ꯏꯇꯥ
ita
The Manipuri word for darling is ꯏꯇꯥ (ita).
ꯏꯇꯥ is an affectionate term used to address someone who is very dear to you.
Meaning: often used as an affectionate term of address: person who is very dear to one (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
ita
Did you know?
- Manipuri often uses descriptive phrases for 'darling' that refer to the person as a 'precious jewel' or 'flower' rather than using a single noun.
- In Manipuri, addressing a younger person as ꯏꯇꯥ can transform a strict command into a gentle request that is much harder to refuse.
- The Manipuri language belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family, meaning the structure of affection and kinship terms is fundamentally different from the Indo-European roots of 'darling'.
Example conversation
A couple is talking at home in the evening.
- ꯂꯦꯏꯄꯥꯛꯅꯦꯚꯤ Leipaknembiꯏꯇꯥ, ꯅꯪꯅꯥ ꯆꯥꯏꯅꯥ ꯂꯥꯏꯔꯦꯥꯩꯒꯦꯥꯩꯒꯦꯥꯩꯅꯣ?Ita, nangna chaina laireigaeigaeino?Darling, are you coming home soon?
- ꯖꯣꯏꯕꯥ Joibaꯍꯣꯌ, ꯑꯩ ꯂꯥꯏꯔꯦꯥꯩꯒꯦꯥꯩꯒꯦꯥꯩ.Hoy, ei laireigaeigaei.Yes, I am coming.
- ꯂꯦꯏꯄꯥꯛꯅꯦꯚꯤ Leipaknembiꯑꯩꯅꯥ ꯅꯪꯒꯤꯗꯃꯛ ꯆꯥꯄꯥꯛ ꯁꯥꯗꯥꯅꯥ ꯁꯦꯞꯗꯥꯅꯥ ꯁꯥꯅꯥꯈꯤꯒꯦꯥꯩ.Eina nanggidamak chapaak sadaana sepdana sanaakhigaei.I have prepared dinner for you.
- ꯖꯣꯏꯕꯥ Joibaꯊꯥꯒꯥꯩ, ꯅꯪꯅꯥ ꯌꯥꯝꯅꯥ ꯊꯧꯅꯥ ꯂꯥꯏꯔꯤꯒꯦꯥꯩ.Thagae, nangna yamna thouna lairigaei.Thank you, you are very thoughtful.
