ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ
Inner Mongolian
Mongolic (Central, Khalkha-Buryat)
Inner Mongolian is the Mongolic variety of China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (and adjacent Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang), with ~6M speakers. It retains the traditional vertical Mongolian script (Hudum bichig, used since c.1204) where the Republic of Mongolia switched to Cyrillic in 1946 — making the two writing traditions visually distinct despite mutual intelligibility. UNESCO has flagged it as endangered amid increasing language-policy pressure: a 2020 Inner Mongolia curriculum change reducing Mongolian-medium teaching for major subjects sparked widespread protests across the autonomous region.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Inner Mongolian
Sources
- Ethnologue: mon
- Janhunen (2003) The Mongolic Languages
- UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Mongolic (Central, Khalkha-Buryat)
| Meaning | Inner Mongolian | Mongolian | Classical Mongolian | Middle Mongol | Proto-Mongolic | Buryat | Kalmyk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ᠤᠰᠤ /usu/ | ус /us/ | ᠤᠰᠤᠨ /usun/ | ᠤᠰᠤᠨ /usun/ | *usun /usun/ | уһан /uhan/ | усн /usn/ |
| Fire | ᠭᠠᠯ /ɡɑl/ | гал /ɡal/ | ᠭᠠᠯ /ɡal/ | ᠭᠠᠯ /qal/ | *gal /ɡal/ | гал /ɡal/ | һал /ɣal/ |
| Sun | ᠨᠠᠷᠠ /nɑrɑ/ | нар /nar/ | ᠨᠠᠷᠠᠨ /naran/ | ᠨᠠᠷᠠᠨ /naran/ | *naran /naran/ | наран /naran/ | нарн /narn/ |
| Moon | ᠰᠠᠷᠠ /sɑrɑ/ | сар /sar/ | ᠰᠠᠷᠠ /sara/ | ᠰᠠᠷᠠ /sara/ | *sara /sara/ | һара /hara/ | сар /sar/ |
| Star | ᠣᠳᠤᠨ /ɔtŋ̍/ | од /ɔt/ | ᠣᠳᠣᠨ /odun/ | ᠬᠣᠳᠤᠨ /hodun/ | *hodun /hodun/ | одон /odoŋ/ | одн /odn/ |
| Night | ᠰᠥᠨᠢ /ʃønø/ | шөнө /ʃønø/ | ᠰᠥᠨᠢ /søni/ | ᠰᠥᠨᠢ /søni/ | *söni /søni/ | һүни /hyni/ | сө /sø/ |
| Rain | ᠪᠣᠷᠣᠭᠠ /bɔrɔːɢɑ/ | бороо /bɔrɔː/ | ᠬᠤᠷᠠ /qura/ | ᠬᠤᠷᠠ /qura/ | *kura /kura/ | бороо /bɔrɔː/ | хур /xur/ |
| Snow | ᠴᠠᠰᠤ /tsas/ | цас /tsas/ | ᠴᠠᠰᠤ /tʃasu/ | ᠴᠠᠰᠤᠨ /tʃasun/ | *časun /tʃasun/ | саһан /sahaŋ/ | цасн /tsasn/ |
| Wind | ᠰᠠᠯᠬᠢ /salxi/ | салхи /salxi/ | ᠰᠠᠯᠬᠢ /salki/ | ᠬᠡᠢ /kei/ | *salkïn /salkin/ | һалхин /halxin/ | салькн /salʲˈkn̩/ |
| Earth | ᠭᠠᠵᠠᠷ /ɢɑdʒɑr/ | газар /ɡazar/ | ᠭᠠᠵᠠᠷ /ɡadʒar/ | ᠬᠠᠵᠠᠷ /qadʒar/ | *gaǰar /ɡadʒar/ | шорой /ʃoroj/ | һазр /ɣazr/ |
| Stone | ᠴᠢᠯᠠᠭᠤ /tʃʊɮuː/ | чулуу /tʃuluː/ | ᠴᠢᠯᠠᠭᠤᠨ /tʃilaɣun/ | ᠴᠢᠯᠠᠭᠤᠨ /tʃilaun/ | *čilaɣun /tʃilaɣun/ | шулуун /ʃuluːŋ/ | чолун /tʃolun/ |
| Mountain | ᠠᠭᠤᠯᠠ /ʊːl/ | уул /uːɮ/ | ᠠᠭᠤᠯᠠ /aɣula/ | — | *huɣula /huɣula/ | уула /uːla/ | уул /uːl/ |
| Sea | ᠳᠠᠯᠠᠢ /tɑlɑi/ | далай /taˈɮaj/ | ᠳᠠᠯᠠᠢ /dalai/ | ᠳᠠᠯᠠᠢ /dalai/ | *dalai /dalai/ | далай /dalaj/ | теңгс /teŋɡs/ |
| Mother | ᠡᠬᠡ /eχe/ | ээж /eːdʒ/ | ᠡᠬᠡ /eke/ | ᠡᠭᠡ /eke/ | *eke /eke/ | эхэ /exe/ | ээҗ /eːdʒ/ |
| Father | ᠠᠪᠤ /ɑβu/ | аав /aːw/ | ᠡᠴᠢᠭᠡ /etʃiɡe/ | ᠡᠴᠢᠭᠡ /etʃiɡe/ | *ečige /etʃiɡe/ | эсэгэ /eseɡe/ | эцк /etsəˈkə/ |
| Daughter | ᠥᠬᠢᠨ /øχin/ | охин /oxin/ | ᠥᠬᠢᠨ /økin/ | ᠥᠬᠢᠨ /økin/ | *ökin /økin/ | басаган /basaɡan/ | күүкн /kyːkn/ |
| I | ᠪᠢ /bi/ | би /bi/ | ᠪᠢ /bi/ | ᠪᠢ /bi/ | *bi /bi/ | би /bi/ | би /bi/ |
| You | ᠴᠢ /tʃʰi/ | чи /tʃʰi/ | ᠴᠢ /tʃi/ | ᠴᠢ /tʃi/ | *či /tʃi/ | ши /ʃi/ | чи /tʃi/ |
| We | ᠪᠢᠳᠡ /bid/ | бид /bid/ | ᠪᠢᠳᠠ / ᠪᠠ /bida / ba/ | ᠪᠢᠳᠠ / ᠪᠠ /bida / ba/ | *bida / *ba /bida / ba/ | бидэ /bide/ | бидн /bidn̩/ |
| Name | ᠨᠡᠷᠡ /nər/ | нэр /ner/ | ᠨᠡᠷᠡ /nere/ | ᠨᠡᠷᠡ /nere/ | *nere /nere/ | нэрэ /nere/ | нерн /nern/ |
| Person | ᠬᠦᠮᠦᠨ /xuŋ/ | хүн /xyŋ/ | ᠬᠦᠮᠦᠨ /kymyn/ | ᠬᠦᠮᠦᠨ /kymyn/ | *kümün /kymyn/ | хүн /xyŋ/ | күн /kyn/ |
| Head | ᠲᠣᠯᠤᠭᠠᠢ /tɔlɡɔi/ | толгой /tɔlɡɔj/ | ᠲᠣᠯᠣᠭᠠᠢ /toloɣai/ | — | *tolagaï /tolaɡai/ | толгой /tolɡoj/ | толһа /tolɣa/ |
| Eye | ᠨᠢᠳᠦ /nidʉ/ | нүд /nyd/ | ᠨᠢᠳᠦ /nidü/ | ᠨᠢᠳᠦᠨ /nidyn/ | *nidün /nidyn/ | нюдэн /nʲuden/ | нүдн /nyˈdn̩/ |
| Ear | ᠴᠢᠬᠢ /tʃʰiki/ | чих /tɕʰiç/ | ᠴᠢᠬᠢᠨ /tʃikin/ | ᠴᠢᠬᠢᠨ /tʃikin/ | *čikin /tʃikin/ | шэхэн /ʃexen/ | чикн /tʃikn/ |
| Nose | ᠬᠠᠮᠠᠷ /xamar/ | хамар /xamar/ | ᠬᠠᠪᠠᠷ /qabar/ | ᠬᠠᠪᠠᠷ /qabar/ | *kamar /kamar/ | хамар /xamar/ | хамр /xamr/ |
| Mouth | ᠠᠮᠠ /am/ | ам /am/ | ᠠᠮᠠᠨ /aman/ | ᠠᠮᠠᠨ /aman/ | *aman /aman/ | аман /aman/ | амн /amn̩/ |
| Tooth | ᠰᠢᠳᠦ /ʃyd/ | шүд /ʃyd/ | ᠰᠢᠳᠦᠨ /ʃidyn/ | ᠰᠢᠳᠦᠨ /ʃidyn/ | *sidün /sidyn/ | шүдэн /ʃyden/ | шүдн /ʃydn̩/ |
| Tongue | ᠬᠡᠯᠡ /xel/ | хэл /xel/ | ᠬᠡᠯᠡᠨ /kelen/ | ᠬᠡᠯᠡᠨ /kelen/ | *kelen /kelen/ | хэлэн /xelen/ | келн /keln̩/ |
| Hand | ᠭᠠᠷ /ɡɑr/ | гар /ɡar/ | ᠭᠠᠷ /ɡar/ | ᠭᠠᠷ /qar/ | *gar /ɡar/ | гар /ɡar/ | һар /ɣar/ |
| Foot | ᠬᠥᠯ /køl/ | хөл /xɵl/ | ᠬᠥᠯ /køl/ | ᠬᠥᠯ /køl/ | *köl /køl/ | хүл /xyl/ | көл /køl/ |
| Heart | ᠵᠢᠷᠦᠬᠡ /dʒirʉχe/ | зүрх /dzyrx/ | ᠵᠢᠷᠦᠬᠡ /dʒirüke/ | ᠵᠢᠷᠦᠭᠡ /dʒiryke/ | *ǰirüken /dʒiryken/ | зүрхэн /zyrxen/ | зүркн /zyrˈkən/ |
| Bone | ᠶᠠᠰᠤ /jas/ | яс /jas/ | ᠶᠠᠰᠤᠨ /jasun/ | ᠶᠠᠰᠤᠨ /jasun/ | *yasun /jasun/ | яһан /jahaŋ/ | ясн /jasn̩/ |
| Blood | ᠴᠢᠰᠤ /tʃus/ | цус /tsus/ | ᠴᠢᠰᠤᠨ /tʃisun/ | ᠴᠢᠰᠤᠨ /tʃisun/ | *čisun /tʃisun/ | шуһан /ʃuhaŋ/ | цусн /tsusn̩/ |
| Poop | ᠪᠠᠭᠠᠰᠤ /paːs/ | баас /paːs/ | ᠪᠠᠭᠠᠰᠤ /baɣasu/ | — | — | бааһан /baːhaŋ/ | баасн /baːsn̩/ |
| Love | ᠬᠠᠢᠷᠠ /χɑir/ | хайр /xajr/ | ᠬᠠᠶᠢᠷᠠ /qajira/ | ᠳᠤᠷᠠ /dura/ | — /—/ | дуран /duran/ | дурлх /durlx/ |
| Tree | ᠮᠣᠳᠤ /mɔdu/ | мод /mod/ | ᠮᠣᠳᠤ /modu/ | ᠮᠣᠳᠤᠨ /modun/ | *modun /modun/ | модон /modon/ | модн /moˈdn̩/ |
| Dog | ᠨᠣᠬᠠᠢ /nɔχɑi/ | нохой /nɔxɔj/ | ᠨᠣᠬᠠᠢ /noqai/ | ᠨᠣᠬᠠᠢ /noqai/ | *nokai /nokai/ | нохой /noxoj/ | ноха /noxa/ |
| Cat | ᠮᠤᠤᠷ /muːr/ | муур /muːr/ | ᠮᠢᠭᠤᠢ /miɣui/ | ᠮᠢᠭᠤᠢ /miɣui/ | — /—/ | миисгэй /miːsɡej/ | мис /mis/ |
| Fish | ᠵᠢᠭᠠᠰᠤ /tsaɡas/ | загас /ˈtsaɡas/ | ᠵᠢᠭᠠᠰᠤ /dʒiɡasu/ | ᠵᠢᠭᠠᠰᠤ /dʒiɡasu/ | *ǰigasu /dʒiɡasu/ | загаһан /zaɡaˈhaŋ/ | заһсн /zaɣsn̩/ |
| Bird | ᠰᠢᠪᠠᠭᠤ /ʃʊwuː/ | шувуу /ʃuwuː/ | ᠰᠢᠪᠠᠭᠤ /ʃibaɣu/ | ᠰᠢᠪᠠᠭᠤᠨ /ʃibaun/ | *sibaɣun /sibaɣun/ | шубуун /ʃubuːn/ | шовун /ʃowun/ |
| Butterfly | ᠡᠷᠪᠡᠬᠡᠢ /erweːxei/ | эрвээхэй /erweːxej/ | ᠡᠷᠪᠡᠬᠡᠢ /erbekei/ | — | *herbekei /herbekei/ | эрбээхэй /erbeːxej/ | эрвәкә /erwækæ/ |
| Egg | ᠥᠨᠳᠡᠭᠡ /øndəɡ/ | өндөг /øndøɡ/ | ᠥᠨᠳᠡᠭᠡ /ɵndeɡe/ | ᠥᠨᠳᠡᠭᠡᠨ /øndeɡen/ | *öndegen /øndeɡen/ | үндэгэн /yndeɡen/ | өндгн /øndɡn̩/ |
| Bear | ᠪᠠᠭᠠᠪᠠᠭᠠᠢ /baːwɡɑi/ | баавгай /baːwɡaj/ | — | — | — | баабгай /baːbɡaj/ | аю /aju/ |
| Horse | ᠮᠣᠷᠢ /mɔr/ | морь /mɔrʲ/ | ᠮᠣᠷᠢᠨ /morin/ | ᠮᠣᠷᠢᠨ /morin/ | *morïn /morin/ | морин /morin/ | мөрн /møˈrn̩/ |
| House | ᠭᠡᠷ /ɡer/ | гэр /ɡer/ | ᠭᠡᠷ /ɡer/ | ᠭᠡᠷ /ɡer/ | *ger /ɡer/ | гэр /ɡer/ | гер /ɡer/ |
| Milk | ᠰᠦᠨ /syː/ | сүү /syː/ | ᠰᠦᠨ /syn/ | — | *sün /syn/ | һүн /hyn/ | үсн /ysn̩/ |
| Honey | ᠪᠠᠯ /bal/ | бал /bal/ | ᠪᠠᠯ /bal/ | — | *bal /bal/ | бал /bal/ | бал /bal/ |
| Salt | ᠳᠠᠪᠤᠰᠤ /dabusu/ | давс /davs/ | ᠳᠠᠪᠤᠰᠤᠨ /dabusun/ | ᠳᠠᠪᠤᠰᠤᠨ /dabusun/ | *dabusun /dabusun/ | дабһан /dabhan/ | давсн /davsn/ |
| Wine | ᠳᠠᠷᠠᠰᠤ /darasu/ | дарс /dars/ | — | — | — | дарһан /darhan/ | чаһр /tʃaɣr̩/ |
| Rice | ᠪᠤᠳᠠᠭᠠ /pʊtaː/ | будаа /pʊˈtaː/ | — | — | — | сагаан будаа /saɡaːn budaː/ | тутрһ /tutrəɣ/ |
| Iron | ᠲᠡᠮᠦᠷ /tɵmɵr/ | төмөр /tømør/ | ᠲᠡᠮᠦᠷ /temyr/ | ᠲᠡᠮᠦᠷ /temyr/ | *temür /temyr/ | түмэр /tymer/ | төмр /tøˈmər/ |
| Wheel | ᠬᠦᠷᠳᠦ /xʉrdʉ/ | дугуй /duɡuj/ | ᠬᠦᠷᠳᠦ /kyrdy/ | — | — | мөөр /møːr/ | төгә /tøɡæ/ |
| Silk | ᠲᠣᠷᠭᠠ /tɔrɡɔ/ | торго /ˈtɔrɡɔ/ | ᠲᠣᠷᠭᠠ /torɣa/ | — | — | торгон /torɡon/ | торһн /torˈɣən/ |
| Book | ᠨᠣᠮ /nɔm/ | ном /nɔm/ | ᠨᠣᠮ /nom/ | — | — | ном /nom/ | дегтр /dekˈtər/ |
| Eat | ᠢᠳᠡᠬᠦ /ideχʉ/ | идэх /idex/ | ᠢᠳᠡ- /ide-/ | ᠢᠳᠡ /ide/ | *ide- /ide/ | эдихэ /edixe/ | идх /itˈxə/ |
| Drink | ᠤᠤᠬᠤ /uːχu/ | уух /uːx/ | ᠤᠭᠤ- /uɣu-/ | ᠤᠭᠤ /uɣu/ | *uu- /uu/ | ууха /uːxa/ | уух /uːx/ |
| Sleep | ᠤᠨᠲᠠᠬᠤ /untax/ | унтах /ʊntax/ | ᠤᠨᠲᠠ- /unta-/ | ᠤᠨᠲᠠ /unta/ | *unta- /unta/ | унтаха /untaxa/ | унтх /untx/ |
| One | ᠨᠢᠭᠡ /niɡe/ | нэг /neɡ/ | ᠨᠢᠭᠡᠨ /niɡen/ | ᠨᠢᠭᠡᠨ /niɡen/ | *nigen /nigen/ | нэгэн /neɡen/ | негн /neɡn/ |
| Two | ᠬᠣᠶᠠᠷ /xɔˈjɔr/ | хоёр /xɔˈjɔr/ | ᠬᠣᠶᠠᠷ /qojar/ | ᠬᠣᠶᠠᠷ /qojar/ | *koyar /kojar/ | хоёр /xɔˈjɔr/ | хойр /xojr/ |
| Three | ᠭᠤᠷᠪᠠ /ɡurwa/ | гурав /ɡurav/ | ᠭᠤᠷᠪᠠᠨ /ɡurban/ | ᠭᠤᠷᠪᠠᠨ /qurban/ | *gurban /ɡurban/ | гурбан /ɡurban/ | һурвн /ɣurwn̩/ |
| Four | ᠳᠥᠷᠪᠡ /dørwə/ | дөрөв /dørøv/ | ᠳᠥᠷᠪᠡᠨ /dørben/ | ᠳᠥᠷᠪᠡᠨ /dørben/ | *dörben /dørben/ | дүрбэн /dyrben/ | дөрвн /dørwn̩/ |
| Five | ᠲᠠᠪᠤᠨ /taβun/ | таван /tʰawaŋ/ | ᠲᠠᠪᠤᠨ /tabun/ | ᠲᠠᠪᠤᠨ /tabun/ | *tabun /tabun/ | табан /taban/ | тавн /tawn/ |
| Hundred | ᠵᠠᠭᠤ /tsuː/ | зуу /tsuː/ | ᠵᠠᠭᠤᠨ /dʒaɡun/ | ᠵᠠᠭᠤᠨ /dʒaun/ | *ǰagun /dʒaɡun/ | зуун /zuːn/ | зун /zun/ |
| Hello | ᠰᠠᠢᠨ ᠪᠠᠢᠨᠠ /sɑin bɑinɑ/ | сайн уу /sajn uː/ | ᠰᠠᠶᠢᠨ ᠤᠤ /sajin uu/ | ᠠᠮᠤᠷ /amur/ | — /—/ | сайн байна /sajn bajna/ | менд /mend/ |
| Thank you | ᠪᠠᠶᠠᠷᠯᠠᠯᠠ /bɑjɑrlɑlɑ/ | баярлалаа /bajarlalaː/ | ᠪᠠᠶᠠᠷᠯᠠᠯᠠ /bajarlala/ | ᠪᠠᠶᠠᠷᠯᠠᠪᠠ /bajarlaba/ | — /—/ | баярлаа /bajarlaː/ | ханҗанав /xandʒanav/ |
| Good | ᠰᠠᠢᠨ /sɑin/ | сайн /sajn/ | ᠰᠠᠶᠢᠨ /sajin/ | ᠰᠠᠶᠢᠨ /sain/ | *sajin /sajin/ | һайн /hajn/ | сән /sæn/ |
| New | ᠰᠢᠨᠡ /ʃine/ | шинэ /ʃine/ | ᠰᠢᠨᠡ /ʃine/ | ᠰᠢᠨᠡ /ʃini/ | *sine /sine/ | шэнэ /ʃene/ | шин /ʃin/ |
| Red | ᠤᠯᠠᠭᠠᠨ /ʊɮaːn/ | улаан /ʊˈɮaːŋ/ | ᠤᠯᠠᠭᠠᠨ /ulaɣan/ | ᠤᠯᠠᠭᠠᠨ /hulaan/ | *hulaɣan /hulaɣan/ | улаан /ʊˈlaːŋ/ | улан /ulan/ |
| White | ᠴᠠᠭᠠᠨ /tsʰaɡaːn/ | цагаан /tsʰaɡaːn/ | ᠴᠠᠭᠠᠨ /tʃaɣan/ | ᠴᠠᠭᠠᠨ /tʃaqaan/ | *čagaɣan /tʃaɡaɣan/ | сагаан /saɡaːŋ/ | цаһан /tsaɣan/ |
| Black | ᠬᠠᠷᠠ /xar/ | хар /xar/ | ᠬᠠᠷᠠ /qara/ | ᠬᠠᠷᠠ /qara/ | *kara /kara/ | хара /xara/ | хар /xar/ |
| Green | ᠨᠣᠭᠤᠭᠠᠨ /nɔɡɔːŋ/ | ногоон /nɔɡɔːŋ/ | ᠨᠣᠭᠤᠭᠠᠨ /noɣuɣan/ | ᠨ᠋ᠣᠬᠤᠬᠠᠨ /noqoan/ | *noguɣan /noɡuɣan/ | ногоон /noˈɡoːŋ/ | ноһан /noˈɣan/ |
| Blue | ᠬᠥᠬᠡ /xɵx/ | хөх /xɵx/ | — | — | — | хүхэ /xyˈxe/ | көк /køˈkə/ |
| Cuckoo | ᠬᠦᠬᠦᠭᠡ /kɵkɵˈɡe/ | хөхөө /xɵˈxɵː/ | ᠬᠦᠬᠦᠭᠡ /kɵkɵˈɡe/ | ᠬᠦᠬᠦᠭᠡ /kɵkɵˈɡe/ | — | хүбхүү /xypxyː/ | көкә /køˈkæ/ |
| Tea | ᠴᠠᠢ /tsʰai/ | цай /tsʰɛː/ | ᠴᠠᠢ /tʃai/ | — | — | сай /saj/ | цә /tsæ/ |
| Orange | ᠵᠦᠷᠵᠢ /dʒʉrdʒ/ | жүрж /dʒyrdʒ/ | — | — | — | жүрж /dʒyrdʒ/ | апельсин /apelʲˈsin/ |
| Ninety-nine | ᠶᠡᠷᠡ ᠶᠢᠰᠦ /jere jisʉ/ | ерэн ес /jeren jes/ | — | — | — | ерэн юһэн /jeren juhen/ | йирн йисн /jirn̩ jisn/ |
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