Bhutan Languages

Description
The national language is Dzongkha (Bhutanese), one of 53 languages in the Tibetan language family. The script, locally called Chhokey (literally, "Dharma language"), is identical to classical Tibetan.

In Bhutan's education system, English is the medium of instruction, while Dzongkha is taught as the national language.


 * Dzongkha - (also known as Bhutanese) Sino-Tibetan language spoken by over half a million people in Bhutan; it is the country's sole official and national language.[3] The Tibetan script is used to write Dzongkha.

There are two dozen other languages of Bhutan, all members of the Tibeto-Burman language family except for Nepali.

Word List(s)

 * Dzongkha Phrase List - WikiTravel
 * Helpful Phrases in Dzongkha - WanderTours
 * Dzongkha Phrase List - Wiki Voyage

Alphabet and Pronunciation
Alphabet The Tibetan script used to write Dzongkha has thirty basic letters, sometimes known as "radicals", for consonants. The Bhutanese government adopted a transcription system known as Roman Dzongkha in 1991.
 * Dzongkha Vowels and Consonants - Wikipedia
 * Dzongkha Vowels and Consonants - Wiki Voyage

Pronunciation
 * Khandu, Rinchhen. A New Method English-Dzongkha Dictionary : topic-based with pronunciation guide. Thim-phu: Rinchen Khandu, 2010. Available at: WorldCat.
 * Dzongkha Pronunciation Guide - WikiTravel
 * Dzongkha Pronunciation Guide - Wiki Voyage

Language Aids and Dictionaries
Dictionaries
 * Drupchu, Jamkhar Karma. Pocket pictorial Dzongkha dictionary. Thimpu: DSB Publication, 2013. Available at: WorldCat.
 * Kun-bzaṅ-phrin-las. Advanced Dzongkha dictionary. Thim-phu: Ke-aem-kri dpe skrun khaṅ, 2002. Available at: WorldCat.
 * Kun-bzang-phrin-las and Bstan-vdzin-dbang-vdus. English-Dzongkha dictionary. Thimphu: KMT, 2000. Available at: WorldCat.

Online Dictionaries
 * Dictionary English - Dzongkha - Glosbe
 * English to Dzongkha Translator - Bablefish

Language Aids
 * van Driem, George. The Grammar of Dzongkha. Thimphu, Bhutan: Dzongkha Development Commission, Royal Government of Bhutan, 1992. Available at: WorldCat.
 * Dzongkha Vowels and Consonants - Wikipedia

Additional Resources

 * Languages and Ethnic Groups of Bhutan - The Language Gulpher
 * Dzongkha, The National Language of Bhutan