Dzongkha is the national language of Bhutan. It has about 160,000 native speakers and about 470,000 second language speakers. It’s mainly spoken in the districts Thimphu, Paro, Haa, Chukha, Wangdue Phodrang, Punakha and Gasa. Dzongkha is the most common language in the west of Bhutan, Tshangla in the east.
Top Selling Bhutan Tour Packages
| Tour Package Name | No. of Days | Price* |
| Best of Bhutan Tour | 07 Days | $400 per person per night |
| Bhutan Highlights Tour | 06 Days | $400 per person per night |
| Enter the Dragon Bhutan | 04 Days | $400 per person per night |
| Explore Bhutan Tour | 07 Days | $400 per person per night |
| Bhutan Encompassed Tour | 05 Days | $400 per person per night |
| Bhutan Adventure Tour 06 Days | 06 Days | $400 Per person per night |
Note: Add la after a phrase to be more polite or formal.
| English | Dzongkha (Transliteration) |
|---|---|
| Greetings & Introductions | |
| Hello (formal) | Kuzu zangpo la |
| Hello (informal) | Kuzu zangpo |
| Nice to meet you | Nga choe da chebay sem ga yi |
| How are you? | Gaday bay Zhui? |
| I’m fine | Legshom / Legshom bay rang yoey |
| What is your name? | Chhoe gi ming ga chi mo? |
| My name is _____ | Nga gi ming _____ in |
| I am from _____ | Nga _____ lay in |
| Thanks & Responses | |
| Thank you | Kadrin chhe la / Namey samey kadrin chhe la |
| You are welcome | Jembalaekso |
| Well-Wishes & Farewells | |
| Good luck / Best wishes | Tashi delek |
| See you later (informal) | Shu lay log jay gae! or Tama che gae |
| See you tomorrow | Naba che gae |
| Questions & Common Words | |
| Where? | Gatey? |
| How much? | Gadem chi mo? |
| What is the problem? | Chhoe gi Ka Ngyel ga chi mo? |
| Where is the bank? | Ngyul Khang Gathey mo? |
| No problem | Khe mi |
| Sorry | Tsip maza / Gom mathrae |
| Excuse me | Atsi zur nang |
| Time Units | |
| o’clock | baza |
| 8 o’clock | baza gyed |
| ___ minute(s) | karma ___ |
| ___ hour(s) | chu tshoe ___ |
| ___ day(s) | zha ___ |
| ___ week(s) | duenthra ___ |
| ___ month(s) | dhaw ___ |
| ___ year(s) | lo ___ |
| Days of the Week | |
| Monday | Migmar |
| Tuesday | Lhakpa |
| Wednesday | Phurbu |
| Thursday | Pasang |
| Friday | Pemba |
| Saturday | Nima |
| Sunday | Dawa |
| Months (International) | |
| January–December | indha dangpa, nyipa, sumpa, zhipa, ngapa, drupa, duenpa, gaypa, gupa, chupa, chuchipa, chunyipa (prefix “indha”) |
| Time Expressions | |
| Today | Dhari |
| Yesterday | Khatsa |
| Tomorrow | Naba |
| Now | Dhato |
| Colors | |
| Green | Changkha |
| Red | Marp |
| White | Karp |
| Blue | Hoem |
| Black | Naap |
| Yellow | Serp |
| Orange | Leewang |
| Animals | |
| Bird | Ji chu |
| Cat | Ji ley |
| Chicken | Jum |
| Cow | No |
| Dog | Ro che |
| Fish | Nya |
| Frog | Baep |
| Horse | Taa |
| Pig | Phap |
| Turtle | Ru bel |
| Other Useful Phrases | |
| Where is the toilet? | Chhabsa gathey mo? or Chhab sang gatey in-na la? |
| Taxi | La khor |
| Fare | La |
| Lodging | Goen Chim |
| How much is this? | Teru ga they chi mo? or Ngultrum ga them chi mo? |
| May I please have _____ | _____ Zhu gay may |
| No, thank you | Me ju (mizu) |
| Meal | Toh / zhay go |
| Already eat? | Toh zhey ga la? |
| Delicious | Zhim bay |
| Bitter | Khag tae |
| Sweet | Ngam |
| Sour | Chup |
| Water | Chu |
| Tea | Ja |
| Butter tea | Su ja |
| Curry | Tsoem |
| Soup | Thup |
| Chilly | Ema |
| Cheese | Datsi |
| Cook | Toh bey ni |
| Eat | Zhey |
| Dry Chilli | Ema kam |
| Potato | Kewa |
| Maize | Gayza |
| Alcoholic Beverage | Changg |
| Bar | Changkhang |
| Tip | Soera |
| What’s the bill? | Ga de chi mo? |
| Local Drink | Ara |
| It is strong (spirit) | Ah ni ngag tra du. |
| It is mild | Lha si si du. |
| Shop | Tsongkhang |
| Discount please! | Gong phab nang! |
| What is this? | Ani ga chi mo? |
| Car | Numkhor |
| Drive | Numkhor tang ni |
| Licence | Lak Kher |
| Police | Thrim sung |
| Road | Lam |
| High speed | Joba joba / shuk bay tang |
| Low speed | Drogay bay tang |
| Please take caution! (driving) | Reb drim di tang |
| Let’s go! | Jogay! |
| Stop | Numkor kag nang |
| Risky | Ngyen khag |
| Here | Nalu |
| There | Phalu (h is silent) |
| Right | Yaechhog |
| Left | Yoenchhog |
| Straight | Thrang Dhi |
| Go back / U-turn | Lok Loni |
| Front | Dong kha |
| Behind | Jab kha |
| Next to | Bolo kha |
| Far away | Tha ringsa |
| Is it far? | Tha ring sa in‑na? |
| Where does this road lead? | Lam gathey jo mo? |
| Please fill up gas full | Petrol tem teau bae tsuk nang la |
| Boy | Butsh (t is silent) |
| Girl | Bum (boom) |