dab
/da˥/
The Hmong word for ghost is dab.
dab refers to a spirit that appears after death.
Meaning: spirit appearing after death (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /da˥/.
Did you know?
- The word dab shares a surprising linguistic ancestor with the Chinese word for 'neck', suggesting a historical connection between the body part and the concept of a spirit.
- In traditional Hmong culture, the dab are often seen as causes of illness, leading to spiritual healing rituals to appease or remove them.
- In Hmong culture, the way one speaks about a dab is often careful to avoid attracting the attention of unwanted spirits.
Examples in context
- Nws pom ib tug dab.He saw a ghost.
- Thov txhob ntshai dab.Please do not be afraid of ghosts.
- Ntawm no muaj dab nyob.There is a ghost living here.
Example conversation
Xiong and Mai are walking past an old house at night.
- XiongMai, koj puas xav tias muaj dab hauv tsev no?Mai, do you think there is a ghost in this house?
- MaiTsis muaj, Xiong. Nws tsuas yog ib lub tsev qub.No, Xiong. It is just an old house.
- XiongTiam sis kuv hnov dab hu kuv lub npe.But I heard a ghost call my name.
- MaiKoj txhob hais yam ntawu, cia peb mus.Do not say that, let's go.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry dab, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dab, CC BY-SA 4.0.
