Signification
Asking for the identity of a distant object.
Contexte culturel
When pointing at something to ask 'Тэр юу вэ?', avoid using your index finger. It is more polite to use an open hand with the palm facing up, or to gesture with your chin. In the countryside, asking 'Тэр юу вэ?' about livestock is common. However, avoid asking about the exact number of someone's animals, as this is considered bad luck. Inside a Buddhist monastery (Gandan), if you ask 'Тэр юу вэ?' about a ritual object, use a respectful tone and avoid touching the object. In Ulaanbaatar, 'Тэр юу вэ?' is often used when seeing new construction or international brands appearing in the city.
The 'V' Rule
If your question has a 'Wh-' word (Who, What, Where), always end with 'вэ' or 'бэ'.
Don't Objectify
Never use 'юу' for people. It's a quick way to sound rude.
Signification
Asking for the identity of a distant object.
The 'V' Rule
If your question has a 'Wh-' word (Who, What, Where), always end with 'вэ' or 'бэ'.
Don't Objectify
Never use 'юу' for people. It's a quick way to sound rude.
The Chin Point
To look like a local, point with a quick upward flick of your chin while saying the phrase.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct question particle for: Тэр юу ___?
Тэр юу ___?
We use 'вэ' because 'юу' is a question word ending in a vowel.
Fill in the blank with the word for 'that' (distant).
___ юу вэ?
'Тэр' is the demonstrative pronoun for distant objects.
Which phrase would you use if you are pointing at a person far away?
You see a man on a horse in the distance. What do you ask?
Use 'хэн' (who) for people, never 'юу' (what).
Complete the dialogue.
A: Тэр юу вэ? B: Тэр бол ___ (a book).
'Ном' means book in Mongolian.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Mongolian Demonstratives
Close (This)
- • Энэ (Ene)
Medium (That near you)
- • Наад (Naad)
Far (That over there)
- • Тэр (Ter)
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesТэр юу ___?
We use 'вэ' because 'юу' is a question word ending in a vowel.
___ юу вэ?
'Тэр' is the demonstrative pronoun for distant objects.
You see a man on a horse in the distance. What do you ask?
Use 'хэн' (who) for people, never 'юу' (what).
A: Тэр юу вэ? B: Тэр бол ___ (a book).
'Ном' means book in Mongolian.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsIn very informal speech, yes, but it sounds incomplete. Adding 'вэ' makes you sound much more fluent.
It becomes 'бэ' if the preceding word ends in 'н', 'м', or 'л'. Since 'юу' ends in a vowel, it's always 'вэ'.
Yes! Mongolian often uses the singular form even for multiple objects. You can say 'Тэр юу вэ?' for one bird or a whole flock.
Start with 'Тэр бол...' (That is...) followed by the name of the object.
Not at all! Mongolians are generally very helpful and happy to teach you the names of things.
Expressions liées
Энэ юу вэ?
similarWhat is this?
Тэр хэн вэ?
specialized formWho is that?
Тэр хаана вэ?
similarWhere is that?
Тэр ямар вэ?
similarHow is that?
Тэр юу юм?
synonymWhat's that thing?
