Basic Words

15 phrases · Kashmiri with romanization, English and audio

  1. آ

    Ā

    Yes

    Usage

    Casual "yes / okay". For politeness, answer with a full sentence.

    Grammar Note

    Do not use Urdu "ہاں". A one-word particle listed in Hassan and Wiktionary.

  2. نہ

    Na

    No

    Usage

    Stand-alone "no". On verbs the negative clitic is the separate form ـنہٕ.

    Grammar Note

    Do not use Urdu "نہیں".

  3. شُکریہ

    Śukriyā

    Thank you

    Usage

    The Muslim-usage "thank you", said for anything you receive or any help you get.

    Grammar Note

    Spelled as in Urdu, but written with a damma on the first syllable in Kashmiri.

  4. معافی دِیِو

    Māfī diyiv

    Excuse me / Sorry

    Usage

    An apology after bumping into someone or making a mistake; the plural imperative makes it polite.

    Grammar Note

    Literally "please give forgiveness". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar. Koul's material has māphī dizim and the polite diyiv comes from the same source's me diyiv.

  5. بہٕ چھُسنہٕ سَمجان

    Bụ chusnụ samjān

    I don't understand

    Usage

    When you did not follow what was said. A female speaker says چھَسنہٕ instead of چھُسنہٕ.

    Grammar Note

    Verb-second word order. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar. samjun "to understand" is in Koul's vocabulary list.

  6. بہٕ چھُس سَمجان

    Bụ chus samjān

    I understand

    Usage

    Confirms the explanation landed. A female speaker says چھَس instead of چھُس.

    Grammar Note

    Affirmative counterpart of the negative card. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

  7. مےٚ چھُنہٕ پَتا

    Me chunụ patā

    I don't know

    Usage

    The standard reply when you cannot answer a question.

    Grammar Note

    A dative construction "to-me is-not knowledge". Koul's course has me chuni patā "I do not know".

  8. پرارِو

    Prāriv

    Please wait

    Usage

    To ask someone to hold on while you dig out luggage or paperwork.

    Grammar Note

    Plural imperative of prārun "to wait". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar. Politeness is carried by the plural imperative, not by a separate word for "please".

  9. تُہِی چھِوا اَنٛگریٖزی کَتھ کَران؟

    Tohi chivā angrīzī kath karān?

    Do you speak English?

    Usage

    To ask a stranger whether English will work.

    Grammar Note

    "To talk" is کَتھ کَرُن. A yes/no question is made with the clitic -ā on the copula (Koul: toh' chivā ...?). Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

  10. یہِ

    Yi

    This

    Usage

    Used while pointing at something close.

    Grammar Note

    Proximal demonstrative. For something farther away use سُہ.

  11. سُہ

    Suh

    That

    Usage

    Used for something a little farther away. Also means "he".

    Grammar Note

    Masculine remote demonstrative; the feminine is سۄ.

  12. یور

    Yōr

    Here

    Usage

    Used to invite someone over or to indicate a spot.

    Grammar Note

    A directional adverb. Koul has toh' kar yiyiv dubārı yōr "when will you come here again?".

  13. بہٕ

    Bụ

    I / me

    Usage

    The word for oneself; usable on its own as the subject.

    Grammar Note

    Nominative "I". The dative is مےٚ and "we" is أسؠ. Urdu میں is not used.

  14. ژٕ

    Ċụ

    You (informal)

    Usage

    For children, friends and juniors. Use تُہِی with adult strangers.

    Grammar Note

    Second person singular. ژ is the affricate ts (ċ), not چ.

  15. تُہِی

    Tohi

    You (polite)

    Usage

    For strangers and elders; the verb also takes the plural.

    Grammar Note

    Polite address uses the plural تُہِی (there is no separate honorific pronoun). The spelling is attested in ks.wikipedia user messages (تُہِی چھِو "you are ..."); Koul writes it toh’.

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