Learn to Speak Hmar: Lesson 1

Hmar is a language spoken by the Hmar tribe of India. It has sprung from a common Chin-Kuki-Mizo group of languages. It is written in Roman script. Hmar has three chief dialects - classic, clan and modern. Ancient Hmar (trawng upa) shows an extraordinary amount of polish and refinement. It is much more difficult to understand. It is mainly used by poets and song composers for its literary value.

Medieval Hmar (Clan dialect) refers to those spoken by different clans within the Hmar tribe. Example are the Biete dialect, Hrangkhawl dialect and Thiek dialect.

Here, INPUI presents Modern Hmar dialect, a user-friendly guide to help you converse in Hmar. You may need to twist your tongue a bit... Have fun! :)

ENGLISH--------------------HMAR
I........................................ Kei
She.................................... Amanu
He..................................... Amapa
You..............................................Nang
This..............................................Hihih
That.............................................Sawva sawh

Mother.........................................Nu/ Nunu
Father..........................................Pa/Papa
Sister............................................Unaunu
Brother.........................................Unaupa

Come.............................................Hung rawh
Came.............................................A hung
Will Come.....................................Hung a tih

Open..............................................Hawng/ Hawng rawh
Opened..........................................Hawng
Will open........................................Hawng ning a tih

Sit.....................................................Inthrung
Walk.................................................Lawn
Run...................................................Thlan
Jump................................................Inchawm
Eat.....................................................Fak
Drink.................................................Dawn
Go.......................................................Fe rawh
Run......................................................Tlan/Tlan rawh

I go........................................... Ka fe
He goes.....................................A fe
He eats an apple......................Apple a fak
He is eating an apple...............Apple a fak mek
He ate an apple........................Apple a fak zo tah


I saw the film last week.................Kha film kha kar hmasak khan ka en tah
She came by bus yesterday............Zani khan bus in a hung
They went to the church................Biengin ah an fe
He slept the whole night................Zankhuovarin a in
He wrote well in the examination- Exam a ziek thra/ Exam a thaw thra

He has eaten..........................A fak tah
He will eat..............................A fak ding

He will go...............................Feng a tih/ A fe ding
He will come..........................Hung a tih/ A hung ding

What is your name?...............I hming iem?
What.......................................Iem
Your/You................................Nang
Name.......................................Hming

What did you do?..........................Iem i thaw?
What should I do?.........................Iem ka thaw ding?
What can I do?...............................Iem ka thaw thei?

What are the questions?- -----Zawnna hai chu iem an na?
What were the questions?- ---Zawnna hai kha iem an ni leh?
What is the last question?- ---Zawnna nuhnung tak iem?
What will be the answer?------Iem a donna ding?

Why did you come?--------------------Iengtik khan am i hung a?
Why did you sleep?-------------------- Iem a tih, i lo in a?
Why did you tell him to go?----------- Iem a tia i lo infe tir a?
Why did she pay the money?----------Iem a tia, poisa a pek a?
Why did they sit there?---------------- Ienglei hi laia inthrung am an ni leh?
Why do you drive the car?--------------Iengleia car i khal am?
Why are they late for the meeting?- ---Iem a tia meetingah i hung inhnu?
How did you come?-----------------------Iiengtin am i hung a?
How did you sleep?---------------------- Iengtin am i in hlak?

How did you drive?........................ Iengtin am i khal a?
How did you write?.........................Iengtin am i ziek a?

How many apples are there in my hand?........Ka kutah apple iengzat am a um?
How many did you take?...................................Iengzat am i lak?
How much did he pay you?................................Iengzat am a pek che?
How much distance to go?....................A la hla am?/Iengchen am fe a la ngai a?
How was the journey?........................... I kuol inzin chu an hawi am?
Which way did you come?.................... Khaw tienga inthawka hung che?

Which is your favourite colour?..............Ieng kalar am nal i ti tak a?
In which room did you sleep?...................Khawlai pindan 'am i in a?

Which story did you tell?.................Ieng tienami/chanchin am i hril a?
Which is the sweetest fruit?.............Ieng thei am a thlum taka?

Which is the best newspaper?.......... Ieng newspaper am a thra tak a?
Where did you come from?............... Khawlai a inthawka hung am i ni a?/ Khawlai mi am i ni a?

Where should I go?................Khawlam ka ke fe ding? / Khaw tieng am ka fe ding?
Whom should I contact?........Tu'm ka contact/biek ding?

Is it a book?----- Lekhabu a ni?
It is a book-------- Aw, lekhabu a nih

Will you come with me?-------- I mi zui ding/nuom am?
I shall come with you----------- Hung zui ka ti che/ Nang leh fe ka nuom

Will you give me your pen?---- Pen i mi pek thei ding?
Yes, of course---------------------- Aw, pe thei e.

Do you love me?--------I mi hmangai am?
Yes, I love you----------- Aw, ka hmangai che

Did you have your lunch?----Bu i fak ta? / Sunbu i fak ta?

How are you?------------ I dam maw? / Iem i ang a?
I am fine-- ----------------Aw ka dam thra/ Aw ka dam.

Learn to Speak Hmar: Lesson 2 (Next Week...)