ꯐꯠꯇꯕ
phattaba
The English word "ugly" is translated into Manipuri as ꯐꯠꯇꯕ (phattaba).
The term ꯐꯠꯇꯕ is an adjective used to describe something that is displeasing to the eye or not aesthetically pleasing.
Meaning: displeasing to the eye, not aesthetically pleasing (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
phattaba
Did you know?
- The Manipuri script used to write ꯐꯠꯇꯕ is called Meetei Mayek, which was revived in recent decades after the Bengali script had been the primary writing system for centuries.
- The term ꯐꯠꯇꯕ is built by negating ꯐꯠ, which means 'beautiful'. In Manipuri, many concepts of 'badness' are expressed as the absence of 'goodness' rather than as independent qualities.
- While 'ꯐꯠꯇꯕ' describes physical appearance, a person's character can be described as 'ugly' using different roots that imply a 'broken' or 'faulty' nature.
Example conversation
Two people are discussing a piece of art at a gallery.
- ꯂꯦꯏꯄꯥꯛꯅꯦꯚꯤ Leipaknembiꯐꯥꯅꯕꯥ ꯐꯠꯇꯕꯥ ꯆꯤꯖꯥꯏ ꯑꯃꯅꯤꯥ ꯈꯨꯅꯥꯏ꯫phamnabga phattaba chijai amania khunai.That is an ugly picture.
- ꯂꯣꯏꯕꯥ Loibaꯑꯩꯅꯥ ꯐꯥꯅꯕꯥ ꯐꯥꯎꯖꯕꯥ ꯍꯥꯏ꯫aina phamnabga phaujaba hai.I think it looks good.
- ꯂꯦꯏꯄꯥꯛꯅꯦꯚꯤ Leipaknembiꯐꯠꯇꯕꯥ ꯈꯨꯅꯥꯏ, ꯑꯩꯅꯥ ꯂꯧꯅꯪꯂꯣꯏ꯫phattaba khunai, aina lounalongloi.It is ugly, I don't like it.
- ꯂꯣꯏꯕꯥ Loibaꯐꯥꯅꯕꯥ ꯄꯨꯝꯅꯃꯛꯅꯥ ꯑꯃꯥꯏꯅꯥ ꯂꯧꯅꯪꯂꯣꯏꯅꯕꯥ ꯅꯠꯇꯦ꯫phamnabga pumnamna amaina lounalongloinaba natte.Not everyone dislikes how it looks.
