Mongolian is the official language of Mongolia, spoken by around 5 million people. Written in Cyrillic since 1946, it is progressively returning to the traditional vertical Mongolian script, whose use is set to become official again by 2025. With this kit, you have the bare minimum to get by from Ulaanbaatar to the Gobi steppes.
Mongolian (Khalkha Mongolian) is the official language of Mongolia and has around 5 million native speakers, mainly distributed between independent Mongolia, the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia in China and several communities in Russia. Since 1946, Mongolian has been written in a Cyrillic alphabet enhanced with two specific letters (Ө and Ү), a legacy of the Soviet era. But the country is now officially returning to the traditional vertical Mongolian script, whose general adoption in public documents and schools is announced for 2025. Travelling in Mongolia means crossing landscapes of rare immensity: endless steppes, Gobi dunes, Altai mountains, glacial lakes of the north. Distances are colossal and road infrastructure remains limited outside Ulaanbaatar, which makes every trip a small adventure. Mastering a few Mongolian phrases radically changes the welcome you receive. Nomads, breeders of horses, camels and yaks, gladly open the door of their yurt (ger) to those who can say hello and thank you in their language. Mongolian culture rests on three pillars: hospitality, respect for elders and love of the horse. The Naadam festival in July brings together the three traditional manly sports and is an ideal moment to discover the country. This kit gathers the bare essentials to handle an arrival in Ulaanbaatar, a taxi ride, a meal in a local canteen, a medical emergency and a departure to the steppe with a guide. Memorize these expressions before leaving and you will gain confidence from the very first hours on site.
Here is how these phrases play out in real life. Each scene sets the stage and gathers the useful expressions.
You land at Ulaanbaatar Chinggis Khaan airport after a long flight. The agent at the counter greets you, you return the formal greeting and warmly thank him before heading toward the taxi exit.
The driver loads your bag and asks for your destination. You want to reach a guest yurt on the outskirts. You give him the neighborhood, mention the ger and the reference shop, then ask him to stop right in front of the door.
You enter a local canteen (guanz) at lunchtime. The waitress seats you and waits for your order. You ask for milk tea, a meat buuz and boiled water to go with the meal.
You wake up with a violent headache and nausea, perhaps linked to altitude. At the pharmacy, you point to your head, your tired eyes, and use your hand to indicate where it hurts.
On the morning of departure, your host offers a final bowl of milk tea. You accept with a nod, apologize for having to leave early and warmly say goodbye to the family before getting into the 4x4 toward the airport.
What you need to know before travelling to a mongol-speaking country.
Mongolian hospitality is sacred. If you are invited into a yurt (ger), always accept the bowl of salty milk tea (suutei tsai) handed to you with both hands. Refusing is seen as a deep offense.
When entering a ger, never step on the threshold and do not touch the central pillars. The west side is for men and guests, the east side for women. Move to the left as you enter.
Mongolians rarely use formal you but deeply respect elders. Always greet older people first, using 'Sain baina uu' with a slight bow.
Throat singing (khoomei) and the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) music are at the heart of Mongolian identity. Attending a performance is an excellent way to enter the culture.
Naadam, the national festival in July, brings together the three manly sports: wrestling, archery and horse racing. If your trip falls during this time, book accommodation well in advance.
Outside Ulaanbaatar, untreated still water is rare and risky. Prefer tea, boiled water or sealed bottles. Distances between villages are huge, always plan a reserve.
The traditional vertical Mongolian script, abandoned under Soviet influence, is officially returning to schools and public documents. You will see it more and more on signs and banknotes.
Card payments work well in the capital but cash remains king in the countryside. Get togrogs in small bills before leaving Ulaanbaatar.
Preview. The full glossary (30 words) and all the phrases are in the PDF.
Тавтай морил
welcome
Гуйя
please
Зүгээр
you're welcome
байх
to be
байх
to have
явах
to go
ирэх
to come
идэх
to eat
уух
to drink
унтах
to sleep
A hundred words, thirty key phrases, as a printable PDF. Instant download, also sent by e-mail.
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Every translation is cross-checked against at least two concordant sources among the references below.
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