ꯑꯩ ꯅꯪꯕꯨ ꯄꯥꯝꯃꯤ
ei nangbu pammi
The phrase "I like you" in Manipuri is ꯑꯩ ꯅꯪꯕꯨ ꯄꯥꯝꯃꯤ (ei nangbu pammi).
Meaning: I like you (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ꯑꯩ (ei) meaning "I", ꯅꯪꯕꯨ (nangbu) which means "you" acting as the object and ꯄꯥꯝꯃꯤ (pammi) meaning "like".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase, the particle -bu is attached to the pronoun nang (you) to form ꯅꯪꯕꯨ, which indicates that "you" is the direct object of the verb. The verb ꯄꯥꯝꯃꯤ is the present tense form of the root pam-, which means "to like" or "to desire".
How do you pronounce it?
ei nangbu pammi
Did you know?
- The word ꯑꯩ (ei) is a distant relative of the Chinese word for 'I', 我 (wǒ), reflecting ancient linguistic connections in East and Southeast Asia.
- Manipuri uses a unique script called Meetei Mayek, which was revived after the Burmese script was used for centuries.
- Because the verb ꯄꯥꯝꯃꯤ (pammi) can imply intense desire, using it too casually in a romantic context might sound more aggressive than a simple 'I like you'.
Examples in context
- ꯑꯩ ꯅꯪꯕꯨ ꯄꯥꯝꯃꯤ꯫Ei nangbu pammi.I like you.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking privately in a park.
- ꯂꯦꯏꯄꯥꯛꯅꯦꯚꯤ Leipaknembiꯈꯣꯏꯕꯥ, ꯑꯩ ꯅꯪꯕꯨ ꯄꯥꯝꯃꯤKhoiba, ei nangbu pammiKhoiba, I like you.
- ꯈꯣꯏꯕꯥ Khoibaꯑꯩꯁꯨ ꯅꯪꯕꯨ ꯄꯥꯝꯃꯤeisu nangbu pammiI like you too.
- ꯂꯦꯏꯄꯥꯛꯅꯦꯚꯤ Leipaknembiꯑꯩ ꯅꯪꯕꯨ ꯄꯥꯝꯃꯤ ꯍꯥꯏꯕꯥ ꯂꯧꯅꯥ ꯉꯥꯏꯗꯩei nangbu pammi haiba louna ngaideiI am not afraid to say I like you.
- ꯈꯣꯏꯕꯥ Khoibaꯑꯩ ꯅꯪꯕꯨ ꯌꯥꯝꯅꯥ ꯄꯥꯝꯃꯤei nangbu yamna pammiI like you very much.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ꯑꯩ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
