Language Top Tips and Handy Hints

Mongolian Language for visitors

Here are a few words and short phrases to help you enjoy your stay.

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Greetings and pleasantries – Medchilgee

Hello – Sain baina uu?
Goodbye - Bayartai

Mother - Eej
Father – Aav

Yes – Tiim
No - Ugui

Son – Khuu
Daughter – Okhin
Brother - Akh
Sister – Egch

Right – Baruun
Left – Zuun

Good – Sain
Bad – Muu

Please - Uuchlaarai
Thank you - Bayarlalaa

Days of the week - 7 khonogiin odruud

Monday – Neg dekh odor

Tuesday - Khoyor dakh odor
Wednesday – Gurav dakhi odor
Thursday – Dorov dakhi odor
Friday – Tav dakhi odor
Saturday – Zurgaa dakhi odor
Sunday - Doloo dakhi odor

When – Khezee

Tomorrow –Margaash
Today - Onoodor
Week - 7 khonog
Hour – Tsag

Shopping  -  Delguur

How much is this please? Ene yamar unetei be?
Cheap – Khyamdkhan
Expensive – Unetei

More – Ikh
Less - Baga

How many? – Khed , Khichneen?
I would like to pay please – Bi mongoo tolmoor baina

Big – Tom
Small – Jijig

Have a good journey – Ayan zamdaa sain yabaarai.
See you again – Daraa uulzaya

Open - neelttei
Closed - Khaalttai

Numbers and currency – Too buyu une khansh

1 – Neg
2 – Khoyor
3 – Gurav
4 –Dorov
5 –Tav
6 – Zurgaa
7- Doloo
8 – Naim
9 – Es
10 – Arav

20 - Khori
50 - Tavi
100 - Zuu
500 – Tavan zuu
1000 – Neg Myanga
10,000 – Arban Myanga
20,000 – Khorin myanga

Bank – Bank
Mongolian currency  togrog – Mongol mongo togrog
Currency exchange – Mongo solikh
Exchange rate – Khanshiin medee
Bank notes US Dollars $ - Amerik dollar
English Pounds – Angli pound
Chinese Yuan – Khyamad yuan
Russian Roubles – Orsiin Ruble
Euros – Euro

Small notes – Jijig devsgert
Large notes – Tom devsgert

Food and restaurants – Khuns buyu restaurant

Food – khool
Hungry – Olsoj baina.
I am not hungry - Bi olsokhgui baina.
I’ve had enough – Bi khangalttai idlee

Hot – Khaluun
Cold – Khuiten
Drink – Undaa
Soft drink – Uukh undaa
Alcohol - Arkhi
Beer – Pivo

Mongolian food – Mongol khool

Vegetarian – Tsagaan khoolton
No meat please - Uuchlaarai, makhgui

Milk – Suu
Menu – Khoolnii Tses
Tea – Tsai
Coffee - Kofe
Water - Us
Bread - Talkh

Meat – Makh
Chicken - Takhia
Ham – Khiam
Beef – Ukhriin makh
Mutton - Khoninii makh
Fish - Zagas

Spicy – Amtlagch
Salt - Davs
Pepper – Perts
Soup – Shol

Yoghurt - Tarag
Potatoes - Toms
Vegetables - Nogoo

It is delicious – Amttai baina

The bill - Toostoo

Expressions – ilerkhiilelI

Don’t understand – Bi oilgokhgui baina.
What is this? – Ene uy be?

What does this mean? – Ene uy gesen ug be?
Sorry I don’t know any Mongolian –Uuchlaarai, bi mongol khel medekhgui.

Please can you direct me to the -  Uuchlaarai, nadad ……….. zaaj ogno uu.

Post office – Tov shuudan
Hospital - Emneleg

Monastery – Gandan khiid
Hotel / hostel – Zochid buudal

State department store – Ulsiin Ikh Delguur
Police station – Tsagdaagiin gazar

Airport / Railway - Ongostnii buudal / Tomor zam
Petrol station – Shatakhuun tugeekh stanst

Immigration office – Gadaadiin irgediin Kharyat asuudal erkhlekh gazar
Shops – Delguur

Open - Neelttei
Closed - Khaalttai

I need help – Nadad tuslamj kheregtei baina
I need a Doctor / Dentist - Nadad emch kheregtei baina / Shudnii emch

Is it far now? – Endees kher khol uu?
Please can we stop here? –Uuchlaarai, end zogsoj bolokh uu?

We are out of petrol / diesel – Binzen / Tulsh duuslaa.
I am having a great time  - Bi saikhan bailaa

Please may I take your photo? – Uuchlaarai, bi chinii zurag abch bolokh uu?

Mongolians really appreciate it if you spend a little time trying to speak their language.
It is great fun and can open many doors to your adventure

A note on spelling

Mongolian does not translate well into English, so you will find many different spellings of the same word. A good example is the capital city which can be spelt Ulaan Baatar, Ulan Bator, Ulaanbaatar or Ulan batar. All of which can be correct depending on who and when it was translated. Also some errors occur, especially when translating from Russian or Chinese into Mongolian

Languages in use in Mongolia