Ancient Meitei/Common phrases
Appearance
- Hello (formal) : ꯈꯨꯂꯨꯝꯆꯂꯤ ꯫ (Khoo-loom-cha-lee); Hello (informal) : ꯑꯣꯢ (ꯑꯣꯏ) (OI) (better use this only among mutual friends)
- How are you? : ꯀꯝꯇꯧꯄꯤꯂꯤ? (Kam-tou-pee-lee?)
- Fine, thank you. : ꯐꯂꯦ, ꯊꯥꯀꯠꯆꯂꯤ ꯫ (Pha-le, Thaa-kat-cha-lee)
- What is your name? : ꯅꯍꯥꯛꯀꯤ ꯃꯤꯡ ꯀꯂꯤ ꯀꯧꯏ? (Na-haak-kee Ming Ka-lee Kou-ee?)
- My name is ______ . : ꯑꯩꯀꯤ ꯃꯤꯡ ______ ꯀꯧꯏ ꯫ (Ei-kee Ming _____ Kou-ee.)
- Nice to meet you. : ꯅꯪꯀ ꯎꯟꯅꯄ ꯅꯨꯡꯉꯥꯢꯂꯦ ꯫ (Nang-ka Oo-na-pa Noong-Ngai-le)
- Please. : ꯆꯥꯟꯄꯤꯇꯨꯅ ꯫ (Chaan-pee-too-na) (It is an adverb, but used independently alone.)
- Thank you. : ꯊꯥꯀꯠꯆꯂꯤ ꯫ (Thaa-kat-cha-lee)
- You're welcome. (Welcoming someone) : ꯇꯂꯥꯝꯅ ꯑꯣꯛꯆꯂꯤ ꯫ (Ta-laam-na Ok-cha-lee) or ꯂꯦꯡꯁꯤꯟꯄꯤꯂꯛꯁꯤ ꯫ (Leng-Sheen-Pee-Lak-Shee)
- You're welcome. (As a reply to "Thanks") : ꯌꯥꯝ ꯅꯨꯡꯉꯥꯢꯂꯦ ꯫ (Yaam Noong-Ngai-Le) (literally, "It's pleasure", it's not exact translation of "You are welcome", but its usage is exactly equivalent.)
- Yes. : ꯍꯣꯢ (ꯍꯣꯏ) ꯫ (HOI) or ꯃꯥꯟꯅꯦ ꯫ (Maan-Ney)
- No. : ꯅꯠꯇꯦ ꯫ (Nat-te)
- Excuse me. (getting attention) : ꯀꯂꯤꯀꯨꯝꯄ ꯑꯃꯇ ꯫ (Ka-lee-koom-pa A-ma-ta); Excuse me. (begging pardon) : ꯉꯥꯛꯄꯤꯀꯅꯤ ꯫ (Ngaak-Pee-Ka-Nee)
- I'm sorry. : ꯑꯩ ꯁꯣꯢꯈꯂꯦ ꯫ (Ei Soi-Kha-Le) or ꯑꯩ ꯂꯥꯟꯆꯂꯦ ꯫ (Ei Laan-cha-le)
- Goodbye : ꯀꯥꯢꯅꯂꯁꯤ ꯫ (Kai-Na-La-See); Goodbye (informal) : ꯆꯠꯂꯦ ꯫ (Chat-Leh) (use this only to mutual friends)
- I can't speak name of language [well]. : ꯑꯩ English [ꯐꯆꯅ] ꯉꯥꯡꯄ ꯉꯝꯇꯦ ꯫ (Ei English [Pha-cha-na] Ngaang-pa Ngam-te)
- Do you speak English? : ꯅꯪ [ꯏꯪꯂꯤꯁ] ꯉꯥꯡꯄꯂꯥ? (Nang [English] Ngaang-pa-laa?)
- Is there someone here who speaks English? : ꯃꯁꯤꯇ [ꯏꯪꯂꯤꯁ] ꯉꯥꯡꯄ ꯃꯤ ꯂꯩꯄꯂꯥ? (Ma-see-ta [English] Ngaang-pa Mee Lei-pa-laa?)
- Help! (Directly asking for help) : ꯃꯇꯦꯡ ꯄꯥꯡꯄꯤꯌꯨ! (Ma-teng Paang-pee-yoo!) or (Immediately asking to save me/us/you/him/her/them) ꯀꯟꯄꯤꯌꯨ! (Kan-pee-yoo!)
- Look out! : ꯌꯦꯡꯉꯣ! (Yeng-Ngo!)