Basic Phrases

A few words make a big difference

If you have ever been lucky enough to travel to a country where your native language was not spoken, you’ll know how disorienting and confusing it can be to try and find your way around or interact with others. You’ll also know, however, how relieving it is to hear someone from that community welcome you by using a basic phrase from your native language — even if he or she messes up the correct pronunciation!

The Immigrant & Refugee Center of Northern Colorado, in our efforts to facilitate authentic social integration, wants to make this kind of experience a lot more common. To that end, we have recorded basic phrases you can use when speaking with someone whose native language is either Somali, Rohingya, or Burmese.

Check out the audio files below and practice your pronunciation!

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“Hello” in Somali.

“Good morning” in Somali.

“Please” in Somali

“How are you?” in Somali.

“Goodbye” in Somali.

“Good Afternoon” in Somali.

“Thank You” in Somali

“It was nice to see you!” in Somali

 
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Good morning in Burmese is: Mingalar Par also used Mingalar NanNet Khinn Par

“Hello” in Burmese is: Mingaler Par

“Please” in Burmese is Kyea Zu Pyu Pyee

“Thank You” in Burmese is: Kyea Zu Par or Kyea Zu Tin Par Tae

Goodnight in Burmese is: Ate taught mae

“How are you?” in Burmese is: Nay Kaung Lar

“Nice to meet you,” in Burmese is: Twaye Ya Tar One Thar Par Tae

 
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Good morning in Rohingya is: "Assalamualaikum"

Please in Rohingya is: "Merbanigori"

"How are you? in Rohingya is: "Ken Aso"

Hello in Rohingya is: "Oh bhai"

Good night in Rohingya is: "Assalamualaikum"

Thank you in Rohingya is: "Shukuriya"

"Nice to meet you” in Rohingya is: "Thunwarray lawt fayi de beshi gom aoye"