Zomi Spelling Explained¶

A simple guide for Zomi speakers on how to write clean, consistent Zomi.

The One Big Idea¶

Zomi is spoken as single words, but often written as separate syllables. The secret to clean Zomi writing is: merge everything that belongs together.

Rule 1: Particles Merge to Their Nearest Word¶

These short words should NEVER be written alone – attach them:

Particle	Meaning	Wrong ✗	Right ✓
`te`	plural (like English -s)	`mi te`	`mite`
`ding`	future (will)	`paai ding`	`paaiding`
`ta`	already/done (perfect)	`om ta`	`omta`
`ah`	in/at/on (locative)	`khawm ah`	`khawmah`
`in`	by/with (instrumental)	`thei in`	`theiin`
`pa`	particle	`To pa`	`Topa`
`pi`	big/huge	`tui pi`	`tuipi`

Chain rule: When multiple particles stack, they all merge: - paai ding in → paaidingin ("will go by") - mi te 'n → miten ("people (agentive)")

Rule 2: The Agentive `'n` (Short for `in`)¶

'n is the short form of in (agentive/instrumental marker). The apostrophe tells your eye "this is a shortened form" – making reading faster.

Long form	Short form	Normalized
`Zeisu in`	`Zeisu'n`	`Zeisun`
`Kei in`	`Ke'n`	`Ken`
`Topa in`	`Topa'n`	`Topan`
`mi te in`	`mite'n`	`miten`

Rule: 'n goes on the last word of a noun phrase only: - Topa Zeisu'n → Topa Zeisun (NOT Topan Zeisun) - Topa'n alone → Topan

Rule 3: Prefix `ki` Grabs the Word After It¶

ki is a prefix with no meaning alone. Always attach it to the word on its RIGHT:

Wrong ✗	Right ✓
`ki cing`	`kicing`
`ki khawm`	`kikhawm`
`ki sim`	`kisim`
`ki paai`	`kipaai`

Rule 4: Number Words Are Lego Blocks¶

Numbers build by stacking:

Number	Zomi	Pattern
10	`sawm`	base
100	`zakhat`	za + khat
200	`zanih`	za + nih
300	`zahthuum`	zah- + thuum
1,000	`tulkhat`	tul + khat
10,000	`tulsawm`	tul + sawm
100,000	`tengkhat`	teng + khat
1,000,000	`tankhat`	tan + khat

Examples: - 3,000 = tulthuum - 5,000 = tulngaa - 30,000 = tulsawmthuum

Rule 5: Hyphens Connect Names to Suffixes¶

When a suffix attaches to a proper name (person or place), keep the hyphen for readability:

Written	Meaning
`David'pa`	David's father (pa = father)
`David'ta`	David's son (ta = son)
`Egypt-ah`	in Egypt (ah = locative)
`Egypt-tein`	from Egypt (te + in = plural instrumental)
`Bethlehem-a`	to/in Bethlehem (a = locative)

The hyphen tells the reader: "this suffix belongs to the name."

Rule 6: Vowel Length Changes Meaning¶

Long vowels are NOT decoration – they change the word:

Long	Meaning	Short	Meaning
`paai`	go, walk	`pai`	throw away
`laam`	dance	`lam`	path, way
`gaam`	jungle, wild land	`gam`	land, country
`Ziing`	early morning, dark	`Zing`	sudden sound
`tuul`	lasting very long	`tul`	thousand
`ngeen`	fishnet	`ngen`	ask
`suung`	deep inside	`sung`	inside
`zaaw`	pay back (debt)	`zaw`	weak
`doong`	collect	`dong`	ask

Simple rule: If the tone holds longer, write the vowel twice.

Rule 7: Tone of Voice¶

Smooth (conversational)	Strong (authoritative/angry)
`i` (we)	`ih`
`le` (and)	`leh`

Use i and le for everyday conversation. Use ih and leh for strong feelings or authority.

Quick Reference: What to Merge¶

Direction	Particle	Example
Merge RIGHT 🔜	`ki`	`ki` + `sim` → `kisim`
	`i` / `ka` / `na` / `a`	`ka` + `paai` → `ka paai` (keep separate)
Merge LEFT 🔙	`te`	`mi` + `te` → `mite`
	`ding`	`paai` + `ding` → `paaiding`
	`ta`	`om` + `ta` → `omta`
	`ah`	`khawm` + `ah` → `khawmah`
	`in`	`thei` + `in` → `theiin`
	`'n`	`Zeisu` + `'n` → `Zeisun`
	`cing`	`ki` + `cing` → `kicing`
	`gah`	`sing` + `gah` → `singgah`

Final Example¶

Before (separate words):

Zeisu in mi te hong it a, Amaute in kei hong kem hi. Khawm ah i ki khawm ding hi. Tua ah la i sak ding hi.

After (merged, clean Zomi):

Zeisun mite hong it a, Amauten kei hong kem hi. Khawmah i kikhawmding hi. Tuaah la i sakding hi.

Translation: "Jesus loves people, and they protect me. In the gathering we will meet. There we will sing songs."