os

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ʔap (“duck”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 鴨 (MC 'aep, “duck”).


os

Nyob zoo os.

Tuaj os.

Noj mov os.

a final emphatic particle, usually used to express sincerity


thee

From Thai ถ่าน (tàan) ("charcoal") or Lao ຖ່ານ (thān) ("charcoal"), ultimately from Middle Chinese 炭 (thanᴴ) ("charcoal").


pom

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *bu̯ət (“to see”). Cognate with Iu Mien buatc.


dub

From Proto-Hmong *qrɛŋᴬ (“black”), related to Proto-Mien *qri̯ɛkᴰ (“black”), though the details are unclear due to irregular rime and tone correspondences.


dua

Muab dua pov tseg.

Nws dua daim ntaub.


dua

hais dua

qab dua


dua

Dua twg lawm?


lem

From Thai เลี้ยว (líao) ("to turn"), with vowel reduction.


dev

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *qluwX (“dog”). Cognate with Iu Mien juv.


tu

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *tɛŋH (“to snap”).


tu

och-l

填 (OC *diːn, *diːns, *tin, *tins, “to fill”)


zes

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *-rəuX. Cognate with Western Xiangxi Miao [Fenghuang] roul and Iu Mien lauz.


mus

From Proto-Hmong *n-mʉŋᴮ (“to go”), from Proto-Hmong-Mien *n-mʉŋ(X) (“id”). Cognate with Proto-Mien *n-mɨŋᴬ (“id”), whence Iu Mien mingh.


laus

From Proto-Hmong *lu̯eiᴮ (“old”), perhaps borrowed from Middle Chinese 老 (law^X, “old”).


kaj

From Proto-Hmong *ɢʷaŋᴬ (“bright, light”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 黃 (MC hwang, “yellow”). Doublet of daj (“yellow”).

(figurative) used in kaj siab (“satisfied with things; with a refreshed spirit”)


zoo

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *-ʔrɔŋH (“good”), possibly borrowed from Old Chinese 良 (*raŋ, “good”). Cognate with Iu Mien longx.


tau

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *təuk, from Old Chinese 得 (OC *tɯːɡ).

Kuv tsis tau ua.

(used preverbally) perfective action marker

Ua tau.

(used postverbally) potential mood marker


kim

From Middle Chinese 貴 (kjw+jᴴ, “expensive”)


los

Inherited from Proto-Hmong-Mien *ləwX (“to come back”).

inh+

to come, return (to one's home or to a place where one resides)


da

From Thai ดำ (dam) ("to dive") or Lao ດຳ (dam) ("to dive"), from Proto-Tai *ɗamᴬ (“to dive”).


log

From Thai ล้อ (lɔ́ɔ) ("wheel") + or from Lao ລໍ້ (lǭ) ("wheel"), ultimately from Middle Chinese 轆 (luwk) ("wheel").


ob

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ʔu̯i (“two”). Cognate with Iu Mien i.


tom

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *dəp (“to bite”); compare Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ketep (“id”), whence Indonesian ketip (“dime, dite”).


mos

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *mənX/H (“fine (as of flour)”).

inh

fine, small (of writing, embroidery, etc.)

Lus mos lus tuaj pos.


mos

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *məuŋX (“fly (insect)”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 蠓 (MC muwng|muwngX, “midge”).


mos

Probably borrowed from Chinese 摩 (mó, “to rub”).

mos nplej

to rub rice (off the stalk with hands or feet)

mos qhov muag

mos plab

to massage the abdomen or stomach, to rub the tummy

to squash or squeeze into a pulp, as in preparing certain vegetables


kam

Kuv kam thiab.

Kuv tsis kam mus.


kam

Noj mov tsi kam.

Nws sau ntawv tsis kam.


kam

Koj muaj kam dab tsi?

What is your business? What do you want?

kam teb chaws


dos

From Proto-Hmong *ɢləŋᴮ (“vegetables in the genus Allium”).


ua

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ʔəjH (“to do, work”).


dav

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *qlaŋX (“hawk, eagle”). Cognate with Iu Mien jaangv.


dav

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *Kʷi̯aŋX (“wide”), from Chinese 廣 /广. Cognate with Iu Mien jangv. Compare Thai กว้าง (gwâang) and Lao ກວ້າງ (kuāng).


nej

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *mi̯əu (“you all”).

you (three or more: second person plural)

your (three or more: second person plural)


dab

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *qlaŋ (“neck”); related to Old Chinese 頸 (OC *keŋʔ, *ɡeŋ, “neck”).

(in compounds) neck or other narrow object


dab

From Proto-Hmong *qraŋᴬ (“spirit, ghost”).

(evil) spirit, considered responsible for epileptic attacks among other things


dab

a trough, a hollowed out length of log etc.

dab zaub

a trough for putting vegetable greens in


fab

Borrowed from Chinese 方 (fāng, “direction”).


fab

mob fab

of a fit or coma after eating something that doesn't agree

Nws fab tshuaj tuag.

It died of allergic reaction to medicine.


nab

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ʔnaŋ (“snake”). Cognate with Iu Mien naang.


ko

ko taus

a handle (of any hand tool or implement, etc.)

used in ko taw (“foot”) and ko tw (“tail”)


ko

zh-l

乎 (hū, “in, on; (archaic) sentence-final particle”)

Koj hais li ko...

Txhob ua li ko.


su

From Proto-Hmong *sjɛŋᶜ (“midday meal”),


su

(of bread, cakes, etc.) to increase in volume


tag

Alternative form of tas (“completion particle”)


sov

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *sji̯ouX (“warm”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 暑 (MC syoX, “hot, sultry”).

dej sov

Koj lub tsev sov sov li.

Your house is bustling with activity (("warm" with people and noise).


dais

From Middle Chinese 魋 (dwoj) ("bear" or "brown bear").


hub

From Mandarin 壶 (hú) ("pot" or"kettle").

a clay pot or vase, especially as used for storing food or water


sib

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *-sji̯eu (“lightweight”).

Lub hnab sib.


sib

Cov zaub tuaj sib sib.

sparsely, spacing, creating a gap between objects or plants


sib

From Proto-Hmong *sjɨᴬ⁻ᴰ (“reciprocal marker”), borrowed from Chinese 廝 /厮 (sī, “mutually”).

bor+

Mus sib ntsib

Nkawv sib ntaus.

mutually, acting together or against each other


tas

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *N-dam(X) (“half (of day)”).


tas

Noj tas lawm.

particle used to indicate completion of an action: done, finished, completed

zoo tas tas

an unrestricted post-verbal intensifier commonly duplicated when used


nag

From Proto-Hmong *m-noŋᶜ (“rain”); likely related to Proto-Mien *mbluŋᶜ (“id”) and Proto-Mon-Khmer *pliɲ ~ *[p]liiɲ ~ *[p]liəɲ (“sky”), whence Khmer ភ្លៀង (phliəng, “id”).


nag

used to denote days different from today:

used in nag kis (“the day after tomorrow”)


tav

Neeg muaj 12 tug tav.


tav

Nws mus tav nyuj noj zaub.

to herd animals, drive animals with a stick

Ib tug nab pw tav kev.

Nws tav cov ntsis zaub.


tav

txog tav no

tav twg?

Tav twg kuj tau.


sia

sia siv


noob

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *hnru̯em (“seed”).


pov

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *pənX (“to shoot”).


foob

From Lao ຟ້ອງ (fǭng) or Thai ฟ้อง (fɔ́ɔng).


ya

Cognate with Western Xiangxi Miao [Fenghuang] eint.


tig

From Vietnamese đi ("to go", "to walk), borrowed with a more restrictive definition.


mob

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ʔmun (“illness, pain”). Cognate with Iu Mien mun.


tug

Alternative form of tus (“classifier for long objects (such as rods or sticks) and animals or beings”)


tes

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *-bɔuX (“hand, arm”). Not related to Vietnamese tay (“hand”), though the change of the onset from b to t may have been influenced by it.


dib

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *Kʷa (“cucumber”), borrowed from Old Chinese 瓜 (OC *kʷraː).


hais

From Middle Chinese 話 (hwaejᴴ) ("to say" or "word").


ev

ncog

Japanese 負う (ou, “to bear, carry on one's back”)

Nws ev ib kawm pobkws puvnkaus.

She carries a full back-basket of corn (on her back).

to carry (a child, basket, etc.) on the back


KT

initialism of Koom Siab Teb (= United States), a country in North America: US


hu

Probably borrowed from Chinese 呼 (“to exhale; to shout, call”).

bor+

Hu kuv.


hau

From Proto-Hmong *hu̯eiᶜ (“to boil (transitive)”).

inh

hau zaub

to boil (something in water or in liquid)


hau

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *S-phreiX (“head”).

hau xaws

the fontanelle on the head of a young child


hau

hau rog

the leader of the group that circles the house in mock battle at a funeral


tub

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *tu̯ɛn (“son, boy”).


tiam

Ib tiam neeg muaj kev kawm zoo zuj zus.

Each generation has better education (than the previous).


tiam

Nws tiam nws pog yawg.


haus

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *hup (“to drink, smoke”).

Kuv haus dej.


deb

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *qʷuw (“far”). Cognate with Iu Mien go.


leeg

From Middle Chinese 藍 (lam, “green, blue, grue”). Historically there was no distinction between green and blue.


lus

Possibly related to Old Chinese 語 (OC *ŋaʔ, *ŋas, “word, language”).


luv

From Proto-Hmong *ʔlɛŋᴮ (“short”), and cognate with Proto-Mien *ʔnəŋᴮ (“id”). Due to the n-l alternation between Mienic and Hmongic, a Chinese borrowing seems possible, though no plausible candidate has been found.


mij

From Vietnamese mì, Thai หมี่ (mìi), or Lao ໝີ່ (mī), ultimately from Teochew 麵 /面 (min⁷, “noodles”) or Hokkien 麵 /面 (mī, “noodles”).


tais

From Thai ถ้วย (tûai) ("cup" or "bowl") or Lao ຖ້ວຍ (thuāi) ("cup" or "bowl").


tus

From Proto-Hmong *dɛŋᴮ (“classifier for horses”), probably borrowed from Chinese 頭 /头 (“head; classifier for animals, cylindrical stub-like objects, etc.”).

bor+

classifier for long objects (such as rods or sticks) and animals or beings


zaj

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *-roŋ (“dragon”), borrowed from Old Chinese 龍 (OC *b·roŋ, *mroːŋ, “id”). Cognate with Western Xiangxi Miao [Fenghuang] ronf and Iu Mien jung.


zaj

Borrowed from Middle Chinese 行 (MC hang|haeng|hangH|haengH, “classifier for rows”).

ltc-l

Hu zaj no.

classifier used for nouns like sayings, speeches, poems, paragraphs, hymns, chapters, times of sorrow or grief, litters of young, etc.


vaj

Borrowed from Middle Chinese 王 (MC hjwang|hjwangH, “king”) or Mandarin 王 (wáng, “id”).


vaj

From Proto-Hmong *waŋᴬ (“garden”), borrowed from Old Chinese 園 (OC *ɢʷan, “garden”). Cognate with Proto-Mien *hwunᴬ (“id”).

a garden, an enclosure for planting vegetables, fruit, etc.

Tuaj, peb xov vaj ncig daim teb.

Come, we'll put a fence around the field.


taub

From Proto-Hmong *tuwᴬ (“gourd”), possibly borrowed from Central Tai *tauᴮ.


nas

From Proto-Hmong *naŋᴮ (“mouse, rat”). Related to Proto-Mien *nauᴮ (“id”), though the difference in rime is unexplained. Probably not related to Thai หนู (nǔu, “id”).

nas kauv

a type of small mouse with light brown fur and white belly


kaum

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *gju̯ɛp (“ten”). Cognate with Iu Mien ziepc.


kaus

Dev tom nws ib kaug.

rau kaus mov


kaus

kaus nplej

kaus pob kws


kaus

bor+

borrowed from Thai กลด (glòt, “ceremonial umbrella”)

Nws nqa ib lub kaus mus teb.


kaus

kaus av

kaus qhov muag

to gouge out, scrape with a gouging motion


cev

From Proto-Hmong *cæwᴮ (“body, trunk”). Related to Proto-Hmong *ɟæwᴮ (“leg, branch”), whence ces, ceg (“leg, branch”).


rau

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *kruk (“six”), of Sino-Tibetan origin. Cognate with Iu Mien juqv.


rau

From Proto-Hmong *tru̯eiᶜ (“hoof, claw, nail”), probably borrowed from Middle Chinese 蹢 (MC drjek|tek, “hoof”).


rau

From Proto-Hmong *trɔᶜ (“to put on, wear (shoes)”), probably borrowed from Old Chinese 著 (OC *taʔ, *tas, *da, *taɡ, *daɡ, “to put on, wear, place, apply”).

och-l

Rau qhov no.

Yuav muab rau qhov twg?

Muab rau rau hauv.

Kuv rau khau.

Nws rau tshuaj.

to put on or wear (shoes, etc.), to put in place

Nws rau txuj lom rau cov nqaij.


rau

Pub rau kuv.

Kuv hais rau koj.

Muab cov nqaij tso rau hauv tub yees.

Muab phau ntawv cia rau saum rooj.

Nws taw rau daim paib.


nanej

From Lao ນາງເອກ (nāng ʼēk) ("heroine" or "female protagonist")

bor

Lao ນາງເອກ (nāng ʼēk)

a heroine, such as a leading female actress in a movie


ris

och-l

提 (OC *deː, *dje, “to raise, carry, lift”)


tij

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *da (“elder brother”), possibly related to Chinese 弟 (dì, “younger brother”), though the details are unclear.


nus

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *neuŋX (“mother's brother”).


ib

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ʔɨ (“one”), from Old Chinese 一 (yī) (/*ʔit/).


ib

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ʔwi̯æn (“crest, comb”), borrowed from Chinese 冠 (“crest, crown”).

bor+

comb (fleshy growth on the top of the head) on a cock; a comb-like body part on another animal


kub

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *kjeəm (“gold”), borrowed from Old Chinese 金 (OC *krɯm, “gold, metal”).

Nws muaj nyiaj muaj kub ntau ntau.


kub

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *klɛɔŋ (“horn”). Cognate with Iu Mien jorng.


kub

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *k(h)lɛɔm (“hot (water)”). Cognate with Iu Mien jorm.

inh

hluav taws kub

used figuratively to describe earnestness, "hot-hearted"


kub

kub hnyiab lawm

Nws lub tsev kub hnyiab tag lawm.

kub hlab lawm


pab

Borrowed from Middle Chinese 幫 (MC pang, “to help, assist”).

Kuv pab nws sau ntawv.


cais

bor+

borrowed from Chinese 拆 (“to dismantle”)

Lawv cais nws tawm hauv tsev neeg.

to separate from, exclude, segregate, split


paj

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *bi̯aŋ. Cognate with Green Hmong paaj, Western Xiangxi Miao [Fenghuang] beinx, Iu Mien biangh. Alternatively, could be borrowed from Burmese ပန်း (pan:, “flower”).


paj

A calque of clipping Thai ดอกเบี้ย (dɔ̀ɔk-bîia, “interest”), from ดอก (dɔ̀ɔk, “flower”) + เบี้ย (bîia, “money”).


dej

From Proto-Hmong *ɢlæwᴬ (“river”), probably related to Proto-Mon-Khmer *ruŋ (“river”) and Proto-Sino-Tibetan *kl(j)u(ŋ/k) (“river, valley”); see there for more.


no

Inherited from Proto-Hmong-Mien *ʔnu̯ɔmH (“cold”).

inh+

No no li.


no

Inherited from Proto-Hmong-Mien *ʔneinX (“this”).

lub tsev no

an indicator of current or present location: this (place, time, person, thing)


muaj

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *n-mɛj (“to have”), possibly related to Chinese 買 /买 (mǎi, “to buy”) and 賣 /卖 (mài, “to sell”) (and thus muas (“to buy”) and muag (“to sell”)), though the details are unclear. Cognate with Iu Mien maaih.


pua

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *pæk (“hundred”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 百 (MC paek, “hundred”).


pua

Borrowed from Middle Chinese 布 (MC puH, “to spread out; cloth”).

to prepare a flat surface, to prepare a level place on the ground

pua pob zeb

pua chaw pw


kua

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *klæwX (“liquid, soup”).


puas

Koj puas xav noj?

interrogative particle, inserted in front of a verb to turn a declarative sentence into a question


puas

From Proto-Hmong *bu̯aᴮ (“bad, spoiled”), likely borrowed from Middle Chinese 腐 (MC bjuX, “to spoil, rot”).

puas lawm

to destroy, to spoil, to make or become useless


zog

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *-rək, borrowed from Old Chinese 力 (OC *k.rək, “force”). Cognate with Western Xiangxi Miao [Fenghuang] ros.


zis

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *raˣ. Cognate with Western Xiangxi Miao [Fenghuang] raol.


kho

to reforge or repair (metal knives, etc. that have been chipped or blunted)


kho

lonely, melancholy, filled with longing and nostalgia, homesick


taw

From Proto-Hmong *towᶜ (“foot”). Note similarities to Thai เท้า (táao, “id”).


taws

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *douX. Cognate with Iu Mien douz.


cua

From Proto-Hmong *cu̯aᶜ (“to chew”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 嚼 (MC dzjak, “to chew”).

Tus aub cua pob txha.


cua

Cov cua tshuab ceev heev

Cov cua twj cuab huv dua cua nruab nroog.

The air in the suburbs is cleaner than the air in the city.

Nws lub tsev muaj cua.

Nws ua neeb xa cua.

He performs a shaman ritual to send away death.

(figuratively) the carrier of death, normally represented by the bamboo carriage made to carry the dead


zos

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *rəŋX, borrowed from Middle Chinese 里 (MC liX, “village”). Cognate with Iu Mien laangz.


noj

From Proto-Hmong *nuŋᴬ (“to eat”); possibly related to Proto-Mien *ɲənᶜ (“to eat”), as well as Old Chinese 茹 (OC *nja, *njaʔ, *njas, “to eat”).


siv

siv ceeb

the variegated headband traditionally worn by Hmong women

tw siv

the embroidered ends on a Hmong woman's apron sash; the tail of a belt


siv

Yuav ua li cas siv?

Kuv tsis txawj siv.


loj

Inherited from Proto-Hmong-Mien *hljo (“big”). Cognate with hlob (“to grow”), Iu Mien hlo.


rab

Inherited from Proto-Hmong *traŋᴬ (“classifier for tools”), borrowed from Old Chinese 張 (OC *taŋ, *taŋs, “classifier for flat things (originally things like bows and zithers)”). Cognate with Proto-Mien *truŋᴬ (“classifier for tools”).

cog

ib rab diav

classifier for implements tools, utensils, i.e. for things with a handle and used with the hands


nyom

bor+

borrowed from Lao ຫຍ້າ (nyā, “grass, weed”)


qa

Neeg mob qa hais tsis tau lus.

Haus luam yeeb ntau ces lub qa yuav puas.

Smoking too much can ruin your vocal cords.


lub

From Proto-Hmong *ʔlɛŋᴬ (“classifier for bowls and houses”), borrowed from Chinese 庵 (ān, “thatched hut”). Cognate with Proto-Mien *ʔnɛɔmᴬ (“id”).
Other proposals consider the word as borrowed from Proto-Tai *lɯ:kᴰ (“child (offspring)”). If that case, then cognate with Thai ลูก (lûuk), Northern Thai ᩃᩪᨠ, Lao ລູກ (lūk), Lü ᦟᦴᧅ (luuk), Tai Dam ꪩꪴꪀ, Shan လုၵ်ႈ (lūk), Tai Nüa ᥘᥧᥐ (luk), Khamti လုက်ႉ, Phake လုက် (luk), Ahom 𑜎𑜤𑜀𑜫 (luk), Bouyei leg, Zhuang lwg. Within Kra-Dai, compare Sui laag (“son”), Proto-Hlai *hlɯːk (“child; offspring”) (whence ɗɯːʔ⁷~ɬɯːʔ⁷~ɬɯːk⁷~ɬɯaʔ⁷ across the different lects) and Proto-Be *ləːkᴰ² (“child; offspring”) (whence lɛk⁸~lək⁸ across the different lects). Compare also Siraya alak.

der

classifier for objects characterized by bulk or roundness:


taum

Taum ntsuab zoo kib xyau nqaij.


mov

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *hmeiᴮ. Cognate with Iu Mien hmeiv and Chinese 米 (mǐ, “rice”).


daug

Lub qe daug.


Hmoob

(slang, colloquial) White Hmong, to distinguish from other Hmong people or language


daim

used for objects that are flat, such as sheets and pages


cag

From Proto-Hmong *ɟoŋᴬ (“root”); probably related to Proto-Mien *ndzuŋᴬ (“id”).

Ntoo muaj cag loj.


peb

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *N-pɔu (“we, us”). Cognate with Iu Mien mbuo.


peb

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *pjɔu (“three”). Cognate with Iu Mien buo.


tob

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *N-tu̯o (“deep”). Cognate with Iu Mien ndo.


teev

Nws siv teev luj khoom.

scale, scales, balance (measuring device)

used in teev dab (“system of giving offerings to spirits”)


teev

Nws tawm hauj lwm thaum 4 teev.


teev

Nws teev khob cawv.

teev dej

to build a dam, to block or stop the flow of liquid


yau

From Proto-Hmong *ʔjuwᶜ (“small, young”), borrowed from Chinese 幼 (“young”).

Nws yau koj.

younger (than), smaller (than), lesser (than)


muas

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *mɛjX (“to buy”), probably borrowed from Middle Chinese 買／买 (mǎi, “to buy”). See also muaj (“to have”).


muas

Borrowed from Chinese 馬／马 (mǎ, “horse”).


plas

Plas muaj qhov muag loj.


plas

plas hav zoov laus

ib plag teb

ib plag hluav taws

classifier for a wide expanse or large area


qij

From Proto-Hmong *ɢaᴬ (“garlic”), borrowed from Old Chinese 葫 (OC *qʰaː, *ɡaː, “gourd”).


faus

From Thai ฝัง (fǎng) ("to bury") or Lao ຝັງ (fang) ("to bury"), with vowel reduction.


qe

From Proto-Hmong *qæwᶜ (“egg”). Cognate with Proto-Mien *kləuᶜ (“id”), as well as Old Chinese 卵 (OC *ɡ·roːlʔ, *ɡ·roːnʔ, “egg”); note also similarities to Proto-Tai *qraj (“id”), whence Lao ໄຂ່ (khai, “id”) and Thai ไข่ (kài, “id”).


tw

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *tu̯eiX (“tail”). Cognate with Iu Mien dueiv; outside of Hmong-Mien, compare Proto-Mon-Khmer *[k]ɗuut (“tip, tail”), whence Khmer កន្ទូត (kɑɑkɑntuut, “rump of fowl”), as well as Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *buntut (“rear end of chicken”), whence Malay buntut (“butt”).


nug

From Proto-Hmong *nɛŋᶜ (“to ask”); related to Proto-Mien *nu̯aiᶜ (“id”).


pliaj

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *bl-ᴬ (“forehead”); compare Proto-Tai *praːkᴰ (“id”), whence Thai ผาก (pàak, “id”).

plim pliaj

to tilt the forehead back, to throw the head back with the forehead turned upward


nroj tshuag

/ᶯɖɒ˥˧.t͡ʂʰuə̯˧˩̤/

plant (organism capable of photosynthesis)


koj

From Proto-Hmong *gʉᴬ (“you”). Compare Bu-Nao Bunu kau².


tias

Kuv xav tias zaub mov qab zoo.

restricted post-verbal intensifier used after verbs involving speech, sound, or thought, similar to the English usage of that, though with said above restrictions


tias

zh-l

胎記／胎记 (tāijì, “birthmark”, literally “fetus mark”)


pw

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *pu̯eiH (“to sleep, to lie down”). Cognate with Iu Mien bueix.


ua si

Borrowed from Chinese 玩耍 (wánshuǎ, “to play”).


ub

pem ub

up and beyond; way up there (up the hill, up north)


nees

From Proto-Hmong *mjænᴮ (“horse”), borrowed from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *k-m-raŋ ~ s-raŋ (“horse”) via Tibeto-Burman *mraŋ. Compare Burmese မြင်း (mrang:, “id”), as well as Chinese 馬／马 (mǎ, “id”)

zh-l

馬／马 (mǎ, “id”)


nees

Borrowed from Middle Chinese 二 (MC nyijH, “two”).


nees

ua nees

a stretcher, traditionally made of bamboo or wood, to carry the dead


poj

From Proto-Hmong *boᴬ (“female, woman”).


kaws

och-l

咬 (OC *kreːw, *ŋɡreːwʔ, *qreːw, “to bite”)

Dev kaws pob txha.

Nees kaws kaws zaub.


pim

(anatomy, sometimes offensive or explicit) the (external) female genitals, the female sex member, the vulva


daj

Inherited from Proto-Hmong *ɢʷaŋᴬ (“yellow”), borrowed from Old Chinese 黃 (OC *ɡʷaːŋ, “yellow”).


kev

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *kləuX (“road, way”). Cognate with Western Xiangxi Miao [Fenghuang] geud, Iu Mien jauv.
Possibly related to either Old Chinese 街 (OC *kreː, *kreː, “street, way”) or 道 (OC *[kə.l]ˤuʔ) (B-S), though whether via borrowing or via inheritance from a common source is unclear.

Koj muaj kev dab tsi?

What is your business? What do you want?


kev

kev mob kev tuag

used to nominalize the word it modifies, used to indicate "the way of ...": -ness


teb

Borrowed from Middle Chinese 地 (dijᴴ) ("land" or "field").


pob

Borrowed from Mandarin 包 (“to cover, wrap; bag, package”).

bor+

prefix used in compounds to denote lumpy things, like stones, knots, tree stumps, and earlobes


pob

only used in pob txha (“bone, skeleton, fossil”)


liag

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ljim (“sickle”). Compare Chinese 鐮 /镰 (lián).


quaj

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *Gæw (“to sing, cry out”), borrowed from Old Chinese 號 (OC *ɦlaːw, *ɦlaːws, “to cry”).

inh

Txhob quaj.


neej

From Proto-Hmong *nænᴬ (“person”), possibly borrowed from Chinese 民 (mín, “people”).


plig

From Proto-Hmong *bljaᴬ (“soul, spirit”), probably borrowed from Proto-Tibeto-Burman *b-la (“demon, soul”), and thus cognate with Anong phəla (“god”). Note also Old Chinese 魄 (OC *tʰaːɡ, *pʰraːɡ, “soul”). Compare also Proto-Tai *priːᴬ (“spirit, ghost, soul”), whence Thai ผี (pǐi), Northern Thai ᨹᩦ, Lao ຜີ (phī), Lü ᦕᦲ (ṗhii), Tai Dam ꪠꪲ, Tai Nüa ᥚᥤᥴ (phí), Shan ၽီ (phǐi), Ahom 𑜇𑜣 (phī).


ntaiv

From clipping of Thai กระได (grà-dai) ("ladder, stairs"), Thai บันได (ban-dai) ("ladder, stairs"), or Lao ຂັ້ນໄດ (khan dai) ("ladder, stairs").


riam

From Burmese ဓား (dha:) ("knife" or "sword").


hwj

From Mandarin 壶 (hú) ("pot" or"kettle").


lwj

From Thai เน่า (nâo) ("to rot" or "to decay") or Lao ເນົ່າ (nao) ("to rot" or "to decay"). Traditionally, the [l] and [n] were interchangeable.


thoob

From Middle Chinese 桶 ("bucket", "can").


rawg

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *drouH (“chopsticks”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 箸 (MC trjoH|drjoH, “chopsticks”).

kais rawg

to push food into the mouth using chopsticks


qab

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *N-Kaŋ (“back (as opposed to the front)”).

inh

under, underneath, at the base of, at the lower side of


qab

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *Kam (“sweet”), borrowed from Old Chinese 甘 (OC *kaːm, “sweet”).


qab

Tsis pom qab mus.


hmos

ib hmos


hnub

From Proto-Hmong *hnɛŋᴬ (“sun, day”), borrowed from Proto-Tibeto-Burman *ku-ni(k) (“id”). Cognate with Proto-Mien *hnu̯ɔiᴬ (“id”), Tibetan ཉི་མ (nyi ma), Old Chinese 日 (OC *njiɡ).

Ib hnub muas 24 teev.

Lub hnub loj dua ntiaj teb.

Lub hnub ci nsta iab.


xyoos

ib xyoos

ob xyoos


pliag

ib pliag

instant, moment, second (very short period of time)


zaub

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *-ʔræi (“vegetable”); cognate with Iu Mien lai and perhaps Middle Chinese 卉 (MC xjw+jX|xjw+jH, “herbs, vegetation”). Likely unrelated to Vietnamese rau (“leafy greens, leaf vegetable”), despite superficial similarities.


tsev

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *prəuX (“house”). Cognate with Iu Mien biauv, as well as perhaps Chinese 廟 /庙 (miào) (Schuessler, 2007).


qaib

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *Kəi (“chicken”), likely borrowed from Chinese 鷄 /鸡 (jī, “id”). Compare also Proto-Tai *kajᴮ (“id”), whence Lao ໄກ່ (kai, “id”) and Thai ไก่ (gài, “id”).


npua

From Proto-Hmong *mpæᶜ (“pig”). Compare Proto-Sino-Tibetan *pʷak (“id”), whence perhaps Old Chinese 豝 (OC *praː, “sow”).


npe

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *mpɔuH (“name”). Cognate with Iu Mien mbuox. Compare also Mon-Khmer terms like Khmer ឈ្មោះ (chmŭəh, “id”).


ntoo

From Proto-Hmong *ntɔŋᶜ (“tree”), from Proto-Hmong-Mien *ntju̯əŋH (“tree”). Cognate with Iu Mien ndiangx; outside of Hmong-Mien, compare Old Chinese 樹 (OC *djoʔ, *djos, “id”), Proto-Mon-Khmer *t2ʔɔɔŋ (“id”) (whence Bahnar ʔlɔːŋ (“id”)), as well as perhaps Thai ต้น (dtôn, “tree trunk, stalk”) and Lao ຕົ້ນ (ton, “id”).


ntoo

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ntɔŋH (“to put on, wear (a cap)”).

inh

to wear on the head, put on (a cap, hat, etc.)


roob

From Burmese တောင် (taung) ("mountain").


hluas

hluas nkauj, hluas nraug


nyuj

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ŋiuŋ (“water buffalo, cow”), borrowed from Old Chinese 牛 (OC *ŋʷɯ, “cow”), albeit with an unexpected nasalization of the ending consonant in the Hmong-Mien form. The White Hmong form's loss of the nasal may be due to phonetic influence from modern Mandarin 牛 (niú). Cognate with Iu Mien ngongh.

nyuj nqov


nqov

nyuj nqov


nquag

recover (from an illness), get well, get better


kuv

From Proto-Hmong *kɛŋᴮ (“I, me”). Cognate with Biao-Jiao Mien kəu³.


nws

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ni̯æn(X) (“3SG (he/she/it)”). Cognate with Iu Mien ninh.


plaub

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *plei (“four”). Cognate with Iu Mien biei.


plaub

tshaj (classifier)
txub (classifier)
rooj (classifier)

litigation, cases of dispute, cases at law, legal cases, matters of law


tsib

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *pra (“five”). Cognate with Iu Mien biaa.


nees nkaum

/nẽ˩.ᵑɡau̯˩̰/

nees (“two”) + kaum (“ten”), with prenasalization of the second syllable. Compare Chinese 二十 (èrshí, “twenty”).


paub

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *pei (“to know”). Cognate with Iu Mien bei.


yuav

From Proto-Hmong *ʔjuᴮ (“to ask for, want”), borrowed from Chinese 要 (MC 'jiew|'jiewH).

Nws yuav koj cov lus hais.

Koj yuav lub tsev loj heev

Nkawv tsis tau yuav txiv.

Koj yuav tuaj los tsis tuaj?

used to indicate future tense: will, shall


ntxuav

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ntsæwX (“to wash (hands)”), borrowed from Old Chinese 澡 (OC *ʔslaːwʔ, “to wash (one's hands)”).

och-l

ntxuav tes

ntxuav cev

to wash something off in water or other liquid


tuaj

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *daj (“to come”). Cognate with Iu Mien daaih.

“Koj tuaj los[?]” (“You've come, eh?”) […] “Kuv tuaj os[.]” (“I've come.”)

1994, Sue Murphy Mote, Hmong and American: Stories of Transition to a Strange Land, →ISBN, page 262:

to come (to a place which is not one's home / a place where one does not reside)

Noog tuaj plaub.

to bear, to put forth (as of horns, hair, feathers, a tail, etc.)


Hmoob Dawb

/m̥ɒ̃˥.daɨ̯˥/

White Hmong, to distinguish from other Hmong people or language


Hmoob Dawb

/m̥ɒ̃˥.daɨ̯˥/


vaub kib

Borrowed from Mandarin 烏龜 /乌龟 (wūguī, “turtle, tortoise”).


ib txhis

/ʔi˥.t͡ɕʰi˩/

From Mandarin 一直 (yīzhí, “always”) or a Middle Chinese or Old Chinese forerunner of the same.


maj mam

From Mandarin 慢慢 (mànmàn, “slowly”) or a Middle Chinese or Old Chinese forerunner of the same.


txwm

Apparently from Middle Chinese 子 (MC tsiX).


Tuam Tshoj

/tuə̯˩̰.t͡ʂʰɒ˥˧/

From Middle Chinese 大朝 ("Greater Dynasty"), according to the Chinese cultural and historical sphere of influence, i.e. a metaphor for "China". In contrast to Xov Tshoj, i.e. Vietnam.


Tuam Tshoj

/tuə̯˩̰.t͡ʂʰɒ˥˧/


saht-supahp

From Lao ສັດສຸພາບ (sat su phāp, literally “the polite animal”).

bor

Pseudoryx nghetinhensis
Pseudoryx nghetinhensis#Translingual

(outdated) saola; the placid ruminant Pseudoryx nghetinhensis


laim

From Proto-Hmong *ljeᴰ (“lightning flash”), borrowed from Proto-Tibeto-Burman *s-lyap (“lightning flash; glitter; butterfly”). Compare Old Chinese 蝶 (OC *l̥ʰeːb, *l'eːb, “butterfly”), 燁 (OC *ɢʷab, *ɢʷɯb, “gleaming”), 熠 (OC *ɢrub, *lub, “flashing”). Probably not related to Chinese 雷 (léi, “lightning”), despite superficial similarity.
The "flutter" and "cast away" senses are likely semantic extensions of the "flash" sense.


laim

laim muag

to cast a sideways glance, to look from the corner of the eye

qhov muag laim laim

eyes twitching, eyes affected with spasm of fluttering


ceg

From Proto-Hmong *ɟæwᴮ (“leg branch”); cognate with Proto-Hmong *cæwᴮ (“body, trunk”), whence cev (“body”).


ceg

classifier for lengths or sections of a journey, etc.


dawb

From Proto-Hmong *qlowᴬ (“white”). The "free" sense is perhaps a semantic loan from Thai ขาว (kǎao, “white”) or Lao ຂາວ (khāo, “white”), both which have a colloquial usage meaning "free of charge".


kua txob

From a syllable of unknown function kua + txob (“(in compounds) pepper”).

crushed Thai chilis used in traditional Hmong cuisine


fawm

From Vietnamese phở ("Vietnamese-style noodle").

pho; beef broth soup with rice noodles and usually beef, meatballs, or other meat.


tsov

From Proto-Hmong *tsjoᴮ (“tiger”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 祖 (MC tsuX, “ancestor”). The semantic shift from "ancestor" > "tiger" comes from the traditional Southeast Asian association and addressing of tigers as ancestors.

tsov cuam

a legendary tiger, reportedly small, swift, and with a human face


tsev neeg

/t͡ʂe˧˦.nẽ˧˩̤/


txoj

Borrowed from Chinese 條 /条 (tiáo, “twig; classifier for long things”).

bor+

ib txoj kev

classifier used for nouns that are in lengths or abstract, such as:

ib txoj cawv

txoj hmoov


leej

used for people (especially honored people)


yav

yav no


txoj kev ntseeg

/t͡sɒ˥˧.ke˧˦.ᶯd͡ʐẽ˧˩̤/


noog

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *m-nɔk (“bird”). Compare Proto-Austronesian *manuk (“bird, chicken”).


lo lus noog

/lɒ˧.lu˩.nɒ̃˧˩̤/


dab tsuam

/da˥.t͡ʂuə̯˩̰/

a malevolent spirit, said to take the form of a jealous woman, who causes people to die in their sleep (see sudden unexpected death syndrome)


nyiam

Kuv nyiam cev tiab no.


huab

ib tau huab


yoojyim

/ʝɒ̃˥˧.ʝi˩̰/

2010, United States Census
Yoojyim. Nws Nyabxeeb. Nws Tseemceeb.


suav

Borrowed from Middle Chinese 數 (MC srjuX|srjuH|sraewk, “to count”).

Suav txog koj tus kheej.


thiab

koj thiab kuv


ntshiab

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ntshji̯əŋ (“clear, fresh”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 清 (MC tshjeng, “clear, quiet”) with a nasal prefix. Cognate with Proto-Hmong-Mien *tshji̯əŋ (“new”), whence tshiab (“new”), as well as possibly Old Chinese 晴 (OC *zleŋ, “clear and fine weather”).

inh

Dej ntshiab ntshiab


ntxov

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ntsi̯ouX (“early”), borrowed from Old Chinese 早 (OC *ʔsuːʔ, “early”). Compare Iu Mien nziou.


ntxhw

From Proto-Hmong *ntshʉᶜ (“elephant”), probably borrowed from Proto-Lolo-Burmese *tsaŋ (“id”), the latter apparently borrowed from Proto-Tai *ɟaːŋꟲ.


ua hauj lwm

/ʔuə̯˧.hau̯˥˧.lɨ˩̰/


sib ntsib dua

/ʂi˥.ᶯd͡ʐi˥.duə̯˧/


pluas mov

/pˡuə̯˩.mɒ˧˦/

pluas (classifier) + mov (“cooked rice”)


lub phaj

lub (“classifier for round things”) + ??


xyoo tshiab

/çɒ̃˧.t͡ʂʰiə̯˥/


rooj noj mov

/ʈɒ̃˥˧.nɒ˥˧.mɒ˧˦/


Teb chaws Nplog

/te˥.cʰaɨ̯˩.ᵐbˡɒ˧˩̤/


pob ntseg

/pɒ˥.ᶯd͡ʐe˧˩̤/


ncig yuav khoom

/ᶮɟi˧˩̤.ʝuə̯˧˦.kʰɒ̃˩̰/

ncig (“to encircle”) + yuav (“to buy”) + khoom (“object”), literally “to go around buying stuff”.

com

to shop, go shopping, go and buy goods from a store


ncig yuav khoom

/ᶮɟi˧˩̤.ʝuə̯˧˦.kʰɒ̃˩̰/


kovyeej

to defeat, win, beat (win against), overcome


diav

diav nyiaj

a spoon or spoon-like object; a scooped utensil for eating or serving


diav

rau diav tshuaj


qhov

From Proto-Hmong *qhəŋᴮ (“hole”), borrowed from Old Chinese 孔 (OC *kʰloːŋʔ, “hole”).


tshuab

cua tshuab tuaj.

tshuab raj


tshuab

lub tshuab ntaus ntawv

lub tshuab nias ntawv

tshuab ntuag


ntaus ntawv

/ⁿdau̯˩.ⁿdaɨ̯˧˦/


tshaib

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *tshje (“hungry”).


pom koj tom qab

/pɒ˩̰.kɒ˥˧.tɒ˩̰.qa˥/


ntses

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *mbrəuX (“fish”). Cognate with Iu Mien mbiauz; outside of Hmong-Mien, compare Proto-Tai *plaːᴬ (“id”), whence Thai ปลา (bplaa, “id”).


twb

a preverbal particle that draws attention to the state of affairs at the time


dab tsi

From an element of uncertain interpretation dab + tsi (“what”).


qhov ncauj

/qʰɒ˧˦.ᶮɟau̯˥˧/


plhu

lub (classifier)
sab (classifier)
phlu (alternative)

From Proto-Hmong *phl-ᶜ (“cheek, face”).

Koj plhu liab tag lawm.

Your face is red. (figuratively: You're blushing.)


ntev

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ntauX (“long”). Cognate with Iu Mien ndaauv.


hnyav

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *hnjeinX (“heavy”). Cognate with Iu Mien hniev.


nyias

From Proto-Hmong *ɲenᴮ (“thin”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 姌 (MC nyemX|nemX, “slender”).


nyias

a cloth for carrying a baby on one's back, a baby carrier


nyias

Nyias muaj nyias npe.


pojniam

/pɒ˥˧.niə̯˩̰/


txiv neej

/t͡ɕi˧˦.nẽ˥˧/


menyuam

/me˧.ɲuə̯˩̰/


txiv

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *pjaX (“father, male”), likely related to Chinese 父 (“father”).

(Christianity) reverend, clergy, minister


txiv

used as a prefix to form names of fruits


niam

From Proto-Hmong *minᴰ (“female”). Despite phonetic similarity of the descendant forms of both Proto-Hmongic and Proto-Sinitic, likely not related to Chinese 女 (nǚ, “woman”).

(religion) a female member of religious community


tuv

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *tɛmX. Cognate with Green Hmong tuv, Iu Mien damv.


zoov

From Proto-Hmong *-ʔrɔŋᴮ (“forest”). Note similarities to Old Chinese 林 (OC *ɡ·rɯm).


nplooj

From Proto-Hmong *mblɔŋᴬ (“leaf”). Probably cognate with Proto-Mien *nɔmᴬ (“id”); compare also Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *buluŋ (“medicinal herbs”) (whence Pangasinan bulong (“leaf”)), as well as Proto-Sino-Tibetan *lap (“leaf”).


hlua

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *hljaŋ (“sash, rope, cord”). Cognate with Iu Mien hlaang.


ntshav

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ntshjamX (“blood”). Cognate with Iu Mien nziaamv; outside of Hmong-Mien, compare Proto-Mon-Khmer *jhaam (“id”), whence Khmer ឈាម (chiəm, “id”).


qub

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *qu̯oH (“old”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 故 (MC kuH, “old, former”). Cognate with Iu Mien gox.

lub qub zos


txoj sia

/t͡sɒ˥˧.ʂiə̯˧/


rab rawg tais

/ʈa˥.ʈaɨ̯˧˩̤.tai̯˩/


qhiav

From Proto-Hmong *qhinᴮ (“ginger”), possibly related to Old Chinese 薑 (OC *kaŋ) or 姜 (OC *klaŋ); see Proto-Sino-Tibetan *kjaŋ (“ginger”) for more.


ntxhais

From Proto-Hmong *mphjeᴰ (“daughter, girl”).


nam pa

From Lao ນ້ຳປາ (nam pā, “fish sauce”) or Thai น้ำปลา (nám-bplaa, “fish sauce”).


nplaig

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *mblet (“tongue”), likely borrowed from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *m/s/g-ljak (“to lick”). Cognate with Iu Mien mbietc. Compare Old Chinese 舌 (OC *ɦbljed, “tongue”).


xyoo

From Proto-Hmong *ɕɔŋᶜ (“year”), likely borrowed from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-ni(ŋ~k) (“year”); compare Old Chinese 年 (*niːŋ).


hnab tshos

/n̥a˥.t͡ʂʰɒ˩/


nco

Clipping from Thai จดจำ (jòt-jam) ("to remember", "to memorize").


tsho

shirt, jacket, coat, upper garment with sleeves

used in tsho me nyuam (“placenta, afterbirth”)


khej

Borrowed from Lao ແຂ້ (khǣ, “crocodile”); compare Thai จระเข้ (jɔɔ-rá-kêe, “id”).


qhov muag

/qʰɒ˧˦.muə̯˧˩̤/


ko taw

tus (classifier)
txhais (classifier)
kotaw (alternative)

cog

Thai ข้อเท้า (kɔ̂ɔ-táao, “ankle”, literally “foot joint”)


qhov ntsej

/qʰɒ˧˦.ᶯd͡ʐe˥˧/


qhov ntswg

/qʰɒ˧˦.ᶯd͡ʐɨ˧˩̤/


qhov tsos

/qʰɒ˧˦.t͡ʂɒ˩/


qhov rooj

/qʰɒ˧˦.ʈɒ̃˥˧/


qhov ntxa

/qʰɒ˧˦.ⁿd͡za˧/


qhov rais

/qʰɒ˧˦.ʈai̯˩/


qhov ntev

/qʰɒ˧˦.ⁿde˧˦/


qhov dav

/qʰɒ˧˦.da˧˦/


qhov siab

/qʰɒ˧˦.ʂiə̯˥/


nplooj siab

/ᵐbˡɒ̃˥˧.ʂiə̯˥/


nplooj ntsws

/ᵐbˡɒ̃˥˧.ᶯd͡ʐɨ˩/


ntsws

From Proto-Hmong *mprʉᶜ (“lung”); possibly related to Proto-Tai *plaᴬ¹ and Proto-Kam-Sui *mprai³.

Neeg muaj ob daim ntsws sib hloov cua thaum neeg ua pa.

People have two lungs to exchange air when they breathe.

Cov neeg ntsws zoo ua pa thiab hais lus yooj yim.

People with good lungs breath and speak easily.


ntsws

Lub tsho ntsws

Neeg laus ces tawv nqaij ntsws.


muag

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *mu̯ɛjH (“eye”). Compare other similar words for "eye" across East and Southeast Asia, like Old Chinese 目 (OC *muɡ, “id”), Japanese 目 (me, “id”), Vietnamese mắt (“id”), and Tagalog mata (“id”).


muag

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *mɛjH (“to sell”); related to Chinese 賣／卖 (mài, “to sell”), perhaps via borrowing from the latter. See also muaj (“to have”).


muag

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *mlu̯ɛjH (“soft”); compare Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ma-lumu (“soft, tender, gentle”), whence Manusela malua (“soft”). Similarities to Proto-Indo-European *ml̥dus (“soft, weak”) are most likely coincidental.


nab qa

nab (“snake, worm”) + qa (“(of) lizards”).


noob qes

noob (“seed”) + qe (“egg”), with tone sandhi of the latter component, as well as possible semantic influence from qes (“low”).


mloog

Inherited from Proto-Hmong *mrɔŋᶜ (“to hear”), from Proto-Hmong-Mien *(S-)mru̯ɔŋH (“to listen”). Cognate with Proto-Mien *s-mru ̯ əŋᶜ (“to listen”).


nalika

From Thai นาฬิกา (naa-lí-gaa), from Pali nāḷikā.


toobxib

zh-l

東西／东西 (dōngxī)


toob xib

東西／东西 (dōngxī)


yooj yim

/ʝɒ̃˥˧.ʝi˩̰/


qaug dab peg

Literally, “the spirit catches you and you fall down”.


tauv

tauv huab

classifier for clouds and for clusters of fruit


tauv

tauv dej

tauv tsis taus lub kua muag


hmab

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *hmein (“vine”), possibly related to Old Chinese 蔓 (OC *moːn, *mons).


hmo

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *hməŋH (“night”). Cognate with Iu Mien hmuangz; outside of Hmong-Mien, cognate with Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-mun (“dark”) (whence Old Chinese 昏 (OC *hmɯːn, “dusk, dark”)) and *muːŋ ~ r/s-muːk (“misty; dark”) (whence 矇 (OC *moːŋ, “blind; dark”) and perhaps 冥 (OC *meːŋ, “dark; deep; underworld”)).


hlob

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *hljo (“big”). Cognate with loj (“big”), Iu Mien hlo.


hlob

Tus ntxhais hlob lub npe hu ua Nplias, tus yau Maiv.

The older daughter's name is Blia, (and) the younger Mai.


nruas

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ndruX (“drum”). Cognate with Iu Mien nzox.

ntaus nruas


ncauj

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ɲɟuj (“mouth, beak”), perhaps borrowed from Old Chinese 嘴 (OC *ʔseʔ, “beak, mouth”) or otherwise related to the latter's proto-form, Proto-Sino-Tibetan *m-ts(j)ul (“lip; beak”). Cognate with Iu Mien nzuih.


nyiag

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ɲemH (“to steal”). Cognate with Iu Mien nimc.


khaus

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *khju̯ɛt (“itch(y), scratch(y)”). Cognate with Iu Mien sietv.


iab

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ʔim (“bitter”). Cognate with Iu Mien im.


nqe

From Proto-Hmong *ɴqæwᶜ (“hook”), borrowed from Old Chinese 鉤 (OC *koː, “hook”).

nqe ko taw

to hook the foot (on something and stumble)


nqe

used in nqe lauj (“wooden hook to hang things on in the home”)


nqe

From Proto-Hmong *ɴqaᶜ (“price”), borrowed from Old Chinese 價 (OC *kraːs, “price”).


xeev

From Mandarin 醒 (xǐng, “to wake up”) or Middle Chinese or Old Chinese.


sij hawm

/ʂi˥˧.haɨ̯˩̰/

Borrowed from Mandarin 時候 /时候 (shíhou, “time”).


rooj

From Middle Chinese 凳 (tongᴴ) ("bench", "stool").


yaj

From Proto-Hmong *jaŋᴬ (“to dissolve, melt”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 煬 (MC yang|yangH, “to melt”).


yaj

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *juŋ (“sheep, goat”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 羊 (MC yang, “id”). Cognate with Western Xiangxi Miao [Fenghuang] yonf (“goat”) and Iu Mien yungh.


kawg

zoo kawg nkaus

lub roob siab kawg nkaus

used in kawg nkaus (“superlative degree, most, completely”)


kawg

ib txhis tsis kawg


Ntxwg-nyoog

/ⁿd͡zɨ˧˩̤.ɲɒ̃˧˩̤/


hauv

(in compounds) stump, base, basis, root, origin


nplej

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *mbləu. Cognate with Iu Mien mbiauh.


yoov

From Proto-Hmong *ʔjɔŋᴮ (“mosquito”). Possibly cognate with Middle Chinese 蠅 (MC ying, “fly”); compare also Thai ยุง (yung, “mosquito”), Lao ຍຸງ (nyung, “id”).

a generic name for flies and other fly-like insects:


yaim

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *-jep (“to lick”). Cognate with Hmong Shua jei²¹.


khau

From Proto-Hmong *khjɔᶜ (“shoes”), possibly borrowed from Middle Chinese 屨 (MC kjuH, “straw sandals”), though the Sinitic form is not aspirated.

rau khau


caj

(in compounds) used to indicate a part of the body, as if it were a ridge, bridge, or joint

caj qwb

the depression at the back or nape of the neck


ntswg

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *mbruiH (“nose”). Compare also Biao-Jiao Mien bli⁶; outside of Hmong-Mien, compare Old Chinese 鼻 (OC *blids, “nose”).

kwv ntswg

to turn the nose away in disgust; nose-up, arrogant, conceited


choj

Borrowed from Mandarin 橋 /桥 (qiáo) ("bridge").


KTA

Koom Siab Teb Amelika
Koom Siab Teb Amelika#White_Hmong

United States of America
United States of America#English

acronym of Koom Siab Teb Amelika (= United States of America), a country in North America: USA


noob zaub

/nɒ̃˥.ʐau̯˥/


luj

From Proto-Hmong *ljɛŋᴬ (“to measure (rice)”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 量 (MC ljang|ljangH, “quantity; to measure”).


luj

Borrowed from Chinese 騾／骡 (luó, “mule”).


luj

zh-l

轆／辘 (lù, “used in compounds to denote rolling”)


tiv

to oppose, to resist, to meet or endure opposition

tiv tshav

to "go against" sunlight (can mean both being in and avoiding sunlight)


Kalifonias

California (a state of the United States)


Misnisxaustas

Minnesota (a state of the United States)


qeej

Cognate with Lao ແຄນ (khǣn), Thai แคน (kɛɛn), Khmer គែន (kɛɛn), Vietnamese khèn; all are bamboo mouth organs in Southeast Asia. Compare also Burmese ငြင်း (ngrang:).

(music) Hmong reed mouth organ, also known as a lusheng


keeb kwm

From Mandarin 亙古 /亘古 (gèngǔ) ("since ancient times"), misinterpreted as history or origin.

keeb kwm Hmoob


tsheb

Borrowed from Chinese 車 /车 (“car, vehicle, chariot”).


xob

From Proto-Hmong *S-phoᴬ (“thunder”), probably related to Proto-Hmong-Mien *mpuə (“id”), the latter whence Pa-Hng mo¹ (“id”).

Xob: a creature in the heavens supposedly responsible for thunder and lightning


xob

xob nyuj

xob nees


caij

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ɟej. Cognate with Iu Mien geh.


caws pliav

/caɨ̯˩.pˡiə̯˧˦/


Nyab Laj

From Middle Chinese 安南 ('an nom), the name for Annam, a historical name for Central Vietnam. Traditionally, the [l] and [n] were interchangeable.

(dated, colloquial) Vietnam (a country in Southeast Asia)


hma

From Proto-Hmong *hmaŋᶜ (“wild dog”). Compare Proto-Tai *ʰmaːᴬ (“dog”), whence Thai หมา (mǎa, “canine”).

refers to wild dog-like animals, such as wolves, jackals, foxes, coyotes, etc.


siab

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *-hri̯əŋ (“high, tall”), probably borrowed from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *m-raŋ (“high, long”), whence Chinese 陵 (líng, “mound, hill”) and Burmese မြင့် (mrang., “high, tall”).


siab

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *-hri̯ən (“liver”); possibly related to Middle Chinese 肝 (MC kan, “liver”). Note the difference in coda consonant between this and Etymology 1.


siab

(figuratively) the liver regarded as the seat of the affections and emotions (like the heart in English)


tsom iav

/t͡ʂɒ˩̰.ʔiə̯˧˦/


nqaij npuas

/ᶰɢai̯˥˧.ᵐbuə̯˩/


ntuj raug txim

/ⁿdu˥˧.ʈau̯˧˩̤.t͡ɕi˩̰/

ntuj (“sky”) + raug txim (“punishment, penalty”).

(Christianity) hell; Hades; netherworld (place of damnation)


tsis

Koj tsis mus ua si.


ntaj

From Thai ดาบ (dàap) ("sword") or Lao ດາບ (dāp) ("sword").


da dej

From Thai ดำ (dam) ("to dive") or Lao ດຳ (dam) ("to dive"), from Proto-Tai *ɗamᴬ (“to dive”) + a calque of Thai น้ำ (náam) (" water") or Lao ດຳ (dam) (" water").


liab

From Proto-Hmong *ʔlinᴬ (“monkey”), probably from Proto-Hmong-Mien *ʔbliŋ (“id”). Related to Proto-Mien *ʔbiŋᴬ (“id”); outside of Hmong-Mien, compare Proto-Tai *liːŋᴬ (“id”), whence Thai ลิง (ling, “id”).


tseeb

From Middle Chinese 真 (tsyin) ("true", "real").


kob huam

/kɒ˥.huə̯˩̰/


txiv neeb

/t͡ɕi˧˦.nẽ˥/


neev taw

/nẽ˧˦.taɨ̯˧/


Miv Teb

From Vietnamese Mỹ ("America") + teb from Middle Chinese 地 (dijᴴ) ("land" or "field").

the United States (a country in North America)


Suav Teb

/ʂuə̯˧˦.te˥/

(colloquial) any of the Chinese dynasties


Suav Teb

/ʂuə̯˧˦.te˥/


Meev Teem

Borrowed from Vietnamese Miến Điện (“Myanmar”), from Mandarin 緬甸 /缅甸 (Miǎndiàn).

bor+

Myanmar, Burma (a country in Southeast Asia)


Thaib Teb

From Thai ไทย (tai) ("Thai") + teb from Middle Chinese 地 (dijᴴ) ("land" or "field").


Los Tsuas

/lɒ˩.t͡ʂuə̯˩/


Los Tsuas

/lɒ˩.t͡ʂuə̯˩/


Fav Teb

From Vietnamese Pháp (“France”) + teb from Middle Chinese 地 (dijᴴ, “land, field”).

France (a country located primarily in Western Europe)


Fav

Borrowed from Vietnamese Pháp (“France”).


Teb

From Middle Chinese 地 (dijᴴ) ("land" or "field").

land; country; state (use as suffix to form names of country)


Miv

From Vietnamese Mỹ ("America"), from Mandarin 美 (měi) ("America").


koom siab

/kɒ̃˩̰.ʂiə̯˥/


koom siab

/kɒ̃˩̰.ʂiə̯˥/


Koom Siab Teb

/kɒ̃˩̰.ʂiə̯˥.te˥/

A calque of English United States of America; equivalent koom siab ("united") + teb ("land", "state", "country").

calque

(formal) United States of America (a country in North America)


Koom Siab Teb

/kɒ̃˩̰.ʂiə̯˥.te˥/


Koom Siab Teb Amelika

A calque of English United States of America; equivalent koom siab ("united") + teb ("land", "state", "country") + Amelika ("America").

(formal, official) United States of America (a country in North America)


tswv tsev

/t͡ʂɨ˧˦.t͡ʂe˧˦/

From Middle Chinese 主 (tsyu^X) ("chief", "lord", "master", "owner) + tsev ("house"), literally means "Lord of the House".


tswv rooj

/t͡ʂɨ˧˦.ʈɒ̃˥˧/

From Middle Chinese 主 (tsyu^X) ("chief", "lord", "master", "owner) + Middle Chinese 凳 (tongᴴ) ("stool", "bench", "chair"), literally means "Lord of the Chair".

president, of a socialist republic or state


Tswv Ntuj

/t͡ʂɨ˧˦.ⁿdu˥˧/

From Sino-Vietnamese Vietnamese Thiên Chúa, from Middle Chinese 天主 or Mandarin 天主 (Tiānzhǔ) ("Heavenly Lord"), with syllables in reverse order.


Tswv Ntuj

/t͡ʂɨ˧˦.ⁿdu˥˧/


Vaj Tswv

/va˥˧.t͡ʂɨ˧˦/

A calque of Thai พระเจ้า (prá-jâao) or Lao Lao ພະເຈົ້າ (pha chao); vaj ("king", "royal") from Mandarin 王 + tswv from ("Mandarin 主 master, owner, chief"), together literally means "King Lord".


Vaj Tswv

/va˥˧.t͡ʂɨ˧˦/


thawj

From Middle Chinese 頭 (duw) ("head", "top", "chief")


thawj saib

/tʰaɨ̯˥˧.ʂai̯˥/

From Middle Chinese 頭 (duw) ("head", "top", "chief") + a corrupted pronunciation of Mandarin 視 /视 (shì) ("to look", to "watch", "to inspect"), literally means "presiding chief".

president, of capitalist republic or state


toj

From Vietnamese đồi ("hill", "mountain").


nco ntsoov

/ᶮɟɒ˧.ᶯd͡ʐɒ̃˧˦/

From Thai จดจำ (jòt-jam) ("to remember", "to memorize").


nco ntsoov

/ᶮɟɒ˧.ᶯd͡ʐɒ̃˧˦/


ntsoov

Clipping from Thai จดจำ (jòt-jam) ("to remember", "to memorize").


pob txha

pob (“set”) + txha (“bone”). Possibly cognate with Vietnamese bộ xương (“skeleton, bone”).


txha

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *tshuŋX (“bone”). Peiros suggests a relation with Proto-Mon-Khmer *cʔaaŋ ~ *cʔaiŋ (“bone”), whence Vietnamese xương (“bone, skeleton”); however, there are phonetic issues due to the presence of labial initials in Mienic forms.


xiav

From Vietnamese xanh ("grue", "blue", or "green"), with loss of nasal final, from Non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of Middle Chinese 青 (tsheng) ("grue", "blue", or "green").


khawb

From Thai ขุด (kùt) ("to dig") or Lao ຂຸດ (khut) ("to dig").


qav

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *KæŋX (“frog”). Compare Proto-Austronesian *keŋkeŋ (“frog; hollow sound”), whence Ilocano keŋkéŋ (“big-bellied toad that croaks at night”).


qav kaws

From qav (“frog”) + an element of uncertain interpretation kaws.


Tshoj

suffix added to form names of Chinese dynasties


Xov Tshoj

/sɒ˧˦.t͡ʂʰɒ˥˧/

From Mandarin 小朝 ("Lesser Dynasty"), according to the Chinese cultural and historical sphere of influence, i.e. a metaphor for Vietnam. In contrast to Tuam Tshoj (大朝, "Greater Dynasty"), i.e. China.

(archaic) Vietnam (a country in Southeast Asia)


Xov Tshoj

/sɒ˧˦.t͡ʂʰɒ˥˧/


Viaj Naab

/vi̯ə˥˧.nã˥/


Viaj Naab

/vi̯ə˥˧.nã˥/


Hmoob Leeg

/m̥ɒ̃˥.lẽ˧˩̤/

(slang, colloquial) Green Hmong, to distinguish from other Hmong people or language


Hmoob Leeg

/m̥ɒ̃˥.lẽ˧˩̤/


xav

Borrowed from Chinese 想 (xiǎng, “to think”).

Kuv tsis xav mus.

Kuv xav tsis mus.

to think, to wish, to desire, to want to


xav

Borrowed from Lao ສັກ (sak, “injection”).


xeem

Borrowed from Chinese 姓 (xìng, “surname”).

Kuv yog Npis, xeem Vaj.


xeem

Borrowed from Chinese 賽 /赛 (sài, “to compete, race”)

xeem ntawv

xeem dab

xeem tsheb


nyob

From Proto-Hmong *ʔɲəŋᴬ (“to be at, to live”). Related to Proto-Hmong *jəŋᶜ (“to be”) (whence yog (“to be”)), as well as probably Proto-Mien *ʔjəmᴬ (“to be at, to live”).


yog

From Proto-Hmong *jəŋᶜ (“to be”). Related to Proto-Hmong *ʔɲəŋᴬ (“to be at, to live”) (whence nyob (“to be at, to live”), as well as probably Proto-Mien *ʔjəmᴬ (“to be at, to live”).


poj niam

/pɒ˥˧.niə̯˩̰/


me nyuam

/me˧.ɲuə̯˩̰/

Tus me-nyuam quaj.


hu ua

Kuv poj niam lub npe hu ua Mos.


nyeem

Borrowed from Chinese 念 (niàn, “to read, recite”).


tsawb

Borrowed from Middle Chinese 蕉 (tsjew, “banana”).

Lub txiv tsawb zoo heev.


hluas nkauj

/l̥uə̯˩.ᵑɡau̯˥˧/


hluas nraug

/l̥uə̯˩.ᶯɖau̯˧˩̤/

Nws tseem yog hluas nraug tsis tau muaj poj niam.

He is still a single guy without a wife.

Tus hluas nkauj muaj ib tug hluas nraug lawm.


nkauj

a young unmarried female (classifier: tus)


nraug

From Proto-Hmong *ndru̯eiᶜ (“young man”).


nkawv

third person dual pronoun: they (two), the two of them


niam txiv

/niə̯˩̰.t͡ɕi˧˦/


niam hluas

/niə̯˩̰.l̥uə̯˩/

a friendly term of address for an older female to call a younger female


niam laus

/niə̯˩̰.l̥uə̯˩/

a friendly term of address for a younger female to call an older female


tij laug

older brother, elder brother, big brother


kwv

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ku̯eiX (“younger brother”). Possibly related to Chinese 哥 (gē, “older brother”), though the details are unclear, particularly why the age relationships between the Hmong-Mien terms (kwv and tij) are opposite to those of Sinitic (弟 (dì) and 哥 (gē)).


cov

classifier for groups and plurals: a class, group, kind, bunch

cov tsheb


khoom

Borrowed from Lao ຂອງ (khǭng, “thing, object”).


khoom

Kuv tsis khoom ua.


hli

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *hlaH (“moon, month”), borrowed from Proto-Tibeto-Burman *sr-la (“id”). Compare Old Chinese 夕 (OC *ljaːɡ, “evening”), Tibetan ཟླ་བ (zla ba, “moon, month”).


hwj txob

/hɨ˥˧.t͡sɒ˥/


ntsev

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ntsjəuX (“salt”).


kuaj xyuas

/kuə̯˥˧.çuə̯˩/


ncuav

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ŋkjuəX (“rice cake”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 粔 (MC gjoX, “rice cake”).


taum mog

/tau̯˩̰.mɒ˧˩̤/


pauv

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *N-peiX (“soybean”).


pab cuam

Borrowed from Chinese 幫助／帮助 (bāngzhù, “help”).


zaub paj

zaub (“vegetable”) + paj (“flower”), literally “flowery vegetable”.


zaub paj ntsuab

/ʐau̯˥.pa˥˧.ᶯd͡ʐuə̯˥/

zaub paj (“cauliflower”) + ntsuab (“green”).


zaub xav lav

zaub + English salad, literally “salad greens”.

zaub xam lav (alternative)
zaub xa lav (alternative)


ntsuab

From Proto-Hmong *mpruᴬ (“green, blue”); possibly related to Proto-Mien *ʔmeŋᴬ (“id”) and *ʔbɔuᴮ (“gray”).


qhwv

From Proto-Hmong *qhuᴮ (“to pack, wrap”), possibly borrowed from Old Chinese 裹 (OC *kloːlʔ, *kloːls, “to wrap”).


zaub qhwv

/ʐau̯˥.qʰɨ˧˦/

zaub (“vegetable”) + qhwv (“to wrap”), literally “wrapped vegetable”.


lauj pwm

Borrowed from Chinese 蘿蔔／萝卜 (luóbo, “radish, tuber”).


ntug

the light of day, bright day, morning (the time when daylight appears)


ntug

Qos ntug loj heev.

(of tubers and roots only) to grow, to enlarge


zaub ntug

/ʐau̯˥.ⁿdu˧˩̤/


zaub ntug daj

zaub ntug (“root vegetable”) + daj (“yellow”).


zaub ntug hauv paus

zaub ntug (“root vegetable”) + hauv paus (“stump, base, root”).


kws

Probably borrowed from Middle Chinese 穀 (MC kuwk, “grain, cereal”).


txob

Borrowed from Chinese 椒 (jiāo, “pepper”).


qos yaj ywm

lub (classifier)
qos yaj ywv (alternative)

/qɒ˩.ʝa˥˧.ʝɨ˩̰/

qos (“tuber”) + Chinese 洋芋 (yángyù, “potato”), literally “western-taro tuber”.


qej

From Proto-Hmong *ɢaᴬ (“garlic”), borrowed from Old Chinese 葫 (OC *qʰaː, *ɡaː, “gourd”).


taub dag

taub (“gourd”) + dag (“tone variant of daj (“yellow”)”), literally “yellow gourd”.

tone variant of <i class="Latn mention" lang="mww">daj</i> (“yellow”)


tauj qaib

tauj (“coarse grass”) + qaib (“chicken”), literally “chicken grass”, as lemongrass is often cooked with chicken in Hmong cuisine.


tauj dub

tauj (“coarse grass”) + dub (“black”), literally “black grass”.


xyoob

Probably borrowed from Middle Chinese 筍 (MC swinX, “bamboo shoots”).


txiv maj phaub

lub (classifier)
txiv mav poj (alternative)
txiv maj phob (alternative)

txiv (“fruit”) + Lao ໝາກພ້າວ (māk phāo, “coconut”); see Thai หมากพร้าว (màak-práao, “id”) for more.


txiv plab nyug

/t͡ɕi˧˦.pˡa˥.ɲu˧˩̤/

txiv (“fruit”) + plab (“stomach”) + nyug (“cow”), due to the shape of the fruit.


txiv maj mib

lub (classifier)
txiv majmib (alternative)

txiv (“fruit”) + a compound of unclear origin maj mib.


txiv lws zoov

lub (classifier)
txiv lwszoov (alternative)

/t͡ɕi˧˦.lɨ˩.ʐɒ̃˧˦/

txiv (“fruit”) + lws (“eggplant (rounded vegetable or fruit)”) + zoov (“forest, jungle”).


kab ntxwv

Borrowed from Chinese 柑子 (gānzi, “mandarin orange, tangerine”).


txiv kab ntxwv

lub (classifier)
txiv kabntxwv (alternative)

/t͡ɕi˧˦.ka˥.ⁿd͡zɨ˧˦/


txiv kab ntxwv loj

lub (classifier)
txiv kabntxwv loj (alternative)

/t͡ɕi˧˦.ka˥.ⁿd͡zɨ˧˦.lɒ˥˧/

txiv (“fruit”) + kab ntxwv (“orange”) + loj (“big”), literally “big orange”.


txiv kab ntxwv qaub

lub (classifier)
txiv kabntxwv qaub (alternative)

txiv (“fruit”) + kab ntxwv (“orange”) + qaub (“sour”), literally “sour orange”.


xim kab ntxwv

/ɕi˩̰.ka˥.ⁿd͡zɨ˧˦/


txiv maj naus

txiv (“fruit”) + Lao ໝາກນາວ (māk nāo, “lemon”); see Thai มะนาว (má-naao, “id”) for more.


txiv ev paum

lub (classifier)
txiv av paus (alternative)

/t͡ɕi˧˦.ʔe˧˦.pau̯˩̰/


txiv duaj

/t͡ɕi˧˦.duə̯˥˧/

txiv (“fruit”) + Chinese 桃 (táo, “peach”)


txiv lws suav

/t͡ɕi˧˦.lɨ˩.ʂuə̯˧˦/

txiv (“fruit”) + lws (“eggplant”) + suav (“Chinese”), literally “Chinese eggplant-fruit”, as tomatoes were presumably introduced to Hmongic tribes by Sinitic peoples (perhaps merchants). Alternatively, the suav may be borrowed from Chinese 西 (xī, “west”); compare Chinese 西紅柿 /西红柿 (xīhóngshì, “tomato”).


pos nphuab

/pɒ˩.ᵐpʰuə̯˥/

pos (“thorn”) + an element of uncertain interpretation nphuab.


txiv pos nphuab

/t͡ɕi˧˦.pɒ˩.ᵐpʰuə̯˥/

txiv (“fruit”) + pos nphuab (“a kind of thorn”).


txiv pos liab

/t͡ɕi˧˦.pɒ˩.liə̯˥/

txiv (“fruit”) + pos (“thorn”) + liab (“red”).


quav

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *N-KəjX (“excrement”), possibly of imitative-expressive origin; see Proto-Indo-European *kakka- (“to defecate”) for possible explanations of the sound symbolism.


txiv quav miv

lub (classifier)
txiv quavmiv (alternative)

/t͡ɕi˧˦.quə̯˧˦.mi˧˦/

txiv (“fruit”) + quav (“feces”) + miv (“cat”), as the tamarind fruit's shape resembles that of cat poop.


txiv cawv

/t͡ɕi˧˦.caɨ̯˧˦/

txiv (“fruit”) + cawv (“wine, fermented drink”).


cawv

From Proto-Hmong *cowᴮ (“liquor”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 酒 (MC tsjuwX, “liquor”).

alcoholic beverage, liquor, whiskey, beer, wine


txuj ci

ltc-l

組織 (MC tsuX tsyiH|tsyik, “organization”)

principle, method, way of doing things, plan


txhais

ib txhais tes

Kuv txhais khau ntuag lawm.

classifier for things associated with the above


txhais

txhais tsis tau


txhais

Rooj ntxiab txhais raug ib tug nas.

(of a trap) to trigger, spring, snap, go off


ntiv

From Proto-Hmong *ntaᴮ (“finger”). Related to Proto-Mien *ʔdokᴰ (“id”), though the details are unclear due to different tone reflexes.


ntiv

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ntik (“to flip with finger”).


ntseg

Alternative form of ntsej (“ear”) under tone sandhi


ntseg

From Proto-Hmong *ndzjæwᶜ (“vertical, upright”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 直 (MC drik, “straight, vertical”).

ntseg ntsos

up and straight from bottom to top; fixed, steady

Tus ncej ntseg.

Sawv ntseg.

vertically straight, upright, erect, steep (of a roof)


ntsej muag

/ᶯd͡ʐe˥˧.muə̯˧˩̤/

ntsej (“ear”) + muag (“eye”), literally “ears and eyes”, being defining parts of the face.
The "contemptible being" meaning appears to be a metonymic semantic shift, as a "being who still shows one's face despite having lost face".

com

(mildly derogatory?) shameless contemptible being


dab teg

dab (“neck”) + tes (“hand”), with tone sandhi of the tes.


hnyuv

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *hɲeuŋX (“intestines”).

intestines, guts, intestine-like objects


hnyuv dawb

/ɲ̊u˧˦.daɨ̯˥/

hnyuv + dawb, literally “white intestine”, owing to the small intestine's lighter color than that of the large intestine.


hnyuv dub

hnyuv + dub, literally “black intestine”, owing to the large intestine's darker color than that of the small intestine.


hnyuv ntxwm

/ɲ̊u˧˦.ⁿd͡zɨ˩̰/

hnyuv (“intestine”) + a second element of unknown interpretation ntxwm.


ncej puab

/ᶮɟe˥˧.puə̯˥/


hlwb

From Proto-Hmong *hlʉᴬ (“marrow, brains”); cognate with Old Chinese 髓 (OC *slolʔ, “marrow”).


dab taws

dab (“neck”) + taw (“foot”), with tone sandhi of the taw.


thooj

zoo tsis thooj


thooj

zh-l

筒 (tǒng, “pipe; section of thick bamboo”)

used in yeeb thooj (“bong; smoking pipe”)


paj hlwb

paj (“flower”) + hlwb (“marrow”), literally “marrow-flower”.


hniav

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *hmjinX (“tooth”).


puab

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *pæ (“molar tooth”).


puab

Nws muab av puab coj los ua ib tug nlom.

Puab ua ncuav.


puab

Plig puab cev.

to remain in close relationship with something


puab tsaig

lub (classifier)
puab tsiag (alternative)

/puə̯˥.t͡ʂai̯˧˩̤/


xub pwg

Alternative form of xwb pwg (“shoulder”)


qaum

From Proto-Hmong *ɢuwᴰ (“back (of body)”). Note similarities to Old Chinese 後 (OC *ɢoːʔ, *ɢoːs, “back; after”).

kwj qaum

the "valley" or depression of the backbone region

nraub qaum

the back, the region of the back between the shoulders and above the waist


hauv siab

/hau̯˧˦.ʂiə̯˥/

hauv (“root, origin”) + siab (“liver”), denoting the area in and around the liver.


tsev me nyuam

/t͡ʂe˧˦.me˧.ɲuə̯˩̰/


plaub muag

/pˡau̯˥.muə̯˧˩̤/


ntiv taw xoo

/ⁿdi˧˦.taɨ̯˧.sɒ̃˧/


hau pliaj

lub (classifier)
hauv pliaj (alternative)


hauv pliaj

lub (classifier)
hau pliaj (alternative)

/hau̯˧˦.pˡiə̯˥˧/


phooj ywg

/pʰɒ̃˥˧.ʝɨ˧˩̤/

Borrowed from Chinese 朋友 (péngyou, “friend”).


duab

Tsom iav ces koj pom koj tus duab.

Looking at the mirror you will see your reflection (or your double).

Hauv tej ntawv xov xwm lawv tso cov duab rau neeg saib.

In the newspaper, they have pictures for people to look at.

image, graphic, picture, reflection, shape


tu siab

tu (“to snap, break apart”) + siab (“liver”).

sad, gloomy, glum, miserable, moody, dour, heartbroken, depressed


ntais

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *NKʷet (“to have a gap”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 缺 (MC khwet|khjwiet, “to lack”), with irregular phonetic development of the onset "*NKʷet-" > "ɴqʷ-" > "ɴql-" > "nd-" > "nt-".


siab ntev

/ʂiə̯˥.ⁿde˧˦/


siab ntev

/ʂiə̯˥.ⁿde˧˦/


siab luv

/ʂiə̯˥.lu˧˦/


siab luv

/ʂiə̯˥.lu˧˦/


ncaj

From Proto-Hmong *ɲci̯aŋᴬ (“straight”), probably borrowed from Middle Chinese 正 (MC tsyeng|tsyengH, “straight, correct”).


siab ncaj

/ʂiə̯˥.ᶮɟa˥˧/

morally honest and upright, morally straight, righteous


nkhaus

From Proto-Hmong *ŋkhuwᴰ (“crooked”); compare Middle Chinese 曲 (MC khjowk, “to bend; crooked”), Tibetan འགུགས ('gugs, “id”), and Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *buŋkuk (“id”), though the tone in Hmongic suggests a final *-p or *-t, rather than a *-k.


nkag siab

/ᵑɡa˧˩̤.ʂiə̯˥/

nkag (“to crawl, go beneath”) + siab (“liver”), literally “to enter the liver (metaphorical heart)”.

com

Koj puas nkag siab?


nthuav

From Proto-Hmong *nthu̯aᴮ (“to open out, undo”). Despite superficial similarity, probably not related to Middle Chinese 展 (MC trjenX, “to unfold, stretch”).

inh

muab lub siab nthuav ntxeev


txiav

Likely borrowed from Middle Chinese 剪 (MC tsjenX, “to cut”).


rau siab

/ʈau̯˧.ʂiə̯˥/

rau (“to put, place”) + siab (“liver”), literally “put one's liver”.

com

to apply oneself, persevere, persist, put effort, focus


tshiab

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *tshji̯əŋ (“new”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 清 (MC tshjeng, “clear, quiet”). Cognate with Proto-Hmong-Mien *ntshji̯əŋ (“clear”), whence ntshiab (“clear”).

lub tsev tshiab tshiab


ceev

Borrowed from Chinese 緊／紧 (jǐn, “tight”).

Cov niam niam no nyiam hnav ris tsho ceev.

Young women nowadays like to wear tight clothes.

Teb chaws ceev ceev.


siab ceev

/ʂiə̯˥.cẽ˧˦/

quick-tempered, hot-tempered, prone to anger


npau

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *mpu̯æiH (“to boil (intransitive)”), borrowed from Old Chinese 沸 (OC *pɯds, “to boil”).

inh

Dej npau npau.


npau

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *mpeiH (“dream”); compare Proto-Mon-Khmer *mp[ɔ]ʔ (“id”) (whence Mon [script needed] (kəpɔʔ, “id”)), Proto-Austronesian *Sipi (“id”) (whence Malay mimpi (“id”)).


npau suav

/ᵐbau̯˧.ʂuə̯˧˦/

From npau (“dream”) + an element of uncertain interpretation suav.

ua npau suav


raug

From Proto-Hmong *drɔᶜ (“to hit a target”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 著 (MC drjo|trjoX|trjoH|trjak|drjak, “to touch, be attached”).

ltc-l

to incur, to suffer or be afflicted with

sib raug zoo

to have fellowship, to be united in heart

Koj yuav sij raug me ntsis.


raug

raug mob

to suffer pain or illness; a wound, injury


raug siab

/ʈau̯˧˩̤.ʂiə̯˥/

From raug (“to encounter, hit the mark”) + siab (“liver”), literally “to hit the liver”.


xu siab

undesirable, unlikeable, gross, being a turn-off


ncig

ltc-l

周 (MC tsyuw, “to encircle; whole, complete”)

Hmab ncig ntoo.


ncig

ua ib ncig


siab nyias

/ʂiə̯˥.ɲiə̯˩/


kaj siab

/ka˥˧.ʂiə̯˥/

with a refreshed, secure heart or spirit


siab kaj

/ʂiə̯˥.ka˥˧/


poob

From Proto-Hmong *pʉŋᴬ (“to fall”), probably borrowed from Middle Chinese 崩 (MC pong, “to collapse, crumble”).

Me nyuam poob ntoo.

Nws poob nyiaj rau kev twv txiaj.

Nws poob hoob.


nphau

Roob nphau los.

The mountain slid down. (lit. 'The mountain tipped over.')


nphau

dej nphau nphwv

nrig nphau

of persons or animals turning over on the back; of a backflip

siab nphau

having lost mental or physical composure; very angry


chim siab

/cʰi˩̰.ʂiə̯˥/


kho siab

/kʰɒ˧.ʂiə̯˥/


txaj

From Proto-Hmong *dzaŋᴬ (“ashamed”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 慚 (MC dzam, “ashamed, embarrassed”).


txaj

txaj pw

txaj tsev


txaj muag

/t͡sa˥˧.muə̯˧˩̤/


hnia

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *hmji̯əmH (“to sniff at”), likely related to Proto-Sino-Tibetan *m/s-nam (“to smell”), whence Tibetan སྣོམ་པ (snom pa, “to smell”) and Chinese 聞／闻 (wén, “to smell; to hear”). The "kiss" meaning is a semantic extension of the original "sniff" meaning.

cog

to sniff at, to smell something intentionally

Kuv xav hnia koj.


hnab

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *hnɔn (“grain head, bag”); possibly related to Old Chinese 囊 (OC *naːŋ, “sack, bag”), which, if related, borrowed only the derived "bag" sense from Hmong-Mien rather than the "head of grain" sense.


siv ceeb

From siv (“sash, belt”) + a second element of unknown interpretation ceeb.

a sivceeb: a variegated headband traditionally worn by Hmong women around the phuam (the traditional Hmong turban)


ntxhua

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ntshuH (“to wash laundry, launder”).

ntxhua khaub ncaws

to scrub, to wash by scrubbing or pressing


paj ntaub

paj (“flower”) + ntaub (“cloth”), literally “flower cloth”.


nyiaj

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ɲʷi̯ən (“silver”), borrowed from Middle Chinese 銀 (MC ngin, “silver”).


khaub

Probably borrowed from Chinese 交 (jiāo, “to cross, intersect”).

used in khaub lig (“to cross, intertwine; a cross”)


khaub

khaub nplawm qhov muag

used in khaub ruab, khaub rhuab (“broom”)


khaub

(used in compounds) cover, shell, protective (outer) layer

khaub hnab

a small stuffed ball covered with cloth used in ball games


khaub ncaws

/kʰau̯˥.ᶮɟaɨ̯˩/

hnav khaub ncaws

coj khaub ncaws
coj khaub ncaws#White_Hmong

used in coj khaub ncaws (“to menstruate”)


muas lwj

/muə̯˩.lɨ˥˧/

Borrowed from Chinese 馬鹿／马鹿 (mǎlù, “red deer”).


mos txwv

lub (classifier)
muas txwv (alternative)

/mɒ˩.t͡sɨ˧˦/

com+

compound of mos (“fine (like flour), small, tender”) + Chinese 子 (zǐ, “diminutive suffix”)


muas txwv

/muə̯˩.t͡sɨ˧˦/


phuam

Borrowed from Chinese 帕 (pà, “headscarf; to wrap”).

(specifically) the black cloth headdress worn by Hmong women as a kind of turban


hlab

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *hljaŋ (“sash, cord, rope”), possibly borrowed from Old Chinese 繩 (OC *ɦbljɯŋ, “string, cord”).


hlab

hlab ntxhoo

the embroidered ends of a Hmong woman's apron sash


hlab

From Proto-Hmong *hlaŋᴬ (“to scald”), borrowed from Old Chinese 湯 (OC *l̥ʰaːŋ, *l̥ʰaːŋs, *hljaŋ, “hot liquid”).


hlab nyiaj

/l̥a˥.ɲiə̯˥˧/

a traditional sash decorated with hanging silver coins


zoo nkauj

/ʐɒ̃˧.ᵑɡau̯˥˧/


xaws

to sew (clothing, etc.), to fasten by sewing


nyuaj

Borrowed from Lao ຍາກ (nyāk, “difficult”).


tiam sis

/tiə̯˩̰.ʂi˩/

Kuv xav mus tiam sis tsis muaj nyiaj.

I would like to go but haven't got the money.


kawm

Borrowed from Chinese 考 (kǎo, “to study; to consider; to check”).


kawm

Nws ris ib lub kawm loj loj mus teb lawm.

He went to the fields carrying a large basket.

a traditional back basket for carrying objects


qhia

Thov koj qhia kuv.

Txhob qhia kuv!


hnav

From Proto-Hmong *hnaŋᴮ (“perilla”). Note similarities to Burmese နှမ်း (hnam:, “sesame”).

refers to certain kinds of grains and seeds:

noob hnav


hnav

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *(h)naŋX (“to put on, wear (clothes)”).

inh

hnav ris tsho


tsho me nyuam

/t͡ʂʰɒ˧.me˧.ɲuə̯˩̰/


ris tsho

/ʈi˩.t͡ʂʰɒ˧/

ris (“pants”) + tsho (“shirt”), literally “pants and shirt”.


tsho loj

/t͡ʂʰɒ˧.lɒ˥˧/

tsho (“shirt”) + loj (“big, large”), literally “large shirt”.


cev tiab

cev (“body”) + tiab (“skirt”), literally “body skirt”.


tsho tiv nag

/t͡ʂʰɒ˧.ti˧˦.na˧˩̤/


tsho tiv no

/t͡ʂʰɒ˧.ti˧˦.nɒ˧/


nkawm

ib nkawm khau


thom khwm

/tʰɒ˩̰.kʰɨ˩̰/

Borrowed from Chinese 套 (tào, “to cover, sheath; a suit”) + 褲／裤 (kù, “trousers, pants”), interpreted in Hmong as a fixed compound meaning "leggings".


nqa

Koj nqa ib lub hnab nyiaj.

to lift with the hand, to carry in the hand or hands, to hold in the hand, take in the hand


raug nqi

/ʈau̯˧˩̤.ᶰɢi˧/


pheej yig

/pʰẽ˥˧.ʝi˧˩̤/

Borrowed from Chinese 便宜 (piányi, “cheap; advantage”).


tsawg

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *dzjok (“few; to lack”).

inh

Amelikas tsev neeg tsawg dua Hmoob.

American families are smaller than Hmong (families).

used in pes tsawg (“how many?, how much?”)


pes tsawg

/pe˩.t͡ʂaɨ̯˧˩̤/

From an element of uncertain interpretation pes (which is perhaps used in its "post-verbal intensifier" sense) + tsawg (“few”).

Koj yuav pes tsawg tus?


Suav

Probably borrowed from Chinese 夏 (xià, “Xia”), referring to the Xia dynasty of ancient China. An alternative theory derives the term from Chinese 華／华 (huá, “Chinese”).


twm

Borrowed from Middle Chinese 特 (MC dok, “bull, ox”).

tus twm nyob hauv liaj


twm

Borrowed from Middle Chinese 讀 (MC duwk, “to read, recite texts”).

Ob tug menyuam tabtom twm ib phau ntawv.


twm

zh-l

獨行／独行 (dúxíng, “to walk alone, do one's own thing”)

twm tswb

a single wild boar (which keeps to itself)

used in twm xeeb (“impatient, self-absorbed, narrow-minded”)


luav

From Proto-Hmong *ʔljuᴮ (“rabbit”). The "donkey" sense is apparently connected to the "rabbit" sense (perhaps owing to donkeys and rabbits both having similarly-shaped ears), along with Chinese 騾／骡 (luó, “mule”) (and perhaps 驢／驴 (lǘ, “donkey”)), though the internal details are unclear.


dab neeg

com+

compound of dab (“spirit”) + neeg (“person”)


npauj npaim

tus (classifier)
npuj npaim (alternative)


npuj npaim

tus (classifier)
npauj npaim (alternative)


nkawj

cog

Burmese နကျယ်ကောင် (na.kyaikaung, “wasp”)


yoov mos ntsuab

/ʝɒ̃˧˦.mɒ˩.ᶯd͡ʐuə̯˥/


yoov tshaj cum

/ʝɒ̃˧˦.t͡ʂʰa˥˧.cu˩̰/

From yoov (“fly, gnat”) + a disyllabic tshaj cum (“tall and thin; slight in build”), whose constituent syllables are of unknown interpretation.


ntsaum

From Proto-Hmong *mbrɔᴰ (“ant”), an areal word shared with Khmer ស្រមោច (srɑɑmaoc, “id”), Thai มด (mót, “id”), Malay semut (“id”).

ntsaum nab

a kind of large black ant with a powerful and painful stinger

ntsaum qaub

sour ant; a species of larger red ant whose adults have a sour taste and who web mango leaves together for shelter


nas ncuav

/na˩.ᶮɟuə̯˧˦/

From nas (“rodent”) + an element of uncertain interpretation ncuav.


nas tsuag

/na˩.t͡ʂuə̯˧˩̤/


tsuag

From Proto-Hmong *dzjæᶜ (“bland, tasteless”).

saltless, flatin taste, flavorless, bland


tsuag

to forcibly expel liquid from a small opening or from the mouth


qwj

From Proto-Hmong *ɢʉᴬ (“snail”), likely borrowed from Middle Chinese 蝸 (MC kwea|kwae, “id”). Compare also Proto-Mien *kʷlejᴬ (“id”), *klu̯eiᴬ/ᴮ (“id”).


puav

Probably borrowed from Middle Chinese 蝠 (MC pjuwk, “bat”).


puav

lub puav txiv tsawb

Puav npua los.

used in puav pheej (“an article of evidence”)


tsov ntxhuav

/t͡ʂɒ˧˦.ⁿt͡sʰuə̯˧˦/

tsov (“tiger”) + ntxhuav (“hairy, mossy”), literally “furry tiger”, owing to the lion's bushy mane. Not related to Chinese 獅子／狮子 (shīzi, “lion”), despite superficial similarities.


ntxhuav

/ⁿt͡sʰuə̯˧˦/

pob zeb tuaj ntxhuav


ntxhuav

/ⁿt͡sʰuə̯˧˦/


laib

txhom laib muag tshuaj


loj leeb

neeg loj leeb


loj leeb

Tus liab ua loj leeb tas li.


xob laim

xob (“thunder creature Xob”) + laim (“lightning”), literally “Xob flashes”.


xob quaj

/sɒ˥.quə̯˥˧/

xob (“thunder creature Xob”) + quaj (“to cry”), literally “Xob cries out”.


cua daj cua dub

cua (“wind”) + daj (“yellow”) + cua (“wind”) + dub (“black”), literally “yellow wind black wind”.


zaj sawv

/ʐa˥˧.ʂaɨ̯˧˦/

zaj (“dragon”) + sawv (“to rise”), literally “the dragon rises”.


sawv

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *sjouX (“to stand, get up”).


pos huab

From an element of uncertain interpretation pos + huab (“cloud, fog”).


li cas

Qhov no hais li cas?

Tsis ua li cas.

It doesn't matter (lit. It doesn't do (any)how.)


tshav ntuj

/t͡ʂʰa˧˦.ⁿdu˥˧/


tshav

cog

Khmer ភ្លឺ (phlɨɨ, “to shine; daybreak”)

the light of the heavens, sunlight, moonlight


tshav

Lub ntuj tshav lawm.


tshav

lub tshav ua si

tshav dav hlau

Lawv mus ua si nram lub tshav ncaws pob.

They went to play in the football field.


tshav

tshav quav nplej

to beat down grain stubble in the field in preparation for burning it off

tshav ntoo

lub tshav

Nws mus tshav tsog tsuag.

He made unintended contact with wild spirits.

to touch by accident, make unintended contact


ntuj

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ndɛuŋ (“sky, heaven”).

huab nyob saum ntuj


ntuj

ib ntuj hluav taws

a great expanse of fire, a conflagration

classifier for something of vast expanse as the heavens


thaum

Thaum kuv nyob hauv tsev nws pheej tsis tuaj.


thaum twg

/tʰau̯˩̰.tɨ˧˩̤/

Koj yuav mus thaum twg?


twg

Nws nyiam yam twg?


sawv ntxov

/ʂaɨ̯˧˦.ⁿd͡zɒ˧˦/


hnub ntseg

/n̥u˥.ᶯd͡ʐe˧˩̤/


diav rawg

/diə̯˧˦.ʈaɨ̯˧˩̤/

diav (“spoon”) + rawg (“chopsticks”), literally “choptick-spoon”, as a fork resembles a spoon, but with chopstick-like prongs at its end.


hnub qaij

hnub (“sun”) + qaij (“slant”), literally “the sun declining”.


tsaus

tsaus tsaus li

Lub qab daus tsaus heev.


tsaus ntuj

late evening, night (roughly 7 PM - 12 AM)


tsaus ntuj zuag

/t͡ʂau̯˩.ⁿdu˥˧.ʐuə̯˧˩̤/

tsaus ntuj (“late evening”) + zuag (“dim, dark”).

evening, dusk (roughly 6 PM - 7 PM); the part of the evening where it is getting dark, but where one can still see people in natural lighting


zuag

zuag cwm mem


ib tag hmo

/ʔi˥.ta˧˩̤.m̥ɒ˧/

ib (“one”) + tas (“half (of day)”) + hmo (“night”), with tone sandhi of the tas.


tsaib

used in nouns pertaining to the year or years previous


tsaib ub

tsaib (“last year”) + ub (“distant past; extreme limit”).


tag los

tag (“completed”) + los (“to come back”).


lawm

Borrowed from Chinese 了 (le, “perfective marker”).

mus teb lawm

Peb mus lawm.

We are going (i.e. the start of our departure has been accomplished).

perfective marker, sign of completed action or past tense


lwm

Borrowed from Chinese 另 (lìng, “another; also”).


lwm

used in lwm qaib (“to swing a live chicken over the head of a wife on bringing her into her husband's home”)


ob hlis ntuj

/ʔɒ˥.l̥i˩.ⁿdu˥˧/


kaum ob

/kau̯˩̰.ʔɒ˥/


as thiv

Borrowed from Lao ອາທິດ (ʼā thit, “week”).


nram ntej

/ᶯɖa˩̰.ⁿde˥˧/

nram (“at, down, lower area”) + ntej (“fore, front”).


nram ntej

/ᶯɖa˩̰.ⁿde˥˧/


ntej

Koj ua ntej.

before in time or location, previous, ahead


kawm ntawv

/kaɨ̯˩̰.ⁿdaɨ̯˧˦/


pw tsaug zog

/pɨ˧.t͡ʂau̯˧˩̤.ʐɒ˧˩̤/

pw (“to lie down”) + tsaug zog (“asleep, sleepy”).


tsaug zog

/t͡ʂau̯˧˩̤.ʐɒ˧˩̤/

tsaug (“numb, weak”) + zog (“strength”).

tsaug tsaug zog li


tsaug

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *N-dzjeiH (“porcupine”).

txoj kab tsaug

a porcupine, especially a large long-quilled one


tsaug

tsaug tsaug leeg li


tsaug

to wash by shaking something in water (e.g. vegetables)


ua tsaug

/ʔuə̯˧.t͡ʂau̯˧˩̤/

to thank, to show gratitude, to appreciate


ua tsaug

/ʔuə̯˧.t͡ʂau̯˧˩̤/


hlais

From Proto-Hmong *hlep (“to slice”), likely related to Proto-Tibeto-Burman *s-lep (“to slice”), whence Bodo (India) [script needed] (léb, “to cut off with one stroke”).

cog

hlais nqaij

to cut, to slice, to cut with a slicing motion


paj lug

From paj (“flower”) + lus (“speech, words”), with tone change.


tshuaj yej

/t͡ʂʰuə̯˥˧.ʝe˥˧/


phim nyub vaim

From Lao ຜີຍູ້ໄຫວ (phī nyū h).(The monster who shakes and vibrates)

Lao ຜີຍູ້ໄຫວ (phī nyū h)

A type of monster that makes loud screeches and has the strength to push and move trees also the ability to create strong winds to scare people.


mos hlub

A kind of gigantic animal that is half human half ape with long arms and short legs characterized by its hairy appearance and its fast speed from swinging branch to branch.


poj ntxoog

A type of midget female ghost that accompanies tigers and has the powers to influence and possess humans.


ntxoog

A dwarf being like human who has spiritual power and often accompanies Asian tiger.

A ghost that can possess humans or animals.


A punctuation mark used in Pahawh Hmong, equivalent to a question mark. Called 𖬓𖬲𖬜 𖬒𖬟𖬰 (vos thom) in Hmong.