Hmoob (Hmong Language)苗语

[Linguaphile]

The Hmong Text Reader at Lomation hasn't been available for quite a long time. I just found another one here: Hmong Text Reader and Spell Checker. I think it reads way too slowly, so it sounds very unnatural, but at the moment it's the only working online one I'm aware of. (There are also apps for phones.)

[Linguaphile]

For learning/practicing/understanding Hmong RPA writing system - here are English and Lao words written in RPA. More here and here from pronunciation guides for Lao and English for Hmong speakers. (Note that because Hmong doesn't have final consonants, English and Lao final consonants are written as if pronounced followed by a central unrounded vowel and mid-falling breathy tone [-wg].)

English
"hi" pronounced haij
"how are you" pronounced haus os yuj
"I'm fine, thank you" pronounced ais-mwg faij-nwg theeb khius
"how about you?" pronounced haus as-npaum-rwg yus
"what is your name?" pronounced wuab thiv xyuaws nees-mwg
"see you later" pronounced xis yus leb daws
"see you again" pronounced xis yus es-nkeej-nwg
"good bye" pronounced nkuv npais or nkuv-dwg npais
"do you speak English?" pronounced dus yus xas-piv keeb-nkliv-swg
"what time is it?" pronounced wuav thaij miv xij-rwg

Lao
ສະບາຍດີ ("hello") pronounced xab bais dis
ສະບາຍດີບໍ່ ("how are you?") pronounced xab bais dis bos
ເຈົ້າຊື່ຫຍັງ ("what is your name?") pronounced caub xwj nyaam
ຂອບໃຈ ("thank you") pronounced qhoj-bwg cais
ພົບກັນໃໝ່ ("see you again") pronounced phoov-bwg kaas-nwg maij

[Linguaphile]

Cool way to visualize Hmong tones:



Source: The Hmong Alphabet @ StudyHmong.com

[Linguaphile]

More graphics related to pronunciation


Source: Bilingustics.com

[Linguaphile]

About items used in the practice of traditional Hmong religion from A Shaman's Ritual Tools, Shaman's Tools, the book Hmoob Kev Lim Kev Cai by Lis T. Xyooj and Xf. Nyiajcawv Xyooj, and the dictionary at HmongVocabulary.com. The sites Shaman's Tools and Learning Hmong have photos of many of these tools.

thaj neeb /tʰa˥˧ neŋ˦/ (taneng) shaman's altar, shrine

xwm kab /sɨ˩̰ ka˦/ (seuka) house spirit; house spirit altar

thiv hauv /tʰi˧˦-hau˧˦/ (tihao) shaman's veil, hood, head covering

txwm kuam /tsɨ˩̰-kuə˩̰/ (tseukoua) split horns

Tus txiv neeb muaj ib txwm kuam The shaman has a pair of split horns.
Txwm kuam ces kov los hu plig. The split horns are used to call the soul.

txiab neeb /tsiə˦ neŋ˦/ (tsianeng) shaman's rattle, spirit scissors

Tus twj neeb uas muaj cov khawm zoo li cov nyiaj txiaj npib taug lub xauv. a tool that has loose pieces like coins attached
Tus txiab neeb yog coj los khiav ntsuj. The shaman's rattle is used to herd or catch the spirit.

nruas neeb /ᶯɖuə˩ neŋ˦/ (ndrouaneng) shaman's gong

Lub nruas neeb cov los ntaus kom dab hnov ces tshais khiav mus. The gong is used to frighten away the bad spirits.

qws nruas /qɨ˩ ᶯɖuə˩/ (qeundroua) stick for hitting the gong

ntaj neeb /ⁿda˥˧ neŋ˦/ (ndaneng) shaman's sword

Rab ntaj neeb cov los yuam kom dab khiav thiab tua pov tseg. The sword is used to force bad spirits to run or be destroyed.

rooj neeb /ʈɒŋ˥˧ neŋ˦/ (trongneng) shaman's bench, also called rooj ua neeb /ʈɒŋ˥˧ uə˧ neŋ˦/

Lub rooj neeb yog tus nees neeb caij thiab mus taus. The shaman's bench is a horse that the shaman rides to travel to the other world.

tswb neeb /tʂɨ˦ neŋ˦/ (tseuneng) fingerbells, finger ring bells

Ob lub tswb neeb yog ob lub fwj huaj es thiaj mus tau. Two pairs of fingerbells are used to master the natural forces in order to begin the trance.

ntawv nyiaj /ⁿdaɨ˧˦ ɲiə˥˧/ (ndeunyia) joss paper, spirit paper, paper money

txheej txam /tsʰeŋ˥˧ tsa˩̰/ (chengtsa) joss paper cutters, punchers for paper money

ntshua ntawv (nchouandeu) bundle of cut joss paper, ceremonial paper, funeral paper

yeej khaum /ʝeŋ˥˧ kʰau˩̰/ (yengkhao) joss paper boat, spirit boat, money boat

yaj khaum ceeb khaum /ʝa˥˧ kʰau˩̰ ceŋ˦ kʰau˩̰/ (yakhao chengkhao) another name for yeej khaum (joss paper boat, spirit boat, money boat)

xyab ntawv /ça˦ ⁿdaɨ˧˦/ (syandeu) incense and paper

moj zeej /mɒ˥˧ ʐeŋ˥˧/ (mazheng) spirit person, doll made out of spirit paper (or flat, cut cloth)

xyoob thiab xov /çɒŋ˦ tʰiə sɒ˧˦/ (syong & sa) string and bamboo

ntxaij caiv /ⁿdzai˥˧ cai˧˦/ (ndzaityai) woven bamboo off-limits sign

[Linguaphile]

ntxaij caiv /ⁿdzai˥˧ cai˧˦/ (ndzaityai) woven bamboo off-limits sign

I'll write more about this one because I first saw these as a child and they have always fascinated me. Seeing one makes me wonder what the reason is for it being there: is someone ill? Has someone given birth? Is the family inside worried about an illness or bad omen or celebrating a new life? Basically, a shaman places this sign outside a house as a warning for others to stay away after a healing ceremony or protection ceremony has taken place. Typically this will be after a birth or during an illness, but can be done for a variety of other spiritual reasons, such as because of a nightmare. It's common for it to be for three days but this can vary, from one day to the duration of a long illness, depending on the circumstances. It is a ritual, but also a form of quarantine that protects a newborn baby and new mother from outside germs, or protects potential visitors from contagious disease. In some places this is also done on the first day of the lunar month, or the first three days of the new year, regardless of the family's health.

In Laos, Thailand and diaspora communities from those countries the signs indicating this state of quarantine usually look like the ones below with fresh leaves inserted between the slats. (The fresh leaves indicate that the "off-limits" state is actively current; if it were old, the leaves would no longer look fresh or would have crumbled and fallen out.) Another variation is more of a cross shape (one larger bamboo strip stuck into a notch of another large bamboo strip, or a strip of tree bark sliced off the tree and set horizontally in a notch at the bottom of the place the strip was removed from), and in parts of China they tend to be shaped something like a wide-brimmed hat on a stick, but I haven't found photos of those online. All should have green leaves inserted, a good indicator that the caiv is still currently active or "fresh". (In other words: without fresh leaves, these bamboo signs just indicate the presence of a boundary. With fresh leaves, these bamboo signs indicate the presence of a boundary that cannot be crossed.)

In addition to the signs, it's customary to ask before entering a house to make sure visitors are permitted that day. In diaspora communities some people do this only on formal occasions such as visiting a woman's parents to ask for the daughter's hand in marriage. The parents then have the opportunity to refuse entry to the house by saying they are having a taboo day, thus postponing that meeting (until they have had more time to think it over or talk with their daughter about it).

Probably there is an etymological connection between the words cai /cai˧/ "permission, right, authority, tradition, custom, law", caiv /cai˧˦/ "prohibition, taboo, restriction", possibly originating from contacts with Yi people (there are cognates in Nuosu). Another related word is cais /cai˩/ "exclusion, separation, isolation".

Caiv is an old traditional concept, starting to disappear in diaspora communities, that nevertheless adapts itself well to newer circumstances. This document explains how villages in Laos and Thailand incorporated ntxaij caiv (called simply ntxaij in the article) in their fight against covid, and this document aimed at the Hmong community in Minnesota (USA) uses both the words cais (isolation) and caiv (quarantine) in explaining how to avoid spreading covid:
Kev “cais” tus kheej thiab kev “caiv” tus kheej - yog kom nyob hauv vaj tsev thiab tsis txhob nyob ze nrog lwm tus neeg Self-isolation and self-quarantine mean staying at home and and not having close contact with others.
“Cais” yog rau cov neeg twb mob tus kabmob COVID-19 lawm. "Isolation" is for people who are sick with COVID-19.
“Caiv” yog rau cov neeg tsis tau paub tia puas tau mob tus kabmoob tabsi tau nyob ze nrog cov neeg uas mob tus kabmoob COVID-19. "Quarantine" is for people who have never been sick with the disease but have been close to people who are sick with COVID-19.


Words and phrases

caiv (verb) restrict, prohibit, forbid, abstain; (noun) prohibition, taboo
ntxaij screen made from flat bamboo strips
tshuaj nplooj fresh green leaves
hiab to weave
ntxaij caiv woven bamboo off-limits sign
ntxaij qhov muag woven bamboo off-limits sign (literally "eye screen", I'm not sure why)
hnub caiv off-limits day, taboo day, rest day (some Christians use this term for Sunday as well)

Ua ntej tshaj plaws yuav mus hauv tsev, yuav tsum nug tias "Nej puas caiv, tsis caiv?" Before going into a house, one should ask "are you off-limits or not?"

Nej puas caiv os? Are you off-limits? Are you having a taboo day?
Nej puas caiv, tsis caiv? Are you off-limits or not? Are you having a taboo day or not?
Nej puas caiv los tsis caiv os? Are you off-limits or not off-limits? Are you having a taboo day or not having one?
Peb tsis caiv os. We are not off-limits. We are not having a taboo day.
Peb caiv. We are off-limits. We are having a taboo day.
Peb tsis tau caiv dhau. We are not over our off-limits time. We are not finished with the taboo period.

Koj tuaj los! You (sing.) have come!
Neb tuaj los! You (dual) have come! (Hmong Daw dialect)
Neb tuaj los! You (dual) have come! (Hmong Njua dialect)
Nej tuaj los! You (pl.) have come! (Hmong Daw dialect)
Nej tuaj los! You (pl.) have come! (Hmong Njua dialect)
Kuv tuaj los! I have come!
Koj tuaj dab tsi? Why have you (sing.) come?
Neb/Meb tuaj dab tsi? Why have you (dual) come?
Nej/Mej tuaj dab tsi? Why have you (pl.) come?
Los hauv no. Come inside.
Los hauv tsev os. Come inside the house.
Los tsev. Come into the house.
Los tsev mas. Come into the house.
Los tsev os. Come into the house.
Los tsev zaum os. Come into the house and sit down.

Sample conversations

1.
Visitor: Nej puas caiv, tsis caiv?
Resident: Koj tuaj dab tsi? Peb tsis caiv os. Los tsev.

2.
Visitor: Nej puas caiv os?
Resident: Peb tsis caiv os. Los hauv no.

3.
Visitor: Kuv tuaj los. Nej puas caiv os?
Resident: Tsis caiv. Los tsev zaum os!

4.
Resident: Koj tuaj los! Los hauv no.
Visitor: Tsis caiv?
Resident: Tsis caiv os.

In this video they explain how to place and maintain a ntxaij caiv using peach branches in South Carolina, at the start of the first covid lockdown in March 2020 - good time to make sure this tradition is followed!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cknaYbj3O_A

Current ntxaij caiv containing tshuaj nplooj indicates that today is a hnub caiv day:


Old ntxaij caiv containing dried leaves indicates an earlier hnub caiv day, visitors should ask before entering to make sure the restrictions have expired:


How to weave (hiab) an off-limits screen (ntxaij caiv or ntxaij qhov muag):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaRBHJpJeXc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9XL7MMmDfQ

[Linguaphile]

Sun - comparison of words in Hmongic and Mienic languages.
(note that for some of these words the cognate is only one of the syllables, usually the final syllable; the other syllables are prefixes and classifiers used to distinguish the word for "sun" from the word for "day".)

Standardized Chuanqiandian: n̥o⁴³ (hnob)
NE Yunnan Chuanqiandian: n̥u⁵⁵ (hnub)
Hmong Daw: n̥u⁴³ (hnub)
Hmong Njua: nu⁴³ (nub)
Hmong Shi: nu¹ (nob)
North Qiandong: n̥ɛ³³ (hnaib)
Xong: nai⁴³ (naib)
West Xiangxi: n̥e³⁵ (hneb)
Hmong Sa: n̥oŋ¹ (hnongb)
Dongnu Bunu: n̥əŋ³³ (hnongb)
Nunu Bunu: noŋ³³ (nongb)
Iu Mienh: n̥oːi³³ (hnoi)
Kim Mun: noːi¹¹ (noi)
Central Guizhou Chuanqiandian: n̥ə̃²⁴
South Guizhou Chuanqiandian: noŋ²²
Eastern Luobuohe: qo⁰⁵na³¹
Western Luobuohe: ʔə⁰²n̥ɑ³¹
East Xiangxi: qʰa³⁵n̥ei⁵³
East Qiandong: qʰaŋ³³here²⁴
South Qiandong: n̥o¹³
West Qiandong: po¹¹ nei⁴⁴
West Baheng: qʰoŋ³¹ʔaŋ³⁵n̥ei³⁵
East Baheng: to⁰³n̥e³⁵
Numao Bunu: in⁴²n̥aŋ³³
Pa Na Bunu: la⁰⁴ni¹³
Younuo Bunu: ha³³no⁴⁴
Jiongnai Bunu: ntuŋ¹¹
She: nɔ²²kɔ⁵⁵
Biao Min: n̥i²¹tau³¹
Zao Min: nai⁴⁴

[Linguaphile]

Most resources online, including those in this thread, are for the Hmong Daw language spoken in Laos and Thailand, which is also the most commonly-spoken variety in the Hmong diaspora. Basically with the exception of some materials from China, if something says that it is "Hmong" without specifying a particular variety, it is usually Hmong Daw.
These are some resources in other varieties of Hmong from China:

Hmong Shi:
An Overview of Mong Shi of Pingbian county, Yunnan province, China
Mongb Ndeud: Alphabet and Stories in Mong Shi

Hmong Sha:
An Overview of Hmong Sha of Guangnan county of southeast Yunnan

Hmong Soud:
The Sentence in Flowery [Soud] Hmong
A Salience Scheme for Hmong Soud of Yunnan

Hmong Honghe:
A Phonological and Lexical Comparison of Western Miao Dialects in Honghe
Honghe Hmong Survey Wordlist

Mashan:
A Grammar Sketch of Mashan Miao of Guizhou

Wenshan:
Wenshan (Chuanqiandian, Daw, Shua) Hmong Survey Wordlist

Hmu:
Dail Hmub: Learning Central Miao language (Youtube)
Leix Hmub - Qiandongnan Miao Language (Youtube)
The Dragon Girl: A Folktale in East Guizhou Hmongic (Hmu)

Xong:
Pud dut Xongb, Sheit ndeud Xongb: Read and Write Xong (Youtube)
Dut Ghaob Xonb: The Sounds of the Xong Language (Youtube)
Ndeux Xongb: Writing Xong

Sheyu:
Sounds of the She language (Youtube)

Various:
Lol Bangx Los Bous: Elegant Hmong Literary Phrases
Hmong Dialect Intelligibility in Southeastern Yunnan
Hmong-Mien Comparative Word List
Learning Western Miao language (Youtube)

Comparison of Vocabulary for Western Hmong, Hmu, and Xong (Youtube)
Comparison of Structural Components for Western Hmong, Hmu, and Xong
Comparison of Three Miao Languages of China: Chuanqiandian, Qiandongnan, Xiangxi
Comparing the Hmong and Hmu languages (Youtube)
Sounds of Hmong-Mien languages (Youtube)

[Linguaphile]

Mong Leng / Mong Njua language of Laos (aka Hmong Njua, Blue Hmong, Green Hmong, Striped Hmong): Resources

Dictionary of Mong Njua

Mong Leng Dictionary

English-Mong Primary Wood Book

English-Hmong Glossary of Medical Terminology

Learn Green Hmong with Yaj Muas (Youtube)

Moob Leeg to Hmoob Dawb Flashcards on Quizlet

Hmong Baby: Phrases in Mong Leng (Youtube)

Hmong Baby: Numbers in Mong Leng (Youtube)

Hmong Baby: Animals in Mong Leng (Youtube)

The Phonetic Inventory of Mong Leng

Xyum lug Moob Ntsuab, Learn to read and write Blue Mong (Youtube)

Lug Moob Ntsuab (Youtube)

How Nug Xyu Fell Under the Pujntxoog's Spell: A Case Study of So-Called Intensifiers in Mong Leng

Un village hmong vert du haut Laos

Geomancy: A Dragon Story in the Mong Leng Dialect of Hmong

Uncle Tua and Youngest Daughter Pli: A Draong Sotry in the Mong Leng Dialect of Hmong

Txheeb Tshoj Theeb hab Yawm Nyooglaug Ntxhais Ntxawm: A Text in the Mong Leng Dialect of Hmong

[Linguaphile]

Some Hmong four-word coordinative constructions (ABAC and ABCB)

cua daj cua dub yellow wind, black wind
severe storm

kawm ntaub kawm ntawv learn cloth, learn paper
to study

kev mob kev tuag way of sickness, way of passing
death rites

kev nom kev tswv way of local official, way of lord
government

kev ploj kev tuag way of vanishing, way of passing
death

kev tshaib kev nqhis way of hunger, way of thirst
famine

kev tsov kev rog way of tiger, way of war
fighting, war

khiav teb khiav chaw run from country, run from place
to flee one's homeland

khiav tsov khiav rog run from tiger, run from war
to flee from war

khwv iab khwv daw bitter work, salty work
hard work

npaj mov npaj zaub prepare rice, prepare vegetables
to make food

ntes qaib ntes npua catch chicken, catch pig
to catch livestock

nriaj tes nriaj taw shake hand, shake foot
convulse, have a seizure

nyob dawb nyob do live idle, live empty
to live without working

paj hmab paj ntoo vine flowers, tree flowers
fresh flowers, abundance of flowers

paub kev paub cai know the way, know the limits
to have common sense

paub ntaub paub ntawv know cloth, know paper
to be literate

pe dab pe mlom worship spirit, worship image
to worship idols

poob teb poob chaw lose country, lose place
to lose one's homeland

sau qoob sau loo gather grains, gather field
to harvest crops

siab loj siab dav big liver, wide liver
kind, generous

siab loj siab tuab big liver, thick liver
courageous

siab mos siab muag tender liver, soft liver
humble

tag siab tag ntsws finish liver, finish lung
to be satisfied

thov dag thov zog beg labor, beg strength
to ask for help

tu vaj tu tsev care for garden, care for house
to take care of a household

tu tub tu kiv care for son, care for child
to take care of children

tua nas tua noog kill rodents, kill birds
to hunt small game

txiv hmab txiv ntoo vine fruit, tree fruit
fruits, abundance of fruit

txiv teb txiv chaw father country, father place
fatherland

ua dog ua dig do sloppily, do blindly
to do a bad job

ua noj ua haus do eat, do drink
to earn a living

ua nruj ua tsiv do strict, do mean
to be harsh

ua liaj ua teb do paddy, do field
to farm

ua zaj ua ntxeev do dragon, do turn
to do everything in one's power

xav paub xav pom want to know, want to see
to be curious

yam ub yam no this thing, that thing
things

yoj tes yoj taw swing hand swing foot
gesture

[Linguaphile]

More Hmong ABAC constructions (continued from previous post). Some, like X teb X chaw ("X country, X place"), X tes X taw ("X hand, X foot"), X vaj X tsev ("X garden, X house") X tsov X rog ("X tiger, X war") are very commonly used with different words in the X position, including phrases created on the spot, making the possibilities almost endless. The acceptability of the phrase and the proper order of the two items in the sequence is determined by tone.

kev dab kev qhuas way of spirit, way of praise
animism, Hmong religion

kev mob kev nkees way of sickness, way of tiredness
illness

kev phem kev qias way of being bad, way of being dirty
evil

kev sibtw kev txawj way of challenge, way of skill
test

khwv ciaj khwv tuag work living, work dead
to work hard

lub cuab lub yig the household, the family
family

lub zej lub zos the village, the town
community

me tub me nyuam small son, small little
children

nqi vaj nqi tsev price garden, price house
household expenses

piav tes piav taw explain with hand, explain with foot
to gesture

plig nyaig plig kub spirit money, spirit gold
spirits of prosperity

plig qoob plig loo spirit crops, spirit harvest
spirits of the harvest

tshuav nuj tshuav nqi owe cost, owe price
price

xws teb xws chaw like country, like place
following local customs; typical

[Linguaphile]

The 18 Hmong clans/surnames (xeem) most common in Laos, northern Thailand, and most diaspora communities are listed below with variations (different varieties of Hmong, different spellings). Each clan has two names in each language: one originating from Han Chinese (xeem) and one or more older Hmong forms (qhua). Some of the information linking xeem to qhua has been lost in the depths of unwritten history so the mapping between them is not precise and my list may have some errors. (For Hmong people, given the importance of clan affiliation in relationships, this is important: my list may indicate the wrong clan affiliation in some cases, and I don't know if it is correct that the qhua PLUAS has three different xeem. Kuv sim ntau, tab sis tej zaum kuv ua yuam kev. Kuv thov zam txim.)
Generally Hmong communities in Laos, Thailand and the U.S. prefer to use xeem (I think this is also true in Vietnam) and most Hmong communities in China prefer to use qhua.
Occasionally in English (and often in Thai) a xeem name will be prefixed with Sae-/แซ่- (such as Saelee, Saethao, Saevang, Saelor; แซ่ลี, แซ่ท่อ, แซ่ท่อ, แซ่ท่อ), which indicates that the name is the xeem-form or 姓, but in English this prefix is more common among Iu-Mienh communities and less often used as a part of Hmong surnames.

xeem TSAAB (CHANG), qhua NRIG (NDEE)
Pahawh:
Hmong Daw: Tsab
Hmong Njua: Tsaab
Hmong Daw/Njua (Qhua): Nrig, Nyab
Hmong Dou: Zhangb
Hmong Dou (Qhua): Niangb
Hmong Bai (Qhua): Nyangb, Ndris
Dongcun Miao (Qhua): Nyangb
Large Flowery Miao (Qhua): Ndlrwl, Ndlwl
Small Flowery Miao (Qhua): Ke-Ndrik
Vietnam: Chá, Chang, Trang, Tráng
Latin: Cha, Chang, Saechang
Chinese: 張, 张, 康
Thai: ช้าง, แซ่จาง, จาง, ชะอำ
Lao: ຊ້າງ, ຊິງຊ້າງ

xeem TSWB (CHUE), qhua PLUAS (PLOUA)
Pahawh:
Hmong Daw/Njua: Tswb
Hmong Daw/Njua (Qhua): Pluas, Plua
Hmong Dou: Zhub
Hmong Bai/Shi (Qhua): Bluat
Large Flowery Miao (Qhua): Dlrat, Dlat
Vietnam: Chớ, Châu, Chảo
Latin: Chue, Chu, Chou, Cho, Zhu, Saechue
Chinese: 楚, 儲, 储, 褚, 觸, 触, 朱
Thai: จื้อ, แซ่จื้อ
Lao: ?

xeem TSHEEJ (CHENG), qhua LOOG (LONG)
Pahawh:
Hmong Daw/Njua: Tsheej
Hmong Daw/Njua (Qhua): Loog, Xyeem
Hmong Dou: Chenx
Hmong Bai/Shi (Qhua): Longs
Large Flowery Miao (Qhua): Rangf
Vietnam: Sình
Latin: Cheng, Saecheng
Chinese: 陳, 龙
Thai: เฉิง, เฉ้ง, แซ่เฉ้ง
Lao: ຊິງ, ແຊ່ຊິງ

xeem FAAJ (FANG), qhua VUG (VUE)
Pahawh:
Hmong Daw: Faj
Hmong Njua: Faaj
Hmong Daw/Njua (Qhua): Vug
Hmong Dou: Fangx, Huangx
Hmong Bai (Qhua): Vos
Vietnam: Phàng, Hoàng
Latin: Fang, Fau, Fa, Saefang
Chinese: 黃
Thai: ฝาง, ฟ้า, แซ่จื้อ
Lao: ?

xeem HAAM (HANG), qhua TAAG (TANG)
Pahawh:
Hmong Daw: Ham
Hmong Njua: Haam
Hmong Daw (Qhua): Tag
Hmong Njua (Qhua): Taag
Hmong Dou: Hangx
Hmong Dou (Qhua): Dangl
Hmong Bai (Qhua): Dangs
Large Flowery Miao (Qhua): Dangl
Small Flowery Miao (Qhua): Ke-Daok
Vietnam: Hạng, Hảng, Hạ
Latin: Hang, Ha, Tang, Saehang
Chinese: 項, 项
Thai: หาญ, แซ่หาญ
Lao: ?

xeem HAWJ (HER), qhua DUAG (DOUA)
Pahawh:
Hmong Daw/Njua: Hawj
Hmong Daw (Qhua): Duag
Hmong Njua (Qhua): Dluag
Hmong Dou: Heux
Hmong Dou (Qhua): Hluas
Hmong Shi/Bai (Qhua): Dluas
Dongcun Miao (Qhua) Dluas
Large Flowery Miao (Qhua): Dlruas
Small Flowery Miao (Qhua): Lrab, Ke-Lrab
Vietnam: Hờ, Hầu
Latin: Her, Herr, Heu, Saeher
Chinese: 侯
Thai: เฮ้อ, แซ่เฮ้อ
Lao: ?

xeem KHAAB (KHANG), qhua PLUAS (PLOUA)
Pahawh:
Hmong Daw: Khab
Hmong Njua: Khaab
Hmong Daw/Njua (Qhua): Pluas, Plua
Hmong Dou: Kangb
Hmong Bai/Shi (Qhua): Bluat
Large Flowery Miao (Qhua): Dlrat
Vietnam: Khang, Kháng, Khảng
Latin: Khang, Kha, Kang, Keng, Saekhang
Chinese: 康
Thai: ค้า, แซ่ค้า
Lao: ?

xeem KOO (KONG), qhua XOOM (SONG)
Pahawh:
Hmong Daw/Njua: Koo
Hmong Daw/Njua (Qhua): Xoom
Hmong Dou/Bai: Gongt
Vietnam (Qhua): Sủng, Sũng, Sộng
Latin: Kong, Ko, Soung, Song, Saekong
Chinese: 龔, 宋
Thai: กง, แซ่กง
Lao: ?

xeem KWM (KUE), qhua NKWS (KUE)
Pahawh:
Hmong Daw/Njua: Kwm
Hmong Daw/Njua (Qhua): Nkws
Hmong Dou: Guf
Hmong Dou (Qhua): Ngus
Hmong Shi (Qhua): Gguk
Hmong Bai (Qhua): Nguk
Dongcun Miao (Qhua): Nguk
Large Flowery Miao (Qhua): Nguk
Small Flowery Miao (Qhua): Ke-Ngub, Ke-Ngyk
Vietnam: Cư, Cứ
Latin: Kue, Ku, Kou, Saekue
Chinese: 古
Thai: กือ, แซ่กือ
Lao: ?

xeem LAUJ (LOR), qhua NRUA (DOUA)
Pahawh:
Hmong Daw/Njua: Lauj
Hmong Daw/Njua (Qhua): Nruas, Tshib
Hmong Dou: Loux
Hmong Shi/Bai (Qhua): Ndrual
Vietnam: Lầu, Lò, Lồ
Latin: Lor, Lo, Lao, Lau, Saelor
Chinese: 劉
Thai: เลา, เล่า, แซ่เล่า
Lao: ລໍ່, ແຊ່ລໍ່

xeem LIS (LEE), qhua CAI (CHAI)
Pahawh:
Hmong Daw/Njua: Lis
Hmong Daw/Njua (Qhua): Cai
Hmong Dou: Lik
Hmong Dou (Qhua): Jiet
Hmong Bai/Shi (Qhua): Jait
Dongcun Miao (Qhua): Jait
Large Flowery Miao (Qhua): Jait, Jaib
Small Flowery Miao (Qhua): Jet, Ke-Jet
Vietnam: Lý, Li, Ly, Lỳ
Latin: Lee, Ly, Le, Li, Saelee
Chinese: 李
Thai: ลี, แซ่ลี
Lao: ?

xeem MUAS (MOUA), qhua ZAAG (ZHANG)
Pahawh:
Hmong Daw/Njua: Muas
Hmong Daw/Njua (Qhua): Zag, Zaag, Zaas
Hmong Dou: Muak
Hmong Dou (Qhua): Rangs
Hmong Bai (Qhua): Rangs
Large Flowery Miao (Qhua): Rangs, Rangf
Small Flowery Miao (Qhua): Raob, Ke-Raob
Vietnam: Mùa, Má
Latin: Moua, Mua, Saemoua
Chinese: 馬, 马
Thai: มัว, แซ่มัว
Lao: ມົວ, ແຊ່ມົວ

xeem PHAAB (PHANG), qhua PLUAS (PLOUA)
Pahawh:
Hmong Daw: Phab
Hmong Njua: Phaab
Hmong Daw/Njua (Qhua): Pluas, Plua
Hmong Dou: Pangb
Hmong Bai/Shi (Qhua): Bluat
Large Flowery Miao (Qhua) Dlrat, Dlat
Vietnam: ?
Latin: Pha, Phang, Fang, Fa, Saepha, Saefang
Chinese: 潘
Thai: พ้า, แซ่พ้า
Lao: ?

xeem THOJ (THAO), qhua DUB (DUE)
Pahawh:
Hmong Daw/Njua: Thoj
Hmong Daw (Qhua): Dub
Hmong Njua (Qhua): Dlub
Hmong Dou: Taox
Hmong Dou (Qhua): Hlob
Hmong Bai (Qhua): Dlob
Dongcun Miao (Qhua): Dlob
Large Flowery Miao (Qhua): Dlrub, Dlub
Small Flowery Miao (Qhua): Lrub, Ke-Lrub, Mvb Lrub
Vietnam: Thào, Đào
Latin: Thao, Thor, Tao, Toa, Saethao
Chinese: 陶
Thai: ถ้อ, ท่อ, แซ่ท่อ
Lao: ?

xeem VAAJ (VANG), qhua VWS (VUE)
Pahawh:
Hmong Daw: Vaj
Hmong Njua: Vaaj
Hmong Daw/Njua (Qhua): Vws, Vus, Vug
Hmong Dou: Vangx, Wangx
Hmong Shi: Wangx
Hmong Bai (Qhua): Vos
Large Flowery Miao (Qhua): Dangl
Vietnam: Vàng
Latin: Vang, Va, Vaughn, Vong, Wang, Saevang
Chinese: 王, 汪
Thai: ว่า, หว้า, แซ่หว้า
Lao: ວັງ, ແຊ່ວັງ

xeem VWJ (VUE), qhua VWG (VUE)
Pahawh:
Hmong Daw/Njua: Vwj
Hmong Daw/Njua (Qhua): Vwg
Hmong Dou: Wux, Vux
Large Flowery Miao (Qhua): Dlrub, Dlub
Small Flowery Miao (Qhua): Vvb, Ke-Vvb
Vietnam: Vừ, Vù, Vư
Latin: Vue, Vu, Vou, Saevue
Chinese: 吳
Thai: วื้อ, แซ่วื้อ
Lao: ວື່, ແຊ່ວື່

xeem XYOOJ (XIONG), qhua HMOB (HMO)
Pahawh:
Hmong Daw/Njua: Xyooj
Hmong Daw (Qhua): Hmob
Hmong Njua (Qhua): Mob
Hmong Dou: Xongx
Hmong Dou (Qhua): Maob
Hmong Bai (Qhua): Hmaob
Dongcun Miao (Qhua): Maob
Large Flowery Miao (Qhua): Bwb
Vietnam: Sùng, Sằm, Sầm, Phùng, Nông
Latin: Xiong, Xong, Song, Saexiong
Chinese: 熊
Thai: ช่ง, โซ้ง, แซ่โซ้ง
Lao: ?

xeem YAAJ (YANG), qhua YAWG (YER)
Pahawh:
Hmong Daw: Yaj
Hmong Njua: Yaaj
Hmong Daw/Njua (Qhua): Yawg
Hmong Dou: Yangx
Hmong Dou (Qhua): Yous
Hmong Bai (Qhua): Yeus
Dongcun Miao (Qhua): Yeuk
Large Flowery Miao (Qhua): Yeub
Small Flowery Miao (Qhua): Ke-Yeub
Vietnam: Giàng, Dương
Latin: Yang, Ya, Young, Saeyang
Chinese: 楊, 杨, 邓, 余
Thai: ย่า, ย่าง, แซ่ย่าง
Lao: ?

[Linguaphile]

Hmong word for "spirit" (sometimes translated as "ghost")

Proto-Miao: qɭeŋ /qɭeŋ˥/
Hmong Daw: dab /da˥/
Hmong Njua: dlaab /tˡã˥/
Hmong Dou: dlangb /tˡã˥/
Hmong Shi: dlangb /tˡã˥/
Hmong Sou: dlangb /tˡã˥/
Large Flowery Hmong: dlangb /tˡã˥/
Shidong Hmong: dliangb /tˡiã˥/
Hmu: dliangb /tˡiã˥/
Xong: ghunb /qun˥/
Qanu: hlieb /l̥ie˥/

Alternate spellings used in English-language materials:
Presumably from dab, /da/: da
Presumably from dlaab, dlangb, /tˡã/: tlan, tlang, dlang, kláƞ, glung
Presumably from dliangb, /tˡiã/: gliang

Hmong Daw spirit-related words (Hmong Njua in parenthesis):
dab (dlaab) spirit, ghost
dab tso (dlaab tso) spirits collectively (includes tigers)
dab qhov txos (dlaab qhov txus; dlaab cub) fireplace spirit, front-door spirit
dab qhuas (dlaab qhuas) household spirit
dab xwm kab (dlaab xim kaab) household altar spirit
dab txhiaj meej (dlaab txhaj meej) protective spirit, south-door spirit
dab ncej tas (dlaab ncej dlaab) fire-post spirit
dab rooj txag (dlaab rooj txaag) bedroom spirit
dab ntuj (dlaab ntuj) sky spirit
dab teb chaws (dlaab teb chaws) village spirit
dab ntxaug (dlaab ntxaug) a harmful, thin spirit
dab ntxaug nas (dlaab ntxaug naag) a rodent-like spirit
dab ntxaug zaj (dlaab ntxaug zaaj) a dragon-like spirit
dab ntxaug neeg (dlaab ntxaug neeg) a human-like spirit
dab neeb (dlaab neeb) shaman's spirit
dab niam (dlaab nam) mother's spirit
dab txiv (dlaab txiv) father's spirit
dab ntub (dlaab ntub) sleep
dab muag (dlaab muag) memory
dab peg (dlaab peg) epilepsy

Lug Nruag Dlaab - Hmong Spirit Stories

[Linguaphile]

Translation	Hmong Daw RPA	Hmong Daw IPA	Hmong Njua RPA	Hmong Njua IPA	Lyman (1974)	Chindarsi (1976)
spirit	dab	/da˥/	dlaab	/tˡã˥/	kláƞ	glung
white	dawb	/daɨ˥/	dlawb	/tˡaɨ˥/	kláw	gler
blue/green	ntsuab	/ɳɖʐua˥/	ntsuab	/ɳɖʐua˥/	ñjúa	njew
altar	thaj	/tʰa˥˧/	thaaj	/tʰã˥˧/	thâƞ	(ho)tang
table/door	rooj	/ʈɔ̃˥˧/	rooj	/ʈɔ̃˥˧/	čôƞ	jong
shaman	neeb	/nẽ˥/	neeb	/nẽ˥/	néƞ	neng
soul	plig	/pli˧˩/	plig	/pli˧˩/	pli	plee
woman	poj	/pɔ˥˧/	puj	/pu˥˧/	pû	poo
mother	niam	/nia˩̰/	nam	/na˩̰/	na+	na
wife	poj niam	/pɔ˥˧ nia˩̰/	quas puj	/qua˩ pu˥˧/	qùa-pû	kao poo
ear	qhov ntsej	/qʰɔ˧˦ ɳɖʐe˥˧/	qhov ntsej	/qʰɔ˧˦ ɳɖʐe˥˧/	qhǎo.ñjê	conji
eye	qhov muag	/qʰɔ˧˦ mua˧˩/	qhov muag	/qʰɔ˧˦ mua˧˩/	qhǎo.můa	kaomur
mouth	qhov ncauj	/qʰɔ˧˦ ɲɟau˥˧/	qhov ncauj	/qʰɔ˧˦ ɲɟau˥˧/	qhǎo.ñdjâu	conjo
nose	qhov ntswg	/qʰɔ˧˦ ɳɖʐɨ˧˩/	qhov ntswg	/qʰɔ˧˦ ɳɖʐɨ˧˩/	qhǎo.ñjẘ	conjier
liver	siab	/ʂia˥/	sab	/ʂa˥/	šá	sa
buy/take	yuav	/yua˦ /	yuav	/yua˦/	yǔa	your

I'm reading Nusit Chindarsi's 1976 The Religion of the Hmong Njua right now, and the spelling that Chindarsi uses (last columm in the chart above) is really throwing me for a loop. Some phonemes are fairly clear in Chindarsi's system (minus the tones), but others, such as /tˡ/, /ʈ/ and /ua/, are spelled significantly differently from the standard spelling, and vowels and diphthongs seem inconsistent or inaccurate in general (such as /ã/ being sometimes "ung" and sometimes "ang", /ao/ being sometimes "ao" and sometimes "o", /ua/ being sometimes "ao" and sometimes "our", etc). For example, look at the names of the four facial body parts (ear, eye, mouth, nose); Chindarsi has them as conji, kaomur, conjo, conjier. These all have the same first syllable (/qʰɔ/), but two different spellings ("co" when before n, "kao" otherwise). Meanwhile, Chindarsi's spellings "kaomur" and "kaopoo" have different-sounding first syllables (/qʰɔ/ versus /qua/).
There are still quite a few words sprinkled throughout this book that I can't figure out because of this idiosyncratic spelling that Chindarsi uses and what I presume are some dialect differences. What I know as xwm kab /sɨ˩̰ ka˥/ or xim kaab /si˩̰ kã˥/, Chindarsi calls hotang and Lyman has it as thâƞ. Apparently the word is thaaj /tʰã˥˧/, a Chinese loanword (壇 tán: altar, plot of land, forum), thaj /tʰa˥˧/ in Hmong Daw, and the whole thing can be referred to as thaaj xim kaab /tʰã˥˧ si˩̰ kã˥/ in Hmong Njua or thaj xwm kab /tʰa˥˧ si˩̰ kã˥/ in Hmong Daw. I'm not sure what the first syllable "ho" is in "hotang" though. Lyman has fóƞ thâƞ for foob thaaj /fɔ̃˥ tʰã˥˧/, a ritual of closing the altar at the end of the year, which is the closest I can find to "hotang" (the sounds /f/ and /h/ are allophones in Hmong), but that's not the name of the altar itself the way Chindarsi's "hotang" implies. I haven't found anything else that would be similar to "hotang". A friend suggested a different phrase, *hauv thaaj /hau˦ tʰã˥˧/, but that's missing the classifier; it should be "hauv lub thaaj" ("in the altar") or "ntawm lub thaaj" ("on the altar").