The Very Basic Guide to Mongolian

 

Mongolian is spoken in Mongolia and still in what is called Inner Mongolia in the People's Republic of China. China once has been ruled my Mongolians (Yuan Dynasty). Mongolian isn't an easy language. However, as any language, one can learn Mongolian, too. Mongolian uses the  Cyrillic alphabet, but there are more scripts for Mongolian, which had been or are still in use [1]. It is a good idea to learn the Cyrillic alphabet if only to read direction signs. In the transcription double vowels are long vowels, as you might remember from your studies in Finnish.

Thank you –  баярлалаа (bayarlalaa)
Yes – тийм (tiim)
No – үгүй (ugui)
Do you speak English? – Та англиар ярьдаг уу? (Ta angliar yaridag uu?)
I can't speak Mongolian. – Би монголоор ярьж чадахгүй. (Bi mongoloor yarij chadakhgüi.)
I don't understand. – Би ойлгохгүй байна. (Bi oilgokhgüi baina.)
Please – Гуйя (Guiya)
Excuse me / Sorry – уучлаарай (uuchlaara)
Good morning – өглөөний мэнд (öglöönii mend)
Good evening – оройн мэнд (oroin mend)
Good night – сайхан амраарай (saikhan amraarai)
Hello – сайн байна уу (sain baina oo)
Goodbye – баяртай (bayartai)
How are you? – Юу байна? (Yuu baina?)
Fine –  сайн сайн (sain sain)
I would like ...  –  Би хүсч байна ... (Bi khüsch baina ...)
How much is it? – Энэ ямар үнэтэй вэ? (Ene yamar ünetei ve?)
Please write it down! – Үүнийг бичнэ үү! (Üüniig bichne üü!)
Where is ... – Хаана байна ... (Khaana baina ...)
Where's the nearest ...  – Хамгийн ойрын газар хаана байна ... (Khamgiin oiryn gazar khaana baina ...)
Where is the toilet? – Бие засах газар хаана байдаг вэ?  (Biy zasakh gazar haan baidag ve?) I advise you to learn this phrase thoroughly because otherwise you won't make it to the toilet.
I'm lost. – Би төөрчихлөө. (Bi töörchikhlöö.)
What is your name? –  Таны нэр хэн бэ? (Tany ner khen be?)
My name is ... – Миний нэрийг Лотар  гэдэг. (Minii neriig ... gedeg.)
Left – зүүн (züün)
Right – зөв (zöv)
I need a doctor. – Надад эмч хэрэгтэй. (Nadad emch kheregtei.)
Please call a doctor quickly! – Эмчийг яаралтай дуудаарай!
(Emchiig yaaraltai duudaarai!)

Mistakes are all mine.

Links and Annotations:
[1] Mongolia – Different Writing System on Banknotes https://rheumatologe.blogspot.com/2022/10/mongolia-different-writing-system-on.html
[2] I also used two German-Mongolian books:
Paul Metzler, Enkhzaya: Eldevdorj: Kleiner Mongolisch-Kurs. Engelsdorfer, Leipzig 2012. ISBN: 978-3-86268-618-6.
and:
Arno Günther: Reise Know-How Sprachführer Mongolisch - Wort für Wort: Kauderwelsch-Band 68. Peter Rump Verlag, Bielefeld 2017. ISBN: 978-3-8317-6499-0.

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