Dzongkha or Bhutanese is the national and official language of Bhutan. It has some 160,000 native speakers and 470,000 second-language speakers. It is widely spoken in the Thimphu, Paro, Haa, Chukha, Wangdue Phodrang, Punakha and Gasa regions.
Dzongkha translates to ‘Dzong’ meaning district and ‘kha’ meaning language. Thus, ‘language of the district’.
Dzongkha and its dialects are common to the people of 8 districts of western Bhutan and Tshangla in the east.
Dzongkha is based on the Tibetan alphabet, introduced by Thonmi Sambhota in the 7th century AD. However, the main language written in Bhutan is Classical Tibetan, which is very different from Dzongkha as French from Latin. There is also an official way to write Dzongkha in the Latin alphabet known as Roman Dzongkha.
Dzongkha Words with Meanings in English
Now let us work on the Dzongkha Bhutanese Language translated in English language:
| hello | Kuzu zangpo la |
| nice to meet you | Nga choe da chebay sem ga yi |
| how are you | Gaday bay Zhui? |
| you | Chhoe |
| thank you | Kadrin chhe la |
| good luck | Tashi delek |
| where | Gatey |
| tourist | Chillip |
| cool | Leg shom du |
| yes | inn |
| no | men |
| no problem | Khe mi |
| sorry | Sorry Tsip maza |
| excuse me | Atsi zur nang |
| 1 | chi |
| 2 | nyi |
| 3 | sum |
| 4 | zhi |
| 5 | nga |
| 6 | dru |
| 10 | chu tham |
| 11 | chu chi |
| 12 | chu nyi |
| 20 | Nyishu/Khelchi |
| 21 | Nyerchi |
| 22 | Nyer^Nyi |
| 23 | Nyer sum |
| 8 o clock | baza gyed |
| Monday | Migmar |
| Tuesday | Lhakpa |
| Wednesday | Phurbu |
| Thursday | Pasang |
| Friday | Pemba |
| Saturday | Nima |
| Sunday | Dawa |
| january | indha dangpa |
| february | indha nyipa |
| march | indha sumpa |
| april | indha zhipa |
| may | indha ngapa |
| june | indha drupa |
| july | indha duenpa |
| august | indha gaypa |
| september | indha gupa |
| october | indha chupa |
| november | indha chuchipa |
| december | indha chunyipa |
| today | Dhari |
| yesterday | Khatsa |
| tomorrow | Naba |
| now | dhato |
| green | Changkha |
| red | Marp |
| white | Karp |
| blue | Hoem |
| black | Naap |
| yellow | Serp |
| orange | Leewang |
| bird | Ji chu |
| cat | Ji ley |
| chicken | Jum |
| cow | No |
| dog | Ro che |
| fish | Nya |
| frog | Baep |
| horse | Taa |
| pig | Phap |
| turtle | Ru bel |
| taxi | La khor |
| fare | La |
| how much | Ga day chi mo? |
| lodging | Goen Chim |
| meal | Toh /zhay go |
| eating | shay go za ni |
| already eat | Toh zhey ga la? |
| delicious | zhim bay |
| bitter | khag tae |
| sweet | ngam |
| sour | chup |
| water | chu |
| tea | ja |
| butter tea | su ja |
| curry | tsoem |
| soup | thup |
| chilly | ema |
| cheese | datsi |
| cook | toh bey ni |
| eat | zhey |
| dry chilli | ema kam |
| potato | kewa |
| maize | gayza |
| alcoholic baverage | Changg |
| bar | Changkhang |
| tip | Soera |
| whats the bill | Ga de chi mo? |
| water | Chu |
| local drink | Ara |
| it is strong | Ah ni ngag tra du. |
| it is mild | Lha si si du. |
| shop | Tsongkhang |
| how much | Ga dem chi mo? |
| discount please | Gong phab nang! |
| what is this | Ani ga chi mo? |
| car | Numkhor |
| to drive | Numkhor tang ni |
| license | Lak Kher |
| police | Thrim sung |
| road | Lam |
| high speed | shuk bay tang |
| low speed | Drogay bay tang |
| lets go | Jogay! |
| stop | Numkor kag nang |
| risky | Ngyen khag chen |
| here | Nalu |
| there | Phalu (h is silent) |
| right | Yaechhog |
| left | Yoenchhog |
| straight | Thrang Dhi |
| go back or u turn | Lok Loni |
| front | Dong kha |
| behind | Jab kha |
| next to | Bolo kha |
| far away | Tha ringsa |
| boy | Butsh |
| girl | Bum |
It is also related to other languages spoken in Bhutan, such as Chocangaca, Brokpa, Brokkat, Lakha and sikkimmese which is widely used language of southern Tibetion region.
Government of Bhutan has made it mandatory to study Dzongkha in all the schools of Bhutan.
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