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Mongolia · Mongolian Travel Phrases

The most useful local expressions, ordered by importance. Pronunciations are approximate.

Greetings

  1. 1
    Сайн байна уу?
    Hello “sain baina uu”
  2. 2
    Баярлалаа
    Thank you “bayarlalaa”
  3. 3
    Уучлаарай
    Sorry / Excuse me “uuchlaarai”
  4. 4
    Тийм / Үгүй
    Yes / No “tiim / ugui”
  5. 5
    Баяртай
    Goodbye “bayartai”
  6. 6
    Сайн уу?
    Hi (casual) “sain uu”
  7. 7
    Танд баярлалаа
    Thank you (polite) “tand bayarlalaa”
Local etiquette
  • Give and receive items with your right hand, or with both hands; using the left hand alone is impolite.
  • If you accidentally step on someone's foot, immediately offer them a handshake — it signals your apology.
  • Enter a ger (traditional tent) only when invited, and sit where the host directs you.

Basics

  1. 1
    Би ойлгохгүй байна
    I don't understand “bi oilgokhgui baina”
  2. 2
    Би монголоор ярьдаггүй
    I don't speak Mongolian “bi mongoloor yaridaggui”
  3. 3
    Та англиар ярьдаг уу?
    Do you speak English? “ta angliar yaridag uu”
  4. 4
    Аажуухан ярина уу
    Please speak slowly “aajuukhan yarina uu”
  5. 5
    Энэ юу вэ?
    What is this? “ene yuu ve”
  6. 6
    Зураг авч болох уу?
    May I take a photo? “zurag avch bolokh uu”
  7. 7
    Туслаач
    Please help me “tuslaach”
  8. 8
    Хаана байна?
    Where is it? “khaana baina”
Local etiquette
  • Ask before photographing temples, Buddha statues or ruins. Walk clockwise three times around an ovoo (sacred stone cairn) as a sign of respect.
  • If you visit a nomadic family, at least taste the food or tea offered — refusing outright is rude.

Shopping

  1. 1
    Энэ ямар үнэтэй вэ?
    How much is this? “ene yamar unetei ve”
  2. 2
    Бэлэн мөнгө авах уу?
    Do you take cash? (cash is king) “belen mongo avakh uu”
  3. 3
    Картаар төлж болох уу?
    Can I pay by card? “kartaar tolj bolokh uu”
  4. 4
    Хямдруулж болох уу?
    Can you lower the price? “khyamdruulj bolokh uu”
  5. 5
    Үүнийг өгөөч
    I'll take this “uunig ogooch”
  6. 6
    Ноолуур байна уу?
    Do you have cashmere? (Mongolian specialty) “nooluur baina uu”
Local etiquette
  • Outside Ulaanbaatar, cards rarely work — carry plenty of tugrik (MNT) cash.
  • Cashmere and felt goods are Mongolia's signature products; fixed-price stores like the State Department Store don't bargain.
  • At open-air markets (zakh), carry your bag in front and watch for pickpockets.

Restaurant

  1. 1
    Цэс өгөөч
    The menu, please “tses ogooch”
  2. 2
    Юу санал болгох вэ?
    What do you recommend? “yuu sanal bolgokh ve”
  3. 3
    Үүнийг өгнө үү
    This one, please “uunig ogno uu”
  4. 4
    Ус өгөөч
    Water, please “us ogooch”
  5. 5
    Цай өгөөч
    Tea, please (milk tea is common) “tsai ogooch”
  6. 6
    Мах байхгүй хоол байна уу?
    Any dish without meat? (vegetarian) “makh baikhgui khool baina uu”
  7. 7
    Тооцоо хийе
    The check, please “tootsoo khiye”
  8. 8
    Маш амттай байна
    It's really delicious “mash amttai baina”
Local etiquette
  • When offered suutei tsai (salty milk tea), accept it with both hands or your right hand and take at least a sip.
  • Meals are meat-heavy (mutton, beef), so vegetarian options are limited — ask in advance for a dish without meat.
  • Tipping isn't required, but around 10% is welcome at tourist restaurants in the city.

Getting around

  1. 1
    Жорлон хаана байна?
    Where is the toilet? “jorlon khaana baina”
  2. 2
    Такси дуудаач
    Please call a taxi “taksi duudaach”
  3. 3
    Энэ хаяг руу яваач
    To this address, please “ene khayag ruu yavaach”
  4. 4
    Хэдэн төгрөг вэ?
    How many tugriks? (the fare) “kheden togrog ve”
  5. 5
    Зогсоороч
    Please stop here “zogsooroch”
  6. 6
    Хол уу?
    Is it far? “khol uu”
  7. 7
    Би төөрчихлөө
    I'm lost “bi toorchikhloo”
Local etiquette
  • Ulaanbaatar traffic is heavy and licensed taxis are few — people often flag down ordinary cars, so agree on the fare first.
  • Long-distance travel across the steppe is slow on rough roads; stock up on water, snacks and fuel beforehand.
  • Getting in and out of a vehicle, avoid stepping over a ger's threshold or over people's legs.

Hotel

  1. 1
    Захиалга хийсэн
    I have a reservation “zakhialga khiisen”
  2. 2
    Өрөө байна уу?
    Do you have a room? “oroo baina uu”
  3. 3
    Халуун ус байна уу?
    Is there hot water? “khaluun us baina uu”
  4. 4
    Вай-фай нууц үг юу вэ?
    What's the Wi-Fi password? “wai-fai nuuts ug yuu ve”
  5. 5
    Ачаагаа тавьж болох уу?
    Can I leave my luggage here? “achaagaa tavij bolokh uu”
Local etiquette
  • At ger camps, never step on the threshold — step over it. Treading on it is a serious offense.
  • Move clockwise inside a ger, and never throw water or trash into the stove fire — fire is considered sacred.
  • Don't lean on the ger's rafters or central poles, and don't point the soles of your feet at anyone.

Emergency

  1. 1
    Туслаарай!
    Help! “tuslaarai”
  2. 2
    Цагдаа дуудаач
    Please call the police “tsagdaa duudaach”
  3. 3
    Түргэн тусламж дуудаач
    Please call an ambulance “turgen tuslamj duudaach”
  4. 4
    Эмнэлэг хаана байна?
    Where is a hospital? “emneleg khaana baina”
  5. 5
    Би паспортоо гээчихлээ
    I lost my passport “bi pasportoo geechikhlee”
  6. 6
    Надад эм хэрэгтэй байна
    I need medicine “nadad em kheregtei baina”
Local etiquette
  • Emergency numbers: police 102, ambulance 103, fire 101; the unified emergency line is 105.
  • Hospitals are far apart in mountain and steppe regions — bring basic medicine and travel insurance.
  • If you lose your passport, contact your embassy in Ulaanbaatar; there are no consular offices in the provinces.