Whether you are going to the Gobi Desert or on Olkhon Island on Lake Baikal with the Transmongolian Train, you’ll need to bond with locals on your way to get the best out of your experience. What best than learning their language to do so ? Most people speak Russian in Mongolia but learning some Mongolian language surely won’t hurt.
Here is the 1% of Mongolian language you need to make the most of your stay in Mongolia.
The handiest words in Mongolian Language for travelers
- Yes / No : (Тийм / Үгүй) Tiim / Ugui
- Hi : (Сайн уу) Sain uu
- Please : (Гуйж байна.) Guij baina
- Thank You : (Баярлалаа.) Bayarlalaa
- Sorry : (уучлаарай) Uuchlaarai
- Numbers : 1 neg, 2 hoyor, 3 gurav, 4 doruv, 5 tav
- Toilets : WC
- How much : (хичнээн) Khichneen
- Where : (хаана) Khaana
- Cheers : (Эрүүл мэндийн төлөө!) Erüül mendiin tölöö
- Do you understand English ? (Чи англи хэл ойлгодог уу ?) Chi angli khel oilgodog uu ?
- I don’t speak Mongolian. (Би монгол хэл мэдэхгүй.) Bi mongol khel medekhgüi.
Pint it !
Here you go, you’ve got all the language skills you need to become a proper steppe nomad.
Find the fastest & cheapest way to go from Ulaanbaatar to Bejing (It’s rock n’roll but really cheap !). By the way, taking the train is definitely not the cheapest you can get…
Still not enough for you ? Watch our journey on the Trans-Mongolian route
The most useful Mongolian words – Traveling the Transmongolian Route by Life Explorateurs.