ꯀꯃꯗꯧꯕꯤꯔꯤꯕꯒꯦ?
kamdoubiribage?
ꯀꯃꯗꯧꯕꯤꯔꯤꯕꯒꯦ? (kamdoubiribage?) is the Manipuri way to say "how are you?"
This phrase is a common greeting used to ask someone about their current well-being or health.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a contraction of words expressing "how are you doing?" or "how are you staying?"
How do you pronounce it?
kamdoubiribage?
Did you know?
- Manipuri uses a unique script called Meetei Mayek, which was suppressed for centuries in favor of the Bengali script before being revived in recent decades.
- When answering this greeting, it is common to use 'Nungairiba' to mean 'I am well', which literally translates to 'being happy' or 'pleasant'.
- In Manipuri culture, asking ꯀꯃꯗꯧꯕꯤꯔꯤꯕꯒꯦ? is often a way to acknowledge someone's presence rather than a literal inquiry into their health. It functions similarly to a social lubricant in many Meitei traditions.
Example conversation
Two friends meeting on the street.
- ꯇꯣꯝꯄꯥꯂ Tompalꯇꯣꯝꯄꯥꯂ: ꯅꯪ ꯀꯃꯗꯧꯕꯤꯔꯤꯕꯒꯦ?Tompal: Nang kamdoubiribage?Tompal: How are you?
- ꯅꯪꯒꯤꯂꯥꯅꯤ Nangilanbiꯅꯪꯒꯤꯂꯥꯅꯤ: ꯑꯩ ꯐꯖꯅꯥ ꯂꯩꯔꯤ, ꯅꯪꯅꯥ?Nangigilani: Ei phana leiri, nangna?Nangigilani: I am doing well, and you?
- ꯇꯣꯝꯄꯥꯂ Tompalꯑꯩꯁꯨ ꯐꯖꯅꯥ ꯂꯩꯔꯤ꯫Eisu phana leiri.I am also doing well.
- ꯅꯪꯒꯤꯂꯥꯅꯤ Nangilanbiꯐꯖꯅꯥ ꯂꯩꯕꯤꯌꯨ꯫Phana leibiyu.Stay well.
