hello. (informal)
- Менд. (Mend)
- How are you?
- Ямаран бәәнт? (Yamaran bäänt?)
- Fine, thank you.
- Гем уга, ханҗанав. (Gem uga, xanjanav )
- What is your name?
- Чини нерн кемб? (Chini nern kemb?)
- My name is ______ .
- Мини нерн ______. (Mini nern _____.)
- Nice to meet you.
- Таньлцлдан байрлҗанав. (Tan'ltsldan bayrljanav)
- Please.
- Буйн болтха. (Buyn boltxa )
- Thank you.
- Ханҗанав. (Xanjanav)
- You're welcome.
- Учр уга/Буйн болтха. (Uchr uga/Buyn boltxa)
- Yes.
- Ээ or тиим. (ee or tiim)
- No.
- Уга. (uga)
- Excuse me. (getting attention)
- . ( )
- Excuse me. (begging pardon)
- Бичә му сантн. (Bichä mu santn)
- I'm sorry.
- Би Гемән сурҗанав. (Bi gemän surjanav)
- Goodbye
- Байртаhар харhтл. (Bayrtahar Xarhtl)
- Goodbye (informal)
- Cән бәәтн! (Sän bäätn)
- I can't speak Kalmyk [well].
- [ ]. ( [ ])
- Do you speak English?
- Та англь келәр келдвтә? (Ta angl' kelär keldvtä?)
- Is there someone here who speaks English?
- ? ( ?)
- Help!
- Нөкд болтн! (Nökd boltn!)
- Look out!
- ! ( !)
- Good morning.
- Сән хонвт!. (Sän xonvt)
- Good evening.
- Сән хонтн! (Sän xontn)
- Good night.
- Сән хонтн! (Sän xontn)
- Good night (to sleep)
- . ( )
- I don't understand.
- Би медҗ ядх . (Bi medj yadx)
- Where is the toilet?
- Һарч ирдг хора альд? (Harč irdg xora al’d?)
- How do you say __ in Kalmyk?
- Хальмг келәр __ яһҗ нерәдгнә? (Xal'mg kelär __ yahj nerädgnä?)
Problems
- Leave me alone.
- Амр өгтн! (Amr ögtn!)
- Don't touch me!
- ! ( !)
- I'll call the police.
- . ( .)
- Police!
- Цагда! (Tsagda!)
- Stop! Thief!
- ! ! ( ! !)
- I need your help.
- . ( .)
- It's an emergency.
- . ( .)
- I'm lost.
- . ( .)
- I lost my bag.
- . ( .)
- I lost my wallet.
- . ( .)
- I'm sick.
- . ( .)
- I've been injured.
- . ( .)
- I need a doctor.
- . ( .)
- Can I use your phone?
- ? ( ?)
Numbers
- 1
- Негн (Negn)
- 2
- Хойр (Xoyr)
- 3
- Һурвн (Hurvn)
- 4
- Дөрвн (Dörvn)
- 5
- Тавн (Tavn)
- 6
- Зурhан (Zurhan)
- 7
- Долан (Dolan)
- 8
- Нәәмн (Näämn)
- 9
- Йисн (Yisn)
- 10
- Арвн (Arvn)
- 11
- Арвн негн (Arvn negn)
- 12
- Арвн хойр (Arvn xoyr)
- 13
- Арвн hурвн (Arvn hurvn)
- 14
- Арвн дөрвн (Arvn dörvn)
- 15
- Арвн тавн (Arvn tavn)
- 16
- Арвн зурhан (Arvn zurhan)
- 17
- Арвн долан (Arvn dolan)
- 18
- Арвн нәәмн (Arvn näämn)
- 19
- Арвн йисн (Arvn yisn)
- 20
- Хөрн (Xörn)
- 21
- Хөрн негн (Xörn negn)
- 22
- Хөрн хойр (Xörn xoyr)
- 23
- Хөрн hурвн (Xörn hurvn)
- 30
- Һучн (Huchn)
- 40
- Дөчн (Döchn)
- 50
- Тәвн (Tävn)
- 60
- Җирн (Jirn)
- 70
- Далн (Daln)
- 80
- Найин (Nayin)
- 90
- Йирн (Yirn)
- 100
- Зун (Zun)
- 200
- Хойр зун (Xoyr zun)
- 300
- Һурвн зун (Hurvn zun)
- 1,000
- Миңһн (Miñhn)
- 2,000
- Хойр миңһн (Xoyr miñhn )
- 10,000
- Түмн (Tümn)
- 100,000
- Бумн (Bumn)
- 1,000,000
- Сай (Say) or Негн сай (Negn say)
- 1,000,000,000
- Җува (Juva)
- 1,000,000,000,000
- ( )
- number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
- ( )
- half
- Өрәл (Öräl)
- less
- ( )
- more
- ( )
Time
- now
- Ода (Oda)
- later
- ( )
- before
- ( )
- morning
- Өрүн (Örün)
- afternoon
- ( )
- evening
- Асхн (Asxn)
- night
- Сө (Sö)
Clock time
- one o'clock AM
- ( )
- two o'clock AM
- ( )
- noon
- ( )
- one o'clock PM
- ( )
- two o'clock PM
- ( )
- midnight
- ( )
Duration
- _____ second(s)
- ___ Мисхл (Misxl)
- _____ minute(s)
- ___ Мүч (Müch)
- _____ hour(s)
- ___ Час (Chas)
- _____ day(s)
- ___ Өдр (Ödr)
- _____ week(s)
- ___ Долан хонг (Dolan xong)
- _____ month(s)
- ___ Сар (Sar)
- _____ year(s)
- ___ Җил (Jil)
Days
- today
- Эндр (Endr)
- yesterday
- Өцклдүр (Ötskldür)
- tomorrow
- Маңhдур (Mañhdur)
- this week
- ( )
- last week
- ( )
- next week
- ( )
- Sunday
- Нарн (Narn)
- Monday
- Сарң (Sarñ)
- Tuesday
- Мигмр (Migmr)
- Wednesday
- Үлмҗ (Ülmj)
- Thursday
- Пүрвә (Pürvä)
- Friday
- Басң (Basñ)
- Saturday
- Бембә (Bembä)
Months
- January
- Туула Сар (Tuula Sar)
- February
- Лу Сар (Lu Sar)
- March
- Моһа Сар (Moha Sar)
- April
- Мөрн Сар (Mörn Sar)
- May
- Хөн Сар (Xön Sar)
- June
- Мөчн Сар (Möchn Sar)
- July
- Така Сар (Taka Sar)
- August
- Ноха Сар (Noxa Sar)
- September
- Һаха Сар (Haxa Sar)
- October
- Хулһн Сар (Xulhn Sar)
- November
- Үкр Сар (Ükr Sar)
- December
- Бар Сар (Bar Sar)
Colors
- black
- Хар (Xar)
- white
- Цаһан (Tsahan)
- gray
- Бор (Bor)
- red
- Улан (Ulan)
- blue
- Көк (Kök)
- yellow
- Шар (Shar)
- green
- Ноһан (Nohan)
- orange
- Улвр шар (Ulvr shar)
- purple
- Цеңкр (Tseñkr)
- brown
- Күрң (Kürñ)
Bus and train
- How much is a ticket to _____?
- ( )
- One ticket to _____, please.
- ( )
- Where does this train/bus go?
- ( )
- Where is the train/bus to _____?
- ( )
- Does this train/bus stop in _____?
- ( )
- When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
- ( )
- When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
- ( )
Directions
- How do I get to _____ ?
- ( )
- ...the train station?
- ( )
- ...the bus station?
- ( )
- ...the airport?
- ( )
- ...downtown?
- ( )
- ...the youth hostel?
- ( )
- ...the _____ hotel?
- ( )
- ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?
- (Amerik Känadi Australi Britani)
- Where are there a lot of...
- ( )
- ...hotels?
- (budol)
- ...restaurants?
- (gatgoru)
- ...bars?
- (bark)
- ...sites to see?
- ( )
- Can you show me on the map?
- ( )
- street
- hyдмж(hudmtj)
- Turn left.
- (Endüru tishey)
- Turn right.
- (chik'ru tishey)
- left
- Эндү (Endü)
- right
- Чик (Chik)
- straight ahead
- ( )
- towards the _____
- ( )
- past the _____
- ( )
- before the _____
- ( )
- Watch for the _____.
- ( )
- intersection
- ( )
- north
- Ар үзг (Ar üzg)
- south
- Өмн үзг (Ömn üzg)
- east
- Зүн үзг (Zün uzg)
- west
- Барун үзг (Barun üzg)
- uphill
- ( )
- downhill
- ( )
Taxi
- Taxi!
- ( )
- Take me to _____, please.
- ( )
- How much does it cost to get to _____?
- ( )
- Take me there, please.
- ( )
Lodging
- Do you have any rooms available?
- ( )
- How much is a room for one person/two people?
- ( )
- Does the room come with...
- ( )
- ...bedsheets?
- ( )
- ...a bathroom?
- ( )
- ...a telephone?
- ( )
- ...a TV?
- ( )
- May I see the room first?
- ( )
- Do you have anything quieter?
- ( )
- ...bigger?
- ( )
- ...cleaner?
- ( )
- ...cheaper?
- ( )
- OK, I'll take it.
- ( )
- I will stay for _____ night(s).
- ( )
- Can you suggest another hotel?
- ( )
- Do you have a safe?
- ( )
- ...lockers?
- ( )
- Is breakfast/supper included?
- ( )
- What time is breakfast/supper?
- ( )
- Please clean my room.
- ( )
- Can you wake me at _____?
- ( )
- I want to check out.
- ( )
Money
- Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
- ( )
- Do you accept British pounds?
- ( )
- Do you accept euros?
- ( )
- Do you accept credit cards?
- ( )
- Can you change money for me?
- ( )
- Where can I get money changed?
- ( )
- Can you change a traveler's check for me?
- ( )
- Where can I get a traveler's check changed?
- ( )
- What is the exchange rate?
- ( )
- Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
- ( )
Eating
- A table for one person/two people, please.
- ( )
- Can I look at the menu, please?
- ( )
- Can I look in the kitchen?
- ( )
- Is there a house specialty?
- ( )
- Is there a local specialty?
- ( )
- I'm a vegetarian.
- ( )
- I don't eat pork.
- ( )
- I don't eat beef.
- ( )
- I only eat kosher food.
- ( )
- Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
- ( )
- fixed-price meal
- ( )
- a la carte
- ( )
- breakfast
- ( )
- lunch
- ( )
- tea (meal)
- ( )
- supper
- ( )
- I want _____.
- ( )
- I want a dish containing _____.
- ( )
- chicken
- Такан махн (Takan maxn)
- beef
- ( )
- fish
- Заһсн (Zahsn)
- ham
- ( )
- sausage
- ( )
- cheese
- ( )
- eggs
- Өндгн (Öndgn)
- salad
- ( )
- (fresh) vegetables
- ( )
- (fresh) fruit
- Зер-земш (Zyer zemsh)
- bread
- Өдмг (Ödmg)
- toast
- ( )
- noodles
- ( )
- rice
- ( )
- beans
- ( )
- May I have a glass of _____?
- ( )
- May I have a cup of _____?
- ( )
- May I have a bottle of _____?
- ( )
- coffee
- Кофe (Kofye)
- tea (drink)
- Цә (Tsä)
- Kalmyk tea
- Дҗомба (Djomba)
- juice
- ( )
- (bubbly) water
- ( )
- (still) water
- ( )
- beer
- ( )
- red/white wine
- ( )
- May I have some _____?
- ( )
- salt
- Давсн (Davsn)
- black pepper
- ( )
- butter
- ( )
- Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
- ( )
- I'm finished.
- ( )
- It was delicious.
- ( )
- Please clear the plates.
- ( )
- The check, please.
- ( )
Bars
- Do you serve alcohol?
- ( )
- Is there table service?
- ( )
- A beer/two beers, please.
- ( )
- A glass of red/white wine, please.
- ( )
- A pint, please.
- ( )
- A bottle, please.
- ( )
- _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
- ( )
- whiskey
- ( )
- vodka
- Әрк (Ärk)
- rum
- ( )
- water
- Усн (Usn)
- club soda
- ( )
- tonic water
- ( )
- orange juice
- ( )
- Coke (soda)
- ( )
- Do you have any bar snacks?
- ( )
- One more, please.
- ( )
- Another round, please.
- ( )
- When is closing time?
- ( )
- Cheers!
- ( )
Shopping
- Do you have this in my size?
- ( )
- How much is this?
- Кедүнә? (Kedünä?)
- That's too expensive.
- ( )
- Would you take _____?
- ( )
- expensive
- ( )
- cheap
- ( )
- I can't afford it.
- ( )
- I don't want it.
- ( )
- You're cheating me.
- ( )
- I'm not interested.
- (..)
- OK, I'll take it.
- ( )
- Can I have a bag?
- ( )
- Do you ship (overseas)?
- ( )
- I need...
- ( )
- ...toothpaste.
- ( )
- ...a toothbrush.
- ( )
- ...tampons.
- . ( )
- ...soap.
- ( )
- ...shampoo.
- ( )
- ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
- ( )
- ...cold medicine.
- ( )
- ...stomach medicine.
- ... ( )
- ...a razor.
- ( )
- ...an umbrella.
- ( )
- ...sunblock lotion.
- ( )
- ...a postcard.
- ( )
- ...postage stamps.
- ( )
- ...batteries.
- ( )
- ...writing paper.
- ( )
- ...a pen.
- ( )
- ...English-language books.
- ( )
- ...English-language magazines.
- ( )
- ...an English-language newspaper.
- ( )
- ...an English-English dictionary.
- ( )
Driving
- I want to rent a car.
- ( )
- Can I get insurance?
- ( )
- stop (on a street sign)
- ( )
- one way
- ( )
- yield
- ( )
- no parking
- ( )
- speed limit
- ( )
- gas (petrol) station
- ( )
- petrol
- ( )
- diesel
- ( )
Authority
- I haven't done anything wrong.
- ( )
- It was a misunderstanding.
- ( )
- Where are you taking me?
- ( )
- Am I under arrest?
- ( )
- I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
- ( )
- I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
- ( )
- I want to talk to a lawyer.
- ( )
- Can I just pay a fine now?
- ( )