Learn Manipuri ten words at a time
Ten short games: the 102 most useful Manipuri words and expressions you could live on for years, from greetings and ordering food to numbers, small talk and getting around. Play a lesson in the box beside its words, and the next one starts itself.
Where Meiteilon is spoken
Meiteilon is the language of a valley more than a state. Nearly all of Manipur's 1.5 million speakers live on the floor of the Imphal Valley, while the hills around it speak Naga and Kuki-Zo languages. Beyond Manipur it follows Meitei settlers west onto the plains around Silchar and Sylhet, and east into Myanmar along the Chindwin.
Almost every Meitei speaker in Manipur lives on this valley floor, about 1,800 square kilometers out of the state's 22,330. The hills that ring it are Naga and Kuki-Zo country, with languages of their own.
The largest Meitei community outside Manipur, 6.06% of Cachar district, strongest on the eastern side of the plain from Silchar out to Lakhipur and across the state line into Jiribam. Meitei is an official language of the district alongside Bengali.
The main Meitei settlement in the Brahmaputra side of Assam, around Hojai and Lanka. Meitei is an associate official language in the district.
One community split by the 1947 border. Tripura's Meitei live mostly around Kailashahar, Kamalpur and Dharmanagar; Bangladesh's live across the line in Kamalganj and Sreemangal, the tea country of Moulvibazar. The Bangladesh figure is an estimate.
Meitei have lived in Myanmar since the 18th century. The language has faded in Mandalay and Yangon but holds on along the Ningthi, the Meitei name for the Chindwin, and in the Kabaw Valley towns of Tamu and Kalay. The population figure is a 2008 estimate.
Smaller communities live in Dimapur, Guwahati, Agartala, Hailakandi, Sylhet and Mandalay.
Areas are traced from the terrain around the towns speakers live in, not from state borders. Sources: Census of India 2011, C-16 mother tongue tables; Terrain: Mapzen terrain tiles (SRTM and others) via AWS Open Data.
The Tibeto-Burman languages
Meiteilon is one of about 400 Tibeto-Burman languages, the family of Tibetan and Burmese. It stretches from Ladakh to Sichuan and down the Thai border, but its densest knot is around Manipur, where every few valleys and ridges speak a different member. These are the largest and best known, each drawn from the ground it is spoken on.
Circles are sized by first-language speakers; Kuki-Chin and Naga are dozens of languages each, with no reliable combined count, so they have none. Areas are traced from the terrain where each language is spoken, not from borders, and smaller languages draw over larger ones where they overlap. Sources: Speaker figures from each language's Wikipedia article and the 2011 Census of India; Terrain: Mapzen terrain tiles (SRTM and others) via AWS Open Data.
Greetings and politeness
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the eleven openers everything else builds on.
- ꯈꯨꯔꯨꯝꯖꯔꯤkhu-rum-JA-ri
- Hello
- ꯑꯐꯕ ꯑꯌꯨꯛa-PHA-ba a-YUK
- Good morning
- ꯑꯐꯕ ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯗꯥꯡa-PHA-ba nu-mi-DANG
- Good evening
- ꯆꯠꯂꯨꯔꯦchat-LU-re
- Goodbye
- ꯑꯃꯨꯛ ꯍꯟꯅ ꯎꯅꯁꯤa-MUK HAN-na u-NA-si
- See you
- ꯆꯥꯅꯕꯤꯗꯨꯅchan-bi-DU-na
- Please
- ꯊꯥꯒꯠꯆꯔꯤtha-gat-CHA-ri
- Thank you
- ꯀꯔꯤꯁꯨ ꯅꯠꯇꯦka-ri-SU NAT-te
- You're welcome
- ꯁꯣꯔꯤSO-ri
- Sorry
- ꯂꯝꯕꯤ ꯄꯤꯕꯤꯌꯨLAM-bi pi-BI-yu
- Excuse me
- ꯅꯪꯕꯨ ꯎꯕꯗ ꯅꯨꯡꯉꯥꯏNANG-bu u-BA-da nung-NGAI
- Nice to meet you
Order anything by pointing
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu.
- ꯑꯩ ... ꯄꯥꯝꯖꯩEI ... PAM-jei
- I would like...
- ꯃꯁꯤma-SI
- This one
- ꯃꯃꯜ ꯀꯌꯥꯅꯣ?ma-MAL ka-YA-no
- How much is it?
- ꯕꯤꯜ ꯄꯤꯕꯤꯌꯨBIL pi-BI-yu
- The bill, please
- ꯀꯥꯔꯗꯅKAR-da-na
- By card
- ꯁꯦꯜꯅSEL-na
- In cash
- ꯏꯁꯤꯡi-SING
- Water
- ꯀꯣꯐꯤKO-phi
- Coffee
- ꯆꯥchaa
- Tea
- ꯕꯤꯌꯔBI-yar
- Beer
- ...ꯌꯥꯎꯗꯅYAO-da-na
- Without...
Yes, no and the essentials
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it.
- ꯍꯣꯏHOI
- Yes
- ꯅꯠꯇꯦNAT-te
- No
- ꯌꯥꯔꯦYA-re
- Okay
- ꯑꯩ ꯈꯪꯕ ꯉꯝꯗꯦEI KHANG-ba NGAM-de
- I don't understand
- ꯅꯪ ꯏꯪꯂꯤꯁ ꯉꯥꯡꯕꯔꯥ?NANG ING-lis NGANG-bra
- Do you speak English?
- ꯑꯃꯨꯛ ꯍꯟꯅ ꯍꯥꯏꯕꯤꯌꯨa-MUK HAN-na HAI-bi-yu
- Can you repeat that?
- ꯇꯞꯅ ꯉꯥꯡꯕꯤꯌꯨTAP-na NGANG-bi-yu
- Slowly, please
- ꯃꯁꯤ ꯀꯔꯤꯅꯣ?ma-SI ka-RI-no
- What is this?
- ꯑꯩꯉꯣꯟꯗ ... ꯃꯊꯧ ꯇꯥꯏEI-ngon-da ... ma-THOU TAI
- I need...
- ꯑꯩꯕꯨ ꯃꯇꯦꯡ ꯄꯥꯡꯕꯤꯕꯔꯥ?EI-bu ma-TENG PANG-bi-bra
- Can you help me?
Counting to ten
One to ten, for prices, platforms, rooms and how many beers.
- ꯑꯃa-MA
- One
- ꯑꯅꯤa-NI
- Two
- ꯑꯍꯨꯝa-HUM
- Three
- ꯃꯔꯤma-RI
- Four
- ꯃꯉꯥma-NGA
- Five
- ꯇꯔꯨꯛta-RUK
- Six
- ꯇꯔꯦꯠta-RET
- Seven
- ꯅꯤꯄꯥꯜni-PAL
- Eight
- ꯃꯥꯄꯜMA-pal
- Nine
- ꯇꯔꯥta-RA
- Ten
Shops and hotels
Open, closed, a bag, the wifi password: the checkout and the front desk.
- ...ꯂꯩꯕꯔꯥ?LEI-bra
- Do you have...?
- ...ꯀꯗꯥꯏꯗ ꯂꯩꯕꯒꯦ?ka-DAI-da LEI-ba-ge
- Where is...?
- ꯍꯥꯡꯗꯣꯛꯂꯦhang-DOK-le
- Open
- ꯊꯤꯡꯖꯤꯜꯂꯦthing-JIL-le
- Closed
- ꯕꯦꯒ ꯄꯥꯝꯕꯔꯥ?BEG PAM-bra
- A bag?
- ꯌꯥꯝꯅ ꯃꯃꯜ ꯌꯥꯡꯏYAM-na ma-MAL YANG-i
- Too expensive
- ꯑꯩ ꯕꯨꯀꯤꯡ ꯇꯧꯔꯦEI BU-king TOU-re
- I have a reservation
- ꯑꯌꯨꯛꯀꯤ ꯆꯥꯛ ꯌꯥꯎꯕꯔꯥ?a-YUK-ki CHAK YAO-bra
- Is breakfast included?
- ꯋꯥꯏꯐꯥꯏꯒꯤ ꯄꯥꯁꯋꯥꯔꯗ ꯀꯔꯤꯅꯣ?WAI-fai-gi PAS-ward ka-RI-no
- What's the wifi password?
- ꯑꯩ ...ꯕ ꯌꯥꯒꯗ꯭ꯔꯥ?EI ...-ba YA-gad-ra
- Can I...?
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen.
- ꯃꯤ ꯑꯅꯤꯒꯤ ꯇꯦꯕꯨꯜ ꯑꯃMI a-NI-gi TE-bul a-MA
- A table for two
- ꯃꯦꯅꯨ ꯄꯤꯕꯤꯌꯨME-nu pi-BI-yu
- The menu, please
- ꯀꯔꯤ ꯐꯕꯒꯦ?ka-RI PHA-ba-ge
- What do you recommend?
- ꯑꯩ ... ꯆꯥꯗꯦEI ... CHA-de
- I don't eat...
- ꯑꯩꯉꯣꯟꯗ ... ꯑꯦꯂꯔꯖꯤ ꯂꯩEI-ngon-da ... A-ler-ji LEI
- I'm allergic to...
- ꯁꯥSA
- Meat
- ꯌꯦꯟYEN
- Chicken
- ꯉꯥNGA
- Fish
- ꯃꯍꯥꯎ ꯌꯥꯝꯅ ꯐꯖꯩma-HA-o YAM-na pha-JEI
- It's delicious
- ꯆꯤꯌꯥꯔꯁCHEE-yars
- Cheers
Meeting people
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes.
- ꯅꯈꯣꯏ ꯀꯔꯝꯅ ꯂꯩꯕꯒꯦ?na-KHOI ka-RAM-na LEI-ba-ge
- How are you?
- ꯑꯩ ꯐꯅ ꯂꯩꯔꯤEI PHA-na LEI-ri
- I'm fine, thanks
- ꯅꯪꯅꯣ?NANG-no
- And you?
- ꯅꯪꯒꯤ ꯃꯤꯡ ꯀꯔꯤꯅꯣ?NANG-gi MING ka-RI-no
- What's your name?
- ꯑꯩꯒꯤ ꯃꯤꯡ ... ꯅꯤEI-gi MING ... ni
- My name is...
- ꯅꯪ ꯀꯗꯥꯏꯗꯒꯤꯅꯣ?NANG ka-DAI-da-gi-no
- Where are you from?
- ꯑꯩ ...ꯗꯒꯤꯅꯤEI ...-da-gi-ni
- I'm from...
- ꯅꯨꯡꯉꯥꯏꯖꯩnung-NGAI-jei
- I like it
- ꯐꯖꯩpha-JEI
- It's beautiful
- ꯂꯥꯛꯄꯤꯌꯨLAK-pi-yu
- Welcome
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- ꯇꯣꯏꯂꯦꯠ ꯀꯗꯥꯏꯗ ꯂꯩꯕꯒꯦ?TOI-let ka-DAI-da LEI-ba-ge
- Where is the toilet?
- ...ꯗ ꯀꯔꯝꯅ ꯆꯠꯀꯗꯒꯦ?-da ka-RAM-na CHAT-ka-da-ge
- How do I get to...?
- ꯑꯣꯏOI
- To the left
- ꯌꯦꯠYET
- To the right
- ꯆꯨꯝꯅ ꯆꯠꯂꯨCHUM-na CHAT-lu
- Straight ahead
- ꯃꯐꯝ ꯑꯁꯤꯗma-PHAM a-SI-da
- Here
- ꯇ꯭ꯔꯦꯟ ꯁ꯭ꯇꯦꯁꯟTREN STE-shan
- Train station
- ꯕꯁBAS
- Bus
- ꯑꯦꯌꯔꯄꯣꯔꯠAIR-port
- Airport
- ꯇꯤꯀꯦꯠ ꯑꯃ ꯄꯤꯕꯤꯌꯨTI-ket a-MA pi-BI-yu
- One ticket, please
Time and days
Now, later, tomorrow, what time it opens and one moment please.
- ꯍꯧꯖꯤꯛHOU-jik
- Now
- ꯃꯇꯨꯡꯗma-TUNG-da
- Later
- ꯉꯁꯤnga-SI
- Today
- ꯍꯌꯦꯡha-YENG
- Tomorrow
- ꯉꯁꯤ ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯗꯥꯡnga-SI nu-mi-DANG
- Tonight
- ꯀꯔꯤ ꯃꯇꯝꯗ?ka-RI ma-TAM-da
- When?
- ꯀꯔꯤ ꯃꯇꯝꯗ ꯍꯥꯡꯗꯣꯛꯀꯅꯤ?ka-RI ma-TAM-da hang-DOK-ka-ni
- What time does it open?
- ꯈꯔꯥ ꯉꯥꯏꯕꯤꯌꯨKHA-ra NGAI-bi-yu
- One moment, please
- ꯃꯤꯅꯤꯠMI-nit
- Minutes
- ꯄꯨꯡPUNG
- Hours
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- ꯃꯇꯦꯡ ꯄꯥꯡꯕꯤꯌꯨ!ma-TENG PANG-bi-yu
- Help!
- ꯗꯥꯛꯇꯔ ꯀꯧꯕꯤꯌꯨDAK-tar KOU-bi-yu
- Call a doctor
- ꯄꯨꯂꯤꯁPU-lis
- Police
- ꯍꯤꯗꯥꯛ ꯗꯨꯀꯥꯟhi-DAK du-KAN
- Pharmacy
- ꯂꯥꯏꯌꯦꯡ ꯁꯪLAI-yeng SHANG
- Hospital
- ꯑꯩ ꯂꯝꯕꯤ ꯃꯥꯡꯈ꯭ꯔꯦEI LAM-bi MANG-kre
- I'm lost
- ꯑꯩ ꯐꯅ ꯂꯩꯗꯦEI PHA-na LEI-de
- I don't feel well
- ꯍꯨꯔꯥꯅꯈ꯭ꯔꯦhu-ra-na-KRE
- It was stolen
- ꯃꯁꯤ ꯏꯃꯔꯖꯦꯟꯁꯤꯅꯤma-SI I-mar-jen-si-ni
- It's an emergency
- ꯑꯩꯕꯨ ꯊꯥꯗꯣꯛꯂꯨEI-bu tha-DOK-lu
- Leave me alone
Manipuri beyond the words
16 questions on where Manipuri is spoken and who speaks it. You find the places on a real map, answer questions about the people and the language itself, and say a word from six of the lessons along the way.