Episode 06 - Review and getting to know people

Learn Tibetan in easy steps.

Dorjee: Tashi delek. Nga Dorjee Yin. Tshamgma la, Tashi delek.

Phillipa: Tashi delek this is Phillipa. Talk Tibetan No 6 – Review and getting to know new people

Dorjee: Khe-rang ku-sug De po Yin Pay, Phillipa la

Phillipa: La Yin, tho che na.

Phillipa: Tomorrow night we have asked some local Tibetans from Dee Why to come and help us practise Tibetan. Can you go through some simple greetings and questions?

Dorjee: OK – Hello, I am Dorjee
Tashi delek, Nga Dorjee yin

Good to meet you. Listen and repeat

Khe-rang jal pa gah po jung

Khe-rang jal pa gah po jung

Khe-rang jal pa gah po jung

Phillipa Remind me how to ask are you well?

Dorjee Khe-rang ku-zug de po yin pay?

Phillipa: What about how old are you?

Dorjee: How old are you?
Khe-rang lo ka-dzoe yin beh?

Khe-rang lo ka-dzoe yin beh?

Khe-rang lo ka-dzoe yin beh?


Phillipa I’m 30 years old

Dorjee: I’m 30 years old

Nga lo soom-chu yin

Nga lo soom-chu yin

Nga lo soom-chu yin

Phillipa I would like to ask how long have you been living in Australia?

Dorjee: How long have you been living in Australia?

Kherangtso Australia la phepne ne gah tsoe Chinn song

Kherangtso Australia la phepne ne gah tsoe Chinn song

Kherangtso Australia la phepne ne gah tsoe Chinn song

Phillipa How do I ask if they live in Dee Why?

Dorjee: Do you live in Dee Why?
Khe-rang Dee Why la shug ghi yo pay?

Khe-rang Dee Why la shug ghi yo pay?

Khe-rang Dee Why la shug ghi yo pay?

Phillipa: How do I ask do you like your new place?

Dorjee: Khe-rang-gi Dehsa sarba di yagbo dug geh?

Khe-rang-gi Dehsa sarba di yagbo dug geh?

Khe-rang-gi Dehsa sarba di yagbo dug geh?

Phillipa How do I ask their mobile number?

Dorjee: Yangshen, what is your mobile number?

Yangshen la, Kerang ghi khabar anghi ghare ray

Yangshen la, Kerang ghi khabar anghi ghare ray

Yangshen la, Kerang ghi khabar anghi ghare ray

Remember the numbers zero to ten
Zero lehgor
One chiq
Two nyee
Three soom
Four shi
Five nga
Six drug
Seven dun
Eight geh
Nine goo
Ten chu

Phillipa What if I don’t understand what they say? How do I ask them to say it again?

Dorjee Yang kyor chiq soong Rog Na

Yang kyor chiq soong Rog Na

Yang kyor chiq soong Rog Na


Phillipa: Some of the class will be preparing some delicious food. How do I say this food is delicious

Dorjee Food is delicious
Shalag Shimpo doog

Phillipa How do I say good night?

Dorjee Good night
Zim Jang Nang Goh

Zim Jang Nang Goh

Zim Jang Nang Goh

Phillipa: Thanks for that. Time to go Dorjee. I have to prepare something for tomorrow’s class.

Galeshu, Tho che na Dorjee la. I will see you on Monday at 6pm


Dorjee: Goodbye, Phillipa la, See you next Monday at 6 o’clock
Galepe Phillipa la , Za dawa Cho tsoe drug la, la jal yong

Jeh la Jal yong

Episode 05 - Colours and simple discussion

Learn Tibetan in easy steps.

Dorjee: Tashi delek. Nga Dorjee Yin. Tshamgma la, Tashi delek.

Phillipa: Tashi delek this is Phillipa. Talk Tibetan No 5 – Colours and simple discussion

Dorjee: Khe-rang ku-sug De po Yin Pay, Phillipa la

Phillipa: La Yin, tho che na.

Phillipa: Yesterday I went with some Australians and Tibetans and made momos. The momos were delicious



Dorjee: Momos are Delicious – momos shimpo do


Phillipa: When I met someone new at the lunch I said I am Phillipa Good to meet you.


Dorjee: I am Phillipa Good to meet you.

Nga Phillipa yin, Khe-rang jal pa gah po jung

Nga Phillipa yin Khe-rang jal pa gah po jung

Nga Phillipa yin Khe-rang jal pa gah po jung

Phillipa Some of the Tibetans had only been in Australia for a little time. How can I ask how long have you been living in Australia?

Dorjee: How can I ask how long have you been living in Australia?

Kherangtso dir phepne ne gah tsoe Chinn song

Kherangtso dir phepne ne gah tsoe Chinn song

Kherangtso dir phepne ne gah tsoe Chinn song


Phillipa: One of the women wore an apron with many different colours.
What are the Tibetan names for colours

Dorjee: White karpo
Black nago
Green jangu
Red Marpo
Yellow Serpo
Blue Ngonpo
Pink Zingya
Purple Momay
Orange Lewang
Brown Gyamug

Phillipa: Can you tell what the significance when a woman wears an apron.

Dorjee: A striped apron signifies they are married

Phillipa: One of the Tibetan women Yangshen taught me how to make momos. Next time I see her I will ask her for her mobile number as I’d like to see her again. How do I say this?

Dorjee: Yangshen, what is your mobile number?

Yangshen la, Kerang ghi khabar anghi ghare ray

Yangshen la, Kerang ghi khabar anghi ghare ray

Yangshen la, Kerang ghi khabar anghi ghare ray


Phillipa Can you remind me of the numbers one to ten?

Dorjee One chig
Two nyee
Three soom
Four shi
Five nga
Six drug
Seven dun
Eight geh
Nine goo
Ten chu


Phillipa I’d like to see her next Tuesday at 6 o’clock

Dorjee See you next Tuesday at 6 o’clock

Za mingmar Cho tsoe drug la, la jal yong

Za mingmar Cho tsoe drug la, la jal yong

Za mingmar Cho tsoe drug la, la jal yong

Days of the week

Monday za Dawa

Tuesday za Mingmar

Wednesday za Lhakpa

Thursday za Phurbu

Friday za Pasang

Saturday za Penpa

Sunday za Nyima





Phillipa: Thanks for that. Time to go Dorjee.

Galeshu, Tho che na Dorjee la. I will see you on Monday at 6pm


Dorjee: Goodbye, Phillipa la, See you next Monday at 6 o’clock
Galepe Phillipa la , Za dawa Cho tsoe drug la, la jal yong

Jeh la Jal yong

Episode 04 - Family members and months

Learn Tibetan in easy steps.

Dorjee: Tashi delek. This is Dorjee. Tshamgma la, Tashi delek.

Phillipa: Tashi delek this is Phillipa. Talk Tibetan No 4 – Family members and months of the year.

Dorjee: Are you well, Phillipa la?

Khe-rang ku-sug De po Yin Pay, Phillipa la


Phillipa: La Yin, tho che na.

How about you, Dorjee are you happy?

Dorjee: I am happy

Nga kyi po Doog


Phillipa: I went to dinner with Ani Tenzin la last week on Tuesday night. I met her sister, brother, mother, father, grandmother and grandfather. How do I say brother, mother, father, grandmother and grandfather?

Dorjee: As you know ani means nun, sister and also paternal aunt.
Younger Brother – Chungpo
Elder brother – Chenpo
Younger sister Chungmo
Elder sister Chengmo
Mother – Ama La
Father – Pala
Grandmother – Mola
Grandfather - Pola

Phillipa: When I met them I said good to meet you.

Dorjee: Good to meet you.

Khe-rang jal pa gah po jung

Khe-rang jal pa gah po jung

Khe-rang jal pa gah po jung

Phillipa: The food (sha lag) was delicious and we had momos, sham dre and I tried butter tea. Butter tea is very different to Australian tea and I said this is good

Dorjee: Butter tea, this is good

Chasuma, Thee Yag Po Dug
Chasum, Thee Yag Po Dug
Chasuma, Thee Yag Po Dug

Phillipa: Tenzin had prayer flags outside her home. What’s the Tibetan word for this?

Dorjee: Prayer flags
Lung ta
Lung ta
Lung ta

Phillipa: Can you tell me a little about Prayer flags?

Dorjee: Prayer flags are prayers to reduce the sufferings of all beings and bring good luck

Phillipa: Ani Tenzin la told me that she is studying English at TAFE and she is in a class with twenty students.

Dorjee: 20 students – Lob Trug Nyeeshoe thampa

Phillipa Tenzin and her family told me they are excited about celebrating Losar New Year in February next year. Can you tell me the months of the year?

January – Dawa Dhangpo
February – Dawa nyeepa
March- Dawa soompa
April- Dawa shipa
May – Dawa ngapa
June – Dawa drugpa
July – Dawa Dunpa
August – Dawa Gehpa
September – Dawa Goopa
October – Dawa Chupa
November – Dawa chuchigpa
December – Dawa chung nyeepa

Phillipa: Thanks for that. Time to go Dorjee.

Galeshu, Tho che na Dorjee la. I will see you on Monday at 6pm


Dorjee: Goodbye, Phillipa la, See you next Monday
Galepe Phillipa la , Za dawa Cho tsoe drug la, la jal yong

Jeh la Jal yong

Episode 03 - Time, food and weather

Learn Tibetan in easy steps.

Dorjee: Tashi delek. This is Dorjee. Tshamgma la, Tashi delek.

Phillipa: Tashi delek this is Phillipa. Talk Tibetan No 3 – Time, food and weather.

Dorjee: Are you well, Phillipa la?

Khe-rang ku-sug De po Yin Pay, Phillipa la


Phillipa: La Yin tho che na.

How about you, Dorjee are you happy?

Dorjee: I am happy

Nga kyi po Doog

Nga kyi po Doog

Nga kyi po Doog


Phillipa: It is hot today. How do I say hot and cold?

Dorjee: Listen and repeat after me
Hot – Daring Tsawa Chen Po Doog

Daring Tsawa Chen Po Doog

Daring Tsawa Chen Po Doog

Cold – Daring Drangmo Doog

Daring Drangmo Doog

Daring Drangmo Doog


Phillipa: One of the Tibetan nuns – Tenzin has asked me to her home for a meal. How do I say nun?

Dorjee: The word for nun is Ani. Ani also means paternal aunt.

Phillipa: I need to call Tenzin and confirm the day and time we are meeting. Can you tell me the days of the week again?

Dorjee: Sunday za Nyima

Monday za Dawa

Tuesday za Mingmar

Wednesday za Lhakpa

Thursday za Phurbu

Friday za Pasang

Saturday za Penpa


Phillipa: I’ll also need to check the time. I think we’ll be meeting at 6 o’clock. How do I say six o’clock?

Dorjee: 6 o’clock

Cho tsoe drug la

Cho tsoe drug la

Cho tsoe drug la

Phillipa: I find pronouncing ts difficult – can you give me a hint?

Dorjee: ts is like saying the end of parts

Phillipa I don’t know where Tenzin lives – can you tell me how I ask where she lives?

Dorjee: Where do you live?

Kherang shugsa gahpa Yoe

Kherang shugsa gahpa Yoe

Kherang shugsa gahpa Yoe


Phillipa: I think she might be serving momos and I believe they are delicious.
How do I say Tenzin, this is delicious

Dorjee Tenzin, this is delicious

Ani Tenzin la momo shimpo doog

Ani Tenzin la momo shimpo doog

Ani Tenzin la momo shimpo doog


Phillipa: Can you tell how to say - This is good

Dorjee This is good

Thee Yag Po Dug

Thee Yag Po Dug

Thee Yag Po Dug

Phillipa: Tenzin shares her unit with two other people. Can you remind how I say ‘Good to meet you?’ when she introduces them to me?

Dorjee: Good to meet you

Khe-rang jal pa gah po jung

Khe-rang jal pa gah po jung

Khe-rang jal pa gah po jung


Phillipa: I have to leave now Dorjee.

Galeshu, Tho che na Dorjee la I will see you on Monday


Dorjee: Galepe Phillipa la


Dorjee: See you next Monday
Za dawa la jal yong