Dzongkha phrasebook

Dzongkha (རྫོང་ཁ་) is the national language of Bhutan. Most educated Bhutanese are able to communicate in English as well, though attempting to speak Dzongkha will almost certainly impress your hosts.

Vowels
Vowels are [a ɛ e i ø y ɜ ɨ o u]. Diphthongs are [ai au ei øy ɤu/ou iɛ uɔ/yɔ]. The only coda is eng, in /aŋ eŋ oŋ/ and syllabic [ŋ̩].

Basics

 * Hello (formal) : Kuzoozangpo la
 * Hello (informal) : Kuzoozangpo
 * How are you? : Gadaybay Zhu yi Ga?
 * I'm fine : Legshom (Layshom) or Legshom bey rang yoe (full)
 * What is your name? : Chhoe gi ming ga chi mo?: What is your name (formal)
 * Na ge tshen ga chi zhuwu eena?


 * My name is _____: Nge gi ming _____ in
 * I am from ____ : Nga ____ lay in la
 * Thank you : Kadrin chhe
 * See you later (formal) : Shoo lay log jay gay
 * See you later (alternate) : Tama chhay gay
 * See you tomorrow : Naba chhay gay
 * Where : Gatey
 * How much : Gademchi

Problems
Where is the bathroom?

chhab sang gatey inna la?

We need to go to the hospital.

Nga chey (plural)/ nga (singular) menkhang na jo go bay.

Doctor:

Drung tsho


 * What is the Problem? : Choe gi Ka Ngyel ga chi mo?


 * Where is the Bank? : Ngyul Khang Ga teey mo?

Numbers

 * 0 : leykor
 * 1 : chi
 * 2 : nyi
 * 3 : sum
 * 4 : zhi
 * 5 : nga
 * 6 : dru
 * 7 : dhuen
 * 8 : ghay
 * 9 : gu
 * 10 : chutham
 * 11 : chu chi
 * 12 : chu nyi

Clock time

 * time : (...)
 * o'clock : bazaar
 * 8 o'clock : bazaar gyed/ chhutsed gyed

Duration

 * _____ minute(s) : karma
 * _____ hour(s) : chhutsed
 * _____ day(s) : Zha/nim
 * _____ week(s) : dhuenthra
 * _____ month(s) : Daw
 * _____ year(s) : Lo

Days

 * Monday : Migmar
 * Tuesday : Lhagpa
 * Wednesday : Phurba
 * Thursday : Pasang
 * Friday : Penpa
 * Saturday : Nima
 * Sunday : Dawa

Months

 * January : indha dangpa
 * February : indha nyipa
 * March : indha sumpa, indha zhipa, indha ngapa, indha drukpa, indha duenpa, indha gyepa, indha gupa and indha chunyepa for December


 * Note : For the months of lunar calendar the prefix is rangda, indha is used for the months of the international calendar.

Colors

 * Green : Changkha
 * Red : Marp
 * White : Karp
 * Blue : Hoem
 * Black : Naap
 * Yellow : Sep
 * Orange : Leewang

Taxi
Identified by the yellow top (hood) and BT registration affixed before the number.


 * Taxi : la khor
 * Fare : la
 * how much : ga day chi in na la

Money
How much is this/it ? Ngultrum ga them chi mo

Eating
Meal : Toh /zhay go

Breakfast: dom zer

Lunch: nima ge toh

Dinner: tsho

eating : zhaygo za ni

delicious : zhim bay

bitter   ; khag tay

sweet    : ngam

sour     ; chup

Water    ; chhu

Tea      : ja

Curry    : tshoem

Soup     :thup

Chilli   : ema

Cheese   :datshi

cook(verb)      : toh bey ni

eat       : zhey (formal)/ za (informal)

Dry Chilli : ema kam

Bars

 * May I please have _____: Nga lu ______ nang mey la


 * Alcoholic Beverage: Changg


 * Bar              : Changkhang


 * Tip              : soera


 * Whats the bill   : Ga de chi mo


 * I am drunk       : changg dang so ye

HOT Water
 * Water            : chu

Chu-tse
 * Local Drink      : Ara


 * It is strong(spirit) : ah ni ga tra du


 * It is mild           : lha si si du

Shopping
shop : tsongkhang

how much : ga de chi mo?

discount please : gong phab nang mey la

Driving
Car : Numkhor

Drive : Numkhor tang ni

Licence : Lak Kher

Police : thrim sung

Road   : Lam

High speed : joba joba/ shuk bay tang

Low speed : drey gay bay tang

please take caution(driving) : reb drim di tang

Lets go : jogay

stop    ; numkor kag nang

Risky  : ngyen khag

Love
I love you: nga gi che lu ga

I miss you: nga choe drem mey

I can't stay without you: nga che me pa me cha bay

I will make you a phone call: nga gi che lu juthen tang gay

Do you miss me: che nga dem mey ga

You're so beautiful: che namay samay jarim dhu

I miss you very nuch : na may sa may dren yi

Dzongkha