COMPARATIVE VOCABULARY OF THADO AND LUSHAI LANGUAGES, WITH NOTES ON THE OTHER CHIN LANGUAGES AND MANIPURI OR MEITHEI.

Thado. English. Lushai and Remarks.
Ā Fowl Ar. Old Kuki dialects, Ar.
Ā-eng or A-yeng Turmeric Ai-eng. Beteh, Aishel.
Āi Crab Ai. Beteh, Iae.
Ā-le True, right Awle, all right.
Ashi Star Arshi. Old Kuki dialects the same.
Bān Arm Bān.
Bat To owe Bat.
Be To beat a drum Beng.
Be Pulse Be, all sorts of peas and beans.
Bon To wrestle Buan.
Bong Cow Se-bong.
Bong-hlo Mud Bol-hlawh.
Bu Paddy Buh.
Chem Dao Chem. Same in Old Kuki dialect.
Chep To suck Fep.
Chi Salt Chi; and in Old Kuki dialects also.
Chok To buy Chawk. In most Old Kuki dialects, Chok or Chak, and Purum has Lei, which is the commoner word in Lushai.
Da To spread Da, to put.
Chol Tired Chawl, to rest when tired.
Cham Level Cham.
Dang Other Dang.
Dai-tui Dew Dai.
Dāngka Silver Tāngka.
Deng To beat Deng, to pound, to hammer.
Ding To stand Ding.
Di Correct Dik.
Doi Magic Doi; and in Old Kuki dialects.
Doi Weak Doih, cowardly.
Dui To love Duh, to like, to desire.
Dum Tobacco Dum-ei, Dum-bawm, tobacco box; but the usual word is Vai-hlo.
Eng Yellow Eng.
Ga Fruit Ra; also Beteh.
Gam-la Distant Rām, country; Hla, distant. In Old Kuki dialects, La, Hla, and Lak.
Gam-mang Forest Rām. The Lushai Hills being covered with forest, Ram means both country and forest. Mang appears in the Manipuri, U-Mang.
Ge To pass the night Ria(k). Cf. Manipuri. Lek.
Gel Hail Rial. Manipuri, Lel.
Ghai Pregnant Rai.
Ghāl Enemy Rāl. Manipuri, Lāl; Beteh, Rāl.
Ghi Heavy Rit. Beteh, Rik.
Ghin Sound Ring, loud.
Ghop Lean Rawp, to become thin, to waste away.
Ghu A bone Ru; also in Manipuri and Old Kuki dialects.
Ghu A thief, to steal Ru; also in Beteh.
Ghul A snake Rul; also in Old Kuki dialects. Manipuri, Lil.
Gim To worry Rim, tired, toilworn.
Go A bamboo Ro, a particular sort of bamboo.
Go To cremate Rawh, to heat, to roast.
Ha Tooth Ha, and in all Old Kuki dialects.
Hāl To set fire to Hāl; also in Beteh.
Hām Blow through Hām, to play a wind instrument.
Hao Rich Hao-sak; the k is nearly silent.
He To know Thei to be able; Hre or Hriat, to know. Manipuri, Heiba, to know how to do.
Hem Sharp Hriam.
Hem To soothe Thlem, to pacify.
Hla Month, the moon Thla; and Manipuri and Old Kuki dialects, Tha or Thla.
Hla Wing Thla.
Hla Song Hla.
Hling To suffice Tling-tlak, to complete.
Hlut To enter Lut.
Hon Garden Huan.
Hot To shake Hot, to stir with spoon.
Hui A dog Ui. Hui or Ui in Manipuri and all Old Kuki dialects.
In House In; and in all Old Kuki dialects.
Kāl To climb Kāl, to go; also in Langrong.
Kalson To walk
Kan Dry Kang, to dry up. Manipuri, Kangba.
Kāp To shoot Kāp.
Kel Goat Kel; and in all Old Kuki dialects.
Ket To be broken Keh.
Kha Bitter Kha.
Kha Chin Kha, the lower jaw.
Khel buk Thigh Khel, side of upper part of thigh.
Khoi Bee Khoi.
Khom To collect Khon. Manipuri, Khom-silba.
Khong Drum Khuang.
Kho-shi To feel cold Khua a shik.
Khu Cough Khuh.
Khubu Knee Khup. Manipuri, Khuk-u; Beteh, Rakhuk.
Khut Hand Kut. Rhangkhol, Gut; all other Old Kuki dialects and Manipuri, either Khut or Kut.
Keng Leg Ke.
Keng bai Lame Ke bai.
Ki Horn Ki. Manipuri, Chi or Ji; Beteh, Raki.
Ko To call Ko; and the same in Manipuri. In most Old Kuki dialects, Ko, Koi, or Kai.
Kol a phe To lighten Kawl a phe; and the same in Beteh.
Kong The waist Kawng, the loins.
Korka A door Kongkhar.
Ku Village Khua. Manipuri, Khul. Variations of this are found in all dialects.
Ku To cover Khum. Manipuri, Khumba.
Khul A hole Khur; and in Old Kuki dialects.
Kum Year Kum. Manipuri, Kumsi, this year. All Old Kuki dialects have Kum.
La To take Lak, with almost silent k. In all Old Kuki dialects the word is very nearly the same. It also has the meaning to bring, and so may be compared with the Manipuri Lak pa, to come.
Lai Middle, navel Lai; and in Beteh also.
Lai To dig Lai, to dig, to hoe.
Laili Writing, the art of reading and writing Lai-shuih, paper, reading and writing. Cf. Manipuri, Lairik laishuih, writing materials, and Kachcha Naga, Laishi.
Lam Direction Lam. Cf. Manipuri, Lom or Rom.
Lambi Road Lam-lian, though Kong, or Kāl-kong is the general word, Lam-lian being generally used for a made road as compared with a path. In Manipuri, Lambi; and in most Chin and Old Kuki dialects, either Lam or Lampi.
Le Tongue Lei. This word with very slight variations is found in Manipuri, Old Kuki, and all Chin dialects.
Le Earth Lei. Cf. Manipuri, Leipak, earth, country.
Lei-chung Bridge Lei, Lei-lawn.
Lei-ka White ant Lei-kha. Manipuri, Leisau.
Len Net Len.
Len Big Lian, contracted into Len. Beteh, Lien. Cf. Manipuri, Turel or Turen—i.e., Tui, water, and Len, big, though water in Manipuri is Ising.
Leng To fly Leng, to stroll or float in the air. In Manipuri the word means to walk, but is only used of the Rajah or very important persons.
Lim Form, shape Hlim, shadow, shape, picture.
Lo Jhum, cultivation Lo. This is another word which is found in nearly every dialect.
Lo Medicine, drug Hlo.
Lo Suffix of negation Lo, not.
Loi Buffalo Loi, Cf. Manipuri, Iroi; Beteh, Siloi.
Lu Head Lu. Common to all Chin and Old Kuki dialects. Cf. Manipuri, Luchingba, principal.
Lui Old Hlui; also in Beteh.
Lum Hot, as water Lum.
Lung Heart disposition Lung; also in most Old Kuki dialects.
Mai Face Hmai. Manipuri, Mai, and Beteh, Hmai.
Maiche Vegetables Mai, a pumpkin.
Man Price Man. Common to Manipuri, Chin, and Old Kuki dialects.
Māng Dream Māng; also in Manipuri.
Māng To lose, to be spoilt Māng, to die out; Mang ang, to be upset in mind. Manipuri, Mangba, to lose; Manghālba, to spoil.
Mao Woman Mo, a bride, daughter-in-law.
Me Fire Mei, another universal word.
Me Tail Mei; also in Manipuri.
Me Cloud Ro-mei, haze.
Me-hol Charcoal Mei-hol.
Me-khu Smoke Me-khu.
Me-tai Widow Hmei-thai.
Mel Appearance Hmel, face, appearance.
Min Name Hming. Manipuri, Ming.
Min Ripe Hmin.
Mi Person Mi. This word is found in all the dialects under consideration.
Mit Eye Mit, which with very slight variations is found in all dialects.
Mol Hill Mual, a hill, a spur of a hill.
Mom To chew Hmom, to put into the mouth whole.
Mu Hawk Mu.
Mu Beak Hmui, beak, upper lip. In most Old Kuki dialects, Mur.
Mu To see Hmu. Similar word used in all Old Kuki dialects except Anal, Purum, and Lamgang.
Mul Feather, hair, fur Hmul.
Mu mul Moustache Hmui hmul.
Mut To sleep Mut, lie down, sleep.
Na Leaf Hna. In Manipuri and Beteh, Na.
Na Nose Hnar. Manipuri, Chin, and Old Kuki very similar.
Na Ill Na, pain. Manipuri, Na.
Nai Near Hnai. Manipuri, Nakpa; Chin and Old Kuki dialects, Nai or similar words.
Nāl Slippery Nāl. Manipuri, Nālba, slippery, smooth.
Nam To smell Nam. Manipuri, Namba; Beteh Num.
Nām A strap for carrying loads Hnām.
Nau Younger brother or sister Nau. Found in Manipuri and in many Old Kuki dialects, sometimes Nai.
Nem Soft Nem, also in Beteh.
Nga Five and Fish In all Chin and Old Kuki dialects, Manipuri.
Ngai To be customary Ngai; has many meanings.
Ngoi Fishing weir Ngoi.
Ngol Mad, foolish Ngol-tawt, obstinate, uncontrollable. Manipuri, Ngaoba.
Ni Sun, day Ni. In all Chin and Old Kuki dialects and in Manipuri, we have.
Ni Aunt Ni; also in most Old Kuki dialects.
Noi To laugh Nui. Manipuri, Nokpa; Beteh, Inui.
Nom To wish Nuam, contracted into Nom.
Nau-shen Baby Nau-shen.
Nu Mother, female suffix. Nu, in nearly all these dialects. Appears in Manipuri in Nupi, woman, and “I cha nupi,” my child female—i.e., daughter. Nupi is especially interesting because it combines both the Lushai female suffixes Nu and Pui.
Nunga After, behind Nunga. Most dialects very similar. Cf. Manipuri, Back, Namgan.
Nunga Girl Nula.
Ole Alligator Awle. Beteh, Ove.
Pa Father, and male suffix Pa, in all these dialects and Manipuri.
Pa-gong A widower Parol; note the change of g into r.
Pasal A male Pasal, a husband; Pasal-tha (man good), a brave man, hero. The word is used for man in several Old Kuki dialects.
Paten The creator Pathian. With very slight variations common to all these clans except Manipuris.
Pe To give Pe. Very similar terms in all these dialects. Manipuri, Piba.
Pengpulep Butterfly Phengphehlep; Beteh Phelep. The Lushai may be Pheng, flat; Phe-phe, to move; Hlep, a slice.
Phai Level Phei.
Pho To dry in the sun Pho. In Manipuri the word has the same meaning and also means paddy.
Phung Clan Phung-chang, fellow-clansman.
Phut To place upright in the ground Phun.
Pi Grandmother Pi.
Pi Feminine suffix for animals. Pui. Found in many Old Kuki dialects. In Manipuri, “bi” is the feminine termination of adjectives.
Pi Suffix denoting great. Pui. Common in one form or other to nearly all these dialects.
Po To carry Paw, to carry on the back.
Pol Straw Pawl.
Pon Cloth Puan. The word in Chin and nearly all Old Kuki dialects is either the same or very similar.
Pu Grandfather Pu; and in Manipuri and all Chin and Old Kuki dialects. The word has also other meanings, such as maternal uncle.
Pu To carry on the shoulder. Puak, to carry on the back. Manipuri, Puba, to carry.
Pum Body Pum, belly. Manipuri Puk. There is a curious dissimilarity here in most Old Kuki dialects, in which Won or some such word is used for belly.
Pum Raft Pum.
Sa Animal Sa. The word is used generally for wild animals. In Lushai it is prefixed to the names of wild animals and to those of such domestic animals as are not indigenous. Thus, Sa-kor, a horse; Sa-kei, a tiger; while Kel, a goat, Shial, a mithan, Ui, a dog, have no prefix. Sa is used in the same manner in Manipuri—Sagol, a horse; Sangamba, an otter; Saji, a barking deer, &c. The word is found in Old Kuki dialects.
Sam Hair Sam. In Manipuri, Chin, and Old Kuki.
Sāng Tall Shāng. Manipuri, Sangba, long.
Sāng Thousand Shāng. Beteh, Shang.
Sa-ku Porcupine Sā-kuh. Manipuri, Sa-bu.
Sanga Wild cat Sa-nghar.
Sāt To cut Shāt, to chop.
Sāt Hot, of weather Sha. Manipuri, Saba.
Sha To build Shāt, to cut. As all buildings and bridges were originally of timber, building meant cutting, and a Lushai always says, “In ka shāt,” “I build a house.” In Manipuri, Sāba means to make or build.
Shai Elephant Sai.
She To say Shoi.
Shelda Mithan Shiel, but in conjunction She; Shepui, full-grown cow, mithan.
Shem To make Shiam. Manipuri, Semba.
Shi To be cold Shik.
Shil To wash the body Sil, to wash.
Soi, with “tu” To converse Thu, word; Shoi, to say.
Shok A slave Sal is the Lushai for a slave; but Suak, found in so many names, evidently means slave (v. Part I, Ch. IV, p. 6). All Old Kuki dialects have very similar words for slave or servant.
Sum Goods Sum. This word seems only to be found in Langrong among Old Kuki dialects. In the other dialects we find Nenun, Nei, Neina, which correspond to the Lushai Nei, to own; or Lal or Ral. Lal in Lushai means chief—i.e., the rich man; Cf. Hausa—in Lushai, rich, and in Thado, a chief.
Sunga Within Chhunga.
Tam Many Tam. In Aimol, Chiru, Kolhen, Kom, and Purum, Tam is a plural suffix.
Tangka Rupee, silver Tangka.
Tangval A young man Tlāngval.
Tāt To kill Thāt. Manipuri, Hatpa.
Te To be permitted; to be able Thei, to be able.
Tha New Thār. Beteh, Thur.
Thal Arrow Thal. Manipuri, Tel; Beteh, Thul.
The Edible fruit Thei. Manipuri, Hei.
Thi Blood Thi. Beteh, Thi; Manipuri, I.
Thi Iron Thir.
Thing Tree Thing. Cf. Manipuri, Sing, firewood.
Thou Fat Thao. Cf. Manipuri, Mahau, fat, grease, and Thau, oil.
Ti To die Thi. Cf. Manipuri, Si-ba.
Ti To say Ti. In most Old Kuki dialects, The.
Tin Finger nail, claw Tin.
Tou A fly Tho-shi, a mosquito.
Tui Water Tui. Ti, Tui, or Dui in all Chin and Old Kuki dialects. Cf. Manipuri, Tu-ren (Tui-len), a river.
Tunge Nowadays Tuna, now.
Tu Grandchild Tu. is found in this sense through all these dialects.
Ve Left (direction) Vei. Manipuri, Woi.
Vo To beat Vuak, or Vel. Aimol, Ve; Kolhen, Wel; Kom, Wuk; Purum, Wel; Lai (Haka), Vel; Siyin, Vat.
Vok Pig Vok. Manipuri, Ok. Vok or Wok are found in all Chin and Old Kuki dialects.
Wān The sky Vān.
Wa-phol The pied hornbill Va-pual. Va is a prefix denoting bird, employed as Sa is with animals. Wa is used in the same way in Thado.
Wat Leech Vang-vat.
Wompi Bear Sa-vom. Manipuri, Sa-wom.
Wu To stink Uih.
Wun Skin Vun. Manipuri, Un.
Wut Ashes Vut. Manipuri, Ut.
Ya-cha To be ashamed Zah-thlak, shameful.
Yan Night Zan.
Yeng Yellow Eng.
Ying Dense, as jungle Zim.
Yao To complete Zaw.
Yu To sell Zuar.
Yu Rice beer Zu, a word found in one form or other throughout the Hills.

The Lushai Clans

The Lushai Clans

SKETCH MAP SHOWING THE LOCALITIES INHABITED BY THE DIFFERENT CLANS

John Bartholomew & Co., Edinr.