Small Talk
Like all humans, Hîsyêô conversations can sometimes seem to just involve these details about our lives, our families and the weather.
How Are You?
The most basic form of small talk is asking how someone is feeling. This shows the receiver of the question that you are interested in them and their wellbeing.
- Latin
- ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ
bi zik û nîmû li gô hoî lono ôfo? How are you doing today?
oncêmon zik û nîmû hoî îbûdû? How are you feeling now?
bi zik û nîmû noî umo Xoônu? How are you, Shawna?
What Are You Doing?
Another common topic of conversation is what someone is doing, idiomatically what they are "up to". There are three forms that are a good fit for this question.
- Latin
- ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ
Health & Wellness
Often times we also ask if someone is feeling good or tell others about a recent sickness we experienced.
- Latin
- ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ
nîmû oncêmon zôtêstô ( sohoû) hoî lono ôfo noî umo Sokuloyo ko. Are you feeling okay today, Zaccaria?
noî umo Wûon û nîmû dôstoc sobûnî ko. Juan, did you get sick?
noyo oncêmon yôk xôn noî Nôê. I am not feeling well, Noe.
umo Yûlî li sobûnî lôîcôk bînê nîo buswen xe nocîdo wêloi hoî lono ôfo. Yury is so sick that he had to skip work today.
umo Ulsenî oncêmon êto xôn eswen bînê nûs cînlî côûfon mutyu ofek nîo hoî lono xobêk. Arseny is feeling much better that we had lunch with her yesterday.
ƨɟƶʄ ɽ̃ꞇʇƶ̃ ⱴıćʇcı ( ɐɂɽʄ) ɂɽɟ ʓƨ ɽıɤ ƨɽɟ ɽʃƶ ‹ɐɔʃʓɀ› ɔ: Are you feeling okay today, Zaccaria?
ƨɽɟ ɽʃƶ ‹ʒʄɽ̃› ɽʄ ƨɟƶʄ ʌ́ıc̄ ɐʋʄƨɟ ɔ: Juan, did you get sick?
ƨɀ ɽ̃ꞇʇƶ̃ ɀ̑ı ɋ̃ı ƨɽɟ ‹ƨiɽʇ›: I am not feeling well, Noe.
ɽʃƶ ‹ɀʄʓɟ› ʓȷ ɐʋʄƨɟ ʓıɽɟꞇ̑ı ʋɟƨʇ ƨɟɽ ʋ́ʃʒ̃ɿ ɋɿ ƨꞇɟʌ ʒʇʓɽȷ ɂɽɟ ʓƨ ɽıɤ: Yury is so sick that he had to skip work today.
ɽʃƶ ‹ɽ͊ʃɐɿƨɟ› ɽ̃ꞇʇƶ̃ ɽʇc ɋ̃ı ɽ́ɿʒ̃ɿ ʋɟƨʇ ƨ́ʄ ꞇ̃ɟʓɟ ꞇıɽʄɤ̃ ƶ̆ʃɀʃ ɽɤ̑ɿ ƨɟɽ ɂɽɟ ʓƨ ɋʋ̑ʇ: Arseny is feeling much better that we had lunch with her yesterday.
nimu aNcemN zoteSto ( shAu) hAi ln of nAi rm 〈 skrly 〉 k. Are you feeling okay today, Zaccaria?
nAi rm 〈 wuaN 〉 u nimu doStC sbuni k. Juan, did you get sick?
ny aNcemN yoK xoN nAi 〈 noe 〉. I am not feeling well, Noe.
rm 〈 yuli 〉 lj sbuni loicoK bine nia brSwqN xq ncid welAj hAi ln of. Yury is so sick that he had to skip work today.
rm 〈 rLsqni 〉 aNcemN et xoN qSwqN bine nuS ciNli coufN mrTyr afqK nia hAi ln xbeK. Arseny is feeling much better that we had lunch with her yesterday.
Family & Friends
Another common topic is our nuclear families and how members of our families are doing.
Family Tree
- Latin
- ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ
| Great-great-grandparents | ||||
| Great-grandparents | Great-granduncle/aunt | |||
| Grandparents | Granduncle/aunt | First cousin twice removed | ||
| Parents | Uncle/aunt | First cousin once removed | Second cousin once removed | |
| You | Sibling | First cousin | Second cousin | Third cousin |
| Children | Niece / Nephew | First cousin once removed | Second cousin once removed | Third cousin once removed |
| Grandchildren | Grandniece / Grandnephew | First cousin twice removed | Second cousin twice removed | Third cousin twice removed |
| Great-great-grandparents | ||||
| Great-grandparents | Great-granduncle/aunt | |||
| Grandparents | Granduncle/aunt | First cousin twice removed | ||
| Parents | Uncle/aunt | First cousin once removed | Second cousin once removed | |
| You | Sibling | First cousin | Second cousin | Third cousin |
| Children | Niece / Nephew | First cousin once removed | Second cousin once removed | Third cousin once removed |
| Grandchildren | Grandniece / Grandnephew | First cousin twice removed | Second cousin twice removed | Third cousin twice removed |
Loss & Condolences
Unfortunately, we all lose loved ones at some point. Here are some different expressions and responses you can use.
- Latin
- ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ
nîmû hûsku kukwon zomo kon bêûdo nûs Bulônîswofo ko. nîo bi ubênus dî si tîkû. Do you remember our classmate Bronisława? She just passed away.
motûo wohî noyo dî sî tîkû hoî wokût ôhêl mônbili. My mom died a while ago.
motûo moskûl nîmû bi kônyêc dî sî tîkû ko. Did your father finally pass?
dî. Yes, he did.
kut umo fos noyo monodo, bi boyok dî sî tîkû ko. Did someone you know recently die?
mênyûu noyo ( bi boyok dî si tîkû). My daughter recently died.
fos mênyûu dî tîkû, kôi li êo kobût mûlû ôlê motûo. When a child passes, it can destroy the parents.
ƨɟƶʄ ɂ́ʄɔʃ ɔ̑ʃʒ̃ ⱴƶ ɔ̃ ʋʇɽʄʌ ƨ́ʄ ‹ʋʃʓiƨ́ɟʒɤ› ɔ: ƨɟɽ ʋȷ ɽʃʋʇƨ́ʃ ʌɟ ɐȷ cɟɔʄ: Do you remember our classmate Bronisława? She just passed away.
ƶcʄɽ ʒɂɟ ƨɀ ʌɟ ɐɟ cɟɔʄ ɂɽɟ ʒɔ̆ʄ ɽıɂ͊ʇ ƶ̃ıʋȷʓȷ: My mom died a while ago.
ƶcʄɽ ƶ́ɔ͊ʄ ƨɟƶʄ ʋȷ ɔ̃ıɀ̄ʇ ʌɟ ɐɟ cɟɔʄ ɔ: Did your father finally pass?
ʌɟ: Yes, he did.
ɔ̆ʃ ɽʃƶ ɤ́ ƨɀ ƶƨʌ､ ʋȷ ʋɀ̑ ʌɟ ɐɟ cɟɔʄ ɔ: Did someone you know recently die?
ƶ̃ʇɀʄɽʃ ƨɀ ( ʋȷ ʋɀ̑ ʌɟ ɐȷ cɟɔʄ): My daughter recently died.
ɤ́ ƶ̃ʇɀʄɽʃ ʌɟ cɟɔʄ､ ɔiɽȷ ʓȷ ɽʇɽ ɔʋ̆ʄ ƶʄʓʄ ɽıʓʇ ƶcʄɽ: When a child passes, it can destroy the parents.
nimu huSkr krKwN zm kN beud nuS 〈 brloniSwf 〉 k. nia bj rbenrS di sj tiku. Do you remember our classmate Bronisława? She just passed away.
mtua whi ny di si tiku hAi wkuT oheL moNbjlj. My mom died a while ago.
mtua mSkuL nimu bj koNyeC di si tiku k. Did your father finally pass?
di. Yes, he did.
krT rm fS ny mnd, bj byK di si tiku k. Did someone you know recently die?
meNyur ny ( bj byK di sj tiku). My daughter recently died.
fS meNyur di tiku, koj lj ea kbuT mulu ole mtua. When a child passes, it can destroy the parents.
Here are some things you can say to show your condolences.
- Latin
- ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ
ôlê noyo bi gîôn li êo kûyô û xe tenkîn kon nocîdo nîmû ze. I am extremely saddened from hearing about your loss!
( noyo) ( mût nîmû) ( cûdo) kon zûtô yê zîlyoîs môî et noyo til kon nocîdo êto nîmû. My deepest sympathy at your great loss.
kûu fisun fos noyo hofo til nîmû lôtfen. Please know that I am praying for you.
( noyo) kôî wêko yôk cizî hoî êtsô nîmû. I cannot put myself in your situation.
( noyo) fisun fos li xoînbo û fos uyo li odigon kutin hoî îbûdû cônkôk. I know things seem too difficult right now.
kûu dênêmêk xe ogolol xîwon. Try to hang on to hope.
( mût noyo) kûu hobîyô hôn fos nîmû bît buswen xe kôto yodo kut umo fos li êo nonto ofek. Let me know if you need to talk or just someone to cry with.
( noyo) fisun fos li xûnyu fos noyo kôî kôto til fos ôlê tônkô nîmû li êo fonmot. I know there is nothing I can say to make your pain go away.
kûu fisun fos noyo hoî môî wokût ke li gô hoî ulyô til nîmû. Please know that I will always be there for you.
ɽıʓʇ ƨɀ ʋȷ ꜿɟɽ̃ı ʓȷ ɽʇɽ ɔʄɀı ɽʄ ɋɿ c̃ɿɔ̃ɟ ɔ̃ ƨꞇɟʌ ƨɟƶʄ ⱴɿ: I am extremely saddened from hearing about your loss!
( ƨɀ) ( ƶ̆ʄ ƨɟƶʄ) ( ꞇʄʌ) ɔ̃ ⱴʄcı ɀʇ ⱴ͊ɟɀɽ́ɟ ƶıɽɟ ɽ̆ɿ ƨɀ c͊ȷ ɔ̃ ƨꞇɟʌ ɽʇc ƨɟƶʄ: My deepest sympathy at your great loss.
ɔʄɽʃ ɤȷɐ̃ʃ ɤ́ ƨɀ ɂɤ c͊ȷ ƨɟƶʄ ʓ̆ıɤ̃ɿ: Please know that I am praying for you.
( ƨɀ) ɔıɽɟ ʒʇɔ ɀ̑ı ꞇȷⱴɟ ɂɽɟ ɽ̆ʇɐı ƨɟƶʄ: I cannot put myself in your situation.
( ƨɀ) ɤȷɐ̃ʃ ɤ́ ʓȷ ɋɽ̃ɟʋ ɽʄ ɤ́ ɽʃɀ ʓȷ ɽcȷɔ̃ ɔʃc̃ȷ ɂɽɟ ɽɟʋʄʌʄ ꞇ̃ıɔ̑ı: I know things seem too difficult right now.
ɔʄɽʃ ʌʇƨʇƶ̑ʇ ɋɿ ɽꜿʓ͊ ɋɟʒ̃: Try to hang on to hope.
( ƶ̆ʄ ƨɀ) ɔʄɽʃ ɂʋɟɀı ɂ̃ı ɤ́ ƨɟƶʄ ʋ̆ɟ ʋ́ʃʒ̃ɿ ɋɿ ɔıc ɀʌ ɔ̆ʃ ɽʃƶ ɤ́ ʓȷ ɽʇɽ ƨ̃c ɽɤ̑ɿ: Let me know if you need to talk or just someone to cry with.
( ƨɀ) ɤȷɐ̃ʃ ɤ́ ʓȷ ɋ̃ʄɀʃ ɤ́ ƨɀ ɔıɽɟ ɔıc c͊ȷ ɤ́ ɽıʓʇ c̃ıɔı ƨɟƶʄ ʓȷ ɽʇɽ ɤ̃ƶ̆: I know there is nothing I can say to make your pain go away.
ɔʄɽʃ ɤȷɐ̃ʃ ɤ́ ƨɀ ɂɽɟ ƶıɽɟ ʒɔ̆ʄ ɔɿ ʓȷ ꜿı ɂɽɟ ɽ͊ʃɀı c͊ȷ ƨɟƶʄ: Please know that I will always be there for you.
ole ny bj gioN lj ea kuyo u xq tqNkiN kN ncid nimu zq. I am extremely saddened from hearing about your loss!
( ny) ( muT nimu) ( cud) kN zuto ye ziLyAiS moi qT ny tjL kN ncid et nimu. My deepest sympathy at your great loss.
kur fjsrN fS ny hf tjL nimu loTfqN. Please know that I am praying for you.
( ny) koi wek yoK cjzi hAi eTso nimu. I cannot put myself in your situation.
( ny) fjsrN fS lj xAiNb u fS ry lj atjkN krtjN hAi ibudu coNkoK. I know things seem too difficult right now.
kur denemeK xq aglL xiwN. Try to hang on to hope.
( muT ny) kur hbiyo hoN fS nimu biT brSwqN xq kot yd krT rm fS lj ea nNt afqK. Let me know if you need to talk or just someone to cry with.
( ny) fjsrN fS lj xuNyr fS ny koi kot tjL fS ole toNko nimu lj ea fNmT. I know there is nothing I can say to make your pain go away.
kur fjsrN fS ny hAi moi wkuT kq lj go hAi rLyo tjL nimu. Please know that I will always be there for you.
Weather
It's also common to talk about the weather since meteorologists don't seem to know what they're doing anymore.
- Latin
- ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ
bi zik û kêlôs li sî gô hoî boxô nîmû? How has the weather been in your neck of the woods?
nîmû fuî sî kônên til xe li gô hoî wokto ko. Have you had a chance to get outside today?
kûu wuîtsî ilik niwos hôn fos nîmû fôlun xe uskîfo hûzon onô. Stay indoors if you want to avoid the rain.
li hûzon bûgot ûn tenkîn bôkbûn lêkin û noyo dêko yôk ozûul kûon bôkbûn. There is heavy rain and thunder but I didn't see any lightning.
li sî fûongok yê êto longi cihôû bôkbûn onô xe hoî lono unbol. There was a beautiful rainbow after the storm on Saturday.
ʋȷ ⱴ̑ȷ ɽʄ ɔʇʓ́ı ʓȷ ɐɟ ꜿı ɂɽɟ ʋɋı ƨɟƶʄ≈ How has the weather been in your neck of the woods?
ƨɟƶʄ ɤʃɽɟ ɐɟ ɔıƨ̃ʇ c͊ȷ ɋɿ ʓȷ ꜿı ɂɽɟ ʒ̑c ɔ: Have you had a chance to get outside today?
ɔʄɽʃ ʒʃɽ̆ɟɐɟ ɽȷʓ̑ȷ ƨȷʒ́ ɂ̃ı ɤ́ ƨɟƶʄ ɤıʓ̃ʃ ɋɿ ɽ́ʃɔɟɤ ɂʄⱴ̃ ɽƨı: Stay indoors if you want to avoid the rain.
ʓȷ ɂʄⱴ̃ ʋʄꜿ̆ ɽ̃ʄ c̃ɿɔ̃ɟ ʋ̑ıʋ̃ʄ ʓʇɔ̃ȷ ɽʄ ƨɀ ʌʇɔ ɀ̑ı ɽⱴʄɽ͊ʃ ɔʄɽ̃ ʋ̑ıʋ̃ʄ: There is heavy rain and thunder but I didn't see any lightning.
ʓȷ ɐɟ ɤʄɽ̃ꜿ̑ ɀʇ ɽʇc ʓ̃ꜿȷ ꞇȷɂıɽʄ ʋ̑ıʋ̃ʄ ɽƨı ɋɿ ɂɽɟ ʓƨ ɽ̃ʃʋ͊: There was a beautiful rainbow after the storm on Saturday.
bj zjK u keloS lj si go hAi bxo nimu? How has the weather been in your neck of the woods?
nimu fri si koneN tjL xq lj go hAi wKt k. Have you had a chance to get outside today?
kur wriTsi jljK njwS hoN fS nimu folrN xq rSkif huzN ano. Stay indoors if you want to avoid the rain.
lj huzN bugT uN tqNkiN boKbuN lekjN u ny dek yoK azurL kuaN boKbuN. There is heavy rain and thunder but I didn't see any lightning.
lj si fuaNgK ye et lNgj cjhou boKbuN ano xq hAi ln rNbL. There was a beautiful rainbow after the storm on Saturday.