Acchu - Unclean stream or river. Bhutanese consider a river or stream unclean if there are settlements or villages up stream.
Akhai - Expression of repulsion
Acho-La-La - Acho means elder brother. The moon is often referred to as elder brother-La-La.
Ah chu chu - An expression of being cold.
Aila - Grandmother in Bumthangkha.
Ama - Mother in all dialects of Bhutan.
Aming - Maternal aunt in Bumthangkha.
Aming Niwa - Aunt mouse in Bumthangkha.
Ani/Animo - Nun.
Apa/Ap - Father.
Ara - Home-distilled liquor made from maize, wheat, barley, rice, buckwheat or millet.
Ashang - Maternal uncle.
Ashi - Title used for queens and princesses. The term is often used for ladies of the aristocracy.
Ayi wha - An expression of sadness in Bumthangkha.
Ayi-di-chi - Poor thing.
Bachu - A small Tibetan cow.
Bamairuchung - Horns of mithans, often ornately decorated in gold and silver, are used as containers for oil and alcoholic drinks.
Bangchung - A small double basket made of bamboo.
Boden - A high mattress used as a couch or a bed, usually stuffed with dried moss, used by wealthy and high-ranking people.
Bomed - A girl or daughter but in literal translation it means “not a boy” in Bumthangkha.
Brokpa - Nomad herders.
Bumthangkha - The dialect of Bumthang in central Bhutan.
Bumthangpa khuli - A pancake from buckwheat flour. Buckwheat is the staple food of Bumthang.
Chod - A ritual during which discontented spirits are invited to feast on the practitioner’s body which has been transformed into sanctified food.
Chabsang - Literally translated as “secret water,” it refers to urine.
Chenrezi - The Buddha of Compassion.
Chodpa - A practitioner of a religious ritual chod.
Choepa - Any person who has received empowerment to perform certain religious rites and rituals.
Chu - River.
Dasho - A title usually bestowed upon a person by the king. The term is often used for men of the aristocracy.
Dermo - Demoness.
Dhalham - Bhutanese knee-length boots, the upper portion being made of cloth, often elaborately embroidered, and with leather soles.
Dri - A unit of measurement (volume) used for grains and flour.
Dzong - A fortified palace usually the center for administrative as well as religious affairs.
Dzongkha - Official language of Bhutan.
Dzongpon - Administrative head of a dzong.
Gho - Males dress.
Gomchen - A lay religious practitioner of the Ningmapa sect.
Jatsam - Female progeny of a mithan bull (Bos frontalis) and a Bhutanese local cow.
Kaira - A woven belt.
Kaphe - Flour made of roasted barely or wheat.
Karmatekpa - A rice variety considered to be of low quality.
Katar - White silk ceremonial scarf used on auspicious occasions.
Kira - Woman’s dress
Koma - Brooches used to fasten the kira at the shoulders.
Kurtoip - Dialect of Kurtoi in the northeastern region of Bhutan.
Lagi - A long-sleeved white undershirt is worn under a gho. The sleeve ends (lagi) are folded back over the sleeves of the gho.
Lawang - An open container usually made of brass or copper which is filled with mustard oil. A wick is placed in the oil and it is used as a lamp.
Lopon - Teacher.
Lu - Subterranean beings.
Luyi gyalpo - King of the subterranean world.
Matha - Woolen fabric of red, green, and blue checks.
Melted in the sun and - A typical Bhutanese expression for
solidified in the shade - somebody who is extremely beautiful. Someone who is soft and fair is considered beautiful as opposed to farm women who are generally tanned and have rough skins due to the exposure to sun and wind.
Migoi - Yeti or the abominable snowman.
Mimi - Grandfather in Bumthangkha.
Mithan - A semi-domesticated animal (Bos forntalis) similar to cattle.
Monlo Karchung - The mountain pass leading into Tibet from Bumthang.
Moringmo - Derogatory expression for woman.
Naktsang - Very large houses belonging to landed families.
Nga - A big drum used during religious ceremonies.
Nyda - Hosts. A reciprocal system of hosting between Bhutanese and Tibetans.
Om Mani Padme Hung - The mantra of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezi.
Phob - A wooden cup. Most Bhutanese still have their individual cup and use it regularly during meals for liquids and tsaoem.
Phuta - A unit of measurement (approximately 350-400 ml) used for grains and flour. This measuring tool is used daily to measure the grains and flour according to the number of persons sharing a meal.
Rolong - A corpse that is revived after death and possessed by a malevolent spirit.
Singchang - Alcoholic drink made from fermented wheat, barley, buckwheat, or maize.
Sinpo - Flesh-eating spirits that roamed the earth freely until Guru Padmasambhava subdued them and exiled them to another world, sinpoiyul.
Sinpoiyul - Land of the sinpos.
Sog - The life-force.
Thro zangs - Open containers of various sizes made from an alloy. The often richly engraved utensils are considered very valuable by the Bhutanese.
Tosui - During the rice harvest people from higher elevations where no rice grows go to glean as well as to barter for rice in the lower rice-growing areas.
Tsagye - Slow and dull-witted.
Tsamkhang - Hermitage.
Tsangmo - A verse of four lines.
Tsaoem - A stew-like dish made from any vegetable, meat, or cheese.
Tsawa lama - A person’s main teacher of religion, also referred to as the root teacher.
Tsen - Aboriginal deities of Tibet and Bhutan who have become the guardians of the Buddhist teachings. They are believed to live in rocky areas and the color associated with them is red. In religious art they can be recognized as red men mounted on red horses.
Tsog - A generic term used for biscuits made of wheat flour which are usually fried in oil.
Wangdi dzongpon - Administrator of Wangdiphodrang.
Whay - Hey you.
Yaah lama - An expression of surprise, O lama.
Yuva - Large containers woven from strips of bamboo or cane, used to store grains
Za - A group of spirits who are known as protectors of the Buddhist teachings. They are associated with the stars and influence the human nervous system, they cause and cure paralysis, strokes and other ailments of the nervous system. They are depicted in religious art in many colors.
Zah - Fungal growths or burls on trees which, when turned into cups and bowls, have intricate patterns. The Bhutanese value zah cups (phobs)and bowls very highly and they are considered to be heirlooms.
Zahphi phobs - Phobs made of zah.
Zang - Huge open containers made of brass or copper used for storing and cooking during special occasions for large crowds.
Zi - One of the most precious stones found only in Tibet and valued highly as a precious ornament in Tibet, Bhutan, Sikkim, Nepal, Ladhak, and Tawang.
Zimpon - A person who is responsible for the personal welfare of the penlop.