Ladakhi Bhoti(ལ་དྭགས་སྐད་ or La-dwags skat) is the main language of Ladakh, India. It is also very similar to Balti, another language spoken in Kargil and Gilgit Baltistan. The two languages are mutually intelligible.

Pronunciation guide

Ladakhi is Romanized in a similar way to Hindi. The most important thing to remember being that the "Th" represents a "T" sound with a bit more air. This corresponds to a large part to the pronunciation of Latin, German, Finnish, and many other European languages. What is written as -le is pronounced as in English "length", or French "lé".

Phrase list

Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

Basics

Quick phrases Jule, also transcripted as Jullay (pronounced joo-lay): an all purpose word for hello, goodbye, and thank you. Use it always! Khamzang?: are you well? (casual) Khamzang: I am well Hamago: I don't understand Hago: I understand Hago-a: understand? O: yea (informal yes) Kasa: yes (more polite) Man: No tsapik: a little bit Dik: it's ok, that's enough, I'm alright -le: a particle when added to the end of sentences make it polite, added to names is a respectful term of address Zhuks-le: sit stay (polite) Don-le: eat drink (polite) Skyot: go away (polite)

Hello.

. Jule

Hello. (informal)

. Jule

How are you?

(Nyerang = You) Khamzang ina-le?

Fine, thank you.

Khamzang in le! O'-Jule!

What is your name?

Nyerangi mingla chi in?

My name is ______ .

______ . ( _____ .)

Nice to meet you.

. ( )

Please.

. Jule

Thank you.

Tok zhe-che.

You're welcome.

O'-Jule!

Yes.

Dik (ok) / Ha-le? (when responding to someone calling you)

No.

Man-le.

Excuse me. (getting attention)

. ( )

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

. ( )

I'm sorry.

. ( )

Goodbye

. ( )

Goodbye (informal)

. ( )

I can't speak Ladakhi [well].

[ ]. ( [ ])

Do you speak English?

? ( ?)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

? ( ?)

Help!

! ( !)

Look out!

! ( !)

Good morning.

. ( )

Good evening.

. ( )

Good night.

Chi tro daylaik. ( )

Good night (to sleep)

. ( )

I don't understand.

. ( )

Where is the toilet?

? ( ?)

Problems

Leave me alone.

. ( .)

Don't touch me!

! (Nya Lakpa ma-tse !)

I'll call the police.

. ('nya police la bo-daad' .)

Police!

! ( !)

Stop! Thief!

! ! ('sring' skun-ma! !)

I need your help.

. (Nya nyeri yato goshes rag .)

It's an emergency.

. ( .)

I'm lost.

. ( .)

I lost my bag.

. ( .)

I lost my wallet.

. ( .)

I'm sick.

. ( Nya zumu rag.)

I've been injured.

. ( .)

I need a doctor.

. ( .)

Can I use your phone?

? ('nye ri phone bo kolna diga lay' ?)

Numbers

1

(chik )

2

(nyis )

3

(sum )

4

(jzhe )

5

(nghra )

6

(tuk )

7

(dun )

8

(gyat )

9

(gyu )

10

(chu )

11

(chug-tzik )

12

(chug-nis )

13

(chug-sum )

14

(chug-jzhe )

15

(chug-nghra )

16

(chu-ruk )

17

(chub-dun )

18

(chob-gyat )

19

(chur-gu )

20

(nyi-shu )

21

(nyishu-ser-chik )

22

(nyishu-ser nyis )

23

(nyishu-sar gu )

30

( )

40

( )

50

( )

60

( )

70

( )

80

( )

90

( )

100

( )

200

( )

300

( )

1,000

( )

2,000

( )

1,000,000

( )

1,000,000,000

( )

1,000,000,000,000

( )

number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

( )

half

( )

less

( )

more

( )

Time

now

(Dak-sa)

later

(Sting-na )

before

( Syon-la)

morning

( Nra-mo)

afternoon

( Nying-gung)

evening

( Phi-tok)

night

( Tsaan)

Clock time

one o'clock AM

( )

two o'clock AM

( )

noon

( )

one o'clock PM

( )

two o'clock PM

( )

midnight

( )

Duration

_____ minute(s)

( )

_____ hour(s)

( )

_____ day(s)

( )

_____ week(s)

( )

_____ month(s)

( )

_____ year(s)

( )

Days

today

( Di-ring)

yesterday

( Da-ang)

tomorrow

( Thorey)

this week

( )

last week

( )

next week

( )

Sunday

( )

Monday

( )

Tuesday

( )

Wednesday

( )

Thursday

( )

Friday

( )

Saturday

( )

Months

January

( )

February

( )

March

( )

April

( )

May

( )

June

( )

July

( )

August

( )

September

( )

October

( )

November

( )

December

( )

Colors

black

( )

white

( )

gray

( )

red

( )

blue

( )

yellow

( )

green

( )

orange

( )

purple

( )

brown

( )

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?

( )

One ticket to _____, please.

( )

Where does this train/bus go?

( )

Where is the train/bus to _____?

( )

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

( )

When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

( )

When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

( )

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?

( )

...the train station?

( )

...the bus station?

( )

...the airport?

( )

...downtown?

( )

...the youth hostel?

( )

...the _____ hotel?

( )

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?

( )

Where are there a lot of...

( )

...hotels?

( )

...restaurants?

( )

...bars?

( )

...sites to see?

( )

Can you show me on the map?

( )

street

( )

Turn left.

( )

Turn right.

( )

left

( )

right

( )

straight ahead

( )

towards the _____

( )

past the _____

( )

before the _____

( )

Watch for the _____.

( )

intersection

( )

north

( )

south

( )

east

( )

west

( )

uphill

( )

downhill

( )

Taxi

Taxi!

( )

Take me to _____, please.

( )

How much does it cost to get to _____?

( )

Take me there, please.

( )

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?

( )

How much is a room for one person/two people?

( )

Does the room come with...

( )

...bedsheets?

( )

...a bathroom?

( )

...a telephone?

( )

...a TV?

( )

May I see the room first?

( )

Do you have anything quieter?

( )

...bigger?

( )

...cleaner?

( )

...cheaper?

( )

OK, I'll take it.

( )

I will stay for _____ night(s).

( )

Can you suggest another hotel?

( )

Do you have a safe?

( )

...lockers?

( )

Is breakfast/supper included?

( )

What time is breakfast/supper?

( )

Please clean my room.

( )

Can you wake me at _____?

( )

I want to check out.

( )

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

( )

Do you accept British pounds?

( )

Do you accept euros?

( )

Do you accept credit cards?

( )

Can you change money for me?

( )

Where can I get money changed?

( )

Can you change a traveler's check for me?

( )

Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

( )

What is the exchange rate?

( )

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

( )

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.

( )

Can I look at the menu, please?

( )

Can I look in the kitchen?

( )

Is there a house specialty?

( )

Is there a local specialty?

( )

I'm a vegetarian.

( )

I don't eat pork.

( )

I don't eat beef.

( )

I only eat kosher food.

( )

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)

( )

fixed-price meal

( )

a la carte

( )

breakfast

( )

lunch

( )

tea (meal)

( )

supper

( )

I want _____.

( )

I want a dish containing _____.

( )

chicken

( )

beef

( )

fish

( )

ham

( )

sausage

( )

cheese

( )

eggs

( )

salad

( )

(fresh) vegetables

( )

(fresh) fruit

( )

bread

( )

toast

( )

noodles

( )

rice

( )

beans

( )

May I have a glass of _____?

( )

May I have a cup of _____?

( )

May I have a bottle of _____?

( )

coffee

( )

tea (drink)

( )

juice

( )

(bubbly) water

( )

(still) water

( )

beer

( )

red/white wine

( )

May I have some _____?

( )

salt

( )

black pepper

( )

butter

( )

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

( )

I'm finished.

( )

It was delicious.

( )

Please clear the plates.

( )

The check, please.

( )

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?

( )

Is there table service?

( )

A beer/two beers, please.

( )

A glass of red/white wine, please.

( )

A pint, please.

( )

A bottle, please.

( )

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

( )

whiskey

( )

vodka

( )

rum

( )

water

( )

club soda

( )

tonic water

( )

orange juice

( )

Coke (soda)

( )

Do you have any bar snacks?

( )

One more, please.

( )

Another round, please.

( )

When is closing time?

( )

Cheers!

( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?

( )

How much is this?

( )

That's too expensive.

( )

Would you take _____?

( )

expensive

( )

cheap

( )

I can't afford it.

( )

I don't want it.

( )

You're cheating me.

( )

I'm not interested.

(..)

OK, I'll take it.

( )

Can I have a bag?

( )

Do you ship (overseas)?

( )

I need...

( )

...toothpaste.

( )

...a toothbrush.

( )

...tampons.

. ( )

...soap.

( )

...shampoo.

( )

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)

( )

...cold medicine.

( )

...stomach medicine.

... ( )

...a razor.

( )

...an umbrella.

( )

...sunblock lotion.

( )

...a postcard.

( )

...postage stamps.

( )

...batteries.

( )

...writing paper.

( )

...a pen.

( )

...English-language books.

( )

...English-language magazines.

( )

...an English-language newspaper.

( )

...an English-English dictionary.

( )

Driving

I want to rent a car.

( )

Can I get insurance?

( )

stop (on a street sign)

( )

one way

( )

yield

( )

no parking

( )

speed limit

( )

gas (petrol) station

( )

petrol

( )

diesel

( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.

( )

It was a misunderstanding.

( )

Where are you taking me?

( )

Am I under arrest?

( )

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.

( )

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.

( )

I want to talk to a lawyer.

( )

Can I just pay a fine now?

( )