Indigenous / Culturally Specific Words from the Paper (Kabui/Rongmei religious terms, ritual names, deities, festivals, and community institutions)

 Gods, Deities, and Spirits

• Tingkao Ragwang / Lagwang – Supreme God (King of Gods)

• Apouna/Ragwang – Good spirit

• Bisnu/Bonchanu/Manchanu – Good spirit (mythological son of Supreme God)

• Napsinmei – God of paddy

• Koklumei – Good spirit

• Chonchai – Spirit/God of prosperity

• Karangong – Good spirit

• Charakilongmei – Spirit for welfare of humankind

• Kairao – Household deities / Ancestors

• Kaipi Bhamboo & Kaiba Bhamboo – Village deities (Soang/Shong)

• Dampapu-Dampapui – God & Goddess of creation

• Champei – Goddess of birds and animals

• Karampou-Karampui – Presiding deities of places

• Zongumei – Evil spirit

• Kaibhamei – Evil spirit

• Changlhu / Changlhu-lhudai / Changbang-lhudai – Evil spirits (North & South)

• Taroi Gang – Presiding deity in the land of death

• Pung-la – Spirit of mounds (evil)

• Maigang – Fire god

• Pong-Gwang – Wind god

• Ting-Gwang – Rain god

• Mong-Gwang – Cloud god

• Bangla-Gwang – Earthquake god

• Di-Tingpu-Di-Zangpui – Father & Mother earth goddesses

• Kaikulla – Presiding deity of each corner

• Lang-bhangla – Spirit dwelling under bedsteads

• Lam-la – Evil spirit

• Laora – God of paddy field (evil spirit)

• Kapakara – Devils / Evil spirits

• Duira – Water god

• Thingphalla – Forest deity

• Kunmei – Protector spirit of the village

• Chagamei/Pa Ra – Evil spirit (roadsides)

• Kapenpu & Kapenpui – Evil spirits (in-charge of epidemics)

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Festivals & Rituals

• Chakan-Gaan-Ngai / Gaan-Ngai – Grand festival, farewell to departed souls

  • Ngai-gangmei – 1st day

  • Ngai-dai – 2nd day (main day)

  • Tuna-gan-ngai – 3rd day

  • Ngai-ba – 4th day

  • Nap-chan – 5th day

• Ri-Ngai – Festival of purification (body, mind, soul)

• Nanu-Ngai – Ear-piercing festival

• Napkao-Mei – Agricultural/paddy festival

• Ginki-Mei – Ancestor/New Year festival

• Guidui-Ngai – Fertility of soil festival

• Toon-Ngai – Rainy season / ancestor worship

• Pukphat-Ngai – New crop testing festival

• Ten-Ngai – New bread/rice harvest festival

• Changdon Ngai – Road repairing festival

• Dongjao Ngai – Harvest competition festival

• Neimei – Holy day observance (movement taboo/genna)

• Nouna Mungkhao Kalummei – Blessing ceremony for newly married couples

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Community & Ritual Terms

• Chapriak – Followers (of Tingkao Ragwang)

• TRC – Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak group

• Kalumkai – Temple / House of worship

• Pei / Peimei – Village elders’ council / council members

• Khangchu – Boys’ dormitory

• Luchu – Girls’ dormitory

• Meipui – Old women’s shelter

• Hoi – Traditional yell/chant

• Lougai – Traditional hoe (used in rituals)

• Meirapmei – Installation of sacred fire

• Taam – Chutney for festivals

• Suong-loi – Ritual chicken substitute for sick person

• Joupaankeimei – Libation of rice beer

• Gulim-dansanmei – Ritual offering of ginger (omen prediction)

• Kairao-thee – Ancestor worship ritual

• Dampakhonmei / Dampagallhou – Rites for child’s normal growth

• Raang-Pat – Sacrifice day at village gate

• Napchanmei – Oblation ritual

• Lang-paimei – Ritual omen prediction

• Gokpai – Omen prediction ritual

Phrase for Courtesy - English to Rongmei

E: May I come in?

R: Ai gut nuh dai?

E: Come in, please

R: Gut o

E: Can you help me?

R: Ata nkhalou nuh pun ni?

E: What can I do for you?

R: Nang khang tabui swlou o na?

E: What is your good name?

R: Nang zanc akumh kawna?

E: Can you do a favour for me?

R: Nang ata nkhavlou puni ni?

E: Take your seat, please.

R: Dungc key o.

E: Thanks a lot

R: Mpeyna thuancku the

E: Would you kindly pass on the bag to me?

R: Mi khau tei tii haanlou nuh puni ni?

E: Should you need help, call me.

R: Nkhavlou khang kage nai e thei kaw pw do.

E: Shall I go now?

R: Ai tat nuh tha?

English to Rongmei Basic Phrases

E- English, R-Rongmei, an H-Hindi

E- I love you in (English to Rongmei)

R- Ai nangta zian e

H- मैं तुमसे प्यार करता हूँ – me tumse pyar karta hu

E- I love you too

R- Ai ni nangta zian de

H- मैं भी तुमसे प्यार करता हूं – me bi tumse pyar karta hu.

E- I don’t love you

R- Ai nangta zian mak ge

H- मैं आपको प्यार नहीं करता – me aapko pyaar nahi karta

E- I don’t like you.

R- Ai nangta kahao mak ge

H- मुझे तुम् पसंद नहीं हो – meja tum pasand nahi ho

E- I Like you.

R- Ai nangta kahao ye

H- मैं तुम्हें पसंद करता हूं – me tuje pasand karta hu

E- Do you love me?

R- Nang ata zian dai?

H- क्या तुम मुझे प्यार करती हो? – Kya tum muje pyar karte ho

E- Honey/darling

R- zianmei / Zianpu/ Zianpui

H- प्रिय – priye

English (E)- Come here

Rongmei (R)- Khang guang o

Hindi (H) – यहाँ आओ – yaha ao

E- Go there

R- Thang tei tat o

H- वहा जाओ – waha jao

E- Me/I

R- Ai

H- मैं – me

E- I am from England

R– Ai England thang mei de.

H- मैं इंगलैंड से हूँ – me england se hou

E- Mine

R- atuang e

H- मेरी, मेरा – meri, mera

E- This is mine

R- Mi hei atuang e

H- यह मेरा है – yeh mera he

E – Yours

R- Nangtuang

H- तुंहारे, आपके, आपकी – tumhare, aapka, aapki

E- Is this yours?

R- Mi hei nang tuang cho?

H- क्या यह आपका है? kiya yeh aap ka he?

E- Who is it?

R- Thau cho?

H- यह कौन है? yeh kon he?

E- Who are you?

R – Nang thau cho?

H- तुम कौन हो? tum kon ho?

E- Where are my clothes?

R- Atuang phei kum tho cho?

H- मेरे कपड़े कहाँ है? Mere kapda kaha he?

E- I am thirsty

R- Ai dui tari e.

H- मैं प्यासा हूँ, Me pyasa hu.

E- I am hungry

R- Ai nap dap e

H- मैं भूखा हूँ, me bukha hu

E- I need a bottle of water.

R- Akhang duibuang ti lou na o .

H – मुझे पानी की एक बोतल चाहिए, Muje pani ki ek botal chahiye

E- Please Give me food

R- Zauzien na Nap ti wo

H- कृपया मुझे भोजन दो, Kripaya muje Bhojan do.

E- Do you speak English?

R- Nang English thai dai?

H- क्या आप अंग्रेज़ी बोलते हैं? Kiya aap angrezi bolte ho?

E- Speak slowly

R- Zaen na sa o

H- धीरे बोलें, Dhire bole

E- Yes

R- umh, guai

H- हाँ, han

E- No

R- hmm

H- नहीं. nahi

E- Please

R- Jianlou na

H- कृप्या. kirpaya

E- Thank you

R- Thuankuc the / Neihla the

H- धन्यवाद, dhanyawad

E- How are you?

R- Nang kumh bam tuang?

H- क्या हाल है? Kya haal he?

E- How are you doing?

R- Gaina bam dai?

H- आप कैसे हैं, aap kese he?

E- I am fine.

R- Ai gai bam de

H- मैं ठीक हूँ, Me thik hu

E- What are you doing?

R- Nang tukumh bam tuang?

H- तुम क्या कर रहे हो? tum kya kar rahe ho?

E- Nice to meet you.

R- Nangta ariu na nung ngai the

H- आपसे मिलकर अच्छा लगा. Aapse milkar accha laga

E- Who are you?

R- Nang thau cho?

H- तुम कौन हो, आप कौन हो, Tum kon ho?

E- What is your name?

R- Nang zanh kum na cho

H- आपका नाम क्या है?Aap ka Naam kya he?

E- My name is ________

R- Azan ________ kao e

H- मेरा नाम _______ है, mere naam ……………he.

E- Where are you from?

R- Nang thau ram tho mei cho?

H- आप कहां के निवासी हैं? Aap kaha ke niwasi he?

E- I am from _____________

R- Ai _____________ mei de

H – मैं _______________ से हूँ, me ………………….se hu.

E- Where is the station?

R- Station tabui thang dai?

H- स्टेशन कहाँ हे? station kaha he?

E- Where is the toilet?

R- Toilet/Zunhkai Tabui khou dai?

H- शौचालय कहां है? sochalya kaha he?

E- Can you help me?

R- Nang ata khalou ngam puni bo?

H- क्या आप मेरी मदद कर सकते हैं? Kya aap meri madat kar sakte he?

E- What’s this?

R- Hei tabui dai?

H- यह क्या है? Yeh Kya he?

E- I want to buy this.

R- Mei hei ai lu ni ye.

H- मैं इसे खरीदना चाहता हूँ, Me ise kharidna chata hu

E- How much is this?

R- Meihei aju khang cho?

H- ये कितना का है? yeh kitna ka he?

E- it is Costly

R- Kaman Kunc lang e

H- यह महंगा है, Yeh Mahenga he.

E- Please Lower the price

R- Kaman surao lao o

c- कृपया मूल्य कम करें – Kripya mulye kam kare

E- Food

R- Nap

H- भोजन – bhojan

E- Water

R- Dui,

H- पानी – pani

E- Clothes

R- Phei

H- वस्त्र, कपड़ा – vastra, kapda

E- Urinal/Toilet

R- Zunhkai

H- शौचालय – sochalya