Rohingya Alphabet & Pronunciation

Alphabet

Aa   Bb   Cc   Çç   Dd   Ee   Ff

Gg   Hh   Ii   Jj   Kk   Ll   Mm

Nn   Ññ   Oo   Pp   Qq   Rr   Ss

Tt   Uu   Vv   Ww   Xx   Yy   Zz

Consonants

"c"  is pronounced as sh in shell.
"ç"  is pronounced as retroflex r in Rohingya words such as caça 
     and naça meaning mat and closed.

"d"  is pronounced as d in Dubai.
"dh" is pronounced as d in day.
 
"t"  is pronounced as t in tooth.
"th" is pronounced as t in ten.

"ñ"  is pronounced as silent n or half n such as in 
     Rohingya words fiañs and fañs  
     meaning onion and five. Basically   
     it gives nasal sound to the preceding consonant.

"ñy" is nasal y.
"ñg" is nasal g
"ts" is equal to sida.

"y"  is used as consonant only, not used as a semi vowel. 
     So My must be written as Mai.

Vowels

Rohingya has two sets of vowels. The first line represent (6) soft-sound (normal) vowels and, the second line (6) hard-sound (accented) vowels. The last two-lettered vowels in each line below – ou and óu – are treated as if it is a single vowel respectively. Accented vowels are always emphasized with high tone and unaccented vowels are always pronounced as soft vowels.

a    e    i    o    u    ou
á    é    í    ó    ú    óu

Each vowel gives only one sound as shown in bold in the English and Rohingya phrase below:-

"America on full tour"
"Alemi modúr houli" - meaning International Honey Center.

a  is pronounced as in the word America.
e  is pronounced as in the word Letter.
i  is pronounced as in the word India.
o  is pronounced as in the word Long.
u  is pronounced as in the word Put.
ou is pronounced as in the word Go.

Circular vowels

Rohingya uses at least 4 circular vowels in each set. It is like adding “i” after each vowel of a, e, o, u. You cannot add “i” to “i”.)

ai  ei  oi  ui   (for soft sounds)
ái  éi  ói  úi   (for hard sounds)

For example;
Dhail (=lentil), Beil (=sun), Boi (=sit), Tui (=you) for not emphasized.
Bái (=brother), Dhéil (=tree branch), Bóin (=sister), Kúilla (=open) for emphasized.

Long vowels and its variants

Rohingya uses double vowels to extend the sound in three different ways such as horizontal, rising and falling. For example;

aa  horizontal elongation; example Gaa (=body). 
aá  raising up; example Gaá (=sing).
áa  falling down; example Gáa (=infections).

Questions

In Rohingya Language yes/no questions are created by adding “né” at the end of the sentence:

• Sálma’ttu bilai uggwá asé né? — Is there a cat with Salma?
• Sálma’ttu bilai uggwá asé.       — There is a cat with Salma.
• Ói, Sálma’ttu bilai uggwá asé. — Yes, There is a cat with Salma.

• Usman ottú bilai asé né?         — Is there cat with Usman?
• Usman ottú bilai nái.               — There is no cat with Usman.
• Nái, Usman ottú bilai nái.       — No, There is no cat with Usman.

Relevant vocabulary

Sálma'ttu  = 'with Salma'
uggwá      = 'a'
bilai      = 'cat'
asé né     = 'is there'
Usman ottú = 'with Usman'
nái        = 'no' or 'there is no'

Other questions are created by USING question pronouns like:

• hoçé              – where
• hoñótté         – when
• hone             – who
• ki                  – what
• hotúkkun     – how long/when
• hoddúr         – how far/how much
• hodún          – how much
• hondila        – what kind
• honnán        – which one
• kengóri        – how

Hoçé – Where

• Tui hoçé zaibi?          – Where will you go?
• Ite/Ibá hoçé zaibou? – Where will he/she go?
• Tui hoçé zaifaribí?    – Where can you go?

Hoñótté – When

• Ibá hoñótte zaibou?                      – When will she go?
• Ali hoñótte aibou?                         – When will Ali come?
• Tui añár loi hoñótte dehá goríbi? – When will you see me?

Hone – Who

• Hone hoórde?        – Who is saying?
• Tuñí honnwá?       – Who are you?
• Tuñí haré soórde? – Whom are you looking for?

Ki – What

• Yián ki?           – What is it?
• Tuñí ki gorór? – What are you doing?

Hotúkkun – How long

• (Thaim) hotúkkun laiggé? – How long it took (time)?
• Tui hotúkkun ot zaibi?         – When will you go?

Hoddúr – How far/How much

• Ham hoddúr óiye?   – How far is work done?
• Lamba hoddúr?       – How much is the length?
• Tuñí hoddúr zaiba? – How far will you go?

Hodún – How much

• Yián hodún?               – How much is it?
• Tuñí hodún soódde?  – How much you want?
• Tuñí hodún loiba?     – How much you want to buy?

Hondila – What kind

• Tuáñrtú hondila hoor fosón de? – What kind of clothes do you like?
• Tuáñrtú hondila ham fosón de? – What kind of work do you like?
• Tuáñrtú hondila lageddé?           – What kind do you need?

Honnán – Which one

• Tuñí honnán basíba? – Which one you choose?
• Tuñí honnán loba?     – Which one will you take?

Honíkká – Any body/Any where

• Honíkká asé né?           – Is there any one?
• Ite honíkká no zaibóu? – He will not go any where?

Kengóri – How

• Ali kengóri aibóu?                            – How will Ali come?
• Ite eskul ekkán kengóri banaibóu? – How will he build a school?

Vocabulary

Days

Saturday    – Cónibar
Sunday       – Rooibar
Monday      – Cómbar
Tuesday      – Monggolbar
Wednesday – Buidbar
Thursday    – Bicíbbar
Friday         – Cúkkubar

Months

Arabic way
1. Mohórom
2. Sófor
3. Robiul Awal
4. Robiul Táni
5. Jamadil Awal
6. Jomadil Táni
7. Rojob
8. Cáaban
9. Romzan
10. Caawál
11. Zulkáada
12. Zulhájj

Rohingya way
1. Soit
2. Boicák
3. Zer
4. Acár
5. Cón
6. Bádo
7. Acín
8. Hati
9. Oón
10. Fuc
11. Mak
12. Fóon

Time

This morning               = Aijja beínna
This afternoon             = Aijja duíñjja
This evening                = Aijja ázinna
Today                           = Aijja
Tonight                       = Aijja raitta
Tomorrow                   = Aiyérde hailla / Hailla
Yesterday                    = Goto hailla
Day before yesterday = Goto foóuru
Day after tomorrow   = Aiyérde foóuru / Foóuru)
A week                        = Ek háfta
Last week                   = Goto háfta
Next week                  = Tarfor háfta
Everyday                    = Fottídin / Foittódin
Every week                = Fottí háfta
Every month             = Fottí mác
Every year                 = Fottí bosór

Numbers

One = Ek
Two = Dui
Three = Tin
Four = Sair
Five = Fañs
Six = Só
Seven = Háñt
Eight = Añctho
Nine = No
Ten = Doc
Eleven = Egaro
Twelve = Baró
Thirteen = Teró
Fourteen = Soiddó
Fifteen = Fundóroh
Sixteen = Cúlloh
Seventeen = Háñtaroh/Cáñtaroh
Eighteen = Añçároh
Nineteen = Unnúic
Twenty = Kuri
Twenty-one = Ekkuri ek
Twenty-five = Ekkuri fañs
Twenty-nine = Ekkuri no
Thirty = Tiríc
Forty = Calic
Fifty = Fonjaic
Sixty = Áith/Háith
Seventy = Óttoir/Cóttoir
Eighty = Ací
Ninety = Nobboi
Hundred = Cót
Thousand = Házar
100 Thousands = Ek lák (1,00,000)
10 Million = Ek kurul (1,00,00,000)
1 Billion = Ek kuthí (1,00,00,00,000)

Ordinals

First = Ek lombór
Second = Dui lombór
Third = Tin lombór
Fourth = Sair lombór
Fifth = Fañs lombór
Sixth = Só lombór
Seventh = Háñt lombór
Eight = Añctho lombór
Ninth = No lombór
Tenth = Doc lombór
Eleventh = Egaro lombór
Eighteenth = Añçáro lombór
Twentieth = Kuri lombór
Twenty first = Ek kuri ek lombór
Thirtieth = Tiríc lombór

Direction

East – Fuk
West – Fosím
North – Uttor
South – Doóin
Northeast – Uttor-e-Fuge
Northwest – Uttor-e-Fosíme
Southeast – Doóin-e-Fuge
Southwest – Doóin-e-Fusíme

Dimension

Length = Lamba
Breadth = Fatóijjá / Baiththá / Dhák / Sáith
Height = Usol / Bor
Thickness = Dhaço / Mutha
Depth = Mur / Mutha

Phrases

Good morning/afternoon/evening/night/Hello = Assolámu Aláikum
How are you? – Keén aso?
Yes = Ói
No = Noó
No, It is not = Noó, Yián noó
Thank you = Cúkuria
Thank you very much = Bicí cúkuria
Please = Meérbanigori

Household Items

Gór = house
Sáman = items
Gór or sáman = household ems

used in the kitchen

ooin = fire
faní = water
Sulá = stove
Geés = gas
Dargwá = fire wood
hána = food
Decci = dish
gúroni = dish cover
borton / sóaon = plate
golóic = glass
gaála = bowl
hoddá = curry cup
fiala = tea cup
finic = tea plate
bát = cooked rice
dhowá = wooden tool used to take cooked rice into plate
sálon = curry
almali = wooden cupboard in the kitchen
sábun / sábon = soap
besón = basin
fáik = water tap
hani = rag
dostorhána = table cloth
camic = spoon
zúl = curry soup / curry water
cúrha = curry soup
súp = soup
áñdhdhi = bone
keñça = fish bone
mas = fish
gusto = meat
kela = banana
gula = fruit
sanni = salad
moris = chilli
nun = table salt
fiañs = onion
roóun = garlic
ada = ginger
tel = cooking oil
mosólla = spicy items
óloiddá = yellow
rañdó = cook
sóroot, thándhaá = cold
gorom = hot
dani = container (eg. nun or dani = salt bottle)
boróf = ice
boróf ór fethi = refrigerator
raáis kúkar = rice cooker
precar kúkar / frecar kukár = pressure cooker
tondul = oven
maikruwéif = microwave oven
átfúsoní = towel for drying wet hand
gula gala = kinds of fruits
sóbzi = vegetables
dat kílani = tooth peek
hát dúoní = hand wash bowl
zog = jug
flas = plus
fúuroin = sweeper
faám = pump
kuñsani = sweeper
mes = table
saá = tea
saá fata = tea leaves
siní = sugar
modú = honey
andha = egg
ruthi = bread
dut = milk
mithái = chocolate
miçá = sweet
hóro = soar
tita = bitter
zál = hot (due to hot chilli)
gíi = ghee
isamas = shrimp
hoñsi = lemon
fan = bittle
faça = grinding rock
uñta = grinding roll of rock
beg = bag
dhula = basket
doo = knife
súri = kitchen knife
kuçoni = cutting plate
kuñrani = slicer
ficóni = grinder
ficóni micín = grinder machine
gúñçoni = hand mixer
decci dholoni = dish washing wires
uzón =weigh
soil = rice
roc = juice
dhail = lentil
dhañçi = handle
botol = bottle
galén = water gallon
sáta = dust
sátar gadhdhá = dust bin
sábon or faní = liquid soap
foóum = foam
centhár = slipper
habos or rul= paper roll
góuçi = clock
kesi = scissor
dóroni = holder
bór = heavy
fatol = light
uzu = straight
behañ = not straight
usol = high
bañçí = short
thaim = time
miníth / minóth= minute

Name of Diseases

Kensar =cancer
Bor Biaram = Cholera

Sul zórer = hair falling
Sul fager = hair graying
Sul fúaná = dry hair
Sulot sussuri = dandruff
Talu = bald

Matá hóñrar = headache
Matá thon-tho-nar = head pain
Matá bór óiye = head heavy sensation
Matá ek dhák síri zargói = severe one sided head pain
Matát kúth marer = poking pain in the head
Matá furer = head burning
Matá gúrar = head stirring sensation
Matá gorom óizagói = heating in the head
Matá thók-thók hoñrar = hammering pain in the head

Gaa hoñrar = body cramp
Gaa bic óiye = body pain
Gaa sissiar = body pain
Gaa írirar = body pain
Gaa moth-moçar = body brittle sensation
Gaat zor = fever
Gaalama = heavy motion

Baáre zar = frequent motion
Dat thon-thonar = toothache
Feth hoñrar = stomach pain
Gaa furer = body burning sensation
Gaa zoler = body burning sensation
thándhi = cold
sína zoler = chest burning
niác than = breathing difficulty
feth fúlar = stomach fullness
dañra sissiar = back pain
dóra = waist pain
añçú bic = knee pain
siní biaram = diabetes

Súañfira = sudden unconsciousness
Áta = decéntary
Lou Áta = blood decéntary
Dhák baijjani = pain in the rib
Hórai = urinary infection
Thúiththa biaram = piles
Dhónu thokkor = sudden squeeze-treat with ATS
Zulantai = sudden stomach squeeze caused by cold
Baái uçá = food poison
Kurus = skin becoming white
feñsara = skin infection
fúra = pimple with puss
góoñsi = little pimple due to heat
bic thúañ = painful pimple
gula = dangerous pimple
luti= pimple
Bat = skin deep infection formed puss inside
Beng bat= another kind of skin deep infection
Fisála = blockage at both side of the throat
Thúañ = watery pimple
Zor Thúañ = watery pimple after fever
Soru = a kind of skin infection
Fúla = body swelling
Dóoñni = difficult in breath taking
hañc = cough
hoo = vomiting
Gola fúla = neck swelling
Finak = extra flesh in the nose.
Cóccúl = eye infection
Añma = eye sight blurring
Añccwá = blur
Fakkwá = infection between fingers and toes
Ketur = eye related diseases
Doout = a kind of skin infection
Sammwa Doout = a kind of skin infection
Dóra = waist pain
Maiccáta =
Cánni = tooth decay

Human shelters

áñis = small roof attached to the side of a house for poor family living
bacá = a small temporary bamboo shelter
bildhíng =building
duan = shop
eskul, eckul = school
fonjahana = small religious teaching shelter
gañt = a digging or hollow
górr = house/home
gudam = house made of mud, a warehouse to store goods
hóla = a temporary work place used while harvesting agricultural products
kuthá = house made of bricks usually refer to buildings
kondhoul = disaster safe building
kúñdah = cave
lamba thambu = long shelter house
modorósa = Arabic or religious school
mosóit = mosque
thambu = tent
thék gór = small home
thong= small shelter but high
usol bildhíng = high rise building
usol kuthá = high rise building

Calling to family members and relatives

óma = oh mother
óuma = oh mother
maá = oh mother
maaré = oh mother
mamá = oh mother
mamáni = oh mother
maóu = oh mother
óumaaré = calling mother (while in distress)

óba = oh father
óbaá = oh father
babá = father
babáre = oh father
óubaaré = calling father (while in distress)

óbu = oh elder sister
óubu = oh elder sister
bubú = oh elder sister
buburé = oh elder sister
bubuní = oh elder sister
bubuniré = oh elder sister (while in a hurry)

bodda = brother
óubodda = oh brother
boddaré = oh my brother

sañsa = father’s brother
jeçá = father’s elder brother
hakku = father’s younger brother
hála = mother’s sister
mamu = uncle
mami = uncle’s wife

fúu = father’s sister