Lhakey Melong Ngondro

TIBETAN LANGUAGE
BEGINNERS
COURSE BOOK
Mingyur Dorje
Special thanks to:

SIT, AD Isabelle Onians
SIT, AD Kabir
(For their great support to have the book possible.)
English editing:
Christopher Psomadellis
Also to:
Ven. Ngawang Lungtog la (Vietnamese), Ven. Dorje Dudul la (Vietnamese), Ven. Tenzin Wangmo (Vietnamese),
Miranda la (Vietnamese), Joice la, Rozanna la, Layne Mayard la and Jeroen Collier la.
(For their great help in the computers, internet and teaching me the layout design.)
And then to all my Dharma friends and students who encouraged me to write this book.
Thank you
Mingyur Dorje
(SIT) Isabelle Onians

ts elek
CONTENTS
Lesson
1
Page no.
WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
Word Order
1
1.5
to be called
The Personal Pronouns
2
3
4
10
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
From
2.6
The verb to be
2.7
Answering yes/no
2.8
WHAT DO YOU DO?
verb + er
10
WHAT IS THIS?
13
The Demonstrative Pronouns
4.4
Singular and Plural
4.5
DO YOU LIKE MOMOS?
17
Adjective
5.4
I like/dont like
5.5
DO YOU HAVE A GIRL/BOY FRIEND?
18
21
I have/dont have
6.4
There is/are
6.5
The Genitive Particle
6.6
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
22
25
I want/dont want
7.4
To be necessary to have
7.6
In need
7.7
CAN I COME IN?
26
29
Is it okay if I __?
8.3
Asking for something.
8.4
WILL YOU HAVE TIBETAN TEA?
30
33
Future Simple Tense
9.4
Thats enough
9.5
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Processing Auxiliary Verbs
14
34
37
10.4
38
continued on next page
Mirror of Lhasa Spoken Language
CONTENTS
Lesson
11
12
13
14
Page no.
WHERE DID YOU GO?
41
The Past Simple Aux. Verbs
11.4
The Forms of the Verbs
11.5
TO DO WHAT?
45
The purpose of going/coming/sending etc. (The infinitives for motion verbs)
12.4
to do / in order to do (The infinitive)
12.5
46
49
DID HE/SHE SING SONGS? (DID YOU SEE/HEAR HIM/HER SINGING SONGS?)
Witnessed Past
13.3
Un-witnessed Past or Discovering Past
13.4
Commonly discovered or Logic Past
13.5
Speaker-Powered Existential Past
13.6
HAS HE/SHE EVER BEEN TO TIBET?

Experiential Past
15
42
50
53
14.3
HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN SINCE YOU STARTED LEARNING TIBETAN?
57
Since
15.4
The Post-positions
15.5
58
GLOSSARY
61
PHONETIC
67
______________________
Each lesson has a drilling and an exercise page.
ngndo
1
1
khyyrang-ghi ming-la ghare er-ghyi yy?
WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
1
4
vocabulary
ep ne
ghare what (?)
jenehphr Jennifer
nge ming-la jenehphr er-ghyi yy.
khng-ghi ming-la ghare er-ghyi yorey?
khng-ghi ming-la jenehphr er-ghyi yorey.

1
2
jeyla jeyong see you later, bye

khng-ghi his/her
khyyrang you (singular)
khyyrang-ghi your (singular)
kuk body (honoric)
-la for, to
la (honoric mark)
[la] yi yes (honoric)
ming name
tsh elek
tsh elek
[]
[khyyrang] kuk ep yi-py?

[la] yi, nga ep yi. hkje ch.
khyyrang kuk ep yi-py?
[la] yi, nga-yang ep yi. hkje ch.

1
3
jeyla jeyong!
nga I
nge my
-py (yes/no question marker)
er-ghyi yorey is called
er-ghyi yy is called
tsh elek hello (greeting)
hkje ch thank you
-yang also, too
yi am, to be
kusuk ep yin-py?
How are you?(Lit. Is your body ne?)
la yi, nga ep yi.
Yes, I am ne.
GRAMMAR
1
5
Word order
Subject
In Tibetan,
the verb is always seen
at the end of a sentence.
Verb
Object
khyyrang-ghi ming-la
ghare
er-ghyi yy
nge ming-la
jenehphr
er-ghyi yy
khng-ghi ming-la
ghare
er-ghyi yorey
khng-ghi ming-la
awa
er-ghyi yorey
The question word and its answer

are found next to the verb.
er-ghyi mey
er-ghyi yo marey
Place of the questions

and answers
In the above sentences; er is the main verb call[ed], -ghyi is a genitive particle and yy / yorey / ug are the existential copulas
to be. The genitive particles (-ghyi, kyi, ghi, i and yi) with the existential copulas, they together make the processing helping verbs.
In the Tibetan language, the helping verbs do not change because of the persons (first/second/third), but they vary in accordance with the
way the knowledge was gained or under what circumstances the action happened or was done. We will learn more about it in the next lessons.
1
6
To be called
er-ghyi yy / er-ghyi yorey
In general (depending on the situation or context):

verb + -ghyi yy for the 1st person (singular/plural) in afrmative sentences:
For example:
nge ming-la jenehphr er-ghyi yy.
verb + -ghyi yy for the 2nd person (singular/plural) in interrogative sentences:

Example: khyyrang-ghi ming-la ghare er-ghyi yy?
verb + -ghyi yorey for the 3rd person (singular/plural):
khng-ghi ming-la jenehphr er-ghyi yorey.
Example: khng-ghi ming-la ghare er-ghyi yorey?
1
7
The Personal Pronouns
ghangag tsbtsg
Personal pronouns
Singular
nga
Possesive pronouns (Genitive case)

Plural
ngats
khyyrang
you
khng
he/she
Singular
we
nge
[]
khyy[rang]ts
you
khngts
they
Plural
my
ngats
our
khyyrang-ghi
your
[]
kyhy[rang]ts
your
khng-ghi
his/her
khngts
their
DRILLS
1
8
1
9
Object building

What is your name?
nge ming-la
[to] my name
nyima
Nyima
er
call[ed]
-ghyi yy
is
1.

What is your name?
-ghyi mey
is not
nge
my
ming-la
awa
Dawa
migm
Migmar
lhkp
Lhakpa
phrbhu
Phurbu
psng
Pasang
pp
Penpa
1
10
Subject building
khng-ghi
his/her
gela-ky
the teachers
nge p:la-ky
my fathers
nge ma la-ky
my mothers
khng-ghi p:la-ky
his/her fathers
khng-ghi ma la-ky
his/her mothers
Phrase building
khyyrang-ghi ming-la ghare er-ghyi yy? nge ming-la nyima er-ghyi yy.
What is your name? My name is Nyima.
2.
khng-ghi ming-la ghare er-ghyi yorey? khng-ghi ming-la psng er-ghyi yorey.
What is his/her name? His/her name is Psng.
awa er
call[ed]
-ghyi yy
is
-ghyi mey
is not

-ghyi yorey
is
-ghyi yo marey
is not
EXERCISE
1
11
Answer the following questions
1. Where do we find the main verb in a Tibetan sentence?
2. Which is the place of a question word in a Tibetan sentence?
3. How do we greet somebody and say bye, see you later?
1
12
Write the opposite statements of the following sentences
1. nge ming-la jenehphr er-ghyi yy.
1. ________________________________________________________
2. khng-ghi ming-la migm er-ghyi yorey.
2. ________________________________________________________
3. nge ming-la awa er-ghyi mey.
3. ________________________________________________________
4. khng-ghi ming-la lhkp er-ghyi yo marey.
4. ________________________________________________________
5. nge ming-la jenehphr er-ghyi mey.
5. ________________________________________________________
6. khng-ghi ming-la pp er-ghyi yo marey.
6. ________________________________________________________
1
13
Translate the following
1. ts elek
1. ________________________________________________________
2. nge ming-la jenehphr er-ghyi yy.
2. ________________________________________________________
3. khyyrang-ghi ming-la ghare er-ghyi yy?
3. ________________________________________________________
4. khng-ghi ming-la ghare er-ghyi yorey?
4. ________________________________________________________
5. khng-ghi ming-la migm er-ghyi yorey.
5. ________________________________________________________
6. [khyyrang] kuk ep yi-py?
6. ________________________________________________________
7. [nga] ep yi.
7. ________________________________________________________
8. jeyla jelyong!
8. ________________________________________________________
1
14
Give the meaning of the following words and memorize them!
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
nga
khyyrang
khng
nge
khyyrang-ghi
7.
8.
9.
10.
6.
khng-ghi
ming
ghare
ep
hkje ch
ngndo
2
1
khyyrang lungp ghaney yi?
WHICH COUNTRY ARE YOU FROM?

2
4
nga ri-ney yi.
khyyrang ri ghaney yi.
bhy-ky sbt
The map of Tibet
nga ni york-ney yi.

A:
B:
A:
B:
2
2
khng lungp ghaney rey?

khng ri-ney rey.
khng ri ghaney rey?
khng ni york-ney rey.
khyyrang-yang ri-ney yi-py?

la yi, nga-yang ri-ney yi.
ley. khyyrang-yang ni york-ney yi-py?
la me, nga ni york-ney me. nga khlihphrniya-ney yi.
ley. khyyrang-ghi dhokp-yang ri-ney rey-py?
[]
[la] marey, khng ri-ney marey. khng gyanag-ney rey.
2
3
nga bhyp yi. khng ri-mi rey. khngts gyami rey.
2
5
vocabulary
ley
ri
ri-mi
bhy
bhyp
dhokp
ghaney
gyami
gyanag
khlihphrniya
-ky
la
la marey
la me
lungp
marey
me
-ney
ni york
-py
rey
sbt
yi
Oh, I see
America
American
Tibet
Tibetan
friend (male)
from where/what/which
Chinese
China
California
of, -s (genitive particle)
(H.)
[It] is not. (H.)
am/are/not (H.)
country
is not, no
am/are not, no
from
New York
(yes/no Q.P.)
is/are, yes
map
am/are, yes
khyyrang je-ney gap jhug.

Nice to see/meet you.
nga-yang.
Me too.
GRAMMAR
2
6
From
-ney
Examples:
a)
b)
c)
nga ri-ney yin.
I am from America.
khng gyanag-ney rey.
He/she is from China.
awa bhy-ney rey.
Dawa is from Tibet.
Please note that in English the particle from precedes a noun, for example from America. But, in Tibetan -ney ()
which means from comes after a noun, eg. America-ney which means from America.
2
7
yi, rey
am, are, is (to be the essential copulas)
Statement
Knowledge
Personal (P) (speaker based)

Impersonal (IP) (factual)
yi
rey
Interrogative
In general (depending on the situation or context):
me
marey
yi-py*
rey-py
yi / me (the Personal positive/negative statements) go with the 1st person (singular/plural).

Example 1:
a) nga ri-ney yi.
b) nga gyanag-ney me.
me-py?
marey-py?
I am from America.
Are you from Tibet?
I am not from China.
yi-py / me-py (the Personal positive/negative interrogatives) go with the 2nd person (singular/plural).
Example 2:
a) khyyrang bhy-ney yi-py?
b) khyyrang gyanag-ney me-py?
Arent you from China?
rey / marey / rey-py / marey-py (the Impersonal copulas) go with the 3rd person (singular/plural).
Example 3:
a) jenehphr ni york-ney rey-py?
b) khng khlihphorniya-ney marey-py?
a) khng ni york-ney rey.
b) khng khlihphorniya-ney marey.
2
8
Is Jennifer from New York?
He/she is from New York.
Isnt he/she from California?
He/she is not from California.
The copulas are also used for answering yes/no questions.

Honoric
yes
yi
no
me
rey
marey
-py is used for yes/no question marker. It goes after a verb or a copula.
la yi
la me
la rey
la marey
DRILLS
2
9
2
10
Object building

Which country are you from?
nga
I
bhy
Tibet
khng
he/she
khng lungp ghaney rey?

Which country is he/she from?

-ney
from
ri
America
yi
am
me
am not

rey
is
marey
is not
1.
khyyrang bhyp yi-py?

Are you Tibetan?
nga
I
khng
he/she
gyanag
China
gyagha
India
ni york
New York
lhs
Lhasa
p:cjng
Beijing
2
11
Subject building
bhyp
Tibetan
ngats
we
khngts
they
nyima
Nyima
awa
Dawa
jenehphr
Jennifer
Phrase building
I am from New York. I am American. I am not Chinese.
jenehphr ri-ney rey. khng yurob-ney marey. khyyrang yurob-ney yi-py?
Jennifer is from America. She is not from Europe. Are you from Europe?
yi
am
chgyel-mi rey
foreigner
is
nga ni york-ney yi. nga ri-mi yi. nga gyami me.

2.
khng chgyel-mi rey-py?

Is he/she a foreigner?
me
am not
marey
is not
EXERCISE
2
12
Correct the word order of the following sentences!
1. ghare er-ghyi yy khyyrang-ghi ming-la?

2. khng-ghi ming-la er-gyhi yorey ghare?
3. rey ri-ney khng.
4, nga me ri-ney.
5. rey-py gyanag-ney khng?
6. yi-pey bhy-ney khyyrang?
7. lungp ghaney khyyrang yi?
2
13
Translate the following sentences
1. kyhyrang lungp ghaney yi?
1. ________________________________________________________
2. nga bhy-ney yi.
2. ________________________________________________________
3. khyyrang-ghi dhokp-yang bhy-ney rey-py?
3. ________________________________________________________
4. marey, khng bhy-ney marey.
4. ________________________________________________________
5. khng gyanag-ney rey. khng gyami rey.
5. ________________________________________________________
6. aley. kyhyrang ri-ney yi-py?
6. ________________________________________________________
7. la me, nga gyagha-ney yi.
7. ________________________________________________________
8. nga chgyel-ney me. nga chgye-mi me.
8. ________________________________________________________
2
14
Give the meaning of the follwing words and memorize them!
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
lungp
ghaney
-ney
ri
bhy
7.
8.
9.
10.
6.
gyanag
gyami
gyagha
chgye-mi
dhokp
ngndo
3
1
khyyrang leyk ghare jhey-ky yy?
WHAT DO YOU DO?
A:
nga lbthg yi.
B: khng leyk ghare jhey-ky yorey?
khng lbthg rey.

3
2
A:
khng-ghi leyk ghare rey?

B:
khng pghu -kh rey.
3
4
vocabulary
hengsng these days
mch doctor
nga mch me.

A:
nga mach yi.
khng mch rey-py?

B:

la marey, khng mch marey.
-ky yorey (aux. verb, IPH+)

-ky yy (aux. verb, P+)
leyk work (n.)
leyk jhey to work (vt.)
lbtg student
mach cook
ngma before
khng mach rey.

3
3
jhey do
pghu -kh baby sitter
ngma, khyyrang leyk ghare jhey-ky yy?
ngma, nga ingp yi.
hengsng, nga tsngp yi.
ingp farmer
tsngp businessman
ghare jhey-ky yy?
What are you doing?
or
Whats up?
10
GRAMMAR
3
5
Subject
Object
nga
khyyrang
lbthg
khng
3
6
Verb (to be)

+
+?
-?
me
rey-py?
marey-py?
yi
What do you do?
rey
rey
marey
marey
yi-py?
rey-py?
me-py?
marey-py?
verb + kh
verb + kh shows who does the action or the verb + er.

It can also show ones profession when the action is related to a job.
For example:
1. pghu means to look after a baby.
pghu -kh means one who looks after babies (baby sitter).
khng ngatsi pghu -kh rey. She is our baby sitter. (She is the one who looks after our baby.)
2. mot ng means to drive a car.
mot ng-kh means one who drives a car/vehicle (driver).
khng nge mot ng-kh rey. He/she is my driver. (He/she is the one who drives my car.)
3. huglg thy means to wash clothes.
huglg thy-kh means one who washes clothes.
khng khyyrangts huglg thy-kh rey-py? Is he/she is the one who

washes your (plural) clothes?
4. lng means to beg.
lng-kh means one who begs. (beggar).
khng lng-kh rey-py? Is he/she a beggar?
Sometimes -kh is not needed to say ones profession: eg. mch a doctor, mach a cook, gege a teacher.
1. khng mch rey-py? Is he/she a doctor?
2. khng ngats mach rey. He/she is our cook.
3. khng nge bhyky gegen rey. He/she is my Tibetan teacher.
11
DRILLS
3
7
3
8
Object building
ngma khyyrang leyk ghare jhey-ky yy?
What do you do? (Lit. What work do you do?)
What did you use to do before?
nga
I
lbthg
student
me
am not
khng
he/she
gege
teacher
yi
am
rey
is
Subject building
ngma
before
marey
is not
1.
nga
I
khng
he/she
mach
cook
chyp
practitioner
mch
doctor
ingp
farmer
dogp
nomad
3
9
nyima
Nyima
ngats
we
nge dhokp
my friend
khngts
they
gela
teacher
Phrase building
nga lbthg yi. khyyrang leyk ghare jhey-ky yy?

I am a student. What do you do?
2.
ngma khng leyk ghare jhey-ky yorey. khng mach rey-py?
What did he/she use to do before? Was he/she a cook?
tsngp
businessman
yi
was
me
was not
rey
was
marey
was not
12
EXERCISE
3
10
Answer the following questions in Tibetan
1. kuk ep yi-py?
ep yin.
3. khyyrang lungp ghaney yi?
4. khyyrang leyk ghare jhey-ky yy?
5. ngnma khyyrang leyk ghare jhey-ky yy?
6. khyyrang-ghi bhyky gela phy* ghaney rey?
7. khyyrang-ghi p:la ingp rey-py?
3
11
What do these people do? Ask a Tibetan friend!
khng-ghi leyk ghare rey? What is his/her work?

1
khng mch rey.

3
12
Give the meaning of the words and memorize them!
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
phy : homeland
leyk
jhey
lbthg
gege
dogp
7.
8.
9.
10.
6.
mch
mach
hengsng
ngma
kh
13
ngndo
4
4
1
Jennifer:
i ghare rey?
WHAT IS THIS?
jenehphr-hang khng-ghi bhyky gela chykhng nang-la
4
2
pch
i ghare rey?
Dorje:
i chysm rey.
Jennifer:
chysm
[]
gela! its-la [bhyky-la] ghare er-ghyi rey?
Dorje:
[]
its-la k[da] er-ghyi rey. phts-la hngk er-ghyi rey.
Jennifer:
ley. ni, yats-la heb er-ghyi rey-py?
Dorje:
er-ghyi marey. yats-la pch er-ghyi rey.
Jennifer:

ley. phghi ghare rey? gela!
Dorje:
phghi chye rey. k[da]-dhang hngk-hets sngyey-ky k rey.

pch-hets sngyey-ky sng rey. heney, chy-he sngyey-ky hk
rey. ni, its chyp rey. maghi pyong rey. ha hgho sng-gey?
Jennifer:

hgho sng, gela! hkje ch.
Dorje:
ghe yo marey.
hgho sng-ngey?
Did you understand?
hgho sng. / hgho masng.
Yes, I understood. / no I didnt.
chye
k[dra]
chyp
4
3
vocabulary
bhyky
chykhng
chyp
chysm
chy
ha
-dhang
-he
heb
heney
-hets
i
its
ni
gela!
ghe yo marey
k
k[da]
-ky
-la
maghi
nang-la
pch
phghi
phts
pyong
sngyey
er-ghyi rey
sng
hngk
hk
yaghi
yats
Tibetan language
shrine room
offering[s]
alter/shrine
stupa
now
and
that, it, the
book
and then
those, they
this
these
so, well
teacher! [addressing]
it doesnt matter
body (H.)
statue
of, -s
at, in, on, to
that down there
in
Buddhist text[s]
that [over there]
those [over there]
incense holder
Buddha
is called
words
thangka painting
mind [H.]
that up there
those up there
14
GRAMMAR
4
4
The Demonstrative Pronouns
Singular this
Plural
phghi
yaghi
maghi
he
those (over there)
those up
those down there
they, those, the
that (over there)
its
that up there
phts
these
that down there
yats
it, that, the
mats
hets
Examples on the singular demonstrative pronouns:
2.
3.

4.
A: 1.
i ghare rey?
What is this?
phghi gnp rey-py?
Is that (over there) a monastery?
yaghi heb marey.
That up there is not a book.
maghi pyong marey-py?
Isnt that down there an incense holder?
Examples on the plural demonstrative pronouns:
2.
3.
4.
B: 1.
4
5
its kdra rey.
These are statues.
phts hngk rey-py?
Are those thangkas?
yats pch rey.
Those are Buddhist texts up there.
mats bu marey-py?
Arent those insects down there?
Subject, object and verb in a singular or plural sentence

Sentences
Singular form
Plural form
i heb rey
This is a book.
its heb rey
These are books.
nga lbthg yi
I am a student.
ngats lbthg yi
We are students.
NOTE:
In Tibetan, the copulas or the verbs remain the same in the singular and the plural form.
Example A:
a) i heb rey (singular form), and its heb rey (plural form).
b) nga lbthg yi (singular form), and nga-ts lbthg yi (plural form).
In general, the nouns need not be pluralized, and take no articles in order to have a complete sentence.
(Please check the table above.)
Example B:
Simple
Singular
Plural
i heb rey
Determined/denite
This is a book.
its heb rey. These are books.
heb-i ngai [heb] rey.
This book is mine.
heb-its ngai [heb] rey.
These books are mine.
Please check the following two sentences and also the difference in the question forms:
1) i ghare rey? i heb rey. (What is this? This is a book.)
2) heb ghaghi rey? heb-i rey (Which is the book? This is the book.)
15
DRILLS
4
6
4
7
Object building
i ghare rey?
i ghare rey?
What is this?
i
This
What is this?
chysm
alter, shrine
rey
is
marey
is not
kda
Buddha statue
rey-py?
is?
marey-py?
isnt?
1.
i
this
heb
book
phghi
that [over there]
hngk
thangka
pch
scriptures
chy
stupa
ychb
water offering
py
incense
chykhng
shrine room
4
8
Subject building
yaghi
that up there
maghi
that down there
its
these
phts
those
yats
those up there
mats
those down there
Phrase building
[] []
i heb rey. heb-i khyyrang-ghi [heb] marey. heb-i jenehphr-ghyi [heb] rey.
This is a book. This book is not your [book]. This book is Jennifers [book].
2.
phts nyghu rey-py? nyghu-hets khyyrang-ghi nyghu rey-py?

Are those pens [over there]? Are those pens your pens over there?
rey
is
marey
is not
rey-py?
is?
marey-py?
isnt?
16
EXERCISE
4
9
Change the following demonstrative pronouns into determining!
1. i heb rey.
1. heb i rey. (Example)____________________________
2. its khng-ghi heb rey-py?
2. _____________________________________________
3. phts khyyrang-ghi nyghu rey.
3. _____________________________________________
4. yaghi pch marey.
4. _____________________________________________
5. yats khyyrang-ghi pch marey-py?
5. _____________________________________________
6. i nge nyelkhng* rey-py?
6. _____________________________________________
7. phghi-la gp er-ghyi rey.
7. _____________________________________________
8. i-la chysm er-ghyi rey-py?
8. _____________________________________________
4
10
1. i-la ghare er-ghyi rey?
1. _____________________________________________
2. i-la kda er-ghyi rey.
2. _____________________________________________
3. its khyyrang-ghi pch rey-py?
3. _____________________________________________
4. khyyrang-ghi khngmig** i rey-py?
4. _____________________________________________
5. phghi-la ghare er-ghyi rey?
5. _____________________________________________
6. phghi-la hngk er-ghyi rey.
6. _____________________________________________
7. heb-its gela-ky rey.
7. _____________________________________________
8. pch-phts jenehphr-ghyi pch rey.
8. _____________________________________________
9. i-yang khyyrang-ghi rey-py?
9. _____________________________________________
10. yaghi ghare rey?
10. _____________________________________________
11. mats bu marey.
11. _____________________________________________
12. phghi gp rey.
12. _____________________________________________
13. maghi pyong rey-py?
13. _____________________________________________
4
11
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
i
phghi
yaghi
maghi
its
nyelkhng* (bedroom/room)
khngmig** (room/cell)
7.
8.
9.
10.
6.
phts
yats
mats
er-ghyi rey
-hang
17
ngndo
5
5
1
Nyima:
nga momo-la gap yy.
khyyrang momo-la gap yy-py?
DO YOU LIKE MOMOS?
I like momos.
5
2
khlag imp ug-ghey?
Jennifer:

imp ug. p imp ug! momo-i p imp ug!
nga momo-la p gap yy.
Nyima:
nga-yang momo-la gap yy. ni, hgp-la-yang gap yy.
nga bhyjha-la p gap yy. khyyrang bhyjha-la gap yy-py?

Jennifer:
nga bhyjha-la gap mey! bhyjha imp midug. gonghag!

Nyima:
ghai yo marey. ni, khyyrang-ghi bhyky gela s rey?

Jennifer:
Jennifer:
ley. i imp yorey-py?
gap yy [I/we] like

gap yy-py? like?
ghai yo marey it doesnt matter
ghadey how?
ghe chp important
momo momo
nyngje chp compassionate
p very, extremely
smp sangp good/pure heart
imp tasty. delicious
i ghare rey?
i tzmp rey. i bhyey ghe chp-cjg rey.
ug is (with a quality)
gapo mey! dont like
mi person, human, man
bhyey Tibetan food

-cjg / ig / sg a, an (indenite article)
khlag food, meal
khng mi yagp ug. khng smp angp-hang nyngje chp ug.
Nyima:
bhyjha Tibetan tea

bhyky Tibetan [language]
la (addresing) (H.)
ley. khng mi ghadey ug?

Jennifer:
vocabulary
gonghag sorry, I beg your pardon
khng-ghi ming-la orje-la er-ghyi yorey.

Nyima:
5
3
imp ug. [it] is tasty (NPNH+)

ghare jheyney
why?
ghangyierna
because
jheytzng
therefore, thats why
imp ug-ghey? [is it] tasty? (IPNH?)

imp midug [it is not] tasty (IPNH-)
imp yorey-py? [is it] tasty? (IPH+)
hgp noodles soup
tzmp roasted our
yagp good
18
GRAMMAR
5
4
The Adjectives
gyetsg
In Tibetan, the adjectives appear after the nouns. The copulas that usually follow the adjectives are ug, yorey and yy.
(The basic meaning of these copulas: to have or to be there somewhere or to be or to have a quality. These are existential verbs.)
The existential/connectivity copulas:
The
copulas
P
IP
Speaker based
(PH)
Speaker based
(PNH)
Common/logic
(IPH)
Discovering/
(IPNH)
Statement
+
yy
Interrogative
+?
mey
yorey
ug
yo marey
-?
yy-py
miug
yorey-py
mey-py
ug-ghey*
There are no different copulas for singular and plural form of the subjects and objects.
yo marey-py
miug-ghey
Examples:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
5
5
She is beautiful.
khng nyng jep ug. (IPNH+)
i imp ug. phghi imp miug. (IPNH-) This is tasty. That is not tasty.
bhychy-hets ep yorey. (IPH+)
Tibetan dresses are comfortable.
khngts mi yagp yy. (PH+)
They are good people. (for me)
khyyrang bhey-la kyp ug-ghey? (IPNH+?)
Are you happy in Nepal?
[I/we] like ____.
gap yy
Examples:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
nga bhyey-la gap yy.
I like Tibetan food.
nga bhyjha-la gap mey.
I dont like Tibetan tea.
khng-yang bhyjha-la gap yo marey. He/she also doesnt like Tibetan tea.
khyyrang sh-la gap yy-py?
Do you like meat?
khyyrang i-la gap mey-py?
Dont you like this?
Personal (P)
Impersonal (IP)
PH/PNH
[]
[la]
at, in, to
yy

gap
like
mey
IPNH
yy-py?
mey-py?
ug
miug
ug-ghey?
miug-ghey?
IPH
yorey
yo marey
yorey-py?
yo marey-py?
-ghey is also used for yes/no question mark. It goes after a verb or a copula which ends with the letter gha .
Sentence
+
+?
-?
19
DRILLS
5
6
5
7
Object building
[ ]
khlag [dhowa] ghadey ug?
khlag
food
miug
is not
nga
I
simp
delicious
yorey
is
yo marey
is not
khng
he/she
yrey
has
kh tsp
spicy/hot
ug-ghey?
is _?
nga dhokp
my friend
yrey-py?
has __?
yo marey-py?
does __ have?
khng-ghi garok
his/her lover
ug
has
miug
doesnt have
ug-ghey?
has __?
migug-ghey?
does __ have?
yorey-py?
is _?
miug-ghey?
isnt _?
yo marey-py?
isnt _?
s-la
in meat
ngmo
sweet
kyhyrang-ghi gela
your teacher
cjy chp
nutritious
jenehphr
Jennifer
bhyp
Tibetan
Phrase building
[]
bhyey imp ug, [jheytzng], nga bhyey-la gap yy.
The Tibetan food is tasty, [therefore], I like Tibetan food.

2.
dhowa kh-tsp
strange taste
1.
Do you like meat? (Lit. Do you have liking in meat?)
dhowa chp ug
tasty
is
tskh
salty
5
8
khyyrang s-la gap yy-py?
What is the food like? (Lit. How is the taste of the food?)
Subject building
nga bhyey-la gap yy, ghangyierna, bhyey imp ug.

I like Tibetan food because Tibetan food is tasty.
gap
liking
yy
have
mey
dont have
yo marey
doesnt have
20
EXERCISE
5
9
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Correct the word order of the following sentences
5
10
ug nyng jep khng.
khng nyng jep ug. (Example)
dhowa chp khlag ug.

yorey bhyey imp.
ug-ghey khlag imp?
yy nyngje chp ngai garok.
gap yy nga bhyjha-la.
1. nga bhyey[-la] gap yy, ghangyierna, bhyey imp ug.

2. khng-yang bhyey[-la] gap yorey.
3. khyyrang i[-la] gap yy-py?
4. khng smp angp ug, jheytzng, nga khng-la gap yy.
5
11
Describe the taste of the following with your Tibetan friends
i dhowa ghadey yorey? What does it taste like?

eg.
sp
dangtz
ts
nimbu
di kh tsp yorey.
5
12
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
khlag
ghadey
imp
yagp
nyng jep
7.
8.
9.
10.
6.
gap
p
yy
ug
yorey
ts khgg
21
ngndo
6
6
1
Jennifer:
I dont have a girlfriend/boyfriend.
nga-la garok mey.
6
2

awa la, khyyrang-ghi nang tzngma edhak ug.
Dawa:
khyyrang-la garok yy-py?
DO YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND?
khyyrang-la garok yy-py?
hch nng. i nge nangmi pdom rey.

Jennifer:

ley. i s rey? khng zigp edhak ug.
Dawa:
khng nge p:la rey. i ma rey. ni, i m:la rey.

ni, i nge p:la rey. nga khng-la p gap yy.

khngts nge cjcj-hang, i cj rey, heney khng nge gma rey.
Jennifer:

ngyny, khyyrang-la nangmi mangp edhak ug.
Dawa:
hahung, khng cjcj-ghi kymn rey. khng cja-ghi khygha rey.
Jennifer:

ley. ni, khyyrang-la garok mey-py?
Dawa:
Dawa:
cj [elder] sister
ma mother/mom
bhy-la in Tibet
-cjg. something, one
cjcj [elder] brother
hahung moreover, still, more
garok boyfriend/girlfriend/love
ghap where?
-ghi / ghyi / ky / s, of, belong to
kym wife, woman
khngts they
kyhgha husband
-la at, in, on, with (locative prtcl.)
mangp many
m:la grandmother
nang home
nangmi family [member]
ngyny really
mey. nga-la-yang [garok] mey. gp-i ghap yorey?
pdom photo album
[]
gp-i bhy-la yorey. i bhy-kyi pr rey.

Jennifer:
vocabulary

mey. nga-la garok mey. khyyrang-la garok yy-py?
Jennifer:
nga-la garok yy.
6
3
ley.
nangmi familys
gma younger bros/sisters
p:la father/dad
pr photo
p:la grandfather
edhak very
s who
hch nng. thank you
tzngma clean
zigp handsome/impressive
22
GRAMMAR
6
4
yy / ug / yorey
Have / Has
Examples:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
nyima-la pky manp ug. (IPNH+)

khng-la-yang pky mangp yorey-py? (IPH+?)
khng-la pky mangp yo marey. (IPH-)
khyyrang-la pky mangp yy-py? (PH+?)
nga-la pky yy, yinnayang, mangp mey. (PH+ / PH-)
Translations:
1) Nyima has many relatives. 2) Does he/she also have many relatives? 3) He/she doesnt have many ralatives. 4) Do you have many
relatives? 5) I have relatives, but not many.
6
5
yy / ug / yorey
There is / are
Examples:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
ri-la yg yo rey-py? (IPH+?)

khng-ghi nang-la imi mangp ug. (IPNH+)
nge nang-la-yang imi manpo yy. (PH+)
khyrang-ghi nang-la tztz ug-ghey? (IPNH+?)
chy-la nghu mang ug. (IPNH+)
gp-la dhawa mang p yorey. (IPH+)
Translations:
1) Are there yaks in America? 2) There are many cats in his/her home. 3) I also have many cats at/in my home. 4) Do you have rats in/at
your home? 5) There are many pigeons at the stupa. 6) There are many monks in the monasteries.
Please note:
6
6
The -la () in 6.4 and 6.5 examples is the locative particle, and it is a part of the sentence struture.
Examples
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
of , -s (The genitive/possesive particles)
-gyhi / -ky / ghi / / -yi
phonetic
meaning
jenehphr-ghyi nangmi Jennifers family
ending letter
of a syllable
consonant
sounds
bhy-ky pr
photo of Tibet
cjcj-ghi kym
[elder] brothers wife
nyime garok
Nyimas lover
phrbh dhokp
Phurbus friend (male)
lhm kyhgha
Lhamos husband
vowel
sounds
Pronunciation
The difference between -ghyi,
-ky, and -ghi is barely heard in the
spoken language, but one should still
follow the rules when writing.
slightly longer
in the tone
23
DRILLS
6
7
Building vocabularies
PH/PNH+?
IPNH+?
khyyrang-la ng sma yy-py?

Do you have any change? (Are you aware of it?)
IPH+?
khyyrang-la ng sma ug-ghey?

Do you have any change? (Can you nd it?)
khyyrang-la ng sma yorey-py?

Do you have any change? (like you usually do)
VERB
SUBJECT
OBJECT
IP
PH/PNH
nga
I
la
ng sima
to, change (money)
with
yy
have
ug
has
yorey
has
Statements
khng
he/she
ng
money
mey
dont have
miug
doesnt have
yo marey
doesnt have
nyima
Nyima
lgly
computer
yy-py?
do [you] have?
ug-ghey?
does [he] have?
yorey-py?
does [he] have?
+?
jenehphr-ghyi gela
Jennifers teacher
dhokp
friend (male)
-?
gela
teacher
ngo syp
acquantance
khng-ghi garok
his/her love
hytsy
time
nge garok
my love
6
8
mey-py?
dont [you] have?
miug-ghey?
doesnt [he] have?
leyk
work
Phrase building

bhy-la yg yorey. ri-la yg yorey-py?
There are yaks in Tibet. Are there yaks in America?
2.
Sentence form
IPH
1.
IPNH
khng-ghi nang-la imi mangp ug. khyyrang-ghi nang-la-yang imi yy-py?

There are many cats in his/her home. Do you also have cats in your home?
yo marey-py?
doesnt [he] have?
Interrogatives
24
EXERCISE
6
9
Fill in the blanks with the existential copulas matching the second column
1. khyyrang-la cjcj ___________?
1. PH+?
2. khng-ghi nang-la tztz mangpo ___________.
2. IPNH-
3. nga nang-la imi ___________.
3. P-
4. gnp-la dhawa mangp ___________.
4. IPH+
5. khyyrang-la ng sma ___________.
5. IPH-
6. nga-la pnky mangp ___________.
6. P+
7. jenehphr-la garok ___________.
7. IPNH-
8. khyyrang-la garok ___________?
8. P-?
9. khng-la ghare ___________?
9. IPNH+?
10. khng-ghi garok ghapa ___________?

6
10
10. IPH+?
Translate the folllowing sentences and also write whether they are personal or impersonal.
1. khyyrang-la hytsy yy-py?
1. _________________________________________________________
2. la yy, nga-la hytsy yy.
2. _________________________________________________________
3. jenehphr lak. khyyrang-la lgly yy-py?
3. _________________________________________________________
4. nga-la lgly yy.
4. _________________________________________________________
5. khng-la lgly ug.
5. _________________________________________________________
6. nyima-la lgly yo marey.
6. _________________________________________________________
7. khyyrang-la ghare yy?
7. _________________________________________________________
6
11
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
nangmi
p:la
ma
pp
mm
7.
8.
9.
10.
6.
cj
cjcj
gma
pky
mangp
25
ngndo
7
7
1
khyyrang-la ghare go?
WHAT [DO] YOU WANT/NEED?

khyyrang-la ng-its go-py?
7
3
vocabulary
chyp Dharma practitioner
idey like this, so [much]
ghangyierna because
go marey not necessary, no need

mogo. hch nng!

nga-la ng-hidey go marey
go yy need (to have in general)

go/gy want, need (for now)
jheytzng therefore, thats why, so
kga (Tibetan name)
lhkp (Tibetan name)

khng kga rey.
7
2
khng lhkp rey.
lhgp chyp rey. jheytzng, khng-la
ng mangpo idey go-marey.
yinayang, kga tsngp rey.
khng-la ng mangpo go yorey.
mangp many
mogo dont want (for now)
go mey / gy mey dont need (in general)
ngny really
ng money, silver
edhak very
hch nng thank you
tsngp businessman
yinayang but
yiney but
khyyrang-la ng go yy-py?
go yy, yiney, mangpo idey
go mey. ghangyierna
nga ng-la gapo edhak mey.
ngyny?
ngny? really?
ngny! really!
26
mirror of Lhasa spoken language
GRAMMAR
7
4
[I/we] want!
go
go is a verb which means to need.

noun +
+?
-?
go
mogo
go-py / go-wey
mogo-py / mogo-wey
PNH
In a Tibetan sentence, when a verb comes alone without a helping verb, it is in the imperative form. So, when one says go,
one is asking someone to fulfil a need.
For example: nga-la jhiri go! (I want/need candies!).
Examples:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
7
5
What do you want?
nga-la khykp jhiri go!
I want ice-cream!
khyyrang-la gyugp jhiri mogo-wey?
Dont you want a lollipop?
mogo! nga-la gyugp jhiri mogo!
No! I dont want a lollipop!
nga-la khykp jhiri go!
I want ice-cream!
khyyrang-la gyugp jhiri
Dont you really want a lollipop?
ngny mogo-wey?
[I said] no!
mogo jhey!
to be necessary / need
go + rey/marey etc.
go rey, go marey etc. when something is (or is not) essential for somebody or something to be complete.
Examples:
nga-la ng gy[-ky] marey.
I dont need money.
1. []
(Money is not necessary for me.)
2.
3.
[]
[]
7
6
tsngp-la ng mangp gy[-ky] rey. To be a businessman, you need money.

lbthg-la lgly gy[ky] rey-py?
/ /
Does a student need a computer?
go + yoy/dug/yorey etc.
to have the need / need
We use go yy Personal habitual, go ug Impersonal non-habitual, or go yorey Impersonal non-habitual in order to

say I need or dont need ___. / He/she/it needs or doesnt need ___. etc.
Examples:
nyima-la ng gy[-ky] yorey.
Nyima needs money.
1. []
2.
3.
4.
[]
[]
[]
nga-la bagbag-cjg gy[-ky] ug.
I need a motor bike!
nga-la ng gtzm gy[-ky] ug.
I need some money!
khyrang-la ghare gy[-ky] ug.
What do you need [now / at this time]?
In 7.5 and 7.6, one might say gy in place of go,
In spoken Tibetan, sometimes one sees changes in the vowels, and the prefix of the next syllable is pronounced as the suffix of
the previous syllable. Fluency in the language will make the change by itself, and you shouldnt let this worry you.
27
DRILLS
7
7

What do you want?
7
8
Object building
nga-la
I, for me
khyyrang-la ghare go yy?

What do you want [to have]?
ng
money
go
want
mogo
dont want
go mey /
gy mey
jhiri
candies
go yy /
gy yy
Object building
lbthg-la ghare gorey?

What does a student need?
lbthg-la heb
[for] a student book[s]
7
9
1.
go rey
are needed
go marey
arent needed
nyghu
pen[s]
khykp jhiri
ice-cream
gyugp jhiri
lollipop
nmdhu
aeroplane
mot
car, motor
le pkg
doll
lgly
computer[s]
gege
teacher[s]
lbdha
school[s]
lbjong
education
ng-yang
also money
Phrase building

kga tsngp rey, jheytzng, khng-la ng mangp gorey. yina yang, lhgp chyp rey, khng-la ng mangp go marey.
Kunga is a businessman, therefore he/she needs lots of money. But, Lhakpa is a practitioner, he/she doesnt need much money.
2.

nga-la ng tgtzm gy ug ghangyierna nga-la bagbag-cjg gy ug.
I need some money because I need a motorbike!
28
EXERCISE
7
10
1.
Match the the following
( ___ )
( ___ )
( ___ )
( ___ )
( ___ )
( ___ )
tsngp-la
[for/with] the business man
2.
lbthg
student
chyp-la
[for/with] the practitioner[s]
3.
1.
go rey
is/are needed
nyng jep
beautiful
meg
ower
7
11
chy
Dharma
akhng-la
[in] a restaurent
6.
mach
cook
gp-la
[at] a monastery
5.
ng
money
lbdha-la
[at] a school
4.
dhap / dhawa
monk
1. ________________________________________________________
khyyrang-la lgly go yy-py?

2.
2. ________________________________________________________

3.
3. ________________________________________________________
nga tsngp yi. nga-la ng mangpo go rey.

4.
4. ________________________________________________________
ng mangp go rey-py?
5.
5. ________________________________________________________
khng-la rokp go yorey.

7
12
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
go
go yy
go rey
ghangyierna
jheytzng
7.
8.
9.
10.
6.
yina yang
tsngp
chyp
ng
hch nng
29
ngndo
8
1
Jennifer:

gela, nga ya yong-na dig-ghi rey-py?
Dorje:

leysy gela. ghe nng-ghi marey.
khyyrang-la bhyky-ky tsgzy yy-py?
Jennifer:
[]
la mey, nga-la mey. yiney nga-la cjg go[-ky] ug.
Dorje:

jheyna yagp jhung. i bhyky tsgzy rey. nga-la nyy ug.

cjg khyyrang bheycjy jhey-na dig-ghi rey. khyyrang-la gy-py?
Jennifer:

go, gela! yagp jhung! thch nng!
Dorje:
ley! Oh!
bheycjy jhey to use
bhyky tsgzy Tibetan dictionary
bhyky-ky tsgzy dictionary of the Tib. L.

cjg once, one, some
ni, gekhng-he ch-rok nng! hch nng.
Dorje:
vocabulary
la yi, nga-yang ep yi. go-he gyab-rok nng!
jennifer:
8
2
ch to open
ep yi. hch nng. khyyrang kuk ep yi-py?

Dorje:
CAN I COME IN?
ley! jenehphr! dig-hang dig! ya php-hang! uk-hang!
ni, ep yi-py?
Jennifer:
nga yong-na dig-ghi rey-py?

ghe yo marey. ni, ha, ngats zidha tsk-na dig-ghi rey-py?
ha now
-hang! (imperative particle)
-he that, the
dig-hang dig of course okay
gekhng window
gela teacher
ghe nng-ghi marey it doesnt matter (H.)
ghe yo marey it doesnt matter
go door
gyab to close
jheyna well then, so, well
leysy okay (accepting)
-na dig-ghi rey it is okay if -na dig-ghi rey-py is it okay if -?
nyy two
php to go/come (H.)
-rok nng! (imperative particle) (H.)
uk to sit, to stay (H.)
hch nng thank you
tsgzy dictionary
yagp jhung nice! good!
ya in, upwards
yong come
zidha tsk to have class
30
GRAMMAR
8
3
Is it okay if I/you do ___ OR he/she does ____?
-na dig-ghi rey-py?
We use this structure to ask for/give permission to do something.
the verb +
+?
-?
-na
drig-ghi rey
drig-ghi marey
drig-ghi rey-py
drig-ghi marey-py
Answering yes/no.
Yes, it is okay.
No, it is not okay.
IP
The verb in this structure usually comes in the past form, but it is not incorrect to use the present and future forms.
na means if in general, but it can function as to (infinitive). jhey-na drig-ghi rey-py can be translated either
is it okay if somebody does something? or Is it okay to do something?.
drig means to be okay
Since the action is yet to be done, we have the future auxiliary verbs -ghi rey / -ghi marey etc.
The structure will be the same for the 1st, 2nd and the 3rd person.
Example:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
[]

[]
8
4
Example:
2.
3.
4.
Is it okay if [I] drink this water?
dig-ghi rey. ch-i tzngma rey.
[Yes], it is okay. This water is clean.
ng-na dig-ghi rey.
It is okay to drink.
dig-ghi marey. ch-i tzngma marey.
No, it is not okay. This water is not clean.
[ch-i] ng-na dig-ghi marey.
It is not okay to drink this water.
nga yong-na dig-ghi rey-py?
Is it okay if i come?
dig-ghi rey, khyyrang yong-na dig-ghi rey.
Yes, It is okay if you come.
yiney, khng yong-na dig-ghi marey.
But, it is not okay if he/she comes.
Imperative Particles
Verb + -rok nng / verb + -hang
the main
verb +
1.
[nga] ch-i ng-na dig-ghi rey-py?
-rok nng
could you please -
Asking for something politely
-hang
Can you - / please
Asking in an ordinary way
imgo ch-rok nng!
Could you please open the door!
go ch-hang!
Can you open the door!
nga-la chb-cjg nng-rok nng!
Please give me some water!
nga-la ch-chjg ty-hang!
Can I have some water!
Please note:
Unlike the main verb + -hang structure (as above), a noun + -hang is in the associating case (In this case hang
means and.)
Example: nga-la heb-hang nyghu mangp yy. I have many books and pens.
31
DRILLS
8
5
8
6
verb + na dig-ghi rey-py?
nga ch ng-go yy!
khyyrang nyth-la gap yy-na

If you like watching TV ...
I need to drink water!
nga
I
ch-i ng
drink this water
khyyrang
you
chng ng
drink chang
dig-ghi rey
it is okay
khng
he/she
gekhng ch
open the window
dig-ghi marey
it is not okay
chychng chy
drink chang (H.)
go gyab
close the door
gekhng gyab
close the windows
nyima
Nyima
na
if, to
dig-ghi rey-py
is it okay
dig-ghi marey-py
isnt it okay
8
7
khyyrang
you
nyth ik
watch TV (H.)
-ro nng
please (polite)
chb chy
drink water (H.)
-hang
have/please/[you] can
-ro nng hang

please (polite)
khlag a
eat food
go ch
open the door
momo a
eat momos
elag chy
eat food (H.)
nythn
watch TV
1.
verb + rok nng! / verb + hang!
emo chy
eat momos (H.)
Phrase building

nga momo-la gap yy. ngats gongha khlag-la momo a-na dig-ghi rey-py?
I like momos. Is it okay if we have momos for dinner?

2.
bhyjha chy-rok nng! bhyjha chy-hang!
Please have someTibetan tea! Have some Tibetan tea!
32
EXERCISE
8
8
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Make these sentences negative
ch-hi ng-na dig-ghi rey.
ch-i ng-na dig-ghi marey. (eg.)
gekhng ch-na dig-ghi rey.
______________________________
go gyab-na dig-ghi rey-py?
______________________________
khyyrang nyth -na dig-ghi rey. ______________________________
khng-la pch-i ty-na dig-ghi rey.
______________________________
nga do-na dig-ghi rey-py?
______________________________
8
9
1. Could you please open the door!
1. ________________________________________________________
2. Is it okay if I open the door?
2. ________________________________________________________
3. You can close the window!
3. ________________________________________________________
4. Have some momos!
4. ________________________________________________________
5. Please have some momos!
5. ________________________________________________________
6. It is not okay to drink this water.
6. ________________________________________________________
7. Is it not okay?
7. ________________________________________________________
8. No, it is not okay.
8. ________________________________________________________
9. I like momos! Is it okay to eat these momos?
9. ________________________________________________________
10. Please give me some boiled water!

8
10
dig-ghi rey
dig-ghi marey
2.
3. dig-ghi rey-py
4. dig-ghi marey-py
5.
bheycjy jhey
1.
10. ________________________________________________________
7.
8.
9.
10.
6.
tsgzy
go ch
go gyab
nng-rok nng
jhey-hang
33
ngndo
9
9
1
Lhamo:
ng-ghi yin. nga bhyjha ng-ghi yin.

jenehphr la, khyyrang bhyjha chy-ky yi-py?
Jennifer:
khyyrang bhyjha ng-ghi yi-py
WILL YOU HAVE TIBETAN TEA?
Yes, I will drink Tibetan tea.

9
2
khyyrang ks a-ghi yi-pey?

Will you eat an apple?
bhyjha? bhyjha dhowa ghadey yorey?

Lhamo:
imp yorey. khyyrang cjg chy-dhang! heyney hgho-ghi rey.

Jennifer:

leysey. jheyna ng-ghi yi. :mm. i-la ts ug.
Lhamo:

yorey. bhyjha-la ts-dhang mar-yang yorey.
Jennifer:

ley. mar-yang yo rey-py?
Lhamo:

yorey! chy-hang! howa ghadey ug?
Jennifer:

dowa-i khytsrp-cjg ug. yiney imp ug!
Lhamo:

ni, hering khyyrang-ghi gela php-ky rey-py?
Jennifer:
khng hering php-ky marey. khng sngnyi php-ky rey.

heney nngnyi-yang php-ky rey. :mm. jha-i imp ug!
Lhamo:
jheyna yangkyr ky ghang ng-ghi yi-py?
Jennifer:

lame. ha dik-song. hch nng

mala, khyyrang-yang chy-hang!
Lhamo:
g, nga hng-ghi yy.
nga sml ng-ghi yi.

I will think [about it].
9
3
vocabulary
:mm
ley
bhyjha
chy
cjg
heney
hering
dhowa
dik-song
ghadey
ghang
-ghi rey.
-ghi yi
-ghi yi-py
-ghi yy.
hgho
ky
khy tsrp
-ky marey
-ky rey.
-ky rey-py
-ky yi-py
lame
mar
nngnyi
g
php
sngnyi
hng
ng
-yang
yangkyr
mm.. (tasting)
Oh!
Tibetan tea
drink, eat (H.)
one, once, something
and then
today
taste (n.)
enough!
how
one full
(fut. aux.) (IP+)
(fut. aux.) (P+)
(fut. aux.) (P+?)
(present aux.) (P+)
to know
cup
strange
(fut. aux.) (IP-)
(fut. aux.) (IP+)
(fut. aux.) (IP+?)
(fut. aux.) (P+?)
no (H.)
butter
the day after tomorrow
okay
come/go (H.)
tomorrow
drink (present)
drink (fut./past)
also
again
34
GRAMMAR
9
4
I/you/he/she/it will
Future Simple Tense

+
Future form of the

verb + ghi/kyi/ghyi
( // )
+?
-?
rey
marey
rey-py
marey-py
yi
me
yi-py
me-py
IP
a) As we have learned, the Personal positive and the negative statements are usually used for the 1st person (singular/plural).
For example:
1.
2.
nga bhy-la d-ghi yi.
I will go to Tibet.
ngats chgye-la do-ghi me.
We will not go to a foreign country.
khyyrang jha ngmo ng-ghi yi-pey?
Will you drink sweet tea?
khyyrang bhyjha ng-ghi me-py?
Will you not drink Tibetan tea?
ma momo a-ghi rey.
Dolma will eat momos.
khng hgp ng-ghi marey.
He/she will not drink noodle soup.
b) The Personal interrogative forms of the auxiliary verbs are usually used for the 2nd person (singular/plural).
For example:
1.
2.
c) The Im-personal auxiliary verbs are always used for the 3rd person (singular/plural).
For example:
1.
2.
3.
4.
nyima-yang hgp ng-ghi marey-py? Will Nyima also not drink noodle soup?
khng-yang momo a-ghi rey-py?
Will he/she also eat momos?
nga yong-ghi yi.
I will come.
khng-yang yong-ghi rey.
He/she will also come.
khyyrang yong-ghi yi-py?
Will you come?
khongts do-ghi marey.
They will not go.
nga-yang do-ghi me.
I will not go either.
khyyrang ghare jhey-ky yi?
What will you (singular) do?
khyyrang-yang do-ghi me-py?
Will you (singular) also not go?
More examples:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
9
5
Ive had enough! / Thats enough/okay!

+
+?
-?
dik-sng
dik-masng
dik-sng-gey
dik-masng-gey
Thats enough! Okay!
Thats not enough! / Not okay!
Is that enough? / Okay?
Isnt that enough? / Not okay?
IP
35
DRILLS
9
6
9
7
Vocabulary building
gtzm jey-la, khyyrang ghare jhey-ky yi?
nga
I
nyth
-ghi yi
TV watch, look will
sngnyi khyyrang ghap do-ghi yi?

Where will you go tomorrow?
What will you do a bit later?
Subject building
-ghi me
will not
sngnyi
tomorrow
ey nye
song, music listen

leyk jhey
work do
ngats
we

nyigung khlag a
lunch eat
gp-la
to the monastery
nyima
Nyima
- yong
come
khng
he/she
- do
go
1.
nga
I
nges gyag
rest take
9
8
khng-nyy
they-two
awa
Dawa
khngts
they
Phrase building
[]
nga bhy-la do-ghi yi, yina yang ngai garok [bhy-la] do-ghi marey.
I will go to Tibet. But, my girl/boy friend will not go.
2.
khngts s[-la] gapo yorey. jheytzng khngts s a-ghi rey. khyyrang-yang s a-ghi yi-py?
They love meat, so they will eat meat. Will you also eat meat?
dro
go
-ghi yi
will
-ghi me
will not

-ghi rey
will
-ghi marey
will not
36
EXERCISE
9
9
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
nga nyth -ghi yi.
nga nyth -ghi me. (eg.)
khyyrang nangjong jhey-ky yi-py?
_______________________________
sngnyi nge garok yong-ghi rey.
_______________________________
khng khlag mangp a-ghi rey.
_______________________________
sngnyi nga gp-la do-ghi yi.
_______________________________
khyyrang momo a-ghi yi-py?
_______________________________
jenehphr bhy-la do-ghi rey-py?
_______________________________
ngats nges gyag-ghi yi.
_______________________________
khyyrang nge nang-la yong-ghi yi-py?
_______________________________
khyyrang leyk jhey-ky yi-py?
_______________________________
9
10
Translate the following sentences into Tibetan!
1. I will not eat momos.
1. ________________________________________________________
2. Will you go to the monastery tomorrow?
2. ________________________________________________________
3. They will not come .
3. ________________________________________________________
4. Will he also not come tomorrow?
4. ________________________________________________________
5. Will you watch TV?
5. ________________________________________________________
6. Jennifer will go to Tibet.
6. ________________________________________________________
7. She will also go to India.
7. ________________________________________________________
8. Will you not drink chang?
8. ________________________________________________________
9. He/she will not drink Tibetan tea.
9. ________________________________________________________
9
11
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
-ghi yi
-ghi rey
jha
ng
khlag
7.
8.
9.
10.
6.
a
chy
sngnyi
ogtzm jeyla
nngnyi
37
ngndo
10
khyyrang ghare jhey-ky yy?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
10
1
10
4
vocabulary
jhey to do
-ky yy present aux. (P+)
kyhyrang ghare jhey-ky yy?
khlag food
khlag o to cook
-ghi ug present aux. (IPNH+)
nga khlag o-ghi yy.

A:
B:
-ghi ug-ghey present aux. (IPNH+?)
khng ghare jhey-ky ug?

khng khlag o-ghi ug.
-ghi miug present aux. (IPNH-)

gom meditation
gom gyag to meditate
10
2
tskpr newspaper
lg to read
ghapr where?
do to go
lbdha school
-la to, towards
A:
khngts khlag o-ghi ug-ghey?
B:
o-ghi miug, khngts khlag o-ghi miug.
A:
na, khngts ghare jhey-ky ug?
B:
khngts tskpr lg-ghi ug.
10
3
khng ghap do-ghi yorey?
khng lbdha-la do-ghi yorey.
school
A:
khng ghare jhey-ky yorey?
B:
khng gom gyag-ghi yorey.
38
GRAMMAR
10
5
present form of
the verb + ghi/ky/ghyi
(
/ / )
The Processing Auxiliary Verbs, for the Present or the Past

+
+?
-?
yy
mey
yy-py
mey-py
H/
NM
yorey
yo marey
yo rey-py
yo marey-py
NH
ug
miug
ug-ghey
miug-ghey
P
IP
1) The Personal positive and the negative statements are usually used for the 1st person (singular/plural).
Whether it is a habitual action or not depends on context.
For example:
nga nangjong jhey-ky yy.
I am doing homework.
1.
2.
ngats kych sy-ky mey.
2) The Personal interrogatives are usually used for the 2nd person (singular/plural).
Whether it is a habitual action or not again depends on context.
For example:
khyyrang pch lg-ghi yy-py?
1.
2.
We are not talking.
Are you reading pecha?
khyyrang gom gyag-ghi mey-py?
khng chng hng-ghi yo marey.
He/she doesnt drink chang.
nyima s a-ghi yorey-py?
Does Nyima eat meat?
khng khlag o-ghi miug.
He/she is not cooking.
nyima tzmo tz-ghi ug-ghey?
Is Nyima playing?
khng nangjong jhey-ky miug-ghey?
Is he/she not doing homework?
nga s a-ghi yy.
Are you not doing meditation?
3a) The 3rd person (singular/plural) gets the Impersonal auxiliary verbs for habitual actions:
For example:
dma s a-ghi yorey.
Dolma eats meat.
1.
2.
3.
4.
khng-yang chng hng-ghi yo marey-py? Does he/she also not drink chang?
3b) The third person (singular/plural) gets the Impersonal auxiliary verbs for non-habitual actions:
For example:
dma jha o-ghi ug.
Dolma is making tea.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Please check the Grammar Section 3.3 and 3.4 to see how the present simple/continuous changes to past simple/
continuous.
Example:
1.
2.
I eat meat. or I am eating meat.
ngma nga s a-ghi yy. Before, I used to eat meat.or I ate meat before.
39
DRILLS
10
6
10
7
Object and verb building
What are you (singular) doing?
nga
I
What are you (singular) doing?

leyk
work
jhey
do
-ky yy
(PH+) /
(PNH+)
-ky mey
(PH-) /
(PNH-)
dungheb
story book
Subject with the aux.verbs
lg
read
nga
I
khng
he/she

huglg
cloth[es]
ukp
body
thy
wash

sml
thought
ng
(verbalizer)

lgny
movie
watch
dhagya-la
on the internet
10
8
1.
check, look up
ngats
we
nga-nyy
we two
khng-nyy
they two
nyima
Nyima
Phrase building

nga ha zidha tsk-ky yy. khyyrang khp gtzm jeyla ng-rok nng!
I am having a class right now. Please call me a bit later!

2.
[]
ngma nga s mangp a-ghi yy. yiney, hengsng [nga s] a-ghi mey.
Before, I used to eat a lot of meat, but these days I dont eat meat.
jhey
do
-ky yy
-ky mey

-ky yorey
-ky yo marey
-ky ug
thy
wash
leyk
work
-ky miug
40
EXERCISE
10
9
See the pictures and answer the questions with a Tibetan friend.
khng ghare jhey-kyi yorey?

4
khng-ts ghare jhey-kyi yorey?

5

10
10

6
Translate the following into Tibetan (you can use phonetics).
1. What are you doing? Are you taking a shower?
1. ________________________________________________________
2. What is he doing? Is he washing clothes?
2. ________________________________________________________
3. Is he reading a newspaper? No, he is reading pechas.
3. ________________________________________________________
4. They are cooking momos. They are not eating momos.
4. ________________________________________________________
5. I am not drinking chang. I dont drink chang.
5. ________________________________________________________
6. Does she smoke?
6. ________________________________________________________
10
11
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
jhey-ky yy
jhey-ky yorey
jhey-ky ug
ha
hengsng
7.
8.
9.
10.
6.
ngma
leyk jhey
ukp thy
huglg thy
dhagya-la
41
ngndo
11
khyyrang ghap ch-p yi?
WHERE DID YOU GO?
11
1
khyyrang ghap ch-p yi?
nga thm-la ch-p yi.
khyyrang thm-la ghare jhey-p yi?
nga thm-la nyobch mangp gyab-p yin.

A:
B:
A:
B:
A: khng ghap ch-p rey?

B: khng thm-la ch-p rey.
A: khng thm-la ghare jhey-p rey?
B: khng thm-la nyobch gyab-p rey.
11
2
A:
khyyrang thm-ney ghare nyy-p yi?

B:
nga thm-ney nyghu-i nyy-p yi.
khng thm-ney huglg nyy-p rey-py?
marey, khng thm-ney nyghu-ig nyy-p rey.

A:
khrang ghare tzng-p yi?

B:
nga chp cjg-hang pnge cjg tzng-p yi.
khng chp-cjg hang pnge-cjg tzng-p rey.
11
3
vocabulary
-chg one, a
ch went
chp traditional Tibetan dress
huglg clothes
ghap where?
jhey did
-la to, at
nyobch shopping
nyobch gyab did the shopping
nyghu pen
nyy bought
-p rey (past aux.) (IP+)
-p rey-py (past aux.) (IP+?)
-pa yi (past aux.) (P+)
pnge traditional apron
ig a, (it is same to cjig)
thm market
tzng sold
42
GRAMMAR
11
4
past form of
the verb +
verb + pa yin / pa rey
The Past Simple Aux. Verbs
Personal
Impersonal
-p yi ( )
-p rey ( )
-p yi-py ( )
-p rey-py ()
+?
mey, ()*
-p mi ()
yo marey, ()*
yo marey-py, ()*
-?
-p marey ()
mey-py, ()*
-p mi-py ()
-p marey-py ()
1) The Personal positive and the negative statements usually go with the 1st person (singular/plural). For example:
1.
2.
nga thm-la ch-p yi.
I went to the market.
nga gp-la ch-mey.
I didnt go to the monastery.
2) The 2nd person (singular/plural) get the Personal interrogative form of the auxiliary verbs. For example:
1.
2.
khyyrang thm-la ch-p yi-py?
Did you go to the market?
khyyrang gnp-la ch-mey-py?
Didnt you go to the monastery?
3a) The 3d person (singular/plural) gets the Impersonal auxiliary verbs. For example:
1.
2.
3.
4.
11
5
khng thm-la ch-p rey.
He/she went to the market.
khng gnp-la ch-yo marey.
He/she didnt go to the monastery.
khng lbdha-la ch-pa rey-py?
Did he/she go to school?
khng lbdha-la ch-yo marey-py?
Didnt he/she go to school?
The forms of the verbs
Tibetan verbs have four forms. However, when speaking, the present, future and imperative are usually pronounced the same.
The pronunciation of some verbs changes in the past form. There are very few irregular verbs.
Present
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Past
a
k
nyo
hng
nye
do
yong
* These are more commonly used.
Future
y
ey
ky
nyy
ng
ny
ch
lp
a
k
nyo
ng
ny
do
yong
Imperative
Meaning
Some vowels change in the past
to look
a becomes ey
to eat
ky
to steal
u becomes
nyy
to buy
o becomes
hng
to drink
The vowel doesnt change
ny
to listen
when it has a consonant ending.
gyug
to go
There are very few irregular
sg
to come
verbs like these two.
43
DRILLS
11
6
11
7
build vocabulary
khs khyyrang ghap ch-p yi?
haghi, khyyrang ghare jhey-p yi?
Where did you (singular) go yesterday?
What did you do a while ago?
nga
I
akhng
restaurant

ukp ty
body washed
nyima
Nyiima
khlag ey
food ate
-p yi
(P+)
-mey
(P-)
pch lk
pecha read
nangjong jhey
home-work did
nga
I
khng
he/she
nga-ts
we
khng-nyy
they two

chy la
Stupa to
ch
went
-p rey
(IP+)
lbdha
school
jha ng
tea drank
lhkp
Lhakpa
zidha
classroom
nyekhg
bedroom, room
Phrase building
[] []
khs, ngats nyighung khlag [la] momo ey-p yi. khyyrang nyighung khlag [la] ghare ey-p yi?
Yesterday we ate momos for lunch. What did you eat for lunch?
2.
khs, nga gp-la ch-p yi. khyyrang khs ghap ch-p yi?
Yesterday I went to the monastery. Where did you go yesterday?
-p yi
(P+)
gp
monastery
khngts
they
ngkhng
bank
chyn-la ch
to the Stupa went
1.

khlag y
food made
11
8
build vocabulary
-mey
(P-)
-yo marey
(IP-)
44
EXERCISE
11
9
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
nga nyth y-p yi.
nga nyth y-mey. (eg.)
khyyrang nangjong jhey-p yi-py?
_______________________________
khs nge garok lp-p rey.
_______________________________
khng khlag mangp ey-p rey.
_______________________________
khs nga gp-la ch-p yi.
_______________________________
khyyrang momo ey-p yi-py?
_______________________________
jenehphr bhy-la ch-p rey-py?
_______________________________
nga-ts nges gyab-p yi.
_______________________________
khyyrang ngai nang-la lp-p yi-py?
_______________________________
khyyrang leyk jhey-p yi-py?
_______________________________
11
10
1. khs khyyrang ghap ch-p yi?
1. ________________________________________________________
2. nga gp-la ch-p yi.
2. ________________________________________________________
3. khng-yang gp-la ch-p rey-py?
3. ________________________________________________________
4. khyyrang nyinghung khlag ey-p yi-py?
4. ________________________________________________________
5. nga nangjong jhey-mey.
5. ________________________________________________________
6. nga chy-la ch-mey.
6. ________________________________________________________
7. khyyrang chy-la ch-p yi-py?
7. ________________________________________________________
8. khng chy-la ch-yo marey-py?
8. ________________________________________________________
9. jenehphr ghap chi-p rey?

11
11
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
jhey-p yi
jhey-p rey
y
ey
ch
7.
8.
9.
10.
6.
lp
nyy
nyobch gyab
chp
pnge
45
ngndo
12
ghare jhey-ghar / ghare jhey-yag-la
WHAT FOR? (TO DO WHAT?)
12
1
khyyrang-nyy ghap php-p yi?
nga-nyy jhokhng-la ch-p yi.
khyyrang-nyy jhokhng-la ghare jhey-gha php-p yi?
nga-nyy jhokhng-la chyje u-gha ch-p yi.

A:
B: khng-nyy jhokhng-la ghare jhey-gha ch-p rey?

A:
B: khng-nyy jhokhng-la chyje u-gha ch-pa rey.
A:
B: khng thm-la ghare jhey-gha ch-p rey?

A:
B: khng thm-la nyobch gyag-gha ch-p rey.
12
3
vocabulary
chyje u to visit a monastery
dhi-yag-la for writing, to write
12
2
A:
-gha for, to
khyyrang nyghu-i ghare jhey-yag-la nyy-p yi?

B:
nga nyghu-i yighe dhi-yag-la nyy-p yi.

A:
B: khng nyghu-i ghare jhey-yag-la nyy-p rey?

A:
B: khng nyghu-i yighe dhi-yag-la nyy-pa rey.
ghare jhey-gha what for?, to do what?

ghare jhey-yag-la what for?, to do what?
jhokhng Jhokhang (Name of a Temple)
khng-nyy they-two
khyyrang-nyy you-two
-la to, at
nyobch gyag to do shopping
nyy bought
php to come/go (for all tenses)
thm market
[yighe] dhi to write [letters]
46
GRAMMAR
12
4
verb + gha
Innitive Particle (to do, for doing, in order to do __ )
GHA is used only with motion verbs, such as: going / coming / inviting someone / sending someone (somewhere
to do something).
For example:
1.
nga thm-la nyobch gyag-gha ch-p yi.
I went to the market for shopping.

2.
khng lbdha-la lbjong jhey-gha do-ghi yorey.
He/she goes to school for studying.

3.
4.
5.
6.
jenehphr gp-la lma je-gha do-ghi rey.
Jennifer will go the monastery to visit a Lama.
khng khyyrang-la kych sy-gha yong-ghi rey-py?

Will he/she come to talk to you?
khng ts nyo-gha ng-p yin.

I sent him/her to buy vegetables.
khng khyyrang-la kych sy-gha ky ng-ghi yi.
I will call him/her to talk to you.
THE QUESTION WORD THAT IS USED FOR THIS KIND OF SENTENCES IS GHARE JHEY-GHA
For Example:
mi-hets chy-la ghare jhey-gha do-ghi yorey?

What do people go to the Stupa for? or Why do people go to the Stupa?
12
5
verb + yag-la
Innitive Particle (to do, for doing, in order to do __ )
YAG-LA is used for non-motion verbs.

For example:
nga nyghu-i yighe dhi-yag-la nyy-p yi.
1. I bought this pen to write with.
nga nyth -yag-la gap mey.
2. I dont like watching TV.
3. ng sma-its lngkh-la ty-yag-la bheycjy jhey-na dig-ghi rey-py?

Is it okay to use these coins to give to beggars?
THE QUESTION WORD THAT IS USED FOR THIS KIND OF SENTENCES IS GHARE JHEY-YAG-LA
For Example:
khyyrang namgy ghare jhey-yag-la gap yy?
What do you usually enjoy doing?
Present form of the verb is used for both the infinitive structures.
47
DRILLS
12
6
12
7
verb + ghar
nga
I

kra gyag
gha ch-pa yi
circumambulate to
went
nga
I
khng
he/she
akhng
restaurant
khng
he/she
nyima
Nyima
jhakhng
tea shop
jha hng
drink tea
nyima
Nyima
ngats
we
thm
market
nyobch gyag
do shopping
nga-ts
we
awa
Dawa
gp
monastery
lma je
visit guru
awa
Dawa
khngts
they
ngkhng
bank
ng
withdraw money
khng-ts
they
khyyrang chy-la ghare jhey-gha ch-p yi?

What did you go to the Stupa for? / Why did you go to the Stupa?
chy
Stupa
nga-nyy
we two
12
8
1.
verb + yag-la
la
to
khlag a
eat food
ch-pa rey
went
khng-ghi nang hkt ng

his/her home
party
khyyrang ghare jhey-yag-la gap yy?

What you [usually] like/love to do?
nga-nyy
we two
khla a
eat food

yag-la
to
nyobch gyag
do shopping
heb lg
read book
leyk jhey
work
tzmo tz
play
kych sy
talk
lgny
watch movies
Phrase building
nga nyobch gyag-yag-la gap yy, jheytzng nga thm-la nyobch gyag-gha do-ghi yi.
I like shopping, so I will go shopping.
2.

khng heb lg-yag-la gap yorey, jheytzng khng pzy khng-la heb lg-gha ch-p rey.
He/she likes reading books, therefore he/she went to the library to read books.
gap yy
like, love
gap yorey
like/likes, love/loves
48
EXERCISE
12
9
Fill in the blanks with yag-la or gha
1. nyghu-i yighe dhi __________ ny-ghi yi.

2. khyyrang yighe dhi __________ gap yy-py.
3. khng ghare jhey-__________ ch-p rey?
4. nga-la lgly nyo __________ ng go-ky ug.
5. sngnyi nga thm-la lgly nyo __________ do-ghi yi.
12
10
1.
1. __________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________
5. __________________________________________________
6. __________________________________________________
7. __________________________________________________
khyyrang chy-la ghare jhey-gha ch-p yi?

2.
khng ghare jhey-yag-la gap yorey?

3.
khyyrang ghare jhey-yag-la gap yy?

4.
nga heb lg-yag-la gap yy.

5.
khyyrang bhy-la ghare jhey-ghar ch-p yin?

6.
khngts lgny -yag-la gap-yo rey-py?

7.
momo its a-yag-la nyy-p rey-py?

12
11
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
jhey-gha
jhey-yag-la
kych sy
hkt ng
lgny
7.
8.
9.
10.
6.
pzy khng
lma
ngkhng
jhakhng
kra gyag
49
ngndo
13
13
1
Lhamo:
khng-ghiy ey ng-sng.

jenehphr la, khs khyyrang ghap ch-p yi?
Jennifer:

khs nga gela-ky nang-la ch-p yi. khs khng-ghi kyk

rey-ag. nga khng-ghi nang-la khng-ghi kyk ng-gha ch-p yi.
Lhamo:

ley. ni khyyrangts gela-kyy ey ng sng-gey?
Jennifer:

ng-sng. khng-ghiy bhyey mangp ng-sng. hahung apdh-yang

gyab-song. ma la, ik-hang! ngey nyp khsy

gyab-yy. khng ngma ey ng-kh rey-ag!
Lhamo:
hahung still, even more

gela-kyy by the teacher
ghare-ghare what...?
ji ey English songs
jheyna in that case,
kyk birthday
kyk ng to celebrate a birthday
kyk hkt birthday party
tsngma lp-miug. yiney mang chwa lp-ug.
ngatsy bhyey-hang ji ey mangp ng-p yi.
Lhamo:
bhyhey Tibetan song
lp-ug-ghey? has ... come?
khyyrangtsy kyk hkt-la ghare-ghare jhey-p yi?
Jennifer:
vocabulary
khyyrangtsy by you (plural)
hahung mi ngo mas pa-yang khsy lp-ag.
Lhamo:
13
2

ley. lbthg tsngma lp-ug-ghey?
Jennifer:
khng-ghiy ey ng-sng-gey?
DID YOU SEE HIM/HER SINGING SONGS?

ley. jheyna, ey yagp ng-yorey. cjg -hang!
khsy some
lp-ug. ... has come.
lp-miug ... has not come
lp-ag. ... has come.
mang chwa most of them
mi people, person
ngatsy by us
ngey by me
ngo masy pa stranger
nyp gyap to shoot movies
nyp gyap-yy ... have shot movies (P+)
rey-ag! it is ...! (discovering a fact)
apdh gyap to dance
ey ng to sing a song
ey ng-kh singer
ik see/check (H.)
-sng-gey? (witnessed past +?)
-sng (witnessed past +)
ey ng-yorey must have sung
hkt party
hkt ng to party
-hang! please show!
tsngma all
50
GRAMMAR
13
3
Witnessed Past
-SNG : This auxiliary is used with a past verb when the action is happened or done in the presense of the speaker.
For example:
1.
khng-ghiy* ey ng-sng.
He/she sang songs. (Lit. I saw/heard him sing songs.)

2.
khng-ghiy ey ng-masng.
He/she didnt sing songs. (Lit. I didnt see/hear him/her sing.)

3.
khng-ghiy ey ng-sng-gey?
Did he/she sing songs? (Lit. Did you see/hear him/her sing songs?)
4.
khng-ghiy ey ng-masng-gey?
Didnt he/she sing songs? (Lit. Didnt you see/hear him/her sing songs?)
13
4
Non-witnessed or Discovering a Past Action
-UG/AG : This auxiliary verb is used with the past form of a verb when the action happened in the absence of
the speaker, or the speaker discovers the action has nished / is completed.
For example:
1.
hkt-la mi mangp lp-ag/ug!
Many people have come to the party.

2.
hkt-la mi mangp lp-miug.
Not many people have come to the party.

3.
hkt-la mi mangp lp-ug-ghey?

Have many people come to the party?
4.
hkt-la mi mangp lp-miug-ghey?
Havent many people come to the party?

13
5
Commonly Discovered Past
-YOREY : This auxiliary verb is used with a past form of a verb when the action happened in the absence of the
speaker and the speaker is aware of it and has got used to it.
For example:
1.
hkt-la mi mangp lp-yorey.
Many people must have come to the party [as usual / as it generally happens].
13
6
Speaker-Powered Existential Past
-YY : This auxiliary verb is used with a past form of a verb when the result of the action is seen or felt by others at
the time it happened. The action must be affected or done by the speaker himself.
For example:
1.
ngey* momo y-yy.
I have made momos.
Note: The auxiliary verb is not used when the result of the action cannot be experienced by others.
ngey* momo ey-yy. (This is incorrect)
Instead one should say: ngey* momo ey-p yi. I ate or I have eaten momos.
* In our previous lessons, we have seen khng-ghi which means his/her, but in this lesson we see khng-ghiy which means
by him/her. Please check the difference in the spelling of the two words. In Tibetan spelling, when the sa letter is added to the
Genitive particle, it chages into the Agentive particle.
See also: ngey / ngatsy / khyyrang-ghiy / khyyrangtsy / khngtsy. The agentive particles are used to show who
the agent is, and thereby avoid confusion.
51
DRILLS
13
7
13
8
Action building
khng-ghiy momo sy-sng-gey?
+
khng-ghiy
He/she
(by him/her)
momo
momos
y
made
ch
water
k
boiled
nangjong
homework
lg
light
13
9
1.
Have you made momos?
khng-ghiy
he/she (by him/her)
-ug
has/had/have
jhey
did
nyimey
Nyima (by Nyima)
-ag
has/had/have
_________
sy
switched off
lg
light
pr
switched on
huglg
clothes
ty
washed
-masng
(IPNW)
sy
told
ngey
I (by me)
momo
momos
mey
mom (by mom)
y
made
-yorey
has/have/had
ngatsy
we (by us)
khngtsy
they (by them)
mach la-kyy
the cook (by the cook)
Phrase building

ngey khyyrang-ghiy kyk-la g-p cjg nyy-yy.
I have bought you some gifts for your birthday. Please have a look! What do you think of them?
2.
-sng
(IPW)
+
-yy
have/had
kygz
lie
khyyrang-ghiy momo y-yy-py?
Did he/she make momos? (Did you see him/her make momos?)
Agent building
khs nyimey awa-la gp cjg nyy-ag. khng-ghiy gp-he awa-la harang oky ty-sng.
Yesterday, Nyima bought some gifts for Dawa! He gave Dawa the gifts this morning.
-mey
have/had not
-miug
has/had/have not
-yo marey
has/had/have not
52
EXERCISE
13
10
Fill in the blanks with the suitable past auxiliary verbs matching the second column.
1. khng-ghiy khyyrang-la gp-cjg nyy-__________.
1. Past witnessed j + (IPNH)
2. khng-ghiy nga-la lgly nyy-__________?
2. Past witnessed +? (IPNH)
3. hering nyighung khla-la mach la-kyy momo y-__________.
3. Discovering past + (IPNH)
4. khs gela-ky kyk hkt-la jenehphr lp- __________?
4. Discovering past +? (IPNH)
5. khng lp ug, yiney khng-ghi ma lp- __________.
5. Discovering past - (IPNH)
6. khng chng-la gap yorey. khng-ghiy chng ng- __________.
6. Logical past + (IPH)
7. jenehphr-ghyiy lngkh-cjg-la rokp mangp jhey- __________.
7. Narrating past + (IPNH)
8. nga nang-la lp- __________.
8. Existential past + (P)
9. ngey gonghag khla-la y- __________.
9. Existential past - (P)
10. namgy nge ks akh-he awa marey. khng-ghiy ng ks ey- __________. 10. Logical past - (IPH)
13
11
Translate the following sentences into Tibetan. (you can write in phonetic)
1. Jennifer has put a beautiful chupa on!
1. ________________________________________________________
2. Has Jennifer bought a gift for her teacher?
2. ________________________________________________________
3. I have not been to her home.
3. ________________________________________________________
4. She went to the market to do the shopping. (I saw it)
4. ________________________________________________________
5. He must have gone to the monastery. (as usual)
5. ________________________________________________________
6. Have you done your homework?
6. ________________________________________________________
7. Hasnt he eaten those momos?
7. ________________________________________________________
8. She hasnt bought that computer!
8. ________________________________________________________
13
12
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
jhey-yy
jhey-ug
jhey-ag
jhey-yorey
jhey-sng
7.
8.
9.
10.
6.
namgy
gp
ty
khng-ghiy
53
ngndo
14
14
1
Dorje:
khng bhy-la do-nyong yo rey-py?
HAS HE/SHE EVER BEEN TO TIBET?
gen oje la nyg-ghi yorey.

ley! khyyrangts nga-la -gha lp-p yi-py?
students:

layi gela. khyyrang ghadey ug?
Dorje:
Dorje:
students:
Dorje:
students:
Dorje:
students:
Dorje:
students:
Dorje:
vocabulary
-:
chy
cjg
cjg jheyna
khyyrang ghare nng-ghi yy?
ha
ha
gap edhak
ga phy-ghi p its-la cjg -ghi yy.
ghadey

ghe chp
ghe
khyyrangts bhy-la do-nyong yy-py?
gho-yag

-ghyi kr-la
do-nyong mey. cjg jheyna, ngats khsy lo jeyma do-ghi yi.
gongp u
jhung

lp
gg rey. ni, jenehphr-ghyi kr-la cjg gho-yag ug-ghey?
leye
lo jeyma
lbjong nng
ha ghe hgho-masng. gela khyyrang sm chy-p yi-py?
nng

nnghag midug
ngats khsy
ey-p yi. khyyrangts lbjong yagp nng-:. ghe chp rey.
-nyong mey
-nyong
yy-py?

na
leye genla. yiney gela, khyyrang kuk-la hkcjg-nng-rok nng.
ng

phy
smth majhey
ng. nga nnghag mey. khyyrangts smth majhey-:.
ey

sm
leye. ha ngats gongp u-ghi yi. gela hkcjg nng-gho!
gg

hkcjg nng
leye. na php-:. nga gap edhak jhung. hkje ch!
hkcjg nng-gho!
nga nnghag midug. hkje ch.
students:
14
2
(Imperative mark)
eat, drink (to have)
some, once, something, one
maybe
now
at this time
very happy
how
important
anything
to hear [news]
about (someone/something)
to take leave (from someone)
received, got, had, was (EP)
came, arrived
okay
next year
to study (H.)
to do (H)
no problem, I am okay
some of us
have never have you ever -?
well then, so then
yes, okay I will
homeland
dont worry!
ate
medicine (H.)
to watch, to look, to visit
exactly, exact, right amount
to take care
take care!
54
GRAMMAR
14
3
Experiential Past
-nyong
A) VERB (Present form) + NYONG : To have done/experienced the action in the past. (Lit. experience in doing)
The Copula Family yy ( ), ug ( ) and yorey ( ) are used for this structure.
1) The Personal Copula yy ( ) means speaker-based / speaker-powered/chosen actions; habitual or nonhabitual as usual, (depending on the situation or context): The 1st person (singular or plural) gets this copula for the
statements, and the 2nd person (singular or plural) gets the Interrogative forms of this copula.
For example:
1.
2.
nga bhy-la do-nyong yy.
I have been to Tibet.
ngats bhy-la do-nyong mey.
We have never been to Tibet.
khyyrang bhy-la do-nyong yy-py?
Have you ever been to Tibet?
khyyrangts bhy-la do-nyong mey-py?
Havent you ever been to Tibet?
khng chng hng-nyong yorey.
He/she has drunk chang [in the past].
khngts chng hng-nyong yo marey.
They have never drunk chang.
nyima chng hng-nyong yo rey-py?
Has Nyima ever drunk chang?
khng leyk-i jhey-nyong ug.
He/she has done the work [before]!
khngts leyk-i jhey-nyong miug.
They have never done the work!
khng leyk-i jhey-nyong ug-ghey?
Has he/she ever done the work?
khng leyk-i jhey-nyong miug-ghey?
Hasnt he/she ever done the work?
2) The Impersonal Copula yorey ( ) which is used for habitual actions by others (but not the speaker) or
when the action is common/general or logical to the speaker; As usual, (depending on the situation or context): The
3rd person (singular or plural) gets this copulas forms.
For example:
1.
2.
3.
4.
khng-yang chng hng-nyong yo marey-py? Has he/she also drunk chang?
3) The Impersonal Copula ug ( ) is used for Non-habitual actions from other than the speaker, or when
the action is discovered by the speaker and affects himself or others. And as usual, (depending on the situation or
context): The 3rd person (singular or plural) gets this copulas forms.
For example:
1.
2.
3.
4.
B) VERB + NYONG : To have done or exprienced the action in the past.

Without using copulas, this structure is called Egophoric which is used only with the 1st person (singular or plural) in the statement forms and 2nd person (singular or plural) in the interrogative forms depending on the context.
And the verb comes in the past forms.
For example:
1.
2.
3.
4.
khyyrang bhy-la ch nyong-gey?
ga bhy-la ch ma-nyong.
I have never been to TIbet.
khyyrangts bhy-la ch ma-nyong-gey? Havent you ever been to Tibet?

ngats bhy-la hngcjg ch nyong.
We have been to Tibet once.
55
DRILLS
14
4
14
5
Have you ever - ?
Have you ever - ? (Egophoric)
khyyrang bhy-la do-nyong yy-py?
khyyrang bhy-la ch nyong-gey?

nga
I
bhy-la do -nyong
yy
going to Tibet experience in have
tzmp a
eating tzampa

yo marey
has not
khng
he/she
yorey
has
mey
have not
nga
I
ngats
we
1.
bhy-la ch
gone to Tibet
nyong
have
manyong
havent (never in the past)
tzmp ey
eaten tzampa
pg a
eating pak
lhmo-la kych sy
talking to Lhamo
pch-i lg
reading this pecha
nangchy lbjong jhey

studying Buddhism
momo o
cooking momos
14
6
pg ey
eaten pak
lhmo-la kych sy
talked to Lhamo
pch-i lg
read this pecha
nangchy lbjong jhey

studied Buddhism
momo y
cooked momos
Phrase building
nga yk tzney hng-nyong mey. khyyrang-ghiy hng-nyong yy-py?

I have never [ever] seen a yak. Have you?
2.
nga bhy-la ch-manyong. yiney, gey garok bhy-la hngma khsy do-nyong yorey. khyyrang ch nyong-gey?
I have never been to Tibet, but my girl/boy friend has been to Tibet several times. Have you?
56
EXERCISE
14
7
Look at the pictures and answer the questions using the Present Perfect.
khyrang momo o-nyong yy-py? khng -nyong yorey-py?

4
khngts ghare jhey-nyong yorey?

6
[This is his picture.

You discoverd that he
has smoked before.]
khng ghare jhey-nyong ug?
14
8
khyyrang ghare jhey-nyong yy?
khngts ghare jhey-nyong yorey?
1. I have never eaten tsampa.
1. ________________________________________________________
2. Have you ever driven a car?
2. ________________________________________________________
3. I have drunk chang once.
3. ________________________________________________________
4. Hasnt she ever been to Tibet? (IPH)
4. ________________________________________________________
5. Has she ever been to Tibet?
5. ________________________________________________________
6. Have you ever read this book?
6. ________________________________________________________
7. I have never [ever] done this work before!
7. ________________________________________________________
8. He has never eaten pak!
8. ________________________________________________________
14
9
2. []
3.
4.
5.
1.
-nyong
tz[wa] ney
khyney
hngcjg
gg
7.
8.
9.
10.
6.
cjg jheyna
ghe chp
hkcjg nng
nnghag mey
gongp u
57
ngndo
15
khyyrang bhyky jang-ney gy ring-ly ch-sng?
HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE YOU STARTED LEARNING TIBETAN?
15
1
A:
15
2
nga bheyl-la lp-ney awa nyy-tzm ch-sng.
khyyrang bhey-la ghahy php-p yi?

B:
A:
khyyrang ghap uk-ky yy?
B:
nga dkhng-ig-la ey yy.

A:
dkhng-he ghap yorey?

B:
dkhng-he chy-ghyi thy-la yorey.

A:

ley. ni, bhey-la ghare nng-gha php-p yi?
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
ts kgyey
The eight auspicious signs
15
3
7
8
vocabulary
[hang/ghi] nymhu
bheyl
nga bhey-la nangchy lbjong jhey-gha lp-p yi.
awa
ey
dkhng
khyyrang bhyky yagp khy-ghyi ug.
ghahy
ghap ghap
khyyrang bhyky ghahy jangp yin?
-ghyi thy-la
gy ring-ly
jang
nga bhyky jang-ney awa nyy-tzm ch-sng.
khy
muhy-ney

nangchy
hata-yang muhy-ney dhokmo-ig-hang nymhu jang-ghi yy.
nang-la
-ney
nyy
nley. ngyny, awa nyy nang-la p yagp se-ag!
se
uk
-tzm
ghap ghap.
with, together with

Nepal
month
stay, live, sit
guest house
when?
no way!
nearby
how long?
learn[ed]
to know (H.)
continuously
Dharma
in
since
two
to know
stay, sit, live (H.)
around, about, just
58
GRAMMAR
15
4
Since
-ney
The past form of the VERB + NEY followed by time:

For example:
1.
khyyrang bhyky jang-ney gy ring-ly ch-sng?
How long it has been since you started learing Tibetan?

2.
nga bhyky jang-ney awa nyy-tzm chn-sng.
It has been about two months since I started learning Tibetan.
In the above sentences the verb chin at the end refers to the time passed or gone by.
So, in the 1st example, it asks, gyun rin-loy chin-song, which means: How long has it (the time) been....
And in the 2nd example, it answers, dawa nyiy-tzam chin-song which means: It (the time) has been around two months.
Some more examples:
1.
khng ts nyo-gha ng-ney chtsy cig-tzm ch-ag!
It has been around one hour since I sent him/her to buy vegetables! (Checking the time)
2.
nga bhyky jang-ney awa nyy-tzm do-ghi ug.

It has been around two months since I started learning Tibetan. (The learning is still in process.)
3.
ngey khng ngo s-ney gy ringp ch-masng.
I havent known him/her for very long. (Lit. It has not been long since I knew him/her)
15
5
-la -tsl
The Post-positions
We call it Post-position instead of Pre-position which is the term used in English.

The reason is, in Tibetan the Post-positions appear after the noun where something/someone must be placed,
whereas, in English they appear before the noun.
For example:
kbkyg-ghi gang-la imi-ig ug!

There is a cat on [top of] the chair!
In the English translation in the above example, the locative particle on top of appears before the location.
In Tibetan, the locative particle -ghi gang-la appears after the location (which is the chair in this sentence).
ghi which means of, is a genitive particle and it connects the gang which means top to the place where something is
located. And la, on is the locative particle which can be translated as on, in, at, by etc.
The Genitive particles go according to the suffix letter of a noun. (Please check 6.6.)
The Genitive particles may be sometimes omitted when the the noun ends in a consonant sound. But if the noun ends in a
vowel sound, the Genitive particles need to be there in the structure! Please check the examples below:
1. A noun ending in a consonant sound: []
chy[-ghyi] thy-la tsngkhng mangp yorey. There are many shops nearby the Stupa.
2. A noun ending in a vowel sound: []
khng-ghi khngp[] -la metgumra-ig yorey. There is a garden in front of his house.
Please see more Post-positions in the drill page of this lesson.
59
DRILLS
15
6
15
7
Since how long ...
khyyrang nangchy lbjong jhey-ney gy ring-ly ch-sng?

How long has it been since you started studying Dharma?
nga
I

nangchy lbjong jhey ney nyima khsy
since, some days
studying/studied Dharma
from
thg nyy
two weeks
bhey-la lp
came/ have come to Nepal
akh nyy
two weeks
heb-i lk
read/have read this book
awa sm
three months
jenehphr gos
have known Jennifer
chngs gyap
got married
mot-i nyy
bought this car/vehicle
15
8
ch -sng
been, witnessed
gone,
passed
khng bhyky jang

he/she learning/learned Tibetan
1.
The post-positions
lo cjg gg
exactly one year
gam-ghyi gang-la ghare ug?

What is there on the box?
gam ghyi gang

box
on
-p rey
narrating
-ag
discovers
-ug
discovers
-yorey
commonly
known
gy ringp
long time
y ringp
long time

la
at,
in,
on
tztz-ig ug
or
There is (discovering)
tztz-cjg
a mouse
g
under/beneath
front
gyab
back/behind
yorey
There is (in general )
yy
There is / [I] have
(I am the reason that it
is there)
yy
right
y
left
yy-y
around
thy
near by
nang
in
Phrase building

khng ch-ney gy ringp ch-sng. cjg jheyna ha khng phghe lp-yorey.
It has been long since he/she left. He/she must have got there by now. Maybe.
2.
nga bhyky jang-ney awa nyy-tzm ch-sng. ha nga bhyky gtzm s-ky yy. khyyrang-yang bhyky s-ky yy-py?
It has been about two months since I started learning Tibetan. Now, I know some Tibetan. Do you also now some Tibetan?
60
EXERCISE
15
9
Write something about yourself/someone/something!
15
10
2. /
3.
4.
5.
1.
-ney
hang/ghi nymhu
gy ring-ly
gy ringp
gang
7.
8.
9.
10.
6.
gyab
thy
nang
61
ngndo
16
16
1
Mom:
[ ]
khyyrang bheyl-la kyyp ug-ghey
ARE YOU ENJOYING IN NEPAL?

Jennifer talking with her mother on phone
16
2
bhumo! kkhyyrang bhey-la kyiyp ug-ghey?

Jennifer:
kyyp ug, ma. yiney nga khyyrang edrha dhen-ghyi ug.

Mom:
nga-yang khyyrang dhe-ghyi ug. khes ngey khyyrang-la yighe-hig

ng-p yi. lk-p yi-py?
Jennifer:

lk-p yi. khyyrang hang p:la nyeych bhy-la ch-p yi-py?
Mom:

ch-p yi. ngats-nyy bhy-la awa cjg-tsm ey-p yi.
Jennifer:
ni, khyyrangts bhy-la kyyp jhung-ngey?

Mom:

kyyp edha jhung. hahung p:la-kyy nga-la ngp mangp
nyy-jhung. p:la-kyy khyyrang-la-yang ngnp mangp nyy-sng.

Jennifer:

ley! khyyrang-ghiy p:la-la hkje ch sng-rok nng.

nga gap edha jhung. ni, hengsng nga nangchy-la lbjong jhey
-ky yy sng-ro nng. ni nga khng edha dhen-ghyi ug sng
xxx
-ro nng. yine nga-la hkth ma-nng-ro...

reminding the lessons object
16
3
vocabulary
bhumo! girl!
awa cjg Nepal
ey happy, enjoy
hahung to remember
hengsng to write a letter
dhen read
jhung recently
-jhung we-two
kych sy month
khp about, around
khes to stay
kyiyp was, got, had, received
lk (question mark)
morang still, even more, moreover
nangchy gift, present
ngats-nyy (past egophoric aux.)
ngp theseday
-ngey Buddhism
nymhu Please tell! (H.)
nyeych Dont worry (H.)
-p etc.
edrha herself
sng-ro nng with, together
hkth ma-nng phone

-tzm to talk/speak/tell
xxx (clause marker)
yighe ng
Next lesson: Where are you from?
GRAMMAR
16
4
jhung as the main verb
62
63
spoken
phonetic
TRANSLATION
DRILL
4
4
Object building
Subject building
phonetic
translation
khyyrang
Who are you?
phonetic
translation
4
4
1.
4
4
khyyrang
Who are you?
phonetic
translation
phonetic
translation
Phrase building
phonetic
translation
2.
phonetic
translation
reminding the lessons object
Advice
64
spoken
phonetic
TRANSLATION
EXERCISE
4
4
1. Where do we find the main verb in a Tibetan sentence?
2. What is the place of a question word in Tibetan sentence?
3. How do you greet and say Bye in Tibetan?
4
4
EXAMPLES:
1. ngai ming-la jenehphr er-ghyi yy.
1. ________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________
3. khng-ghi ming-la ghare er-ghyi yorey?
3. ________________________________________________________
4. nga awa men. nga nyima yin.
4. ________________________________________________________
5. khng nyima rey. khng awa marey?
5. ________________________________________________________
6. khyyrang kuk dep yin-py?
6. ________________________________________________________
7. nga dep yin.
7. ________________________________________________________
8. jeyla jelyong!
8. ________________________________________________________
4
4
Give the meaning of the words and memorize them to catch the next lesson!
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
nga
khyyrang
khng
ngai
khyyrang-ghi
7.
8.
9.
10.
6.
khng-ghi
ming
ghare
s
ep
65
GLOSSARY
Transliteration / Tibetan / English
A
-: : imperative mark
:mm : mm... (tasting something)
cj : elder sister
le pk : dolls
ley : Oh!
ma : mother, mom
mey : by mother
nghu : pigion
ley : Oh I see.
ri : America
ri-mi : American
bagbag : motorbike
bheyl : Nepal
bheycjy : use (n.)
bheycjy jhey : to use
bhu : boy, son
bhy : Tibet
bhyjha : Tibetan tea
bhyky : Tibetan language
bhyky tsgzy : Tibetan dictionary
bhyp : Tibetan
bhyey : Tibetan food
bhyhey : Tibetan songs
bu : ant, insects
chb : water (H.)
chng : TIbetan [homemade] beer
ch : to open (Lit. past form of the verb)
chp : big, great
chg- (chg-ng) () : one (one thousand)
chgyel-mi : foreigner
ch : went, been, gone
chy : to eat, to drink, to put on, to offer (H.)
chychng : TIbetan [homemade] beer (H.)
chyje u : to visit a temple
chykhng : shrine-room
chyp : practitioner
chyp : offering
chysm : shrine
chy : Stupa
ch : water
chp : Tibetan traditional dress
cjg : one, someone, something, some, once
-cjg : a, an (indinite article)
cjg jheyna : maybe

cjcj : elder brother
cjy chp : nutritious
awa : month, moon, (also Tibetan name)
ep : ne, comfort
ey : to stay, to sit, to live
ha : now
hahung : still, even more

hang : and, imperative mark
hang nymhu : together with, with
ha : now, at this time, this time
he : that, the, it
heb : book
heney : and then, then, after that
hengsng : thesedays, now-a-day
hets : those
hering : today
huglg : clothes
huglg thy : to wash clothes
hytsy : time
i : this
idey : like this
its : these
dangtz : honey
dhagya : internet
dhap / hawa / : monk
dhi : to write (present form)
dhiy : wrote
dhokp : friend
dhowa : taste
dhowa chp : tasty
dig : to be okay, to be enough
dik : to be okay, to be enough (past)
do : to go
dogp : nomad
dungheb : story book
dma : (Tibetan name), Tara
dkhng : guesthouse
ug : to be there, has, (IPNH+)
: in front
: seven
thg : week
mch : doctor
66
GLOSSARY
ni : and then, so
G gang : on top
gap : like, love
garok : lover, boy/girl friend
gege : teacher
gekhng : window
gela : teacher, elder one (H.)
ghahy : When?
ghadey : How?
ghaney : From where?
ghang : snow
ghangyierna : because
ghap : Where?
ghap ghap : no way!
-gha () : to ... (innitive for motion verbs)
ghare : What?
ghare ghare : What ...
ghare jhey-gha : to do what? What for?
ghare jheyney : Why?
ghare jhey-yag-la : for doing what?
ghe : nothing (the verb is negated)
ghe jhey-ky marey : It doesnt matter
ghe nng-ghi marey : It doesnt matter (H.)
ghei yo marey : It doesnt matter.
ghe chp : important
-ghey () : yes/no question mark (Is it there?)
-ghi : of, appostrophy s
gho : to hear
ghyi : of, apostrophy s
-ghyi kr-la : about
go : door
go / gy : need
gom : meditation
gom gyag : to meditate
gonghag : sorry
gongha khla : dinner
gongp u : to take leave [from someone]
gyag / gyab / : (verbalizer)
gyagha : India
gyagrey : ght, ghting (n.)
gyagrey gyab : to ght
gyami : Chinese
gyanag : China

gyug : go!, to run
gyugp : stick
gyugp jhiri : lollipop
gy ring-ly : How long?
gy ringp : long time
gp : monastery
H hgho : to know, to understand
I
ji /
J jang / : to learn (Lit. future/past forms)
je : to meet, to see, to visit
jeyla jeyong : See you later.
jeyma : later [on]
jha : tea
jha ngmo : sweet tea
jhakhng : tea-shop
jhey : to do (also a verbalizer)
jhey : did, done
jheyna : well, in that case, so then
jheytzng : therefore
jhiri : candy
jhokhng : name of a temple in Lhasa
jhug : got, received, had
K ky : cup
kych : words
kych sy : to speak/say
kyk : birthday
kyk ng : to celebrate a birthday
kym : woman, wife
kh tsp : spicy, hot
khlag : food, meal
khp : telephone
khp ng : to phone (Lit. past form)
khsy : some
-kh : [verb]er, doer of the action (a structure)
khs : yesterday
khng : he/she
khng-ghi : his/her
khng-nyy : they-two
khngts : they
khngts : their
khngtsy : by them
khykp : ice
67
GLOSSARY
khykp jhiri : ice-cream
khy : to know (H.)
khy tsrp : strange
khyyrang : you (singular)
khyyrang-ghi : your (singular)
khyyrang-nyy : you-two, two of you
khyyrangtsy : by you (plural)
khy : dog
khyney : never (the verb is negated)
k : to boil
kra : circumambulation
kra gyab : to circumambulate (past form)
kra gyag
: to circumambulate (present form)
k : to steal
k : statue
kbkyg : chair
kda : statue
kga : (Tibetan name)
kuk : body (H.)
ky : stole, stolen
kygz : lie
kygz sy : to tell a lie
kyhgha : husband
-ky : of, appostrophy s (Genitive particle)
-kyy : by (Agentive particle)
L -la : to, at, in, on, for
la : honoric mark
lma : spiritual teacher, guru
lp : came, come, arrived, reached
leyk : work (n.)
leyk jhey : to work
leye : okay, yes, alright
lh : deities
lhbriy : thanka painter
lhgp : (Tibetan name)
lhmo : opera, female deity, (Tibetan name)
lhmo thb : to play in the opera
lhs : Lhasa (the capital city of Tibet)
lo : age, year
lbdha : school
lbjong : study (n.)
lbjong jhey : to study
lbjong nng : to study (H.)

lbtg : student
lg : to read (Lit. present form)
lg : electricity, light
lgly : computer
lgny : movie
lk : read (Lit. past form)
lng : to beg
lng-kh : beggar
lungp : country
M mach / : cook, chef
maghi : that down there
mang chwa : mostly, most of them
mangp : many
mats : those down there
mar : butter
marey : to be not (IP-)
me : to be not (P-)
meg : ower
mey : (negation particle, to be not there or not to have)
mi : people, person, (it is also a negation particle)
migm : (Tibetan name)
miug : to be not there (IPNH-)
ming : name
m:la : grandmother (H.)
momo : veg./non-veg. dough (a Tibetan food)
mm : grandmother
mot : car, vehicle
mot ng : to drive a car
mot ng-kh : driver
muhy-ney : continuously
N -na : if
nmdhu : aeroplane
namgy : usually
nang : home, in
nng : to give, to do (H.)
nangchy : Buddhist doctrine, Dharma
nnghag mey : no problem! (P)
nnghag midug : no problem! (IP)
nangjong : homework
nangjong jhey : to do homework
nang-la : in, at home
nangmi : family member, family
nngnyi : day after tomorrow
68
GLOSSARY
-ney : from, since
nga : I
ngats : we
ngmo : sweet
ngatsy : by us, we (as the agent of the verb)
nge : my
nges : rest (n.)
nges gyag : to take rest
gp : gift, present
ngey : by me, I (as the agent)
-ngey : yes/no question mark [when the sufx is nga]
ngo mas pa : stranger
ngo sp : acquaintance
ngma : before, in the past
ngny : real, Really!, Really?
gos : to know by person
ng : money, silver
ng sima : change [money], coins
ng : to withdraw money (Lit. past form)
ngkhng : bank
nimbu : lemon (Hindi/Nepali term used by Tibetan in exile)
nymhu : with, together
nyekhg : bedroom, room
nye : to listen
ny : to listen (future and past forms of the verb, Lit.)
nyp : movie clips
nyp gyap : to shoot movies (Lit. past form)
nythn : TV
nyima : sun, (Tibetan name)
nyimey : by Nyima
nyng jep : beautiful
nyighung khlag : lunch
nyngjechp : compassionate
nyima khsy : someday
nyy : two
nyo : to buy
nyobch : shopping (n.)
nyobch gyab : did shopping
nyobch gyag : to do shopping
-nyong : (experiential past)
nyghu : pen
ny : Listen!
nyy : bought

O g : under, underneath
gma : younger brother/sister
na : in that case, well, so,
g : okay, yes
P p:la : father
pg : dough of roasted our (a Tibetan food)
pnge : apron
pr : photo, picture
pr gyag : to take pictures
pr gyag-kh : photographer
pdom : photo album
psng : (Tibetan name)
p : very, example
p:cjng : Beijing (the capital city of China)
pch : Tibetan books [in folios]
pp : (Tibetan name)
pzy khng : library
-py : yes/no question mark
phghe / : there, over there
phghi : that [over there]
phts : those [over there]
phy : homeland
php : to come/go/arrive (for all tense) (H.)
phrbhu : (Tibetan name)
p:la : grandfather (H.)
pp : grandfather
py : incense
pyong : incense holder
pghu / : child, children
pghu -kh : baby-sitter
pky : relatives, kinsman, cousins
R rey : to be (IP+)
rokp : help, company
S sbt : map
a / : eat (present / future form of the verb)
a : day, heavenly bodies
a nyima : sunday
a awa : monday
a migm : tuesday
a lhkp : wednesday
a phrbhu : thursday
a psng : friday
a pp : saturday
69
GLOSSARY
S
akhng : restaurant
akh : week
sml : thought
sml kh : to have thought
sml ng : to think
sngnyi : tomorrow
angp : good, nice
sngyey : Buddha, enlightened
smp : mind, heart
smp sangp : good heart
smth jhey : to worry
sp : chilly
er : to be called, to call
sy : to kill, to switch-off (Lit. past form)
ey : ate
s : meat
apdh : dance
apdh gyab : to dance (Lit. past form)
edhak : very
elag : food/meal (H.)
emo : momos (H.)
s : to know
sy : to tell/say/speak
ey : song
ey ng : to sing songs
ey ng-kh : singer
sg : a, an
ig : a, an
imi : cat
simp : tasty
ingp : farmer
sg : Come!
uk : sit, stay, live (H.)
ik : to see/look/buy (H.)
imgo : door (H.)
o : Eat!
o : to make
sm : medicine (H.)
-sng : (positive aux. verb for witnessed past)
s : who
ukp : body (H.)
ukp thy : to take shower
sm : three

sng : to say/tell/speak (H.)
y : made
T : horse
/ : to look/watch/check (present/future)
: to ride a horse (Lit. past/future form)
gg : exact, exactly
ng : to sent (Lit. it is the past form of the verb)
tsh elek : greeting, hello!
: for sure
ty : to give
y : looked, watched, checked
hmag : cigarette
hmag h : to smoke [a cigarette]
hngk : thanka painting
hngcjg : once, one time
hngma : times
hngma khsy : several time
hch nng : thank you
hgp : noodle-soup
hk : mind, heart (H.)
hkcjg nng : to take care
hkcjg nng-gho! : Take care!
hkje ch : thank you
hkt : party
hkt ng : to party
hng : to drink (present)
gtzm : a bit, a little
ogtzm jeyla : little bit later
: to take out, to with draw (Lit. past form)
: to show
y : Look!
th : ten thousand, throne
thy : near
thm : market
thy : to wash
t : to wash (future form)
ty : washed
ts : salt
tskpr : newspaper
tskh : salty
tsngma : all
ts : vegetable
ts khgg : bitter gourd
GLOSSARY
tsgzy : dictionary
tsngp : businessman
ng : to drink (the future form of the verb)
ng : drank
ty : washed
-tzm : about, around
tzmp : roasted our (a Tibetan food)
tzney : never (the verb is negated)
tzngma : clean
tzwa ney : never (the verb is negated)
tz : to play, top, tip
tzymo : play, game
tzymo tz : to play [a game], to tease
tztz / : mouse
tzng : to sell (Lit. the future form of the verb)
-yag : to (nomilizer to the object of a verb)
yg : yak (a domestic animal in Tibet)
yaghi : that up there
-yag-la : in order to ..., for, to...
yagp : good
yagp jhung : It was good!
-yang : also
yangkyr : again
yats : those up there
ya : in, upwards
yy : right [side]
yy-y : around
yighe : letter
yighe dhi : to write
yi : to be (P+)
yinna yang : but
yinney : but
yo marey : to be not there, not to have (IPH-)
y : left [side]
yong : to come
yorey : to be there, to have (IPH+)
y ringp : long time
ychb : water offering
yy : to be there, to have (P+)
zigp : handsome, impressive
zidha : class, classroom
zidha tsk : to have class
70
71
NUMERAL
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
cjg
nyy
sm
i
ng
dhug

gyey
gu
cj
cjgcjg
cjgnyy
cjgsm
cjbi
cjng
cjdhug
cjb
cjbgyey
cj[r]gu
nyis
nyis tz[g]cjg
nyis tz-nyy
nyis tzsm
nyis tzbi
nyis tzng
nyis tzdhug
nyis tzb
nyis tzbgyey
nyis tz[r]gu
smcj
smcj s[g]cjg
smcj s-nyy
smcj ssm
smcj sbi
smcj sng
smcj sdhug
smcj sb
smcj sbgyey
smcj s[r]gu
ibcj
ibcj ecjg
ibcj enyy
ibcj esm
ibcj ebi
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
ibcj eng
ibcj ehug
ibcj eb
ibcj ebgyey
ibcj e[r]gu
ngbcj
ngcj ngacjg
ngcj nganyy
ngcj ngasm
ngcj ngabi
ngcj ngang
ngcj ngadhug
ngcj ngab
ngcj ngabgyey
ngcj nga[r]gu
dhugcj
dhugcj recjg
dhugcj renyy
dhugcj resm
dhugcj rebi
dhugcj reng
dhugcj redhug
dhugcj reb
dhugcj rebgyey
dhugcj re[r]gu
cj
cj hcjg
cj hnyy
cj hsm
cj hi
cj hng
cj hdug
cj h
cj hgyey
cj hgu
gyeycj
gyeycj ghyeycjg
gyeycj ghyeynyy
gyeycj ghyeysm
gyeycj ghyebi
gyeycj ghyeyng
gyeycj ghyeydhug
gyeycj ghyab
gyeycj ghyabgyey
72
NUMERAL
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
101
102
103
200
201
202
203
300
301
302
303
400
401
402
403
500
501
502
503
600
601
602
603
gyeycj ghya[r]gu
gubcj
gubcj ghocjig
gubcj ghonyy
gubcj ghosm
gubcj ghobi
gubcj ghong
gubcj ghodhug
gubcj ghob
gubcj ghobgyey
bubcj gho[r]gu
gya / chggya /
chggya [cjmey] cjg []

gyahang [cjmey] cjg []
gya-hang nyy []
gya-hang sm []
nyigya
nyigya [cjmey] cjg []
nyigya [cjmey] nyy []
nyigya [cjmey] sm []
smgya
smgya [cjmey] cjg []
smgya [cjmey] nyy []
smgya [cjmey] sm []
ibgya
ibgya [cjmey] cjg []
ibgya [cjmey] nyy []
ibgya [cjmey] sm []
ngbgya
ngbgya [cjmey] cjg []
ngbgya [cjmey] nyy []
ngbgya [cjmey] sm []
dhuggya
dhuggya [cjmey] cjg []
dhuggya [cjmey] nyy []
dhuggya [cjmey] sm []
700 gya
701 gya [cjmey] cjg []

702 gya [cjmey] nyy []
703 gya [cjmey] sm []
800
801
802
803
900
901
902
903
gyeygya
gyeygya [cjmey] cjg []
gyeygya [cjmey] nyy []
gyeygya [cjmey] sm []
gubgya
gubgya [cjmey] cjg []
gubgya [cjmey] nyy []
gubgya [cjmey] sm []
1000 chgng / ngcjg /

1001 chgng [gyamey cjmey] cjg
[]
1010 chgng [gyamey] cj []
1100 chgng gya
1101 chgng gya-hang [cjmey] cjg
[]
1201 chgng nyigya [cjmey] cjg
[]
1301 chigng smgya [cjmey] cjg
[]
1999 chgng gubgya gubcj gho[r]gu
2000 nyiyng /
3000 smng /
4000 ing /
5000 ngng /
6000 dhugng /
7000 ng /
8000 gyeyg /
9000 gung /
10,000 chgth / th cjg /
10,001 chg th [gyamey ngmey cjmey] cjg
[]
20,002 nyiyth / th [ngmey gyamey cjmey] nyy
[]
30,000 smth / th sm /
40,000 ith / thi /
50,000 ng-th / th ng /
100,000 chgbum / bumcjg / bum / /
73
NUMERAL
111,111
10,00,000
10,00,000
...
100,00,000
...
10,00,00,000
...
chgbum chgth chgng gya-hang cjgcjg

jhewa
jheywa chg
jheywa cjg-hang ... xxx
sya
sya cjg-dhang ... xxx
hungchr
hungchr cjg-dhang ... xxx
ORDINAL NUMBER
the number
first
second
third
fourth
fifth
sixth
seventh
eighth
ninth
tenth
eleventh
twelfth
thirteenth
fourteenth
fifteenth
sixteenth
seventeenth
eighteenth
nineteenth
twentieth
twenty first
twenty second
twenty third
thirtieth
fortieth
fiftieth
sixtieth
seventieth
eightieth
ninetieth
one hundredth
ngk
hang-p
nyy-p
sm-p
i-p
ng-p
dhug-p
-p
gyey-p
gu-p
cj-p
cjgcjg-p
cjgnyy-p
cjgsm-p
cjbi-p
cjng-p
cjdhug-p
cjb-p
cjbgyey-p
ch[r]gu-p
nyis-p
nyis tz[g]cjg-p
nyis tz[g]nyy-p
nyis tz[g]sm-p
smcj-p
ibcj-p
ngbcj-p
dhugcj-p
cj-p
gyeycj-p
gubcj-p
gya-p / gya hmp
o
1
10
100
1000
10,000
100,000
10,00,000
100,00,000
10,00,00,000
The first, the first position

Second position
Third position
Fourth position
Fifth position
etc.
lyk
cjg
cj
gya
ng
th
bum
jheywa
sya
hungchr
ngk hang-p
ngk nyy-p
ngk sm-p
ngk i-p
ngk ng-p
Making an Ordinal Number:

Please note the p after all the numbers acept for the
first which is different.
74
NUMERAL
SOME NUMBER RELATED VOCABULARY
How many/much?
many
few
little/bit
all
some
both
three of them
four of them
ve of them
about/around
exact
alone
together
they-two
they-three
they-four
we-two
we-three
you-two
you-three
all-together
each
one each
two each
three each
four each
numeral
number
at rst, at the beginning
percentage
hundred percent
fty percent
twentyve percent
1/4
2/4
1/3
2/3
half
dot
1.5
phone number
room number
ghatsy
mangp
nyungnyung
gtzm
tsngma
khsy
nyyk
smk
ik
ngk
tzm
gg
cjgp
nymh/nymp /
khngts-nyy
khngts-sm
khngts-i
ngats-nyy
ngats-sm
khyyrang-nyy []
khyyrang-sm
tsngma nymhu
rere
cjg-cjg
nyy-nyy, nyy-re /
sm-sm, sm-re /
i-i, i -re /
dhangk
ngdhang
hangp
gyach
gyach gya
gyach ngbcj
gyach nyis tzng
hi-ch cjg
i-ch nyy
sm-ch cjg
sm-ch nyy
chyk
tsg
cjg-tsg ng
khp ngdhang
khngmig ngdhang
75
TOPICS
1
Parts of the body
back
back of the head
beard
body hair
body
bone
bottom
breast
calf
cheek
chest
chin
ear
elbow
eye
eyebrow
face
finger
flash
foot
forehead
hair
hand
head
heel
knee
leg
mastash
mouth
nail
neck
nose
palm
penis
shoulder
sole
stomach
teeth
toes
thigh
throat
tongue
vagina
Relations
acquaintance
adopted daughter
adopted son
boy/girlfriend, lover
bride
bride groom
companion, assistant
cousin brother
cousin sister
daughter, girl
disciple
elder brother
elder sister
enemy
family
father
friend (girl)
friend (male)
grandfather
grandmother
guest
guru, spiritual leader
husband
-in-law
maternal aunt
maternal uncle
mother
paternal aunt
paternal uncle
relatives/kinsman/cousin
servant (female)
servant (male)
son, boy
sponsor, boss
spouse
step-father
step-mother
twins,
wife
younger brother
younger sister
stranger
76
NUMERAL
3
Profession
accountant
assistent to a cook
blacksmith
businessman
butler
cashier
cook, chef
doctor
farmer
gate keeper
goldsmith
monk
nomad
nun
nurse
policeman
president
primeminister
professor
sacretary
scientist
soldier
tailor
teacher
writer
staff
student
builder
artist
philosopher
lawyer
thanka painter
framer of gods, sculpter
treasurer, steward, general secretary
shrine keeper, temple servant
singer
opera singer
body guard
baby sitter
beggar
pratitioner
administrator
manager
Educations
class
classroom
school
teacher
student
book
scholar
grammar
science
philosphy
astrology
77
bhyey Tibetan food
tzmp
roasted flour
pg
dough of roasted flour
lwa khts
fried lung filled with
roasted flour
dyp khts
belly fried
cjle
fried tongue
tngmo
steamed bread
gyahg
noodle soup
s bhagleb
gyuma
sausage
momo
momo
hhg
pulled noodle soup
smdey
sbt
bhaghg
bread ball noodle soup
bhagleb
fried meat
bread
meat filled bread
meat and rice dish
nmt bhagleb
snack
78
bhyey Tibetan food
bhyjha
Tibetan tea
pg
Tibetan homemade
beer
ma
butter
deys
lephng
lefing (a street food)
khey
snack
gyahg
noodle soup
s bhagleb
meat filled bread
gyuma
rice soup
momo
gravy tzampa with tea
hhg
boiled chang
smdey
sbt
soft creamy cheese
bhaghg
bhagleb
khbey
wild sweet potato
cheese
mashed liver
ceremonial rice
meat and rice dish
79
PHONETICS
(In accordance with the Lhasa dialect)

16.1
The Consonant Sounds

NON-ASPIRATED (The inner effort)
High [tone]
ASPIRATED (The outer effort)
Low [tone]
tz
ny
cj
ng
ky
High [tone]
ga
za
nya
ma
ya
la
da
ja
ba
nga
na
wa
ra
gya
, a
Low [tone]
kh
ts
_____
____
_____
____
_____
____
_____
____
lh
th
ch
ph
_____
____
_____
____
_____
____
_____
____
rh
khy
gha
ha
zha
_____
____
_____
____
_____
____
_____
____
_____
____
dha
jha
bha
_____
____
_____
____
_____
____
_____
____
_____
____
ghya
_____
____
ASPIRATED / NON-ASPIRATED SOUNDS: In Tibetan, as in many languages, the letters are either aspirated or no-aspirated. Aspiration
is a breath that follows the initial part of a sound. Compare the sounds associated with the English letter t for example. Hold the back of
your hand close to your mouth and say Top. Now say Stop. Can you feel the burst of air that follows the t in Top but not in Stop?
The same difference exists between the p in Peak and the one in Speak. That burst of air after the t in Top and the p in Peak is
called aspiration.
HIGH-TONE: The sounds need bigger effort. The sound is basically high-pitched compared to the low-tone sounds. (The vowels are marked with
a line above them to indicate a high tone of the consonant sounds.)
LOW-TONE: The effort to produce the low-tone sounds is comparatively less than the high-tone effort. It is usually lower and softer in sound
compared to the high-tone sounds. (In the low-tone case, the vowels are not marked but they are written normally.)
NOTE: In the above phonetic table, the phonetic markings of the consonant sounds are based on the vowel sound a; the effects of the marking
will be the same in all the remaining vowel sounds.
And, some consonant letters such as cj, , , h, tz, ng, ny, s, , , rh, lh, ky, kyh, gyh, gy, th, d, dh, do not exist in English.
Moreover, is aspirated cut mark, which means that the h letter is not there as an aspirated sign. And the letter is pronounced not separately
but affects the main letter which stands before it. Also. has softer voice than s. See also the for it is softer/deep voice of ,
The capital letters in the table are single-lettered consonants and the rest are a combination of two or more letters. The maximum amount of letters
in a consonant sound is three; but with the vowel letter it can be four letters: eg. .
is pronounced very softly with a nasal sound,as it is a sufx.
To be continued with the vowels.
80
16.2
The Vowel Sounds
A: The Vowel Sounds:

a
As in English
bar
leg
sing
dog
put
forms in
Tibetan
inherent
vowel
oe (fur)
ue
B: The change of the vowels with the combinations of some particles:

The particles
a:
(The small
)*
aa:
i
(The genitive
particle )
ai
o
(The completion
paticle )
ao
u
(The diminutive
particle )
ea:
ei
eo
eu / eu
ia:
ii
io
iu / iu
Dipthongs
The
vowels
au / au
oa:
oi
oo
ou / ou
ua:
ui
uo
uu / uu
This particle is usually
the part of a word, thus
it may be written without
the apostrophy to the root
letter of the syllable.
The vowel combinations are pronounced slightly longer.
Remarks
They are pronounced in a single syllable.
C: The vowels and the tones:

Non-aspirated
Aspirated
High tone
Low-tone
High tone
Low tone
ha
he
hi
ho
hu
* In Tibetan, () appears beneath the main consonant letter in smaller size: eg. p:lag.
I dedicate this small work of mine,

to the genuine happiness of all beings!
Please let me know in case you have any recommentations or suggestions.
Thank you!
Mingyur Dorje (Teacher of the Tibetan Language)
Email: mingyur_d@hotmail.com

Lhakey Melong Ngondro

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TIBETAN LANGUAGE

Special thanks to:

(SIT) Isabelle Onians

WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

WHAT DO YOU DO?

The Demonstrative Pronouns

Singular and Plural

DO YOU LIKE MOMOS?

DO YOU HAVE A GIRL/BOY FRIEND?

The Genitive Particle

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

CAN I COME IN?

Asking for something.

WILL YOU HAVE TIBETAN TEA?

Future Simple Tense

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Mirror of Lhasa Spoken Language

WHERE DID YOU GO?

The Past Simple Aux. Verbs

The Forms of the Verbs

The purpose of going/coming/sending etc. (The infinitives for motion verbs)

to do / in order to do (The infinitive)

Un-witnessed Past or Discovering Past

Commonly discovered or Logic Past

Speaker-Powered Existential Past

HAS HE/SHE EVER BEEN TO TIBET?

HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN SINCE YOU STARTED LEARNING TIBETAN?

khyyrang-ghi ming-la ghare er-ghyi yy?

WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

khyyrang-ghi ming-la ghare er-ghyi yy?

nge ming-la jenehphr er-ghyi yy.

khng-ghi ming-la ghare er-ghyi yorey?

khng-ghi ming-la jenehphr er-ghyi yorey.

jeyla jeyong see you later, bye

khyyrang kuk ep yi-py?

[la] yi, nga-yang ep yi. hkje ch.

Mirror of Lhasa Spoken Language

The question word and its answer

Place of the questions

er-ghyi yy / er-ghyi yorey

In general (depending on the situation or context):

verb + -ghyi yy for the 2nd person (singular/plural) in interrogative sentences:

verb + -ghyi yorey for the 3rd person (singular/plural):

khng-ghi ming-la jenehphr er-ghyi yorey.

Example: khng-ghi ming-la ghare er-ghyi yorey?

The Personal Pronouns

Possesive pronouns (Genitive case)

khyyrang-ghi ming-la ghare er-ghyi yy?

khyyrang-ghi ming-la ghare er-ghyi yy?

Mirror of Lhasa Spoken Language

Answer the following questions

1. Where do we find the main verb in a Tibetan sentence?

2. Which is the place of a question word in a Tibetan sentence?

3. How do we greet somebody and say bye, see you later?

Write the opposite statements of the following sentences

1. nge ming-la jenehphr er-ghyi yy.

2. khng-ghi ming-la migm er-ghyi yorey.

3. nge ming-la awa er-ghyi mey.

4. khng-ghi ming-la lhkp er-ghyi yo marey.

5. nge ming-la jenehphr er-ghyi mey.

6. khng-ghi ming-la pp er-ghyi yo marey.

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