Essential Mongolian Phrases

The most useful Mongolian phrases for travellers are greetings such as "Сайн байна уу?" (Sain baina uu? — Hello), "Баярлалаа" (Bayarlalaa — Thank you) and "Энэ хэд вэ?" (Ene khed ve? — How much is this?). Mongolian is written in Cyrillic with two extra vowels, ө and ү, and knowing even a handful of phrases makes a real difference in the countryside, where English is rarely spoken. Each phrase below is given as Cyrillic — Latin transliteration — meaning.

Pronunciation basics

• "kh" (х) is a throaty sound, like the "ch" in Scottish "loch".
• "ö" (ө) and "ü" (ү) are rounded vowels similar to German ö and ü.
• Double vowels (аа, ээ, оо, уу) are long; hold them a little longer.
• Short vowels in the middle of words are often reduced, so spoken Mongolian can sound faster than its spelling suggests.
• Stress usually falls on the first syllable.

Greetings and courtesy

• Сайн байна уу? — Sain baina uu? — Hello (literally "Are you well?")
• Сайн, та сайн байна уу? — Sain, ta sain baina uu? — Fine, and you?
• Сонин сайхан юу байна? — Sonin saikhan yu baina? — What's new? (a traditional greeting)
• Тайван байна — Taivan baina — All is peaceful (the usual reply)
• Баярлалаа — Bayarlalaa — Thank you
• Зүгээр — Zügeer — It's fine / no problem
• Уучлаарай — Uuchlaarai — Sorry / excuse me
• Баяртай — Bayartai — Goodbye
• Тийм — Tiim — Yes
• Үгүй — Ügüi — No
• Миний нэрийг ... гэдэг — Minii neriig ... gedeg — My name is ...
• Таны нэр хэн бэ? — Tany ner khen be? — What is your name?

Getting around

• ... хаана байна? — ... khaana baina? — Where is ...?
• Жорлон хаана байна? — Jorlon khaana baina? — Where is the toilet?
• Баруун — Baruun — Right (also "west")
• Зүүн — Züün — Left (also "east")
• Чигээрээ — Chigeeree — Straight ahead
• Энд зогсоорой — End zogsooroi — Stop here, please
• Хол уу? — Khol uu? — Is it far?

Shopping and eating

• Энэ хэд вэ? — Ene khed ve? — How much is this?
• Үнэтэй байна — Ünetei baina — It's expensive
• Хямдруулж болох уу? — Khyamdruulj bolokh uu? — Can you lower the price?
• Ус — Us — Water
• Цай — Tsai — Tea
• Сүүтэй цай — Süütei tsai — Milk tea
• Би мах иддэггүй — Bi makh iddeggüi — I don't eat meat
• Амттай байна — Amttai baina — It's delicious
• Тооцоо бодоод өгөөрэй — Tootsoo bodood ögööröi — The bill, please

Visiting a ger and the countryside

• Нохой хорь! — Nokhoi khori! — Hold the dog! (called out when approaching a ger)
• Тавтай морил — Tavtai moril — Welcome
• Эрүүл мэндийн төлөө! — Erüül mendiin tölöö! — Cheers (literally "To health!")
• Сайхан амраарай — Saikhan amraarai — Have a good rest
• Сайн яваарай — Sain yavaarai — Have a good journey
• Зураг авч болох уу? — Zurag avch bolokh uu? — May I take a photo?

Emergencies and health

• Туслаарай! — Tuslaarai! — Help!
• Эмч дуудаарай — Emch duudaarai — Call a doctor
• Би өвдөж байна — Bi övdöj baina — I am unwell / in pain
• Эмнэлэг — Emneleg — Hospital
• Эмийн сан — Emiin san — Pharmacy
• Би ойлгохгүй байна — Bi oilgokhgüi baina — I don't understand
• Та англиар ярьдаг уу? — Ta angliar yaridag uu? — Do you speak English?

Numbers

• 1–5: нэг, хоёр, гурав, дөрөв, тав — neg, khoyor, gurav, döröv, tav
• 6–10: зургаа, долоо, найм, ес, арав — zurgaa, doloo, naim, yes, arav
• 100: зуу — zuu; 1,000: мянга — myanga

Practical tips

• Mongolians appreciate any attempt to speak their language; a smile and "Bayarlalaa" go a long way.
• Write the name of your hotel or camp in Cyrillic to show taxi drivers.
• Transliteration varies, so the same word may be spelled differently on signs and maps.
• Carry a phrasebook or an offline translation app for the countryside, where mobile data may be unavailable.