Lepcha Language
Lesson - 1
Vocabulary
Khaamree! [ KMair ] - Greetings
Taokchhyee! [ !ÝiC ] - Thank you
Aachyooley! [ //AacUle ] - Hail to the
Pronouns
Go [ ag ] - I
Kaayoo [ kayU ] - We
Hao [ oh ] - You (singular)
Do [ ad ] - Self (A person’ identity)
Aado [ Aaad ] - Yourself
Aayoo [ AayU ] - You (plural)
Hu [ hu ] - He/She
Huyoo [ huyU ] - They (plural)
Kasum [ ksMu ] - to me
Adjectives
Aaakyet [ AaÀDe ] - well, fine (in relation to physical and mental health)
Ryoo paa [ ÍUpa ] - Good
Aazuk [ AazXu ] - beautiful
Postposition
Saa [ sa ] - of
Verb
Go ma [ ag m ] - is, are (identifying)
Gum [ gMu ] - is, are, was, were etc in short form
Noun
Aabryaang [ AaVîa ] - name
Lyaang [ VÎa ] - place, country, land
Daamsaang [ dMaVsa ] - Kalimpong Sub-Division
Key question words
Too [ tU ] - Who
Syoo [ SU ] - What
Sabaa/Sabee [ sba /sib ] - Where
Sathaa [ sTa ] - When
Satet [ stDe ] - How much
Salom [ salM ] - How
laa [ la ] - Word use to emphasis the statement/also
rey [ re ] - a definite article
Additional word
sam sa [ s) s_ ] - Welcome
Dialogue - 1
Maayelmit - Name of a Lepcha woman
John - Name of an AV
Maayelmit - Khaamree!
[ KMair ]
Greeting to you.
John - Khaamree!
[ KMair ]
Greetings to you
Maayelmit - (Hao) aakyet do?
[ oh AaÀDe ad? ]
Are you well?
John - (Go) aakyet do.
[ ag AaÀDe ad. ]
I am well.
Taokchhyee.
[ !ÝiC ]
Thank you.
(Hao) laa aakyet do?
[ ohla AaÀDead? ]
Are you also well?
Maayelmit - (Go) laa aakyet do.
[ agla AaÀDe ad. ]
I am also fine
Taokchhyee.
[ !ÝiC ]
Thank you.
Maayelmit - Aadosaa abryaang syoo go?
[ Aaadsa AaVîa SU ag? ]
What’s your name?
John - Kasaa aabryaangre John go ma.
[ ksa AaVîare $z ag m. ]
My name is John
Kasaa aabryaangre John gum.
[ ksa AVîare $z gMu. ]
My name is John
Aadosaa aabryaang syoo go?
[ Aaadsa AaVîa SU ag? ]
What is your name?
Maayelmit - Kasaa aabryaangre Maayelmit gum.
[ ksa AaVîare mayLeim^ gMu. ]
My name is Maayelmit.
Aadosaa lyaang bryaang syoo go?
[ Aaadsa VÎa Vîa SU ag? ]
What’s the name of your country?
John - Kasaa lyaang bryaangre
[ ksa VÎa Vîare :A_lNeà gMu. ]
My country’s name is
Maayelmit - Ryoo paa.
[ ÍU pa ]
Good
Aazuk lyaang ma.
[ AazXu VÎa m ]
A beautiful country.
Daamsaang lyaangkaa samsa ma!
dMaVsa VÎaka s) s_ m.
Welcome to Kalimpong.
John - Taokchhyee!
[ !ÝiC ]
Thank you.
Lepcha Language
Lesson - 2
Vocabulary
Nouns
Oong [ VAU ] - water
Chyao [ oc ] - tea
Chyee [ ic ] - fermented beer/liquior
Nyin [ iJ+ ] - milk
Aajaom [ Aa[z ] - food
Jo [ az ] - boiled rice
Khoo [ KU ] - bread/chaapatti
bee [ ib ] - curry, either vegetable or non vegetable
bee oong [ ib VAU ] - soup
bee faong [ ib Vof ] - green leaf vegetable curry
bik-mun [ ib( mNu ] - beef
hik-mun [ih( mNu ] - chicken
maon mun [ $m mNu ] - pork
ngoo [ GU ] - fish
kalaa [ kla ] - lentil black
thaam-paot rim-paot [ TMa]p ir)]p ] - fruit
book [ bXU ] - roots
Sungkaar [ VsukRa ] - chilly
Vaom [ [v ] - salt
Thaam klem [ TMaWMe ] - sugar
Adjectives
oong hyang [ VAU VÏ_ ] - cold water
oong hroon [ VAU èNU ] - hot water
phaokdo [ !Pad ] - resistance to eat, never
Verbs
nyee [ iJ ] - is, are, was, were (to describe)
bo [ ab ] - to give
bee [ ib ] - to give
thaong syee [ VoT iS ] - will drink
jo syee [ az iS ] - will eat
thaa syee [ Ta iS ] - will chew or eat hard food like meat, bread, fruits, roots etc
krit daok [ iÝ^ !d ] - hungry, starving
oong ngoo [ VAU GU ] - thirsty
Negative-Verbs
mabo ney [ mab ne ] - won’t give
mathaong ney [ mVoT ne ] - won’t drink
majo ney [ maz ne ] - won’t eat
mathaa ney [ mTa ne ] - won’t chew/eat
Question word
syoo-sare [ SU sre ] - which
Additional words
lookhraong [ lXUVoè ] - morning
saknyim phet [ sXuiJ) PDe ] - mid-day
naapmun [ nBamNu ] - evening
sonaap [ asnBa ] - night
Dialogue - 2
Merilyn - Kasam oong ngoo.
[ ksMu VAU GU ]
I’m thirsty.
Go oong thaong syee.
[ ag VAU VoT iS ]
I’ll drink water.
Kongchhyen - Oong hyang-oong hroon;syoo-sarey thaong syo?
[ VAU VÏ_ VAU èNU SU sre VoT aS? ]
Cold water-hot water; which one do you like to drink?
Merilyn - Oong hroon thaong syee.
[ VAU èNU VoT iS. ]
I’ ll drink hot water.
Kongchhyen - Hao chyee thaong syo?
[ oh ic VoT aS? ]
Would you like to drink chyee?
Merilyn - Magon, Go chyee mathaong ney.
[ magN, ag ic mVoT nee. ]
No. I’won’t drink chyee.
Go chyao thaong syee.
[ ag oc VoT iS. ]
I will drink tea.
Kongchhyen - Aadom kritdaok o?
[ AaadM iÝ^!d aA? ]
Are you hungry?
Marilyn - Kaam-kaam kritdaok ma.
[ kMa kMa iÝ^!d m. ]
I am a little hungry.
Kongchhyen - Hao syoo zo syo?
[ oh SU az aS? ]
What would you like to eat?
Marilyn - Go zo zo syee.
[ ag az az iS. ]
I will eat rice.
Khoolaa thaa syee.
[ KUla Ta iS. ]
I will also eat bread.
Bikmunlaa thaa syee.
[ ib(mNula Ta iS. ]
I will also eat beef.
Beefaonglaa zo syee.
[ ibVofla az iS. ]
I will eat green vegetables.
Thaam-paot rim-paot laa thaa syee.
[ TMa]p ir)]pla Ta iS. ]
I will eat fruits also.
Go sungkaarre phaokdo majaon mo.
[ ag VsukRare !Pad m$z am. ]
I certainly will not eat chilly.
Lookhraongsaa aajaomkaa syoo nyee?
[ lXUVoèsa Aa[zka SU iJ? ]
What is there for the breakfast?
Kongchhyen - Lookhraong aadom chyao aan book bo syee.
[ VlUVoè AaadM oc ANu bXU ab iS. ]
I will give you tea and roots in the morning.
Aadom ryoo aa?
[ AaadM ÍU Aa? ]
Is it fine with you?
Merilyn - Ryoo, ryoo.
[ ÍU, ÍU ]
It is fine with me.
Taokchhyee.
[ !ÝiC ]
Thank you.
Lepcha Language
Lesson - 3
Verbs
lyaang naong syee [VÎa Von iS ] - to attend to the call of nature.
kumblik maat syee [kMuiE( mDa iS ] - to urinate
jit laot syee [ij^ ]l iS ] - to urinate
chhyoo maat syee [CU mDa iS ] - to urinate (infantile language)
pa-aong maat syee [pVoA mDa iS ] - to defecate
eet laot syee [ iA^ ]l iS ] - to defecate
ae-ae maat syee [ Üe Üe mDa iS ] - to defecate (infantile language)
pa-aong lee [ pVoA il ] - toilet/latrine/lavatory/urinal
aammlem flet syee [ AMaIMe FDe iS ] - to wash the face
aaka chyaong syee [ Aak_ Voc iS ] - to wash the hands
aathaong chyaong syee [ AaVoT Voc iS ] - to wash feet
aafo phee syee [Aaaf iP iS ] - to brush the teeth
mat tu syee [ mDu tu iS ] - to take shower/bath
dam chyaong syee [ dMu Voc iS ] - to wash clothes
Noun
saraong [ sVor ] - today
Conjuction
olomgong [ aAalMZg ] - if so
senlaa [ SNela ] - but
un [ ANu ] - and
Additional word
Yup kaat raong [ yBu kDa Vor ] - wait for a minute.
Note:- A wide range of verbs are used in the Lepcha language to differentiate and illustrate the statements and questions.
Dialogue - 3
[ ag VÎa Von iS ]
I will go out/I will go to attend the call of nature.
[ The sentence given two meanings ]
Kursongmit - Syoo maatnu?
SU mDanu ?
Why?
[ ag kMuiE( mDa iS ]
I will urinate.
Go chhyoo maat syee.
[ ag CU mDa iS ]
I will urinate
Pa-aong lee sabee nyee?
[ pVoA il sib iJ? ]
Where is the toilet?
Kursongmit - Golaa naong syee.
[ agla Von iS ]
I’ll also go.
Depkaa naong kaa.
dBeka Vonka.
Lets go together.
Dialogue - 3A
Caroline - Go aammlem phlet syee.
[ ag AMaIMe FDe iS ]
I will wash my face.
Aaka un aathong chyaong syee.
[ Aak_ ANu AaVaT Voc iS ]
I will wash my hands and feet.
Aafolaa phee syee.
[ Aaafla iP iS ]
I will brush my teeth also.
Oong hroon nyee aa?
[ VAU èNU iJ Aa ? ]
Is hot water available?
Sukmit - Oong hroon nyee.
[ VAU èNU iJ. ]
Hot water is available.
Caroline - Ologong, saraong go mutlaa tu syee.
[ aAalZg, sVor ag mDula tu iS ]
If so, today, I will take shower also.
Sukmit - Ryoo, yup kaat raong o.
[ ÍU, yBu kDa Vor aA. ]
Good, wait a minute.
Lepcha Language
Lesson - 4
Vocabulary
Nouns
daok [ !d ] - pain/sick/ache/suffer/ail
maot syaa [ ]mSa ] - dysentry
maon daok [ $m !d ] - a doctor or Lepcha herbal medicine man
Boongthing [ VbU:T_ ] - a Lepcha priest/medicine man
Verbs
aathyaak daok [ AaÄXa !d ] - headache
tabaok daok [ t!b !d ] - stomachache
aamik daok [ Aaim( !d ] - eye ailment
aathong daok [ AaVaT !d ] - pain in the legs
aaka daok [ Aak_ !d ] - pain in the hands
aanyaor daok [ Aa&J !d ] - earache
aachyaang daok [ AaVca !d ] - backache
maot syaa ngoon [ ]m Sa GNU ] - suffering from dysentry
lik [ il( ] - to call
syoo ngoon? [ SU GNU ? ] - what happend?
naong syee? [ Von iS ? ] - Will you go?
magon [ magN ] - No, it is not.
makyan [ mÀ+ ] - Don’t worry
Adjective
maamet [ mamDe ] - very much
malaak [ mlXa ] - quickly
Dialogue - 4
Derek - Aa......aa.....aa.........(crying in pain)
Aa... . . . . . Aa . . . . . . Aa. . . . .
Sam Pundi - Aadom syoo ngoon? syoo ngoon?
AaadM SU GNU? SU GNU?
What happened to you? What happened?
Derek - Aa.....aa....aa...
Aa. . . . . Aa. . . . . . Aa.. . . . .
Sam Pundi - Aadosaa aathyaak daok kaam?
Aaadsa AaÄXa !dkMa?
Have you got a headache?
Derek - Magon. Kasaa aathyaak madaok.
magN. ksa AaÄXa m!d.
No. I have no headache.
Sam Pundi - Aadosaa tabaok daok kaam?
Aaadsa t!b !dkMa?
Are you suffering from stomachache?
Derek - Magon. Kasaa tabaok madaok
magN. ksa t!b m!d.
No. There is no stomachache.
Sam Pundi - Aamik daok kaam?
Aaim( !dkMa?
Is there pain in your eyes?
Derek - Magon. Kasaa aamik madaok
magN. ksa Aaim( m!d.
No. There is no pain in my eyes.
Sam Pundi - Un syoorey daok kaam?
ANu SUre !dkMa?
And what are you suffering from?
Derek - Kasaa aathong daok kaam.
ksa AaVaT !dkMa.
There is pain in my legs.
Maamet do daok kaam.
mamDead !dkMa.
It is very painful.
Sam Pundi - Ologong, maondaok lyaang naong syo?
aAalZg, $m!d VÎa Von aS?
If so, would you like to go to a doctor?
Derek - Manaong.
mVon.
No. I won’t go.
Sam Pundi - Boongthing lik taa?
VbU:T_ il( ta?
Shall I call a Boongthing, Lepcha medicine man?
Derek - Likbo ley. Malaak likbo ley.
il(ab le. mlXa il(ab le.
Please call him. Please call him quickly.
Sam Pundi - Go likbo syee. Aadom makyan.
ag il(ab iS. AaadM mÀ+.
I will call. Don’t worry.
Darek - Aa...... aa........aa...........
Aa. . . . . . Aa . . . .. . Aa. . . .. .
Lepcha Language
Lesson - 5
Vocabulary
Nouns
Kaalenpung [ kalNeVpu ] - Kalimpong
Thom [ aèM ] - town/market
Aatyaol/tyaol [ Aa#Ã/#Ã ] - friend
Munglen yukvyaot [VmulNe yXu]Ò ] - E-mail
Dumdem [ dMuÅMe ] - Lepcha women’s dress
Dumpraa [ dMuâa ] - Lepcha men’s dress
Thyaaktuk [ ÄXat/Xu ] Lepcha hat
Nyaamrek [ JMarXe ] - kamarband/sash/ belt
Verb
syeem [ SMe ] - to select/chose
paar [ pRa ] - to buy/purchase
klaong [ VoW ] - to send
baam [ bMa ] - stay
rikpoo maat [ ir(pU mDa ] - to be careful, coutious,
Additional words
sonaap kaat [ asnBa kDa ] - one night (over night)
aafryaok [ Aa!í ] - free time
Conjunction
Syenlaa [ SNela ] - although, nevertheless
Plural
song [ Zs ] - applied to people only
pong [ Zp ] - applicable to animals, birds, things etc.
Affirmative
go [ ag ] - yes
Dialogue - 5
ag lXUkLa kalNeVpu aèMka Von iS.
Tomorrow I will go to Kalimpong town.
Nimsing - Hao Kaalenpung thomkaa syoo maatkaa naong syo?
oh kalNeVpu aèMka SU mDaka Von aS?
Why you are going to Kalimpong?
lXUkLa ksa Aa!í iJ.
Tomorrow I am free.
Kasaa tyaolsonglaa Kaalenpung thomkaa naong syo.
ksa #ÃZsla kalNeVpu aèMka Von aS.
My friends also go to Kalimpong town
Kaayoo gun thomkaa naong syo.
kayU gNu aèMka Von aS.
We all go to town.
Go munglen yukvyaot klaong (E.mail) syee.
ag VmulNe yXu]Ò VoW iS.
I will send E-mail.
Kaaphlik tyaolsongnu damdem, nyaamrek paar syo.
kaiF( #ÃZsnu dMuÅ,Me JMarXe pRa aS.
Some friends will buy dum dem, nyaamrek
Kaaphlik tyaolsongnu dampraa paar syo.
kaiF( #ÃZsnu dMuâa pRa aS.
Some friends will buy dumpraa.
Kaaphlik tyaol songnu thyaaktuk paar syo.
kaiF( #ÃZsnu ÄXatXu pRa aS.
Some friends will buy thyaaktuk.
Nimsing - Ologong, hao noo ley, senlaa thom kaa kaam rikpoo maat o.
aAalZg, oh nU le, SNeela aèMka kMa ir(pU mDa aA.
If so, you may go but be careful at the town.
Aayoo thomkaa sonaap kaat baam syo?
AayU aèMka asnBa kDa bMa aS?
Do you stay over-night at at the town?
ag. kayU aèMka asnBa kDa bMa aS.
Yes. We will stay one night at the town.
Taokchhyee mo.
!ÝiC am.
Thank you.
Lepcha Language
Lesson - 6
Verbs
lookding [ lXU:d_ ] - stand up
ngaan [ GNa ] - sit down
lee [ il ] - to say/pronounce
ngak [ G( ] - to look
rok [ arX ] - to read
pee [ ip ] - to write
nyen [ JNe ] - to listen
kao [ ok ] - to understand
hlaap [ HBa ] - to learn
vom theng [ v) VTe ] - to sing
laok [ !l ] - to dance
lem [ lMe ] - to play
zook [ zXU ] - to do
thyen [ ÄNe ] - to laugh
buk [ bXu ] - to beat
tyaot [ ]Ã ] - to cut
sagaong vaan [ sVog vNa ] - come in
lyaangkaa pla [ VÎaka Y_ ] - go out/get out
Noun
ingngaa song [ :A_GaZs ] - children
chhyo [ aC ] - book
gun [ gNu ] - all
Adjective
jyellaa [ jLela ] - clearly/distinctly
sagang-sagang [ sVg_ sVg_ ] - slowly slowly
dam-dam [ à) à) ] - quickly quickly
aazuk maat nu [ AazXu mDanu ] - nicely
makaan maat nu [ mkNa mDanu ] - unhurriedly
aalaong [ AaVol ] - now
kaam [ kMa ] - little
Praise
Khutpaa [ KDupa ] - well done
tatchhyee [ t^iC ] - congratulations
doh key o [aà ke aA ] - try hard
Postposition
tagoomkaon [ tgMU$k ] - after/back
dep [ dBe ] - with
bek [ bXe ] - middle
nahaankaon [ nhNa$k ] - before
Simple instructions to the children in the classroom
Dialogue - 6
1. Khaamree!
[ KMair ! ]
Greetings to you!
2. Aaakyet do?
[ AaÀDe ad? ]
Are you well?
3. Aayoo gun lookding.
[ AayU gNu lXU:d_.. ]
You all stand up.
4. Aalaong, ngaan, ngaan.
[ AaVol, GNa, GNa. ]
Now sit down.
5. Kasum ngak chye.
[ ksMu G( ce. ]
Look at me please.
6. Kasum nyen chye.
[ ksMu JNe ce. ]
Listen to me please.
7. Kasaa tagoomkaa lee chye.
[ ksa tgMUka il ce. ]
Say/Repeat after me please.
8. Jellaa lee chye.
[ jLela il ce ]
Say clearly please.
9. Kasaa tagoom -tagoom chhyo rok chye.
[ ksa tgMU -tgMU aC arX ce. ]
Read after me please.
10. Sagang-sagang chhyo rok chye.
[ sVg_-sVg_ aC arX ce. ]
Read the book slowly slowly please.
11. Kaam dam dam chhyo rok chye.
[ kMa à) à) aC arX ce. ]
Read the book quickly please.
12. Gunnu pee chye.
[ gNunu ip ce. ]
You all write please.
13. Aazuk maatnu pee chye.
[ AazXu mDanu ip ce. ]
Write nicely/clearly please.
14. Makaan maatnu pee chye.
[ mkNa mDanu ip ce. ]
Don’t write hurriedly please.
15. Aayoo gunnu kao aa?
[ AayU gNunu ok Aa? ]
Did you all understand?
16. Khut paa!
[ KDu pa. ]
Well done!
17. Aalaong kasum nyen chye.
[ AaVol ksMu JNe ce. ]
Now listen to me please.
18. Ingngaasong kaam nyen chye.
[ :A_GaZs kMa JNe ce. ]
Listen to me children please.
19. Aalaong kaayoo vam thyeng kaa.
[ AaVol kayU v) VÄeka. ]
Now let us sing a song.
20. Kasaa dep thyeng o.
[ ksa dBe VÄe aA. ]
Sing along with me please.
21. Aazuk maatnu thyeng o.
[ AazXu mDanu VÄe aA. ]
Sing nicely please.
22. Aalaong kaayoo laokkaa o.
[ AaVol kayU !lka aA. ]
Now let us dance.
23. Aalaong kaayoo lem kaa o.
[ AaVol kayU lMeka aA. ]
Now let us play.
24. Ingngaasong, aayoo khut paa.
[ :A_Zs, AayU KDu pa. ]
Children! you are good.
25. Tatchhyee nyee ma o.
[ t^iC iJ m aA. ]
Congratulations to you.
26. Daokey.
[ oà ke. ]
Try hard.
27. Dam dam hlaap o.
[ à) à) HBa aA. ]
Learn quickly please.
Relationship, terms of
Lesson - 7
1. Bojyo [ abaj ] - Grand-father
2. Munjyoo [ mNujU ] - Grand-mother
3. Aabo [ Aaab ] - Father
4. Aamoo [ AamU ] - Mother
5. Aakoo [ AakU ] - Paternal uncle, younger
6. Aanyoo [ AaJU ] - Wife of paternal uncle, aunty
7. Bonyoo [ abJU ] - Father’s sister
8. Botim [ abit) ] - Paternal Uncle, elder
9. Mootim [ mUit) ] - Wife of paternal uncle, elder
10. Mootim [ mUit) ] - Mother’s elder sister
11. Aajyaong [ AaVoj ] - Maternal uncle
12. Moonyoo [ mUJU ] - Wife of maternal uncle
13. Aanaom [ Aa[n ] - Elder sister
14. Aanum [ AanMu ] - Elder brother
15. Ing [ :A_ ] - Younger brother/sister
16. Aazaong [ AaVoz ] - Sister-in-law/brother-in-law
17. Ryen [ ÍNe ] - Gentleman, sir, chief
18. Ryenyoo [ ÍNeJU ] - Ma’am
19. Lopan [ alp+ ] - Teacher male
20. Lopanmoo [ alp+mU ] - Teacher female
21. Mik-thyaak [ im(ÄXa ] - Lover
22. Lotook [ alÝXU ] - Student
Lepcha Numbers
Lesson - 8
tee [ it ] - zero (0)
kaat [ kDa ] - one (1)
nyet [ JDe ] - two (2)
saam [ sMa ] - three (3)
falee [ fil ] - four (4)
fango [ faG ] - five (5)
taraok [ t!r ] - six (6)
kakyaok [ k!À ] - seven (7)
kaku [ kku ] - eight (8)
kakyaot [ k]À ] - nine (9)
katee [ kit ] - ten (10)
kaat thaap [ kDaTBa ] - eleven (11)
nyet thaap [ JDeTBa ] - twelve (12)
Add ‘saam to kakyaot’ before ‘thaap’ to make 13 to 19.
khaa-kaat [ KakDa ] - twenty (20)
khaa-kaatsaa kaat [ KakDasa kDa ] - twenty one (21)
Add ‘nyet to kakyaot’ before ‘Khaa kaatsaa’ to make 21 to 29.
khaa-kaatsaa katee [ KakDasa kit ] - thirty. (30)
Domesticated animals
Lesson - 9
biklaong [ ib(Vol ] - ox
bikgoo [ ib(gU ] - cow
bik-kup [ ib(kBu ] - calf
bik-leng [ ib(Vle ] - heifer
sa-aar [ sARa ] - goat
hik [ ih( ] - chicken
hikbu [ ih(bu ] - cock
hikbom [ ih(abM ] - hen
hiktee [ ih(it ] - egg
kajyoo [ kjU ] - dog
kajyoo-kup [ kjUkBu ] - puppy
aalyu [ AaÎu ] - cat
aalyu-kup [ AaÎu kBu ] - kitten
maon [ $m ] - pig
maon-kup [ $mkBu ] - pig-let
on [ aAN ] - horse
reegaong [ irVog ] - rabbit
Common Birds
Chyaakmaong fo [ cXaVom af ] - whistling thrush
Lamee fo [ lim af ] - wag tail bird
Naam fraon fo [ nMa$ã af ] - cuckoo bird (nature’s massenger)
Kanyoo fo [ kJU af ] - green barbet
Kahom fo [ kahM af ] - partridge (Lepchas’ national bird)
