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.

You can see the phrases in many other languages by clicking on the English versions.

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'nkyulin
Hello	Jeeka, ma tzuula (sg) Jeeka, ma chi uula (pl) Ma (reply)
How are you? I'm fine, and how are you?	Tza'n ta'ya nan/tat?
How are you? I'm fine, and how are you?	B'a'n tiina, yetzn teeya?
Long time no see
What's your name? My name is ...	Ti t-b'iiya?
What's your name? My name is ...	... n-b'iiya
Where are you from? I'm from ...	Jtum tzajn?
Where are you from? I'm from ...	Tzajn qiina tuj t-nom ...
Pleased to meet you
Good morning	Xisjiy
Good afternoon	Qelty
Good evening	Qelty
Good night	Kya'qelty
Goodbye	Qiina-ow, ma chin aajey, Txuuxa (reply)
Good luck
Cheers/Good health!
Have a nice day	B'a'n q'ij teya
Bon appetit
Bon voyage
I don't understand
I don't know
Please speak more slowly
Please say that again
Please write it down
Do you speak Mam? Yes, a little
Do you speak Mam? Yes, a little
How do you say ... in your language?	Ti t-b'ii (kan) tuuj t-yool?
Excuse me	Noq same ta/na
What is this?	Tii qlelta kan?
Do you have any ...?	At pa teey ...?
How much is this?
Sorry
Please	Jun xtalb'il
Thank you Response	Chjonte / Chjontexix
Thank you Response
Where's the toilet?
This gentleman/lady will pay for everything
Would you like to dance with me?
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!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Happy Easter
Happy Birthday
One language is never enough
My hovercraft is full of eels