ꯈꯨꯔꯨꯝꯖꯔꯤ
khurumjari
The Manipuri word for hello is ꯈꯨꯔꯨꯝꯖꯔꯤ (khurumjari).
ꯈꯨꯔꯨꯝꯖꯔꯤ is used as a greeting when meeting someone or when departing from them.
Meaning: greeting (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The root of the word is ꯈꯨꯔꯨꯝ, which refers to respect or a salutation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ꯈꯨꯔꯨꯝꯖꯔꯤ is the standard polite way to greet someone.
How do you pronounce it?
khurumjari
When do people say it?
This greeting functions similarly to 'Namaste' in many Indian contexts, used both for arrivals and departures.
Did you know?
- In Manipur, the greeting ꯈꯨꯔꯨꯝꯖꯔꯤ is often accompanied by a slight bow of the head or a joining of the palms, similar to the Indian 'Namaste'.
- While ꯈꯨꯔꯨꯝꯖꯔꯤ is the formal greeting, many Manipuri speakers use English 'hello' or 'hi' in casual urban settings, creating a sharp linguistic divide between formal and informal encounters.
- If the social context is clear, many locals will skip the spoken word ꯈꯨꯔꯨꯝꯖꯔꯤ entirely and rely on a respectful gesture.
Examples in context
- ꯈꯨꯔꯨꯝꯖꯔꯤ.khurumjari.Hello.
Example conversation
Two acquaintances meet on the street.
- ꯅꯪꯒꯤꯂꯥꯅꯤ Nangilanbiꯈꯨꯔꯨꯝꯖꯔꯤ, ꯈꯣꯏꯕꯥ!Khurumjari, Khoiba!Hello, Khoiba!
- ꯈꯣꯏꯕꯥ Khoibaꯈꯨꯔꯨꯝꯖꯔꯤ, ꯅꯪꯒꯤ ꯂꯥꯅꯤ!Khurumjari, nanggi Lani!Hello, Lani!
- ꯅꯪꯒꯤꯂꯥꯅꯤ Nangilanbiꯅꯪꯒꯤ ꯐꯃꯖꯜ ꯀꯔꯤꯗꯨ ꯆꯩꯔꯤ?Nanggi phamal karidu cheiri?How is your family?
- ꯈꯣꯏꯕꯥ Khoibaꯃꯈꯣꯏ ꯐꯖꯅꯥ ꯂꯩꯔꯤ, ꯅꯪꯒꯤꯗꯨ?Makhoi phajana leiri, nanggidu?They are doing well, and yours?
