Common Greetings & Courtesies

Whether you are visiting Manipur or chatting with Meitei friends, these essential phrases will help you converse with confidence:

Meitei MayekTransliterationEnglish MeaningUsage Context
ꯈꯨꯔꯨꯝꯖꯔꯤKhurumjariHello / GreetingsFormal & respectful greeting
ꯀꯔꯤ ꯇꯧꯔꯤꯒꯦ?Kari tourige?How are you? / What are you doing?Friendly check-in
ꯅꯨꯡꯉꯥꯏꯔꯤNungngairiI am fineResponse to greeting
ꯊꯥꯒꯠꯆꯔꯤThagatchariThank youShowing gratitude
ꯍꯥꯌꯕꯤꯌꯨHaybiyuPlease speak / Excuse mePolite attention getter
ꯆꯠꯈꯤꯒꯦChatkhigeGoodbye / I will take leaveDeparting

Introductions & Personal Info

  • ꯅꯍꯥꯛꯀꯤ ꯃꯃꯤꯡ ꯀꯔꯤ ꯀꯧꯏ?

    • Nahakki maming kari kou-i?

    $ ightarrow$ What is your name?

  • ꯑꯩꯒꯤ ꯃꯃꯤꯡ [Tom] ꯀꯧꯏ꯫

    • Eigi maming [Tom] kou-i.

    $ ightarrow$ My name is [Tom].

  • ꯅꯍꯥꯛ ꯀꯗꯥꯏꯗꯒꯤꯅꯣ?

    • Nahak kadaidagi-no?

    $ ightarrow$ Where are you from?

  • ꯑꯩ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯗꯒꯤꯅꯤ꯫

    • Ei Manipur-dagi-ni.

    $ ightarrow$ I am from Manipur.

    Food & Dining Phrases

  • ꯆꯥꯛ ꯆꯥꯔꯕ꯭ꯔꯥ? (Chak charabra?) $\rightarrow$ Have you had your meal? (A classic Manipuri show of hospitality)
  • ꯆꯥꯔꯦ꯫ (Chare.) $\rightarrow$ Yes, I have eaten.
  • ꯌꯥꯝꯅ ꯍꯥꯎꯏ꯫ (Yamna haoi.) $\rightarrow$ It is very delicious!
  • ꯏꯁꯤꯡ ꯈꯔꯥ ꯄꯤꯕꯤꯌꯨ꯫ (Ising khara pibiyu.) $\rightarrow$ Please give me some water.

    • Asking for Help & Directions

  • ꯅꯍꯥꯛ ꯏꯪꯂꯤꯁ ꯉꯥꯡꯕ ꯍꯩꯕ꯭ꯔꯥ? (Nahak English ngangba heibra?) $\rightarrow$ Do you speak English?
  • ꯑꯩ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯈꯔꯥ ꯈꯔꯥ ꯍꯩ꯫ (Ei Manipuri khara khara hei.) $\rightarrow$ I speak a little Manipuri.
  • ꯑꯁꯤ ꯀꯔꯤꯅꯣ? (Masi karino?) $\rightarrow$ What is this?
  • ꯑꯁꯤꯒꯤ ꯃꯃꯜ ꯀꯌꯥꯅꯣ? (Masigi mamal kayano?) $\rightarrow$ How much does this cost?