Speak Your Roots

Tag: indigenousphrases

  • Tep eit miaw

    Ka jingong "Tep eit miaw" ka don ar jingmut.

    Ka jingmut kaba nyngkong ka long ban leh klet ïa kaei kaei.

    Ka jingmut kaba ar ka long kaba pyrshang ban tap noh ïa ka jingshisha jong kaei kaei da kaba pyni daw da kumne kumtai.

    The Khasi phrase "tep eit miaw" has two meanings.

    The first meaning is to pretend to be forgetful of something.

    The second meaning is the attempt to cover up the truth about something with frivolous reasons or excuses.

    "Tep eit miaw" is a Khasi phrase that literally means to bury cat poop 😸💩 Love the graphic imagery of Khasi phrases! 😂

    We've all definitely been in such a situation 😂😅 And there's nothing like indigenous sayings to drive home a point.

    🟡 English translation by @speakyourroots

  • Some Pnar Phrases

    Pnar phrases

    "Ka buit ïyrngam"

    "Ka buit ïyrngam" is a cunning idea that a person thinks of.

    "I kam wasmet"

    "I kam wasmet" is a good cause that will help and benefit people and bring a promising future.

    "Sing chylliah"

    "Siang chylliah" is to breathe one's last breath.

    The books of (L) Mrs. P. P. Pasleiñ are a precious find! 😃 Here are some Pnar phrases from her book The Depth of Thwai Syiem (2001) 🍃🌱

  • Kren da thew ha la ka khulpi

    "Kren da thew ha la ka khulpi" ka mut ban kren da kaba sumar ha khmat ki briew, ne haba duwai ha u Blei, ban antad bad ban thew ïa la ka ktien ha ka tarajur ka mynsiem bad ka dohnud, shuwa ban pynmih ïa ka shabar.

    La nang pynshongkhia shuh shuh ïa kane ka jingong da ka ktien "khulpi" kaba mut ka jingshisha ba la buhrieh bad kaei kaei ka bym lah ban ïohi.

    Namar kata, lada ngi ong "Kren da thew ha la ka khulpi" ka thew ïa ka ktien kaba mih da ka jingsngewthuh bad jingshemphang, kaba la pynphrang ne pynwandur da ka jingshisha kaba don ha ka mynsiem bad ka dohnud.

    The phrase "Kren da thew ha la ka khulpi" means to speak with care and caution in front of people, or when in prayer to God, to assess and measure words in the scales of the soul and heart, before speaking the words.

    Beauty and depth is added to the phrase because of the word "khulpi" which means the truth that is hidden and something that cannot be seen.

    Thus, when we say' "Kren da thew ha la ka khulpi" it refers to the wisdom and insight that is expressed in words, which have been moulded and tempered by the truth that exists in the heart and soul.

    "Kren da thew ha la ka khulpi" is a beautiful phrase which expresses the power of the spoken word. 🧠♥️🗣️

    English translation by @speakyourroots

  • Phriang jarut ka miaw

    Ka jingong "Phriang jarut ka miaw" ka thew ïa ka rukom shong jong ki lyoh ha ka suiñbneng kaba ong ha ka ktien English kum ki altocumulus clouds. Ka "jarut" ka dei ka ja kaba la pyndonkam ban ïa khleh lang bad u thiat ban shet kiad. Ka dur jong kine ki lyoh ka long thik kum ka jarut kaba la pynphriang da ka miaw.

    Ki lyoh altocumulus ki dei ki lyoh kiba rit kiba shong syrtap ha pdeng jong ka suiñbneng, ha ka dur jong ki pyllon ria ria. Ki don bunjait ki lyoh altocumulusbad ki la ban wan ha bun ki dur. Kine ki lyoh ki dei kiba khleh lang u thah bad ka um.

    The Khasi phrase "Phriang jarut ka miaw" is made to refer to a particular cloud formation called altocumulus clouds. "Phriang" means to scatter or spread, "jarut" is boiled rice that is mixed with yeast to make alcohol and "miaw" means cat. The appearance of Altocumulus clouds is perhaps similar to tufts of rice scattered by a cat's paws. It is definitely a creative way of describing a natural phenomenon!

    Moreover, altocumulus clouds are small mid-level layers or patches of clouds, called cloudlets, which commonly exist in the shape of rounded clumps. There are many varieties of altocumulus, however, meaning they can appear in a range of shapes. Altocumulus are made up of a mix of ice and water, giving them a slightly more ethereal appearance than the big and fluffy lower level cumulus.

    "Phriang Jarut ka Miaw" sent by @a_pocketful_of_plums Thank you for this beautiful cloudful entry! ⛅☁️🌥️

    This is a Khasi phrase which refers to the formation of Altocumulus clouds. 😃😃 These clouds appear as a collection of cloudlets spread across the sky. Don't they look as if a cat has scratched and scattered them? So beautiful! 🤩🤩

    Picture credit: @a_pocketful_of_plums

    Khasi and English explication by @speakyourroots