Nouns
The Tibetan Noun can consist of one or more syllables, although more than four syllables is not common. A monosyllabic noun
can consist of as little as one letter, while a multi-syllable noun might consist of a number of letters.
| Examples of Nouns |
| Noun |
Pronunciation |
Meaning |
| '- |
ja |
Tea |
| :- |
ra |
Goat |
| ;- |
la |
Mountain pass |
| "{- |
khe |
Profit |
| *}- |
tho |
Notes (for remembering) |
| =}- |
so |
Tooth |
| !r-í |
ku |
Body (Honorific) |
| "0- |
Khap |
Needle |
| #$=- |
gang |
Snow |
| W,- |
gyën |
Ornament |
| !:-&- |
kar-chhe |
Second |
| "-"{0=- |
kha-khep |
Cover (on top of something) |
| Hm-0- |
dri-wa |
Question |
| ,$-1m- |
nang-mi |
Family |
| 6m-0+{- |
zhi-de |
Peace |
| 9m#-3+- |
yig-tshë |
Test, examination |
| 1m-K#-.- |
mi-tag-ba |
Impermanence |
| `-<+-84#-.- |
dra-shë-dzag-ba |
Strands of fallen hair |
| #$=-:m,-.}-&{- |
gang-rîn-bo-chhe |
"The precious snowy one", a term used for Mt. Kailash |
| ={1=-*#-&}+-.}- |
sem-thag-chhö-bo |
Determination |
| ]m-3~#=-
<m-:m#-.- |
chi-tshog-ki-rig-ba |
Sociology |
| B-$,-;=-8+=-.-í |
nya-ngën-lë-dë-ba |
Nirvana |
Agent Nouns
Agent nouns are most commonly formed by adding 1",-
("doer", the one who performs a particular function) to a verb.
Another common form of the agent noun is when 07}-0-
(maker, constructor) is added to another noun to form a term for
profession.
| Examples of Agent Nouns |
| Noun |
Pronunciation |
Meaning |
| F}=-1",- |
kö-khën |
Carver (wood, stone, etc) |
| !:-Pm=-1",- |
kar-tsî-khën |
Astrologer |
| #:-1",- |
gar-khën |
Dancer, actor, performer, etc |
| [w-1-1",- |
kyu-ma-khën |
Magician |
| P}1-1",- |
tsom-khën |
Author |
| bo-+#-1",- |
zhu-dag-khën |
Editor, proof-reader |
| ;1-Wv=-
A{+-1",- |
lam-gyu-je-khën |
Guide |
| 7$=-07}-0- |
zang-zo-wa |
Coppersmith |
| <m$-07}-0- |
shing-zo-wa |
Carpenter |
| Q}#-07}-0-í |
log-zo-wa |
Electrician |
Terms for professions and other nouns that link people with actions or places, are frequently constructed by
adding
. or
0 to the action or the place.
| Examples |
| Noun |
Pronunciation |
Meaning |
| K-.- |
ta-ba |
Horseman, rider |
| 8I}#-.- |
drog-ba |
Nomad |
| 1"=-.- |
khë-ba |
Expert |
| H},-.- |
ngö-ba |
Hunter |
| ;v#-.- |
lug-ba |
Sheperd |
| W-#:-0- |
gya-gar-wa |
Indian (person from India) |
| !r-Ns$-0- |
ku-sung-wa |
Security Guard |
| [0=-0%};-0- |
kyab-chöl-wa |
Refugee |
| #,=-!}:-0- |
në-kor-wa |
Pilgrim |
| "-)-0-í |
kha-ta-wa |
Counselor, mentor |