Useful Mongolian Phrases and Pronunciation

How to use this list

The phrases below are common, widely understood and safe to use. The spellings in parentheses are rough English sound guides, not exact. Mongolian has sounds that English lacks, so expect to be a little off; people will usually understand, and the effort itself is appreciated. Romanization of Mongolian also varies, so you may see different Latin spellings of the same word elsewhere.

A few pronunciation points first:

• Stress usually falls on the first syllable.
• “kh” is a breathy sound from the back of the mouth, like “ch” in Scottish “loch”.
• “ө” is similar to the vowel in French “peu”, and “ү” to German “ü”. If these are hard, an “uh” or “oo” sound is close enough to be understood.
• Doubled vowels, such as “uu” or “aa”, are held a little longer.
• “ai” sounds like English “eye”, and “j” often sounds like English “j” or a soft “ch”.

Greetings and goodbyes

“Sain baina uu” is the standard greeting, literally something like “Are you well?”, and the reply is typically the same words. In the countryside, you may also hear greetings that ask about the family or the livestock, and local custom varies by area, so listening to your hosts is the best guide. Greet older people first and with a slightly slower, more respectful tone.

Please, thank you and sorry

“Please” has no single exact equivalent, and the way you ask is conveyed through tone and the verb ending. “Гуйя” appears in many requests and is useful when asking for something, but a friendly voice matters more than the exact word. “Зүгээр” is a flexible word meaning roughly “it’s fine” or “no problem”.

Yes, no and understanding

“За” is used constantly in conversation to mean “okay”, “all right” or “well then”. You will hear it throughout the day, and it is an easy word to copy.

Names and introductions

Name customs differ from Western ones, so you may be asked for your father’s name or may hear a name used differently than you expect. The article on naming customs explains that background.

At a ger or a meal

When you receive a bowl of tea or food, a short thank-you and a smile do the work. If you do not wish to drink alcohol, you can politely touch the cup to your lips and hand it back; many hosts understand, though customs vary, and the topics of ger etiquette and Mongolian etiquette cover how to handle this courteously.

Getting around

For prices and directions, pointing, written notes and a phone calculator are practical. Cyrillic place names written down on paper are especially helpful when talking to taxi drivers or at transport stops, and a downloaded translation app can fill the gaps where mobile coverage allows.

Tips for sounding natural

• Smile and speak slowly. Warmth counts as much as accuracy.
• Do not stress if a phrase fails the first time. Try again, point, or write.
• Repeat what you hear. Mongolians often enjoy teaching a visitor a word.
• Use short phrases. “Sain baina uu” and “bayarlalaa” go further than a long sentence read from a card.
• Keep a short list on your phone, or on paper if the battery is likely to run out.

For a broader picture of how the language is built, see Mongolian language basics. Treat this list as a starting point; local speakers are the best teachers, and they are usually happy to correct you.