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.
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Note: Add la after a phrase to be more polite or formal.
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 (Layshom) or Legshom bay rang yoey (full)
What is your name?
Chhoe gi ming ga chi mo?
My name is _____
Nga gi ming _____ in
I am from _____
Nga _____ lay in
I
Nga
My (possession)
Nga gi (pronounced gee)
I am from America
Nga America ley ein
You
Chhoe (pronounced cho-eh-ay)
Where are you from?
Chhoe gatey lay mo? (mo makes this statement a question)
Thank you
Kadrin chhe la (Namey samey kadrin chhe la – literally thank you beyond heaven and earth)
You are welcome
Jembalaekso
Good luck or best wishes
Tashi delek
See you later! (informal)
Shu lay log jay gae! Or Tama che gae
See you tomorrow
Naba che gae
Where?
Gatey? (Chhoe gatey mo? – Where are you?)
How much?
Gadem chi mo?
Tourist or guest
Chillip
Cool!
Leg shom du
I like Bhutan
Nga Druk gai
yes
inn
no
men
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 (not really a direct translation for sorry or excuse me; these are the closest ones)
Excuse me
Atsi zur nang
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 _____
Monday
Migmar
Tuesday
Lhakpa
Wednesday
Phurbu
Thursday
Pasang
Friday
Pemba
Saturday
Nima
Sunday
Dawa
January
indha dangpa
February
indha nyipa
March
indha sumpa
April
indha zhipa
May
indha ngapa
June
indha drupa
July
indha duenpa
August
indha gaypa
September
indha gupa
October
indha chupa
November
indha chuchipa
December
indha chunyipa
(Note: For the months of lunar calender the prefix is ”’rangda”’, ”’indha”’ is used for the months of the international calender.)
Today
Dhari
Yesterday
Khatsa
Tomorrow
Naba
Now
Dhato (Maza dhato – not now)
Green
Changkha
Red
Marp
White
Karp
Blue
Hoem
Black
Naap
Yellow
Serp
Orange
Leewang
bird
Ji chu
cat
Ji ley
chicken
Jum
cow
No
dog
Ro che
fish
Nya
frog
Baep
horse
Taa
pig
Phap
turtle
Ru bel
Where is the toilet?
Chhabsa gathey mo?
Taxi
La khor
Fare
La
How much?
Ga day chi mo?
Lodging
Goen Chim
How much is this/it?
Teru ga they chi mo?
_____ Zhu gay may
May I please have _____
Me ju (mizu)
No, thank you
Meal
Toh /zhay go
Eating
shay go za ni
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?
Water
Chu
Local Drink
Ara
It is strong. (spirit)
Ah ni ngag tra du.
It is mild.
Lha si si du.
Shop
Tsongkhang
How much?
Ga dem chi mo? (Nga tiru ga dem chi pho yi – How much money must I pay?)
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 or 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 until full
Petrol tem teau bae tsuk nang la
Boy
Butsh (t is silent)
Girl
Bum (boom)
Which is the national language of Bhutan?
Dzongkha is the national language of Bhutan.
Do people in Bhutan speak English?
Yes, many people in Bhutan speak English.
Do people in Bhutan speak Hindi?
Hindi, the Indian language is also widely spoken and understood by most Bhutanese