Why Rohingya phrases matter for aid workers
In humanitarian settings — refugee camps, registration centres, medical facilities — even basic Rohingya phrases can build trust, reduce misunderstanding, and improve the safety of both staff and community members. While professional interpreters should always be used for important conversations, knowing key phrases demonstrates respect and helps in urgent situations.
Reading the phrases: accents (á, í, ú) mark the stressed syllable, ñ marks a nasal sound, c is pronounced “sh” and ç is a rolled retroflex “r”. See our pronunciation guide.
Basic greetings
| English | Rohingyalish | Notes |
|---|
| Hello / Peace be upon you | Assalamu alaikum | Standard Islamic greeting |
| Reply to greeting | Wa alaikum assalam | Standard reply |
| Are you well? (How are you?) | Bála aso ne? | ”Gom aso ne?” is the informal version |
| Yes, I am fine | Ói, aññí bála asi | |
| Thank you | Tuáñre cúkuria | |
| What is your name? | Tuáñr nam ki? | |
| My name is… | Añár nam… | |
| Do you understand? | Tuñí buzó ne? | |
| I don’t understand | Aññí no buzí | Negation comes before the verb |
Registration and documentation
| English | Rohingyalish |
|---|
| Card (ID/registration) | kaádh |
| Date of birth | zonom tarík |
| Where are you from? | Tuñí hon zagar? |
| How many? | Howá? |
| Husband / Wife | beça / bou |
| Children | fuain |
| Male / Female | morot / maiya |
| Family | górguccí |
Health and medical
| English | Rohingyalish |
|---|
| Are you feeling well? | Tuáñttu gom lager ne? |
| I am sick | Añáttu gaat ocúk |
| Where does it hurt? | Hoçé bic goré? |
| Doctor | daktor |
| Medicine | dabai |
| Hospital | hóspital |
Protection and safety
| English | Rohingyalish |
|---|
| Are you safe? | Tuñí héfazot asó ne? |
| Do you need help? | Tuáñttu modot lage ne? |
| Please wait here | Eçé tíyo |
| Come with me | Añár loi aiyó |
| Do not be afraid | No dhoraiyó |
| We will help you | Añára tuáñre modot goríyum |
Food and basic needs
| English | Rohingyalish |
|---|
| Water | faní |
| Rice / Food | bát |
| Are you hungry? | Tuáñttu buk lager ne? |
| Are you thirsty? | Tuáñttu fanír tirác lager ne? |
| Toilet | thaththi / fahéna hána |
Numbers
| Number | Rohingya |
|---|
| 1 | ek |
| 2 | dui |
| 3 | tin |
| 4 | sair |
| 5 | fañs |
| 6 | só |
| 7 | háñt |
| 8 | añctho |
| 9 | no |
| 10 | doc |
| 100 | ekcót |
Important notes for NGO staff
- Always use a qualified interpreter for protection interviews, legal processes, and medical consultations. These phrases are for initial contact and urgent situations only.
- Ask which script the community member can read before distributing written materials — Hanifi, Fonna, and Rohingyalish literacy varies.
- Rohingya spoken in Cox’s Bazar may differ slightly from communities in Malaysia or the Gulf. When in doubt, confirm with your interpreter.
Professional language services
For official communication, documents, and trained interpreters, see our professional services.
Interactive phrasebook
Use our online Rohingya Phrasebook tool for a quick-reference version of these phrases, and the dictionary to look up any individual word.