Lai Holh
Hakha Chin
Sino-Tibetan (Tibeto-Burman, Kuki-Chin, Central)
Hakha Chin (Lai Holh) is the prestige and de facto lingua franca variety of the Chin (Kuki-Chin) languages, centred on Hakha town in Chin State, Myanmar. It serves as the cross-clan communication medium for ~50 distinct Chin-related communities. Tonal with three contrastive tones, complex verbal morphology including direct/inverse alignment. Notable for the large Chin refugee diaspora in Indianapolis (~25K) and Tulsa (~15K) following political persecution in Myanmar from the 1990s onward.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Hakha Chin
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Sino-Tibetan (Tibeto-Burman, Kuki-Chin, Central)
| Meaning | Hakha Chin | Mizo | Tangkhul Naga | Proto-Sino-Tibetan | Mru | Meitei | Adi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ti /ti/ | tui /tui/ | ze /ze/ | *ti(y) /ti(j)/ | o /ɔ/ | ꯏꯁꯤꯡ /isiŋ/ | ihi /ihi/ |
| Fire | mei /mei/ | mei /mei/ | mei /mei/ | *mey /mey/ | mai /mɑɪ/ | ꯃꯩ /mə́i/ | emi /emi/ |
| Sun | ni /ni/ | ni /ni/ | nyithui /ɲitʰui/ | *nəy /nəy/ | thum /tʰum/ | ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ /numit/ | donyi /doɲi/ |
| Moon | thla /tʰla/ | thla /tʰla/ | lai /lai/ | *s-la /s-la/ | la /lə/ | ꯊꯥ /tʰaː/ | polo /polo/ |
| Star | arfi /ʔarfi/ | arsi /arsi/ | sira /siraː/ | *s-kar /s-kar/ | kɯr /kɯr/ | ꯊꯋꯥꯟꯃꯤꯆꯥꯛ /tʰəwanmitʃak/ | takar /takar/ |
| Night | zan /zan/ | zan /zan/ | ngayashong /ŋajaʃoŋ/ | *mun /mun/ | yak /jak/ | ꯑꯍꯤꯡ /əhiŋ/ | yoman /jomaŋ/ |
| Rain | ruah /rua/ | ruah /ruaʔ/ | zingrot /ziŋrot/ | *r-wa /r-wa/ | — | ꯅꯣꯡ /noŋ/ | pedong /pedoŋ/ |
| Snow | hawhra /hawhra/ | vur /vur/ | horam /horam/ | *s-pʷal /s-pʷal/ | — | ꯎꯟ /un/ | tapam /tapam/ |
| Wind | thli /tʰli/ | thli /tʰli/ | masi /masi/ | *qV-lij /qV-lij/ | — | ꯅꯨꯡꯁꯤꯠ /nuŋsit/ | asar /asar/ |
| Earth | vawlei /vawlei/ | lei /ˈlei̯/ | ngalei /ŋalei/ | *m-l(e/ə)y /m-l(e/ə)j/ | — | ꯂꯩꯕꯥꯛ /ləibak/ | among /amoŋ/ |
| Stone | lung /luŋ/ | lung /luŋ/ | ngalung /ŋaluŋ/ | *r-luŋ /r-luŋ/ | — | ꯅꯨꯡ /nuŋ/ | — |
| Mountain | tlang /tlaŋ/ | tlâng /tlaŋ/ | kaphung /kapʰuŋ/ | *s-gaŋ /s-ɡaŋ/ | — | ꯆꯤꯡ /tʃíŋ/ | — |
| Sea | rili /rili/ | tuipui /tuipui/ | ngayi /ŋaji/ | — | — | ꯏꯄꯥꯛ /ipak/ | — |
| Mother | nu /nu/ | nu /nu/ | ina /ina/ | *ma /ma/ | au /əʔu/ | ꯏꯃꯥ /ima/ | ane /ane/ |
| Father | pa /pa/ | pa /pa/ | apa /apa/ | *pa /pa/ | pa /pə/ | ꯏꯄꯥ /ipa/ | abu /abu/ |
| Daughter | fanu /fanu/ | fanu /fanu/ | nawngalawu /nawŋalawu/ | — | — | ꯏꯆꯥꯅꯨꯄꯤ /itʃanupi/ | ome /ome/ |
| I | kei /kei/ | kei /kei/ | i /i/ | *ŋa /ŋa/ | nga /ŋa/ | ꯑꯩ /əi/ | ngo /ŋo/ |
| You | nang /naŋ/ | nang /naŋ/ | na /na/ | *naŋ /naŋ/ | nang /naŋ/ | ꯅꯡ /nə́ŋ/ | no /no/ |
| We | kanmah /kanmaʔ/ | keini /keini/ | ithum /itʰum/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | ꯑꯩꯈꯣꯏ /əikʰoi/ | ngolu /ŋolu/ |
| Name | min /min/ | hming /hmiŋ/ | amin /amin/ | *r-miŋ /r-miŋ/ | ming /miŋ/ | ꯃꯤꯡ /miŋ/ | amin /amin/ |
| Person | mi /mi/ | mi /mi/ | — | *r-mi(y)-n /r-mi(j)-n/ | — | ꯃꯤ /mi/ | tani /tani/ |
| Head | lu /lu/ | lu /lu/ | kui /kui/ | *m-gaw /m-gaw/ | — | ꯀꯣꯛ /kok/ | dumpo /dumpo/ |
| Eye | mit /mit/ | mit /mit/ | mi /mi/ | *s-mik /s-mik/ | mik /mɪk/ | ꯃꯤꯠ /mit/ | amik /amik/ |
| Ear | hna /hna/ | beng /beŋ/ | khana /kʰana/ | *r-na /r̩na/ | na /na/ | ꯅꯥꯀꯣꯡ /nakoŋ/ | nyarung /ɲaruŋ/ |
| Nose | hnar /hnar/ | hnar /hnar/ | natang /nataŋ/ | *s-na /sna/ | — | ꯅꯥꯇꯣꯟ /naton/ | — |
| Mouth | kaa /kaː/ | kâ /ka/ | khamor /kʰamor/ | *s-muːr /s-muːr/ | — | ꯆꯤꯟ /tʃin/ | nappa /nappa/ |
| Tooth | ha /ha/ | ha /ha/ | ha /ha/ | *s-wa /swa/ | ha /ha/ | ꯌꯥ /ja/ | yipung /jipuŋ/ |
| Tongue | lei /lei/ | lei /lei/ | male /male/ | *mlja /mlja/ | lei /lei/ | ꯂꯩ /ləi/ | ayo /ajo/ |
| Hand | kut /kut/ | kut /kut/ | pang /paŋ/ | *lak /lak/ | bong /boŋ/ | ꯈꯨꯠ /kʰut/ | ali /ali/ |
| Foot | ke /ke/ | ke /ke/ | phei /pʰei/ | *r-kaŋ /r-kaŋ/ | klong /kləŋ/ | ꯈꯣꯡ /kʰoŋ/ | ale /ale/ |
| Heart | lung /luŋ/ | thinlung /tʰinluŋ/ | mokyaba /mokjaba/ | — /—/ | tsak /tsʰɑk/ | ꯊꯝꯃꯣꯏ /tʰəmmoi/ | gangki /ɡaŋki/ |
| Bone | ruh /ruh/ | ruh /ruh/ | ara /ara/ | *rus /rus/ | hut /hut/ | ꯁꯔꯨ /sə́ru/ | along /aloŋ/ |
| Blood | thi /tʰî/ | thisen /tʰiseːn/ | ashi /aʃi/ | *s-hwəy-t /shwəjt/ | thi /tʰi/ | ꯏ /i/ | ui /ui/ |
| Poop | ek /ʔek/ | êk /ek/ | paai /paːi/ | *kləy /kləj/ | — | ꯊꯤ /tʰi/ | — |
| Love | daw /daw/ | hmangaih /hmaŋai/ | cha /tʃa/ | *m-dza-k /m-dza-k/ | akiet /əkiɛt/ | ꯅꯨꯡꯁꯤꯕ /nuŋsiba/ | kanom /kanom/ |
| Tree | thingkung /tʰiŋkuŋ/ | thingkung /tʰiŋkuŋ/ | leiyik /leijik/ | *siŋ /siŋ/ | tshing /tsʰɪŋ/ | ꯎ /u/ | esing /esiŋ/ |
| Dog | ui /ui/ | ui /ui/ | ui /ui/ | *d-kʷəy /d-kʷəy/ | takui /təkuɪ/ | ꯍꯨꯏ /hui/ | eki /eki/ |
| Cat | minu /minu/ | zawhte /zɔʔte/ | mibu /mibu/ | — /—/ | tamin /təmɪn/ | ꯍꯧꯗꯣꯡ /hə́udoŋ/ | mero /mero/ |
| Fish | nga /ŋà/ | sangha /saŋha/ | khai /kʰai/ | *ŋja /ŋja/ | nga /ŋa/ | ꯉꯥ /ŋa/ | ngo /ŋo/ |
| Bird | vate /vaʔteʔ/ | sava /sava/ | vanao /vanao/ | *bya /bja/ | — | ꯎꯆꯦꯛ /utʃek/ | pettang /pettaŋ/ |
| Butterfly | pelep /pelep/ | phengphehlep /pʰeŋpʰehlep/ | konghang /koŋhaŋ/ | — | — | ꯀꯨꯔꯥꯛ /kurak/ | — |
| Egg | arti /ʔarti/ | artui /artui/ | harra /harra/ | *ʔu /ʔu/ | — | ꯌꯦꯔꯨꯝ /jerum/ | — |
| Bear | vom /vom/ | savawm /savɔm/ | singom /siŋom/ | *d-wam /d-wam/ | — | ꯁꯑꯣꯝ /səom/ | situm /situm/ |
| Horse | rang /raŋ/ | sakawr /sakɔr/ | sigui /siɡui/ | *s/m-raŋ /s/m-raŋ/ | — | ꯁꯒꯣꯜ /səɡol/ | — |
| House | inn /in/ | in /in/ | shim /ʃim/ | *k-yim /k-jim/ | khim /kʲɪm/ | ꯌꯨꯝ /jum/ | oekum /oekum/ |
| Milk | hnuk /hnuk/ | hnute tui /hnute tui/ | seina /seinə/ | *s-nəw /s-nəw/ | — | ꯁꯡꯒꯣꯝ /səŋɡom/ | anyun /aɲun/ |
| Honey | khuaihliti /kʰuaihliti/ | khuaizu /kʰuaizu/ | khuira /kʰuira/ | — | — | ꯈꯣꯏꯍꯤ /kʰoihi/ | — |
| Salt | ci /tsi/ | chi /tʃi/ | machi /matʃi/ | *g-rjum /g-rjum/ | — | ꯊꯨꯝ /tʰum/ | alo /alo/ |
| Wine | misur hang /misur haŋ/ | uain /uain/ | drakhara /drakʰaːra/ | — | — | — | onggur alang /oŋɡur alaŋ/ |
| Rice | facang /fatsaŋ/ | buh /buh/ | mawon /mawon/ | — | — | ꯆꯦꯡ /tʃeŋ/ | — |
| Iron | thir /tʰir/ | thîr /tʰiːr/ | mari /mari/ | — | — | ꯌꯣꯠ /jot/ | — |
| Wheel | kekual /kekual/ | tawlailîr ke /tɔlailiːr ke/ | kangphei /kaŋpʰei/ | — | — | ꯀꯥꯡꯈꯣꯡ /kaŋkʰoŋ/ | — |
| Silk | pu /pu/ | maimaw /maimɔ/ | kaprangku /kapraŋku/ | — | — | ꯀꯕ꯭ꯔꯡ /kəbrəŋ/ | — |
| Book | cauk /tsauk/ | lehkhabu /leʔkʰabu/ | lairik /lairik/ | — | — | ꯂꯥꯏꯔꯤꯛ /lairik/ | kitab /kitab/ |
| Eat | ei /ei/ | ei /ei/ | ngui /ŋui/ | *dzya /dzja/ | tsa /tsɑ/ | ꯆꯥꯕ /tʃaːba/ | dod /dod/ |
| Drink | din /din/ | in /in/ | rai /rai/ | *s(y)awk /s(j)awk/ | kham /kʰɑm/ | ꯊꯛꯄ /tʰəkpə/ | tunam /tunam/ |
| Sleep | it /ʔit/ | mut /mut/ | pi /pi/ | *yip /jip/ | — | ꯇꯨꯝꯕ /túmbə/ | — |
| One | pakhat /pakʰat/ | pakhat /pakʰat/ | kha /kʰa/ | *tik /tik/ | lok /lɔk/ | ꯑꯃ /əmə/ | ako /ako/ |
| Two | pahnih /pahniʔ/ | pahnih /pahniʔ/ | khani /kʰani/ | *g-nis /g-nis/ | pəni /pəni/ | ꯑꯅꯤ /əni/ | anyi /aɲi/ |
| Three | pathum /patʰum/ | pathum /patʰum/ | kathum /katʰum/ | *g-sum /ɡsum/ | sum /sum/ | ꯑꯍꯨꯝ /əhum/ | aum /aum/ |
| Four | pali /pali/ | pali /pali/ | mati /məti/ | *b-ləy /bləj/ | — | ꯃꯔꯤ /məri/ | api /api/ |
| Five | panga /paŋa/ | panga /paŋa/ | phanga /pʰəŋa/ | *l-ŋaʔ /lŋaʔ/ | — | ꯃꯉꯥ /məŋaː/ | ango /aŋo/ |
| Hundred | za /za/ | za /za/ | shakha /ʃakʰə/ | *r-gya /rɡja/ | — | ꯆꯥꯃ /tʃamə/ | — |
| Hello | na dam maw /na dam maw/ | chibai /tʃibai/ | hayau /hajau/ | — /—/ | namaskaro /nɑməskɑro/ | ꯈꯨꯔꯨꯝꯖꯔꯤ /kʰurumdʒari/ | nasi sukna /nasi sukna/ |
| Thank you | ka lawm /ka lawm/ | ka lawm e /ka lɔːm e/ | ase /ase/ | — /—/ | dhanyabad /dʰənəbɑd/ | ꯊꯥꯒꯠꯆꯔꯤ /tʰaːɡattʃari/ | nasi /nasi/ |
| Good | ṭha /ʈʰa/ | ṭha /tɾʰa/ | kahei /kahei/ | *l(j)ak /l(j)ak/ | — /—/ | ꯑꯐꯕ /əpʰəbə/ | atom /atom/ |
| New | thar /tʰar/ | thar /tʰar/ | kathar /katʰar/ | *g-sar /g-sar/ | — | ꯑꯅꯧꯕ /ənəubə/ | — |
| Red | sen /sen/ | sen /sen/ | kahunga /kahuŋa/ | *tya-n /tja-n/ | ni /ni/ | ꯑꯉꯥꯡꯕ /əŋáŋbə/ | lelen /lelen/ |
| White | raang /raːŋ/ | vâr /var/ | kachar /katʃar/ | *bawk /bawk/ | — /—/ | ꯑꯉꯧꯕ /əŋəubə/ | yalun /jalun/ |
| Black | dum /dum/ | dum /dum/ | kachik /katʃik/ | *nək /nək/ | — | ꯑꯃꯨꯕ /əmubə/ | yora /jora/ |
| Green | hring /hriŋ/ | hring /hriŋ/ | khamateka /kʰamateka/ | — | — | ꯑꯁꯡꯕ /əsəŋbə/ | yaying /jajiŋ/ |
| Tea | lakphak /lakpʰak/ | thingpui /tʰiŋpui/ | — | — | — | ꯆꯥ /tʃa/ | — |
| Sugar | cini /tsini/ | chithlum /tʃitʰlum/ | chini /tʃini/ | — | — | ꯆꯤꯅꯤ /tʃini/ | — |
| Orange | theithu /tʰeitʰu/ | serthlum /sertʰlum/ | komola /komola/ | — | — | ꯀꯣꯝꯂꯥ /komla/ | — |
| Ninety-nine | sawmkua le pakua /sɔmkua le pakua/ | sawmkua leh pakua /sɔmkua leʔ pakua/ | hangchikoda chiko /haŋtʃikoda tʃiko/ | — | — | ꯃꯔꯤꯐꯨꯇꯔꯥꯃꯥꯄꯟ /məripʰutəraːmaːpən/ | — |
Page 1/10
Open the interactive map: Word Map · HanMap · Name Map · Word Order · Tree
Part of LangMap — a linguistic visualization project. This is a static, crawlable summary; the interactive maps offer pronunciation audio, filters, and a globe view.
Made by Heuron Inc. · GitHub · cho@heuron.com · LangMap home