Useful phrases in Mam

A collection of useful phrases in Mam, a Mayan language spoken in Chiapas in Mexico and in Quetzaltenango, Huehuetenango and San Marcos in Guatemala.

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See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.

Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).

If you can help fill in the gaps on this page, please contact me.

English	Qyol Mam (Mam)
Welcome	B’a’ntulena
Hello (General greeting)	Jeeka, ma tzuula (sg) Jeeka, ma chi uula (pl) Ma (reply)
How are you?	Tze’n ta’ya? (sg) Tze’n ate’ya? (pl)
Reply to 'How are you?'	B’a’n chjonte, yajtzan teya? (sg) B’a’n oto’ qe’. Yajtzan teya? (pl)
Long time no see
What's your name?	Ti’ tb’iya?
My name is ...	... nb’iya ... we’ nb’i
Where are you from?	Jtum tzajn?
I'm from ...	Tzajn qiina tuj t-nom ...
Pleased to meet you
Good morning (Morning greeting)	B’a’ntz q’ij Xisjiy
Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting)	Qa’lte
Good evening (Evening greeting)	Qa’lte
Good night	Ta’lte
Goodbye (Parting phrases)	Qina Chinej
Good luck!
Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking)
Have a nice day	B’a’n q’ij teya
Bon appetit / Have a nice meal
Bon voyage / Have a good journey
I understand
I don't understand
Yes	Ma’
No	Mi’ Mina
Maybe
I don't know
Please speak more slowly
Please say that again
Please write it down
Do you speak English?
Do you speak Mam?
Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?')
Speak to me in Mam
How do you say ... in Mam?	Ti t-b’ii ... tuuj t-yool?
Excuse me	Noq same ta Noq same na
How much is this?
Sorry
Please	Jun xtalb’il
Thank you	Chjonte Chjontexix
Reply to thank you
Where's the toilet / bathroom?
This gentleman will pay for everything
This lady will pay for everything
Would you like to dance with me?	Tajtzana tu’n tb’ixina?
I miss you
I love you	Wajb’ila ti’ja ... nlaq wanmiya ti’ja
Get well soon
Go away!
Leave me alone!
Help!
Fire!
Stop!
Call the police!
Christmas greetings
Easter greetings
Birthday greetings
One language is never enough
My hovercraft is full of eels
What is this?	Tii qlelta kan?
Do you have any ...?	At pa teey ...?

Mam phrases mainly provided by Christie Pollock

If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.

Links

Other collections of Mam phrases
http://users.elite.net/runner/jennifers/Country%20Greetings%20Guatemala.htm
http://www.mayatikal.com/2009/03/26/comunidad-linguistica-mam-palabras-y-frases/

Phrases in Mayan languages

Kaqchikel, Mam, Tsotsil, Yucatec Maya

Phrases in other languages

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