Introduction

Some fundamental Tibetan phrases are more valuable than others.

Why not concentrate on mastering these words first? We chose to write this post for you specifically for that reason.

The essential Tibetan phrases covered in this post will help you communicate better if you’re just beginning to learn Tibetan or are already fluent.

If you’re soon traveling to a Tibetan-speaking place, these will be especially useful to you.

Basic Tibetan Words and Sentences That You Must Know

The following are the basic Tibetan words and sentences that you must know:

1. Hello (Formal)

Tashi deleg (བཀྲ་ཤིས་བདེ་ལེགས)

Hello (Informal)

Demu (བདེ་མོ།)

2. My name is … 

Ngai ming ___ yin.

Use this phrase to tell someone your name.

3. What’s your name?

Khye-rang gi tshen-la ga-re zhu-gi yod? ()Or Khedrand ming Gangyin

Use this phrase to ask someone his/her name.

4. How are you?

Khye-rang ku-zug de-po yin-pe ()

Use this phrase to ask someone how he or she is.

5. Fine, thank you.

 De-po yin. Thug je che.

Use this phrase to tell  that you are fine.

6. I can’t speak Tibetan

Nga name of Tibetan yak-po kyab gi mey

Use this phrase to tell someone that you can’t speak Tibetan.

7. Do you speak English?

khye-rang yin-ji-kay rgyab thub gi yin pe?

Use this phrase to ask if that particular person speaks English.

8. Is there someone here who speaks English?

Dhir Engi shenyan yod Pai.

Use this phrase to ask if someone speaks English in that area.

9. I don’t understand

Nai she gyi med

ha kho gi mey

Use this phrase to tell someone if you don’t understand something.

10. Where is the toilet?

Ngai ming ___ yin.

Use this phrase to ask for the toilet.

Basic Tibetan words that you should know:

Help! – Rog pa jed

Look out! – Phar toe

Good morning – Ngado deleg

Good evening – Gondo deleg

Good night – Sim jha nang go

Nice to meet you – Khye-rang jel-ney ga-po joong ()

Please – Thuk-je zig ()

Thank you – Thuk-je-che (ཐུགས་རྗེ་ཆེ།)

You’re welcome – ()Yin dang yin

Yes – Hon, reh (རེད།)

No – Ma-ray

Excuse me – Gong-pa-ma-tsom / gong-ta

I’m sorry – Gong dag

Goodbye – Chagpo nang, as in take care [Shug dan ja (when other person is staying): kha-lay-pheb (when other person is going]

Conclusion

We hope these foundational words and phrases will improve your ability to speak Tibetan confidently.

The first few times won’t be simple, so practice is the only and best option.

And always remember to prioritize the most important terms first rather than attempting to memorize all the phrases we shared with you today.