Compliments

1. Та маш сайхан харагддаг

   Ta mash saikhan kharagddag

   You look very beautiful / handsome

   Usage

   Polite compliment on appearance. "Та" is the respectful form of "you"

   Grammar Note

   Mongolian distinguishes honorific "Та" from informal "Чи". "Харагддаг" is a frequentative/habitual form describing appearance.

2. Таны гэр маш сайхан байна

   Tany ger mash saikhan baina

   Your ger (home) is very beautiful

   Usage

   Complimenting someone's ger (Mongolian yurt) when invited inside

   Grammar Note

   "Таны" = "Та" (you honorific) + genitive suffix "-ны". Complimenting the ger when visiting is warmly received by Mongolian hosts.

3. Та морь унахдаа маш чадварлаг

   Ta mori unakhdaa mash chadvarlag

   You are very skilled at horse riding

   Usage

   Praising someone's horsemanship — one of the highest compliments in Mongolia

   Grammar Note

   "Чадварлаг" = "чадвар" (skill/ability) + adjective suffix "-лаг." Praising horsemanship carries special weight in Mongolian culture.

4. Таны хоол маш амттай байна

   Tany khool mash amttai baina

   Your food is very delicious

   Usage

   Complimenting the cook when being hosted for a meal

   Grammar Note

   "Амттай" = "амт" (taste) + "-тай" (having). Complimenting traditional Mongolian food greatly pleases the host.

5. Чи маш ухаантай

   Chi mash ukhaantai

   You are very intelligent

   Usage

   Praising a friend or younger person. "Чи" is the informal "you"

   Grammar Note

   "Ухаантай" = "ухаан" (wisdom/intelligence) + "-тай" (having). This suffix "-тай/-той/-тэй" creates possessive adjectives in Mongolian.

6. Таны монгол хэл маш сайн байна

   Tany mongol khel mash sain baina

   Your Mongolian is very good

   Usage

   Complimenting a foreigner's Mongolian language skills

   Grammar Note

   "Хэл" means both language and tongue. Foreigners attempting Mongolian are warmly appreciated and often receive enthusiastic praise.

7. Таны хүүхдүүд маш эрүүл харагддаг

   Tany khüükhdüüd mash erüül kharagddag

   Your children look very healthy

   Usage

   Complimenting a family's children — children's health is paramount in nomadic culture

   Grammar Note

   Plural marker "-ууд/-үүд" is added to the noun. "Эрүүл" (healthy) is a key word. Children's wellbeing is a source of great pride in nomadic families.

8. Та маш зоригтой хүн

   Ta mash zorigtoi khün

   You are a very brave person

   Usage

   Praising someone who overcame difficulty or showed courage

   Grammar Note

   "Зоригтой" = "зориг" (courage/will) + "-той" (having). Praising bravery resonates deeply in Mongolia's warrior heritage.

9. Энэ маш сайхан зураг

   Ene mash saikhan zurag

   This is a very beautiful photo / painting

   Usage

   Complimenting a photo or artwork

   Grammar Note

   "Зураг" covers both photographs and paintings. "Энэ" is the proximal demonstrative pronoun meaning "this."

10. Та маш хичээнгүй байна

    Ta mash khicheengüi baina

    You are very diligent / hardworking

    Usage

    Praising someone's hard work and dedication

    Grammar Note

    "Хичээнгүй" (diligent) derives from "хичээх" (to strive/work hard). Diligence is a vital virtue in nomadic survival.

11. Чи маш сайхан дуулдаг

    Chi mash saikhan duuldag

    You sing very beautifully

    Usage

    Complimenting a friend's singing. Music, especially the morin khuur, is central to Mongolian culture

    Grammar Note

    "Дуулдаг" uses the habitual suffix "-даг/-дэг." Mongolian long song (Urtiin Duu) is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Browse all TravelPhrases languages