Hello & Goodbye in Khasi

Hello & Goodbye in Khasi

Kumno?!!

In the Khasi language there is no word for Hello or Hi. The Khasi people always start a conversation  with 'Kumno?' which is short for 'Kumno phi long?/Phi long kumno?' (How are you?).

Example dialogue#1 How are you?

Person A: Phi long kumno?(How are you?)              

                                                           

Person B:  Nga khlaiñ. Phi pat?(I'm fine. And you?)

Person A: Nga ruh nga khlaiñ.(I'm fine too.)

                    

Example dialogue#2 How are you?

Person A: Kumno? (How are you?)

Person B:  Shu biang hi. Phi?(I'm ok. You?)

Person A: Nga khlaiñ.(I'm fine.)

                    

Example dialogue#3 How are you? and Goodbye

Person A: Kumno?(How are you?)                                  

                                                            

Person B:  Nga khlaiñ. Phi?(I'm fine. You?)

Person A: Nga ruh nga khlaiñ. (I'm fine too.)              

                                                               

Person B:  Te phin leit shano?(So, where are you going?)

Person A: Ngan leit sha ïew. (I'm going to the market.)                  

                                             

Person B:  To kata sa ia kyndŭh pat.(Ok then. See you later.)

Example dialogue#4 How are you? and Goodbye

Person A: Kumno?(How are you?)                             

                                                       

Person B:  Nga khlaiñ. Phi?(I'm fine. You?)

Person A: Nga ruh nga khlaiñ.(I'm fine too.)         

                                                           

Person B:  Te kumno ki kam ki jam?(So, how's life?/how's work?)

Person A: Biang. And you?(It's fine.Phi pat?)                

                                                        

Person B:  Shu biang hi.To kata, ngan leit noh mo.(Just doing ok. Alright then I'll go .)

Person A: To.(Ok) 

                 

Example dialogue#4 How are you? and Goodbye

Person A: Kumno? Phi khlaiñ em? (How are you? Are you fine?)            

                                             

Person B:  Nga khlaiñ. Phi pat kumno?(I'm fine. What about you?)

Person A: Nga ruh nga khlaiñ.(I'm fine too.)                   

                                                         

Person B:  Ha ïng pat? Ki ïa khlaiñ em? (What about your family? They are fine right?)

Person A: Ki ïa khlaiñ lut.(They are all fine.)                         

                                                     

Person B:  Sa ai khublei lem ïa i mei jong phi.(Please give my regards to your mother.)

Person A: To.(Ok)