Mon Language

Resources on the Mon Language are very, very rare unless one knows a Mon speaker. I do know a person who is Mon by descent, but he cannot speak it (he knows Burmese instead). He did teach me the few words that he does know. Here are the words that I have learned:

• "Mongora`au (Moan-go-rah-ow)" is "Hello" in Mon.
• "Mongmipmongha? (Moan-meep-moan-hah)" is "How are you?"
• "Mongmipmongra (Moan-meep-moan-rah)" is the answer of Mongmipmongra, or "I am Fine".
• "Ho' (sounds like "Hut")" is "No"
• "Tang Kun (Tahng-koon)" is "Thank You".
• "Hongsawatoi (Howng-sah-wah-dtoi)" is "City of Hongsa". Hongsa, or Hinthar, is a golden swan (or duck, or rooster, whatever it is, it is a bird) that, to the Mon, represents prosperity and good luck. This mythical creature came from Buddhist India.
• "Hapoi (Hah-POY)" is a "Buddhist Novice".
• "Hagu (Hah-GOO)" is a "Buddhist Monk".
• "Kyaik Hnoa (Kee-yike-h-KNOW-uh)" is a "Buddhist Temple Master". In Burmese, they are called "Sayadaw", and in Thai they are called "Ahjarn".
• "Kyaik (Kee-yike)" is "the Buddha".
• "Tow (between "Tah" and "Toh")" is "the Dhamma" (Teaching of the Buddha).
• "Sahng (Sahng)" is "the Sangha" (The Brotherhood of Monks and Sisterhood of Nuns also).
• " 'Ua (`OO-ah)" is "I"
• "Kyaiktowsang (Kee-Yike-TA-SAHNG)" is "Buddha Dhamma Sangha!". Equivalent of "Oh My God!" but not a curse and not offending to Buddhists.
• "Aaklaara (Ah-klah-rah)" is "Goodbye."

I really don't know if any of this is right.

That is all I have for now. Tang Kun.

Update on August 12, 2005: I found that most of my information was incorrect. I changed anything that I knew was wrong. Sorry. Main Page