Burushaski phrasebook

Burushaski (بروشسکی) is an language isolate spoken in the Hunza Valley region, parts of Nagar, Kashmir and Ghizer areas.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

Basics

Common signs OPEN  phatang CLOSED  ban ENTRANCE  EXIT  PUSH  PULL  TOILET  MEN  WOMEN  FORBIDDEN

Hello. 

. ( )

Hello. (informal) 

. ( )

How are you? 

? (bay haal bila ?)

Fine, thank you. 

. (theek ba )

What is your name? 

? (une gueek besan bila ?)

My name is ______ . 

______ . (ja aek _____ bila.)

Nice to meet you. 

. (goka chagha ne khushi manimi )

Please. 

. (huyy )

Thank you. 

. ( ju na)

You're welcome. 

. (parwa api)

Yes. 

. (awa )

No. 

. (bey ya )

Excuse me. (getting attention) 

. (DUkoyal a )

Excuse me. (begging pardon) 

. ( )

I'm sorry. 

. (aar bakhshish eti )

Goodbye 

. ( ye shua )

Goodbye (informal) 

. ( ye shua hal)

I can't speak name of language [well]. 

[ ]. (ja 'burushaski' [daltas]gharas aya mayaba)

Do you speak English? 

? (unar english gharas gore zuchila ?)

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

? (khole amulo menar english/angreezi gharas zuchila ?)

Help! 

! ( !)

Look out! 

! (holey bareh !)

Good morning. 

. ( )

Good evening. 

. ( )

Good night. 

. ( )

Good night (to sleep) 

. ( )

I don't understand. 

. (asulo apalimi )

Where is the toilet? 

? (ghusul khana amulo bila ?)

Problems

Leave me alone. 

. ( adimate phat ati.)

Don't touch me! 

! (azsi zsap ayeti !)

I'll call the police. 

. (police er qaw echam .)

Police! 

! ( !)

Stop! Thief! 

! ! (gheen ! !)

I need your help. 

. (unay madad awaji)

It's an emergency. 

. (but zaruri bila)

I'm lost. 

. (je awaalaba)

I lost my bag. 

. (ja bag waalibi)

I lost my wallet. 

. (ja butwa waalibi)

I'm sick. 

. (je galees ba)

I've been injured. 

. (je zakhmi ataan)

I need a doctor. 

. (jaar doctor awaji)

Can I use your phone? 

? (unay phone istimaal echama?)

Numbers

1 

(han (hen, hak))

2 

(altó (altán))

3 

(isko (iskey))

4 

(waltó)

5 

(čindó )

6 

(mishindo)

7 

(thaló)

8 

(altámbo)

9 

(hunchó)

10 

(tóorumo' (toorimi, turma))

11 

(turma-han)

12 

(turma-alto)

13 

(turma-isko)

14 

(turma-walto )

15 

(turma-čindo)

16 

(turma-mishindo)

17 

( )

18 

( )

19 

(turma-hunti)

20 

(altar)

21 

(altar-hak)

22 

(altar-alto)

23 

(altar-isko)

30 

(alto-toorumo)

40 

(alto-altar)

50 

(alto-altar-toorumo)

60 

(iski-altar)

70 

( )

80 

( )

90 

( )

100 

(tha)

200 

(alto-tha)

300 

(eski tha )

1,000 

( )

2,000 

( )

1,000,000 

( )

1,000,000,000 

( )

1,000,000,000,000 

( )

number _____ (train, bus, etc.) 

( )

half 

(ada )

less 

(Kaman )

more 

(Da )

Time

now 

(Mu )

later 

( badlo)

before 

(pehla )

morning 

( subah)

afternoon 

(duguy )

evening 

(sham )

night 

(thapmo )

Clock time

one o'clock AM 

( )

two o'clock AM 

( )

noon 

( )

one o'clock PM 

( )

two o'clock PM 

( )

midnight 

( )

Duration

_____ minute(s) 

(min )

_____ hour(s) 

(ganta )

_____ day(s) 

(Gunxh )

_____ week(s) 

( hafta)

_____ month(s) 

(mehna )

_____ year(s) 

(dhen )

Days

today 

(khulto )

yesterday 

(Sabur )

tomorrow 

(Jimaly )

this week 

(Guty Hafta )

last week 

(pehla Hafta )

next week 

(xuwas te Hafta )

Sunday 

(adit)

Monday 

(tsandura)

Tuesday 

(angara)

Wednesday 

(bodo)

Thursday 

(birespat)

Friday 

(shukuro)

Saturday 

(shimsher)

Months

January 

(dalo)

February 

(huut)

March 

(hamal)

April 

(sawr)

May 

(jawza)

June 

(sarataan)

July 

(asat)

August 

(sambula)

September 

(miizaan)

October 

(aqrap)

November 

(qaws)

December 

(jadi)

Writing time and date

Colors

black 

(Matum)

white 

(burúm )

gray 

(Tanng)

red 

(Bardum )

blue 

( )

yellow 

(Xhikark )

green 

(Xhiqam )

orange 

( )

purple 

( )

brown 

(Gurro )

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____? 

(Kiraya berum bila)

One ticket to _____, please. 

(Han ticket tan jachichumana )

Where does this train/bus go? 

(Gusay bus/train amolar nichibi? )

Where is the train/bus to _____? 

(Elar nias ganay amis bus nichibi? )

Does this train/bus stop in _____? 

(Gusay bus elay chat maymia? )

When does the train/bus for _____ leave? 

(Bus khanay beshallar dochibi? )

When will this train/bus arrive in _____? 

(Kholar beshalar xochi bus? )

Directions

How do I get to _____ ? 

( Jay Elar Baylatay Nicham? )

...the train station? 

(Train Station amlo bi ju? )

...the bus station? 

(Bus Station amlo bi Ju )

...the airport? 

(Airport amlo bila ju? )

...downtown? 

(Khatom )

...the youth hostel? 

(Hilashoway Hastel )

...the _____ hotel? 

(Hotal )

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? 

(Amer/Can/Aus/Bri/ affice Amlo Bila )

Where are there a lot of... 

(amlo bixhang butan )

...hotels? 

( )

...restaurants? 

( )

...bars? 

( )

...sites to see? 

( )

Can you show me on the map? 

(naxha lo abarana )

street 

(gan )

Turn left. 

(khitne fr )

Turn right. 

(ethne fr )

left 

( )

right 

( )

straight ahead 

(sidah ne )

towards the _____ 

( )

past the _____ 

( )

before the _____ 

( )

Watch for the _____. 

( )

intersection 

( )

north 

( )

south 

( )

east 

( )

west 

( )

uphill 

( )

downhill 

( )

Taxi

Taxi! 

( )

Take me to _____, please. 

()

How much does it cost to get to _____? 

( )

Take me there, please. 

( )

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available? 

(kamra khali bila )

How much is a room for one person/two people? 

( )

Does the room come with... 

( )

...bedsheets? 

( )

...a bathroom? 

( )

...a telephone? 

( )

...a TV? 

( )

May I see the room first? 

( )

Do you have anything quieter? 

( )

...bigger? 

( )

...cleaner? 

( )

...cheaper? 

( )

OK, I'll take it. 

( )

I will stay for _____ night(s). 

( )

Can you suggest another hotel? 

( )

Do you have a safe? 

( )

...lockers? 

( )

Is breakfast/supper included? 

( )

What time is breakfast/supper? 

( )

Please clean my room. 

( )

Can you wake me at _____? 

( )

I want to check out. 

( )

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? 

( )

Do you accept British pounds? 

( )

Do you accept Euros? 

( )

Do you accept credit cards? 

( )

Can you change money for me? 

( )

Where can I get money changed? 

( )

Can you change a traveler's check for me? 

( )

Where can I get a traveler's check changed? 

( )

What is the exchange rate? 

( )

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? 

( )

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please. 

( )

Can I look at the menu, please? 

( )

Can I look in the kitchen? 

( )

Is there a house specialty? 

( )

Is there a local specialty? 

( )

I'm a vegetarian. 

( )

I don't eat pork. 

( )

I don't eat beef. 

( )

I only eat kosher food. 

( )

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) 

( )

fixed-price meal 

( )

a la carte 

( )

breakfast 

( )

lunch 

( Doghoimo Shapik )

tea (meal) 

( Chai )

supper 

( )

I want _____. 

( )

I want a dish containing _____. 

( )

chicken 

( gharqamos )

beef 

( oyom chaph )

fish 

( chomo )

ham 

( )

sausage 

( )

cheese 

( )

eggs 

( ting-ayo)

salad 

( )

(fresh) vegetables 

( )

(fresh) fruit 

( )

bread 

( )

toast 

( )

noodles 

( )

rice 

(bras)

beans 

( )

apple 

(báalt)

May I have a glass of _____? 

(glass un.........)

May I have a cup of _____? 

(cup un......... )

May I have a bottle of _____? 

(bottle un jhowa )

coffee 

( )

tea (drink) 

(chai )

juice 

( )

(bubbly) water 

( )

(still) water 

( )

beer 

( )

red/white wine 

( )

May I have some _____? 

( )

salt 

(bayú)

black pepper 

( matom maricho )

butter 

( maltash )

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

( )

I'm finished. 

( )

It was delicious. 

( )

Please clear the plates. 

( )

The check, please. 

( )

Bars

Do you serve alcohol? 

(arakh gaxh echa )

Is there table service? 

( )

A beer/two beers, please. 

( )

A glass of red/white wine, please. 

( )

A pint, please. 

( )

A bottle, please. 

( )

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. 

( )

whiskey 

( )

vodka 

( )

rum 

( )

water 

( čil )

club soda 

( )

tonic water 

( )

orange juice 

(malta juice )

Coke (soda) 

( )

Do you have any bar snacks? 

( )

One more, please. 

( )

Another round, please. 

( )

When is closing time? 

( )

Cheers! 

( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size? 

( )

How much is this? 

( )

That's too expensive. 

( )

Would you take _____? 

( )

expensive 

( )

cheap 

( )

I can't afford it. 

( )

I don't want it. 

( )

You're cheating me. 

( )

I'm not interested. 

(..)

OK, I'll take it. 

( )

Can I have a bag? 

( )

Do you ship (overseas)? 

( )

I need... 

( )

...toothpaste. 

( )

...a toothbrush. 

( )

...tampons. 

. ( )

...soap. 

( )

...shampoo. 

( )

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) 

( )

...cold medicine. 

( )

...stomach medicine. 

... ( )

...a razor. 

( )

...an umbrella. 

( )

...sunblock lotion. 

( )

...a postcard. 

( )

...postage stamps. 

( )

...batteries. 

( )

...writing paper. 

( )

...a pen. 

( )

...English-language books. 

( )

...English-language magazines. 

( )

...an English-language newspaper. 

( )

...an English-English dictionary. 

( )

Driving

I want to rent a car. 

( )

Can I get insurance? 

( )

stop (on a street sign) 

( )

one way 

( )

yield 

( )

no parking 

(kholay chat ots api )

speed limit 

( )

gas (petrol) station 

( )

petrol 

( )

diesel 

( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong. 

(ja besn gunekishan ayeta ba)

It was a misunderstanding. 

( )

Where are you taking me? 

(amular achuchan j)

Am I under arrest? 

(ja chay dunan)

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. 

( )

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. 

( )

I want to talk to a lawyer. 

( )

Can I just pay a fine now? 

( )

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