Language
Hmong is a tonal language. It consists of seven tones. There are several dialects but the most popular dialects in use by Hmong in the United States is Green Hmong and White Hmong. The written language used by most Hmong people was created by a group of missionaries and Hmong leaders in Laos in the 1950s. The Hmong language uses the romanized alphabet but each letter makes a completely different sound in the Hmong language.
| Common Phrases | Green Hmong | White Hmong | Pronunciation (Green) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | Nyob zoo | Nyob zoo | NYAW-Zhong |
| Thank you | Ua tsaug | Ua tsaug | Ohh-CHOW |
| You're welcome | Tsi ua le caag | Tsis ua li cas | GEE-ohh-Lay-Jyong |
| How are you? | Koj puas nyob zoo? | Koj puas nyob zoo? | Caw-Boa-NYAW-Zhong |
| My name is... | Kuv lub npe yog... | Kuv lub npe yog... | Koo-Loo-Bey-Yawh |
| Goodbye | Sis ntsib dlua | Sis ntsib dua | SHE-GEE-Gloh |