Khasi Language: The Basics

For the past few months, I have been recording basic Khasi words and phrases. I thought I'd put this online so that it can help random people who might find themselves in Meghalaya.

The reason for this is that there is no reliable Internet portal for learning Khasi. It is not found on Duolingo or any of the usual places. It's very important to have this in one place so that anyone can respect the culture by learning the language.

Much of this data is sourced from Name Place Animal Thing by Daribha Lyndem, Everything the Light Touches by Janice Pariat, some books at the North Eastern Council library, and by chilling with locals, and this excellent article called Survival Phrases in Khasi.

Many of the words have accents on them which I have avoided. For example, 7 in Khasi is spelled as hynňiew, not hynniew. I have avoided using any accents otherwise this would have taken forever to write. Accents may be added in the future.

Therefore, refer to this to SPEAK Khasi and to understand spoken Khasi. Do not refer to this to WRITE in Khasi.

You are welcome to make corrections and send more sentences. However, please send the Devanagari script version as well.

This article will be continuously updated.

Numbers in Khasi

Number in English	Number in Khasi	How to Pronounce
1	Wei	वेइ
2	Ar	R
3	Lai	Lie
4	Saw	साओ
5	San	Sun
6	Hynriew	Hinreyo
7	Hynniew	हिन्यो
8	Phra	प्फ्रा
9	Khyndai	खिन्दाए
Ten	Shiphew	शि - प्फोव
11-19	Khat + 1-9
100	Shi-spah	शि - स्पाह

Khasi: Common Phrases

Yes = Hooid

No = Em

Thank you = Khublei

Sorry = Maap

Please = Sngewbha

Bye = Shibun

Khasi: "Wh-" Terms

Who? = Dei

What? = Kaei / Aiu

Where? = Shaei / Shano

When? = Mynno

Why? = Balei

How? = Kumno / Katno

Khasi Script: Introductory Conversations

Who are you? = Phi dei uei?

[Phi = respectful form of You/your]

[Dei = Who]

[Uei = Are]

What's your name? = Phi kyrteng kumno? = फि कर्तेन कुम्नो?

[Kyrteng = name]

[Kumno = What + How]

My name is Neil = Nga kyrteng u Neil = ना कर्तेन u Neil

[Nga = my]

[ u = "is" for masculine use. For feminine it is "ka"]

How are you? = Kumno phi long? (or just "Kumno?") = कुम्नो फि लो?

I'm good = Nga shait nga khlain (or just "Kumnei") = ना शाइत ना ख्लैन

How old are you? = Phi don katno snem? = फ्ही done कत्नो स्नेम?

[snem = years/age]

I am from Mumbai = Nga dei na Mumbai

I live in Laitumkhrah = Nga sah ha Laitumkhrah

[Sah = live]

How was your day? = Kumno ka sngi jong phi?

Did you understand or not? = Phi snegwthuh ne em? = स्नेव्थो ने एम्?

[Snegwthuh = understand]

[Em is also a casual syllable put in end. Similar to "understood na?"]

Sorry… I don’t understand what you’re saying. I’m just learning Khasi. I’m not good at it yet = Maap bah/kong… ngam sngewthuh kaei phi ong . Nga dang pyrshang Khasi. Ngam pat nang/lang bha = माप बाह... नाम स्नेव्थो कएय फि ong. ना प्रशाङ्ग Khasi.

[Maap = sorry]

[Bah = respectful term for men. For lady it is kong]

[ngam = I don't]

[Kaei = what]

[ong = saying]

[dang = just]

[pyrshang = learning/trying]

[Nang/lang = not]

[Bha = good]

What's the time now? = Lah katno baje mynta?

[mynta = now]

I am leaving now = Ngan leit noh shwa

[Leit = to go]

Where are you going? = Shano phin leit?

I am going to Cinema = Ngan leit sha Cinema

See you tomorrow! = Sa iakynduh lashai!

[iakynduh = meet (future tense)]

What is xyz? (for objects) = Kaei kane xyz?

What is the price of this? = Katno kane?

How much money will you take? [for bargaining purposes] = Katno pisa phin shim?

[shim = take]

I want this = Nga kwah kane

I do not want this = Ngam kwah kane

What is there to eat? = Don aiu ban bam?

[aiu = what]

[bam = eat]

Khasi: Random Phrases and Sentences

"The world is no longer what it was."

Tr. "Ni ka pyrthei kam long shuh kum mynshwa"

"Sleep peaceful, child."

Tr. "Khun, thiah suk."

"Close your eyes."

Tr. "Khabrip ki khmat"

“The guests are dying of thirst.”

Tr. "Lah iap sliang."

Nomads [i.e. "people who do not stay in one place"]

Tr. "Ki briew ki bym shong shi jaka"

"Let us wait, let us listen!"

Tr. "To ia ap, to ia sngap!"

"When are you leaving for the city?"

Tr. "Phin leit noh lano sha sor?"

"Phin dih sha shwa ban mih?"

Tr. "Before you leave, do you want to have some tea?"

Khasi: Proper and Common Nouns

Bold are more important nouns (according to Neil)

Basa	Husband of Mei Ramew, the Guardian Mother and Spirit of the Earth
Diengiei	A legendary "tree of all trees" whose branches covered the Sun and shrouded the world in darkness
Dkhar	Foreigner (derogatory). Also a popular surname
Doh khileh	Mixed meat (mostly pork)
Duitara	A stringed instrument, resembling a guitar
Kyrshah	Clothing for women - a chequered cloth that Khasi/Jaintia people put over their heads, like a pallu
Iashong	"To live together" (technically a verb). When you declare you are iashong, you are unofficially married
Iewduh	Alternative name for 'Bara Bazaar'. Iewduh was also the original name of Shillong
Jainsem	Clothing for women
Ja stem	Rice and haldi
Jah Khei	A flower that blooms only once in 12 years
Jing pynkhuid shnong	Monthly event – neighbourhood comes out and cleans streets.
Jingtah	Curry / gravy
Jrong	Tall
Ka ktien	Spoken language (dialect)
Khadsaw-miat / Lap bah	Lots of rain
Khanatang	The sacred story of Creation (Genesis)
Kharu	A sedative plant
Khiew dek	A heavy pot for cooking meat
Khulom	Pen
Khun / Khynnah	Child
Kni	Maternal uncle
Kniah	Sacrifices (usually blood)
Kper	Garden
Ksew	Dog
Kwai / khaini	Chewing tobacco
Kyllang	A powerful mountain spirit
Likai	The legend of a woman who turned into a waterfall
Manik Raitong	The legend of a lowly flute player who was loved by a Queen
Meieid	Grandma
Mekhla	Assamese clothing also found in Khasi cultures (for women)
Mei Ramew	The Guardian Mother and Spirit of the Earth
Miaw	Cat
Mohkhiew	Garden hoe
Niam Tynrai	Local Khasi/Pnar religion (monotheist). Pnar people call it "Niamtre." NOT to be confused with 'Seng Khasi' which is a different local Khasi religion
Nongiarap	Helper
Nong knia	The village storyteller
Pahsyntiew	The legend of a Goddess lured out of her cave by wildflowers
Paieid / Kparad	Grandpa
Poin	A game like lagori
Pyllon shroin	Scones (ice cream)
Saw Dak	An insurgent group (probably extinct)
Shun	Slaked lime used in making Khasi paan (kwai)
Sha saw / sha duh	Red tea / tea with milk
Shylliah	Mat
Slaup	Rain
Sohphie	A fruit that grows in Meghalaya/Himalayas/North India. Looks like litchi
Suid tynjang	A mischevious spirit that leads travelers astray
Symper	A powerful mountain spirit
Thlen	Legendary man-eating serpent (also called 'U Thlen'). Dainthlen Falls is named after this snake. Google for more info.
Tympew	Betel leaf
Tyrso	Mustard
U Blei	God

Khasi: Abuses

(Let's be honest, this is the real reason you're here)

C*nt = Stud (pronounced "stoooodh")

Khasi: Verbs

Come = Ale

Go = Leit

See = Peit

Do = Leh

Want = Kwah

See = Iohi

Feel = Sngew (pronounced "Snow")

Hear = Iohsngew

Smell = Sma

Taste = Mat (pronounced "Maat")

Swim = Jngi

Run = mareh

Jump = kynthih

Sleep = thiah

F*ck = Kheit

Wait = Ap

Listen = Sngap

Khasi: Some Surnames

Hazarika

Kharsyntiew

Khongwir (likely a name)

Lyngdoh

Lyngwa

Marbaniang

Mohanty

Purkhayasta

Thangkhiew

Khasi: Full Alphabet

A = aa

B =

K =

D =

E = A

G = ek

H = esh

I = ee

Ï = yeeee

Ñ = एईई

O =

U = oo

Khasi: Fun Facts

There's no c in Khasi.
There's no f either. And no z.

This Archive will be constantly updated and revised as newer information is learned. You are welcome to make corrections and send more sentences. However, please send the Devanagari script version as well.