Mongolian phrases | Most common phrases for everyday life

Mongolian phrases – Here you will find the most common phrases in Mongolian with translation. | Free & useful

Mongolian phrases - Most common phrases for everyday life

Mongolian phrases are short expressions or idioms often used in speech to be polite, express gratitude, greet or say goodbye or simply to have a pleasant conversation.

They are an important part of Mongolian culture and can be useful in different situations, both in private and business life.

Mongolian phrases you should know

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Greet someone in Mongolian

If you want to greet someone in Mongolian, it’s actually quite easy:

English Mongolian IPA
Good day to you! in Mongolian Танд сайхан өдөр хүсье! [tʰant sai̯xan ɔdœr xusʲje]
Good morning to you! in Mongolian Танд өглөөний мэнд! [tʰant œɡɮɔːnɪː mɛnt]
Good evening! in Mongolian Сайн орой! [sai̯n ɔrɔi̯]
Good to see you. in Mongolian Танийг харахад таатай байна. [tʰaniːɡ xaraxat tʰaːtaɪ̯ bɛɪ̯nə]
I’m glad to see you. in Mongolian Танийг харахад баяртай байна. [tʰaniːɡ xaraxat bajartʰaɪ̯ bɛɪ̯nə]

If you are greeted in Mongolian, the best way to respond is as follows:

English Mongolian IPA
Have a nice day too! in Mongolian Танд ч бас сайхан өдөр байг! [tʰant t͡ʃi bas sai̯xan ɔdœr bai̯ɡ]
Thanks, it’s nice to see you too. in Mongolian Баярлалаа, таныг харахад ч бас таатай байна. [bajaɾlalaː tʰaniːɡ xaraxat t͡ʃi bas tʰaːtaɪ̯ bɛɪ̯nə]

How is my dialogue partner?

As in any other country, it is polite to start by asking where the person you are talking to is located. Here’s how you do it:

English Mongolian IPA
How are you doing? in Mongolian Таны бие хэр байна вэ? [tʰani biːjɛ xɛr bai̯nə wɛ]
Are you doing well? in Mongolian Та сайн байна уу? [tʰa sai̯n bai̯nə ʊː]

If you are asked how you feel, you can answer with the following phrases:

English Mongolian IPA
Thank you for asking, I am fine. in Mongolian Асуусанд баярлалаа, би сайн байна. [ɑsʊːsɑnd bɑjɑrˈlɑlɑː bi sɑi̯n ˈbɑi̯nə]
Thank you, I am fine. in Mongolian Баярлалаа, би сайн байна. [bɑjɑrˈlɑlɑː bi sɑi̯n ˈbɑi̯nə]
Thank you, I am not doing so well. in Mongolian Баярлалаа, би тийм ч сайн биш байна. [bɑjɑrˈlɑlɑː bi tʰiːm t͡ʃi sɑi̯n biʃ ˈbɑi̯nə]
Thanks, I’m fine. How are you doing? in Mongolian Баярлалаа, би сайн байна. Та хэр байна вэ? [bɑjɑrˈlɑlɑː bi sɑi̯n ˈbɑi̯nə tʰɑ xɛr ˈbɑi̯nə wɛ]

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How do I say goodbye to someone in Mongolian?

Saying goodbye to a friend or stranger in Mongolian is not that difficult. Just use the following phrases:

English Mongolian IPA
Goodbye! in Mongolian Баяртай! [bajaɾtaɪ̯]
Take care of yourself! in Mongolian Өөртөө анхаараарай! [œːrtœː aŋxaːraːraɪ̯]
See you tomorrow in Mongolian Маргааш уулзъя [maɾɡaːʃ ʊːɮɮəjə]
See you soon in Mongolian Дараа уулзъя [taɾaː ʊːɮɮəjə]
See you later in Mongolian Дараа уулзъя [taɾaː ʊːɮɮəjə]
Good night in Mongolian Сайхан шөнө болоорой [sai̯xan ʃœnœ bɔɮɔːɾɔi̯]
Sleep well in Mongolian Сайхан амраарай [sai̯xan amraːraɪ̯]
Talk to you later. in Mongolian Дараа ярья. [taɾaː jaɾja]
Nice to have met you! in Mongolian Тантай танилцсандаа таатай байна! [tʰantaɪ̯ tʰanɪɬt͡sandaː tʰaːtaɪ̯ bɛɪ̯nə]

How do I introduce myself in Mongolian?

When travelling in Mongolia, sooner or later you will come into contact with local people. Naturally, you’ll want to introduce yourself in Mongolian and know who you’re talking to.

English Mongolian IPA
My name is Jonas. Намайг Йонас гэдэг. [nɑmaɪ̯ɡ jɔnas ɡɛtɛk]
What is your name? in Mongolian Таны нэр хэн бэ? [tʰani nɛr xɛn bɛ]
What is your surname? in Mongolian Таны овог юу вэ? [tʰani ɔvɔɡ juː wɛ]
What is your first name? in Mongolian Таны жинхэнэ нэр юу вэ? [tʰani t͡ʃinxɛnɛ nɛr juː wɛ]

If you want to tell people where you come from, the following sentences are useful:

English Mongolian IPA
Where do you come from? in Mongolian Та хаанаас ирсэн бэ? [tʰa xaːnaːs ɪrˈsɛn bɛ]
I am from London. Би Лондоноос ирсэн. [bi lɔndɔnɔːs ɪrˈsɛn]
Are you from Birmingham? Та Бирмингемээс ирсэн үү? [tʰa birmiŋɡɛːmɛːs ɪrˈsɛn ʊː]
No, I’m from Madrid. Үгүй, би Мадридаас ирсэн. [ʊɡʊi̯ bi mɑdritɑːs ɪrˈsɛn]
Great, I’m from Madrid too. Сайхан байна, би ч бас Мадридаас ирсэн. [sai̯xan bai̯nə bi t͡ʃi bas mɑdritɑːs ɪrˈsɛn]
Where do you live? in Mongolian Та хаана амьдардаг вэ? [tʰa xaːna ɑmˈdardaɡ wɛ]
I live in Berlin. Би Берлинд амьдардаг. [bi bɛrˈlɪnt ɑmˈdardaɡ]

If you have problems with your Mongolian, it is good to know which languages are still spoken:

English Mongolian IPA
Do you speak English? Та англиар ярьдаг уу? [tʰa ɑŋɡliaɾ jɑrdaɡ ʊː]
Yes, I speak English. Тийм ээ, би англиар ярьдаг. [tʰiːm eː bi ɑŋɡliaɾ jɑrdaɡ]
Yes, I speak some English. Тийм ээ, би жаахан англиар ярьдаг. [tʰiːm eː bi d͡ʒaːxan ɑŋɡliaɾ jɑrdaɡ]
No, I do not speak any English. Үгүй ээ, би англиар ярьдаггүй. [ʊɡʊi̯ eː bi ɑŋɡliaɾ jɑrdaɡɡʊi̯]
I only speak English. Би зөвхөн англиар ярьдаг. [bi t͡sœʊ̯xœn ɑŋɡliaɾ jɑrdaɡ]
I understand some Mongolian. Би жаахан монголоор ойлгодог. [bi d͡ʒaːxan mɔŋɡɔɮɔːɾ ɔi̯ɮɡɔdɔɡ]

Useful sentences with ‘I am…’

The following sentences will help you orientate yourself in Mongolian and express your wishes and concerns:

English Mongolian IPA
I am English. Би англичуудын хүн. [bi ɑŋɡlit͡ʃʊːdɪŋ xʊn]
I am injured. in Mongolian Би гэмтсэн. [bi ɡɛmˈt͡sɛn]
I am here. in Mongolian Би энд байна. [bi ɛnt bai̯nə]
I am hungry. in Mongolian Би өлссөн. [bi œɬˈsən]
I am thirsty. in Mongolian Би цангаж байна. [bi t͡sanɡɑt͡ʃ bai̯nə]
I am a single person. in Mongolian Би ганц бие. [bi ɡɑnt͡s biːjɛ]
I need help! in Mongolian Надад тусламж хэрэгтэй байна! [nɑdɑt tʰʊsɬɑmt͡ʃ xɛrɛɡtɛː bai̯nə]
I am tired. in Mongolian Би ядраад байна. [bi jɑdraːd bai̯nə]
I am happy. in Mongolian Би баяртай байна. [bi bɑjɑrtʰai̯ bai̯nə]
I am sad. in Mongolian Би гунигтай байна. [bi ɡʊniɡtʰai̯ bai̯nə]
I am in love. in Mongolian Би дурласан. [bi dʊrɬɑsən]
I am ill. in Mongolian Би өвдсөн. [bi œvt͡sən]
I am ready. in Mongolian Би бэлэн байна. [bi bɛɮɛn bai̯nə]
I am busy. in Mongolian Би завгүй байна. [bi t͡saɪ̯ɡʊi̯ bai̯nə]
I am lost. in Mongolian Би төөрсөн. [bi tœːrˈsən]
I am a tourist. in Mongolian Би жуулчин. [bi t͡ʃʊɮt͡ʃin]
I am new here. in Mongolian Би энд шинэ. [bi ɛnt ʃinɛ]
I am confident. in Mongolian Би өөртөө итгэлтэй байна. [bi œːrtœː ɪtɡɛɮtʰɛː bai̯nə]
I am proud. in Mongolian Би бахархаж байна. [bi bɑxɑrxət͡ʃ bai̯nə]
I am a teacher. in Mongolian Би багш. [bi bɑɡʃ]
I am late. in Mongolian Би хоцорсон. [bi xɔt͡sɔrsən]
I am 30 years old. in Mongolian Би гучин настай. [bi ɡʊt͡ʃin nɑstʰai̯]
I am in a hurry. in Mongolian Би яарч байна. [bi jɑrt͡ʃ bai̯nə]
I am happy. in Mongolian Би баяртай байна. [bi bɑjɑrtʰai̯ bai̯nə]
I am surprised. in Mongolian Би гайхаж байна. [bi ɡai̯xət͡ʃ bai̯nə]
I am angry. in Mongolian Би уурлаж байна. [bi ʊːrɬət͡ʃ bai̯nə]

Apologising in Mongolian

Here’s how to apologise to a Mongolian speaker:

English Mongolian IPA
I apologise. in Mongolian Уучлаарай. [ʊːt͡ʃɮɑːraɪ̯]
Sorry, that was not the intention. in Mongolian Уучлаарай, тэр санаатай үйлдэл байгаагүй. [ʊːt͡ʃɮɑːraɪ̯ tɛr sɑnɑːtʰai̯ ʊi̯ɮdɛɮ bɑi̯ɡɑːɡʊi̯]
Sorry, I did not do it on purpose. in Mongolian Уучлаарай, би зориуд тэгээгүй. [ʊːt͡ʃɮɑːraɪ̯ bi t͡sɔriʊt tɛɡɛːɡʊi̯]
Sorry, that was very clumsy of me. in Mongolian Уучлаарай, энэ миний хайхрамжгүй байдал байсан. [ʊːt͡ʃɮɑːraɪ̯ ɛnɛ miniː xɑi̯xɑrɑmt͡ʃʊi̯ bɑi̯dɑɮ bɑi̯sən]

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Useful signs and notices in Mongolian

Useful signs and messages in Mongolian that you will often see.

English Mongolian IPA
Entrance in Mongolian Оролт [ɔrɔɬt]
Toilet in Mongolian Жорлон [t͡ʃɔrɮɔŋ]
Exit in Mongolian Гарах [ɡɑrɑx]
Attention! in Mongolian Анхаар! [ɑnxaːr]
Police in Mongolian Цагдаа [t͡sɑɡtaː]
Emergency services in Mongolian Яаралтай тусламж [jɑrɑɬtʰaː tʰʊsɬɑmt͡ʃ]
Fire brigade in Mongolian Гал команд [ɡɑɬ kɔmɑnt]
Passage forbidden. in Mongolian Нэвтрэхийг хориглоно. [nɛvtʰrɛxiːɡ xɔrɪɮnɔ]
Caution! in Mongolian Болгоомжтой! [bɔɮɡɔːmʃtɔi̯]
This building is under video surveillance. in Mongolian Энэ барилга камержуулалттай. [ɛnɛ bɑrɪɮɡɑ kʰɑmɛrt͡ʃʊːɮɑɬtʰaɪ̯]

Numbers to 25 in Mongolian

Counting in Mongolian is not that difficult. Here are the numbers in Mongolian from 1 to 25.

English Mongolian IPA
1 in Mongolian Нэг [nɛk]
2 in Mongolian Хоёр [xɔˈjɔr]
3 in Mongolian Гурав [ɡʊˈrɑw]
4 in Mongolian Дөрөв [ˈtɵrʊw]
5 in Mongolian Тав [tɑw]
6 in Mongolian Зургаа [zʊrˈɡɑː]
7 in Mongolian Долоо [ˈtɔɮɔː]
8 in Mongolian Найм [nɑɪ̯m]
9 in Mongolian Ес [jɔs]
10 in Mongolian Арав [ˈɑrɑw]
11 in Mongolian Арван нэг [ˈɑrʋɑn nɛk]
12 in Mongolian Арван хоёр [ˈɑrʋɑn xɔˈjɔr]
13 in Mongolian Арван гурав [ˈɑrʋɑn ɡʊˈrɑw]
14 in Mongolian Арван дөрөв [ˈɑrʋɑn ˈtɵrʊw]
15 in Mongolian Арван тав [ˈɑrʋɑn tɑw]
16 in Mongolian Арван зургаа [ˈɑrʋɑn zʊrˈɡɑː]
17 in Mongolian Арван долоо [ˈɑrʋɑn ˈtɔɮɔː]
18 in Mongolian Арван найм [ˈɑrʋɑn nɑɪ̯m]
19 in Mongolian Арван ес [ˈɑrʋɑn jɔs]
20 in Mongolian Хорь [xɔrʲ]
21 in Mongolian Хорин нэг [xɔˈrɪn nɛk]
22 in Mongolian Хорин хоёр [xɔˈrɪn xɔˈjɔr]
23 in Mongolian Хорин гурав [xɔˈrɪn ɡʊˈrɑw]
24 in Mongolian Хорин дөрөв [xɔˈrɪn ˈtɵrʊw]
25 in Mongolian Хорин тав [xɔˈrɪn tɑw]

The colours in Mongolian

The most common colours in Mongolian with phonetic transcription for pronunciation.

English Mongolian IPA
Red in Mongolian Улаан [ʊˈɮaːn]
Blue in Mongolian Цэнхэр [t͡sɛnxɛr]
Green in Mongolian Ногоон [nɔˈɡoːn]
Yellow in Mongolian Шар [ʃɑr]
Black in Mongolian Хар [xɑr]
White in Mongolian Цагаан [t͡sɑˈɡaːn]
Brown in Mongolian Бор [bɔr]
Orange in Mongolian Улбар шар [ʊɮbɑr ʃɑr]
Purple in Mongolian Ягаан [jɑˈɡaːn]
Pink in Mongolian Ягаан ягаан [jɑˈɡaːn jɑˈɡaːn]

Days of the week, months and seasons in Mongolian

Of course, you will also need the days of the week in Mongolian and the pronunciation of the months and seasons in dialogues and daily communication in Mongolian.

English Mongolian IPA
Monday in Mongolian Даваа [ˈtɑwɑː]
Tuesday in Mongolian Мягмар [ˈmjɑɡmɑr]
Wednesday in Mongolian Лхагва [ˈɬɑɡwɑ]
Thursday in Mongolian Пүрэв [ˈpʰurɛw]
Friday in Mongolian Баасан [ˈbɑːsən]
Saturday in Mongolian Бямба [ˈbjɑmbɑ]
Sunday in Mongolian Ням [ˈnjam]
January in Mongolian Нэгдүгээр сар [ˈnɛktʊɡɛːr sɑr]
February in Mongolian Хоёрдугаар сар [xɔˈjɔrdʊɡɛːr sɑr]
March in Mongolian Гуравдугаар сар [ɡʊˈrɑwdʊɡɛːr sɑr]
April in Mongolian Дөрөвдүгээр сар [ˈtɵrʊwdʊɡɛːr sɑr]
May in Mongolian Тавдугаар сар [ˈtɑwdʊɡɛːr sɑr]
June in Mongolian Зургаадугаар сар [zʊrˈɡɑːdʊɡɛːr sɑr]
July in Mongolian Долоодугаар сар [ˈtɔɮɔːdʊɡɛːr sɑr]
August in Mongolian Наймдугаар сар [nɑɪ̯mˈdʊɡɛːr sɑr]
September in Mongolian Есдүгээр сар [jɔsˈdʊɡɛːr sɑr]
October in Mongolian Аравдугаар сар [ˈɑrɑwdʊɡɛːr sɑr]
November in Mongolian Арван нэгдүгээр сар [ˈɑrʋɑn ˈnɛktʊɡɛːr sɑr]
December in Mongolian Арван хоёрдугаар сар [ˈɑrʋɑn xɔˈjɔrdʊɡɛːr sɑr]
Spring in Mongolian Хавар [ˈxɑwɑr]
Summer in Mongolian Зун [zʊn]
Autumn / Fall in Mongolian Намар [ˈnɑmɑr]
Winter in Mongolian Өвөл [ˈœʋɵɮ]

OUR TIP: If you want to learn these Mongolian phrases interactively, we recommend the free language course demo from 17-Minute-Language, where you can learn Mongolian phrases and dialogues.

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Additional links

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