Speak Your Roots

Tag: khasiwords

  • ‘Ñiangbamkot

    Phi lah ju pyrkhat ne em ïa ka kyntien " 'ñiangbamkot"?

    Ka dei ka kyntien kaba la pynkylla beit shisur shidur na ka kyntien phareng "bookworm" kaba thew ïa ki briew kiba khlaiñ bad sngewtynnat ban pule kot. Shuh shuh, kane ka jingpynkylla ka dei ruh ka jingbatai ïa ka kam ne ka jingbam jong ki "silverfish".

    Have you ever thought of the Khasi word "'ñiangbamkot"?

    The word is a literal translation of the English word "bookworm" which refers to a person who has a passion for reading. What's more is the translation emphasises the function of silverfish which is to eat paper. In Khasi" 'ñiang" is a shortened form of "khñiang" which means insect, "bam" means to eat and "kot" means paper.

    It may be said that " 'ñiangbamkot" is a recent translation because Khasis arise from an oral tradition which would not have given importance to being a "ñiangbamkot" 😅📖🐛

    Dedicated to all you worthy ñiangbamkotsss! 😁😂

  • Phlanduman and Thlandaman

    "Phlanduman" ka dei ka kyntien Khasi kaba mut kaba kren ban ïalam bakla ïa ka jingmut da kaba kren kumne kumtai. Ka thew ruh ïa kaba shukor ne thok da ka rukom kaba leh mynleh hok.

    "Thlandaman" toh i kyntien Pnar i wa mut ha wa klam tyngkleiñ yow pynsñiawthooh bakla ya i yïumut wa sakhiat. Jooh ong i pyn thlandaman hawa thok næ chukor da iwa pynyoo kam iwa sakhiat.

    Both "Phlanduman" (Khasi) and "Thlandaman" (Pnar) mean to talk in a roundabout way so as to deliberately make a person misunderstand something or to deliberately divert the person's train of thought. The words refer to the act of lying or deceiving so as to make something appear true.

    "Phlanduman" ( Khasi) and "Thlandaman" (Pnar) are such interesting words 🤓🤓
    They both testify to the dichotomy between appearance and reality, a dichotomy that marks human life, but which is not easily perceived.

    English, Khasi and Pnar expilcation by @speakyourroots

  • Jakhom

    Ka ktien "Jakhom" ka mut haba mad ïa ka sohsat, ka shitom ne ka mynsaw ha ka jingim u briew. Kum haba ong "Jakhom haba la wan ka 'er kyllang bad u slap."

    The Khasi word "Jakhom" means to experience difficulty and suffering, to be in trouble or to be wounded. When used in a sentence "It is jakhom when a cyclone hits accompanied with rain."

    Katba ngi nang kren, nang pule bad nang thoh ha ka ktien la jong, ngi nang lap bun ki kyntien kiba ngi lah ban pyndonkam ha ka jaka jong kiwei. Ka kyntien "Jakhom" ka long kawei na kum kita ki kyntien. 🗣️✒️📖

    The more we speak, read and write in our own indigenous languages, we will find more and more words that we can use instead of others. The Khasi word "Jakhom" is one such word. 🗣️✒️📖

    Hap kiar mo lok na ka jakhom! Tangba lada ka wan ruh, ngin nang khlaiñ bad met bad mynsiem! 💪💪

    🟡 English translation by @speakyourroots

  • Janai-Jaton

    Janai: Babeit ne babit bha, ka thew ïa ka jinglong kaba thikna bad kaba paka bha.

    Jaton: Ïa ka ktien jaton la pyndonkam lang bad ka ktien janai. Haba ong Janai-Jaton, ka mut khnang khnang lane wat pep, kum haba ong "sngewbha wan janai-jaton".

    Janai: What is wholesome, bearing clarity and goodness. Consequently this refers to the quality of being certain, satisfactory and the best.

    Jaton: The word "jaton" is used with the word "janai". When we say "Janai-Jaton" it means without fail, implying the certainty with which something needs to happen or to be done. For example, when it is said "Please come janai-jaton", it means that the person has to come, with no excuses for not showing up.

    "Janai-jaton" is a Khasi "ktien kynnoh", two similar meaning words that form a phrase, containing a two-fold significance. 🔡💭

    🟡 English translation by @speakyourroots

  • Kine ki kyntien ba ngim ju kham pyndonkam shuh

    Feast – Ka Jynlat

    Rub – Kurkhud

    Ending in a draw of a match – Marïakhaid

    Guard – U Borkyndad

    Stubborn – Bakyrot, Badohsnieh

    Sustain – Kyrbah

    Kine ki kyntien kiba ngim ju kham pyndonkam shuh ki dei ban poi biang sha kaba pyndonkam ïa ki ha ka jingkren jong ngi kaba man la ka sngi. Ngi dei ban pyrshang ban pynrung ïa ki ha ki jingïakren bad jingïathuhkhana jong ngi 😃🙏
    Ha kane ka rukom ka ktien kan nang ïar bad suhthied ruh. 🌦️🌄

    Have a great week ahead guys!!

    #khasiwords #khasilanguage #khasilanguageconservation #khasilanguagerevitalisation #indigenouslanguages #indigenouslanguagerevitalization #speakyourrootschallenge #speakyourroots #talklocal

  • Kine ki kyntien kiba ngim ju kham pyndonkam

    Feast – Ka Jynlat

    Rub – Kyrkhud

    Ending in a draw of a match – Marïakhaid

    Guard – U Borkyndad

    Stubborn – Bakyrot, Badohsnieh

    Sustain – Kyrbah

    Kine ki kyntien kiba ngim ju kham pyndonkam ki dei ban poi biang sha kaba pyndonkam ïa ki ha ka jingkren jong ngi kaba man la ka sngi. Ngi dei ban pyrshang ban pynrung ïa ki ha ki jingïakren bad jingïathuhkhana jong ngi 😃🙏 Ha kane ka rukom ka ktien kan nang ïar bad suhthied ruh. 🌦️🌄

    Have a great week ahead guys!!

  • Ki Rukom Kren Ba Pher/Different Ways of Speaking, Part II

    "Kren padan" ka dei kaba kren pakhang ktien ba kiwei kin ym ïoh kren/ to speak in a way that obstructs others from getting a chance to speak.

    "Kren 'nam ksiar 'tien ksiar" ka dei haba kren ïa ka jingbha ban da ïa ka hok ka burom ha ka pyrthei/ to speak for the good of others or about goodness, for the protection of rights, dignity and honour in the world (or in human life).

    "Kren Ikhit" ka dei kaba kren kumba ïathuh bniah ïa ki skid ne sker ki bym larkam/ to speak or relay in detail about all sorts and kinds of things but in a useless way.

    "Kren saidlah" ka dei kaba kren said ban pynïeng la ka nia ne dáw wat la lah shah pyndem ha ka jingïatainia/ to speak in order to support one's argument or reason even though the argument or reason has been weakened or criticised in a debate.

    Sa shi hud ki rukom kren ha ka Khasi 😀🗣️

    This is Part Il of the different ways of speaking in Khasi. May the words we speak empower us and those who listen to us! 💫💫

    🟡 English translation by @speakyourroots

  • Ki Rukom Kren Ba Pher/ Different Ways of Speaking, Part 1

    "Kren bhoh" ka dei kaba kren ha ka rukom kumba kren khroh ïano ïano bym kwah kren/ to speak so as to coax someone who does not want to talk.

    "Kren jyrwit jyrwat" ka dei kaba kren kyllaiñ khlem pynshai/ to speak in circles or to beat around the bush without any effort at being clear.

    "Kren lyngkut" ka dei ka jingkren ka bym bunktien hynrei kaba eh bad kaba ngam shaduh shyieng/ to speak using less words but they are harsh words whose effect sinks deep into the bones.

    "Kren phrak" ka dei kaba kren khlem buhrieh ne tyngkai; kaba kren laitluid bad shai/ to speak without hiding anything or without reserve; to speak freely and clearly.

    "Kren saidda" ka dei kaba kren ban ïada ïalade lane ïa kiwei pat/ to speak in order to protect oneself or to protect others.

    The power of the spoken word 🗣️🗣️🗣️ There are an array of words to describe different ways of speaking in the Khasi language. Here are a few of them 😄

    🟡 English translation by @speakyourroots

  • Another list of Khasi words

    Very young – Jawlia

    Why not – Haw

    Perchance – Tyndi Tynda

    Overcoat – Ka Blub

    Issues – Ki Matiïatei

    Interpreter – Dubasia

    Excitement – Ka Saw Ka Sian

    Another list of Khasi words that we can start using again so they become part of everyday speech 😀😀

    🟡 Source – Ka Dienshonhi: The Khasi Encyclopaedic Dictionary by Rev. Dr. Ïarington Kharkongor

  • Ki Rukom Peit or Different Kinds of Looks

    "Peit kling kling klang klang" ka mut kaba peit shane shane shatai shatai/ to look around frantically.

    "Peit kliaw" ka mut haba peit bad da husiar bha/ to look or watch carefully.

    "Peit ngoid" ka mut kaba peit shisien bad jah noh/ to peep.

    "Peit matdong" ka mut kaba peit sniew/ to look with bad intentions.

    "Peit tliw" ka mut haba peit sah hajuh kumba pyrkhat ne dom/ looking or staring in the same place while deep in thought or in anger.

    "Peit pyrman" ka mut ba peit bniah bad da bishar artat/ to look meticulously and observing

    minutely.

    "Peit shongshan" ka mut haba peit shlip bad mut sniew/ to look suspiciously.

    "Peit tynghong" ka mut haba peit bad ang lyngngoh kumba ym ju ïohi/ to look in surprise or bewilderment as if one has never seen something.

    "Ki Rukom Peit" or Different Kinds of Looks 🧐😮😐😳 The expressions on people's faces tell us a lot about them or how they're feeling. Here are a few Khasi descriptions of facial expressions.

    🟡 Source: Ka Dienshonhi: The Khasi Encyclopaedic Dictionary by Rev. Dr. Ïarington Kharkongor

    🟡 Translated into English by @speakyourroots