Postby Linguaphile » 2018-07-07, 1:35
Some Hmong loanwords from Lao, Thai, and Chinese. Many have native Hmong synonyms (such as to taub which is more common than khauj cais for 'to understand'.) So the list is by no means a list of "they didn't have a native word for that," just a list of words used which are borrowed. I think it's interesting to see how words from other languages are adapted into Hmong phonology and orthography.
asthiv (week) Thai อาทิตย์
askaj (weather) Lao ອາກາດ, Thai อากาศ
chav (room) Mandarin 间
chiv (begin) Mandarin 始
faivfab (electricity) Lao ໄຟຟ້າ, Thai ไฟฟ้า
fawm (rice noodles) Vietnamese phở
foob (sue, bring suit against) Thai ฟ้อง
hoobhianb (school) Lao ໂຮງຮຽນ
hoobnab (restroom) Thai ห้องน้ำ
kabtaij (rabbit) Thai กระต่าย
khaubnoom (candy) Lao ເຂົ້າຫນົມ
khaujcais (understand) Lao ເຂົ້າໃຈ
khibnyiab (garbage) Thai ขยะ
khomob (doctor) Lao ຫາຫມໍ, Thai หาหมอ
lavphijxos (responsible) Thai รับผิดชอบ
lavthabnpas (government) Lao ລັດຖະບານ
lawm (already) Thai เเล้ว
lubfais (car) Thai รถไฟ
meej (clear) Mandarin 明
txiv mojphob (coconut) Lao ຫມາກພ້າວ, Thai มะพร้าว
mom (hat) Mandarin 帽
moo (time) Thai โมง
naiskhu (teacher) Lao ນາຍຄູ
nasthis (minute) Lao ນາທີ, Thai นาที
pab (help) Mandarin 帮
peevxim (ability) Mandarin 本事
piv (compare) Mandarin 比
sibhawm (time) Mandarin 时候
swb (defeat) Mandarin 输
teeb (lamp) Mandarin 燈
thaij (take a picture) Thai ถ่าย
tseemfwv (government) Mandarin 政府
tsooj (television channel) Thai ช่อง
tubyees (refrigerator) Lao ຕູ້ເຢັນ, Thai ตู้เย็น
vaam (hope) Mandarin 望
hnub vasnaqaas (Tuesday) Thai วันอังคาร
hnub vasncaas (Monday) Thai วันจันทร์
hnub vasnphuv (Wednesday) Thai วันพุธ
hnub vasnthiv (Sunday) Thai วันอาทิตย์
hnub vasntxhaus (Saturday) Thai วันเสาร์
hnub vasntxhuv (Friday) Thai วันศุกร์
xeem (family name, clan) Mandarin 姓
xibfwb (teacher) Mandarin 师父
xim (color) Lao ສີ, Thai สี
xuasmoo (hour) Lao ຊົ່ວໂມງ
yeej (victory) Mandarin 赢
yoojyim (easy) Mandarin 容易
Some loan words from English (used by Hmong speakers in the United States):
auvxintsws (oxygen)
avpaum (apple)
daivpawm (diaper)
foos (phone)
koospistawj (computer)
lasmas (llama)
mais (mile)
maustaus (motorcycle)
mauv vim (movie)
mesnkaszees (magazine)
najnpawb (number)
npavdawm (butter)
phaus (pound)
teslesfoos (telephone)
thevnablasntsis (technology)
thisvis (television, tv)
xesnesmas (cinema)
Sono di continuo a caccia di parole. Descriverei il processo così: Ogni giorno entro in un bosco con un cestino in mano. Trovo le parole tutt'attorno: sugli alberi, nei cespugli, per terra (in realtà: per la strada, durante la conversazioni, mentre leggo). Ne raccolgo quante più possibile. -Jhumpa Lahiri