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

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?

nîmû li xôn noî umo Lendun ko. Are you okay, Landon?

ujo (li gô) bi zik noî umo Sên?. How are things, Zane?

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

ʋȷ ⱴ̑ȷ ɽʄ ƨɟƶʄ ʓȷ ꜿı ɂɽɟ ʓƨ ɽıɤ? How are you doing today?

ɽ̃ꞇʇƶ̃ ⱴ̑ȷ ɽʄ ƨɟƶʄ ɂɽɟ ɽɟʋʄʌʄ? How are you feeling now?

ʋȷ ⱴ̑ȷ ɽʄ ƨɟƶʄ ƨɽɟ ɽʃƶ ‹ɋɽiƨʃ›? How are you, Shawna?

ƨɟƶʄ ʓȷ ɋ̃ı ƨɽɟ ɽʃƶ ‹ʓ̃ɿʌ̃ʃ› ɔ. Are you okay, Landon?

ɽʃjɽ (ʓȷ ꜿı) ʋȷ ⱴ̑ȷ ƨɽɟ ɽʃƶ ‹ɐ̃ʇ›?. How are things, Zane?

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

(nîmû) cînlî zik noî umo Donî? What are you up to, Donny?

noî umo Lôdolfô (û nîmû) tûu zik? Rodolfo, what are you doing?

zik li gô noî umo Kefulin? What's happening, Katheryn?

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

(ƨɟƶʄ) ꞇ̃ɟʓɟ ⱴ̑ȷ ƨɽɟ ɽʃƶ ‹ʌƨɟ›? What are you up to, Donny?

ƨɽɟ ɽʃƶ ‹ʓiʌ͊ɤi› (ɽʄ ƨɟƶʄ) cʄɽʃ ⱴ̑ȷ? Rodolfo, what are you doing?

ⱴ̑ȷ ʓȷ ꜿı ƨɽɟ ɽʃƶ ‹ɔɿɤʃʓ̃ȷ›? What's happening, Katheryn?

Health & Wellness

Often times we also ask if someone is feeling good or tell others about a recent sickness we experienced.

Latin

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.

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

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.

Family & Friends

Another common topic is our nuclear families and how members of our families are doing.

Family Tree

Latin

Great-great-grandparents motûo motûo cên cên
Great-grandparents motûo motûo cên				Great-granduncle/aunt siskin yê motûo motûo cên
Grandparents motûo motûo			Granduncle/aunt siskin yê motûo motûo	First cousin twice removed hîsmo kut xe bi dûî li fonmot
Parents motûo		Uncle/aunt siskin motûo	First cousin once removed hîsmo kut xe bi kut li fonmot	Second cousin once removed hîsmo dûî xe bi kut li fonmot
You nîmû	Sibling siskin	First cousin hîsmo kut	Second cousin hîsmo dûî	Third cousin hîsmo niswî
Children mênyûu	Niece / Nephew mênyûu siskin	First cousin once removed hîsmo kut xe bi kut li fonmot	Second cousin once removed hîsmo dûî xe bi kut li fonmot	Third cousin once removed hîsmo niswî xe bi kut li fonmot
Grandchildren mênyûu mênyûu	Grandniece / Grandnephew mênyûu mênyûu siskin	First cousin twice removed hîsmo kut xe bi dûî li fonmot	Second cousin twice removed hîsmo dûî xe bi dûî li fonmot	Third cousin twice removed hîsmo niswî xe bi dûî li fonmot

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

Great-great-grandparents ƶcʄɽ ƶcʄɽ ꞇ̃ʇ ꞇ̃ʇ
Great-grandparents ƶcʄɽ ƶcʄɽ ꞇ̃ʇ				Great-granduncle/aunt ɐ́ȷɔ̃ȷ ɀʇ ƶcʄɽ ƶcʄɽ ꞇ̃ʇ
Grandparents ƶcʄɽ ƶcʄɽ			Granduncle/aunt ɐ́ȷɔ̃ȷ ɀʇ ƶcʄɽ ƶcʄɽ	First cousin twice removed ɂ́ɟƶ ɔ̆ʃ ɋɿ ʋȷ ʌʄɽɟ ʓȷ ɤ̃ƶ̆
Parents ƶcʄɽ		Uncle/aunt ɐ́ȷɔ̃ȷ ƶcʄɽ	First cousin once removed ɂ́ɟƶ ɔ̆ʃ ɋɿ ʋȷ ɔ̆ʃ ʓȷ ɤ̃ƶ̆	Second cousin once removed ɂ́ɟƶ ʌʄɽɟ ɋɿ ʋȷ ɔ̆ʃ ʓȷ ɤ̃ƶ̆
You ƨɟƶʄ	Sibling ɐ́ȷɔ̃ȷ	First cousin ɂ́ɟƶ ɔ̆ʃ	Second cousin ɂ́ɟƶ ʌʄɽɟ	Third cousin ɂ́ɟƶ ƨ́ȷʒɟ
Children ƶ̃ʇɀʄɽʃ	Niece / Nephew ƶ̃ʇɀʄɽʃ ɐ́ȷɔ̃ȷ	First cousin once removed ɂ́ɟƶ ɔ̆ʃ ɋɿ ʋȷ ɔ̆ʃ ʓȷ ɤ̃ƶ̆	Second cousin once removed ɂ́ɟƶ ʌʄɽɟ ɋɿ ʋȷ ɔ̆ʃ ʓȷ ɤ̃ƶ̆	Third cousin once removed ɂ́ɟƶ ƨ́ȷʒɟ ɋɿ ʋȷ ɔ̆ʃ ʓȷ ɤ̃ƶ̆
Grandchildren ƶ̃ʇɀʄɽʃ ƶ̃ʇɀʄɽʃ	Grandniece / Grandnephew ƶ̃ʇɀʄɽʃ ƶ̃ʇɀʄɽʃ ɐ́ȷɔ̃ȷ	First cousin twice removed ɂ́ɟƶ ɔ̆ʃ ɋɿ ʋȷ ʌʄɽɟ ʓȷ ɤ̃ƶ̆	Second cousin twice removed ɂ́ɟƶ ʌʄɽɟ ɋɿ ʋȷ ʌʄɽɟ ʓȷ ɤ̃ƶ̆	Third cousin twice removed ɂ́ɟƶ ƨ́ȷʒɟ ɋɿ ʋȷ ʌʄɽɟ ʓȷ ɤ̃ƶ̆

Loss & Condolences

Unfortunately, we all lose loved ones at some point. Here are some different expressions and responses you can use.

Latin

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.

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

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.

Here are some things you can say to show your condolences.

Latin

ôlê noyo bi len 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 oxon kon nocîdo êto nîmû. My deepest sympathy at your great loss.

kûu fisun fos noyo hofo oxon 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 oxon 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 oxon nîmû. Please know that I will always be there for you.

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

ɽıʓʇ ƨɀ ʋȷ ʓ̃ɿ 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 ɽɋ̃ ɔ̃ ƨꞇɟʌ ɽʇc ƨɟƶʄ. My deepest sympathy at your great loss.

ɔʄɽʃ ɤȷɐ̃ʃ ɤ́ ƨɀ ɂɤ ɽɋ̃ 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 ɽɋ̃ 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 ɽɋ̃ ƨɟƶʄ. 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

bi zik û kêlôs li sî gô hoî boxô nîmû? How has the weather been in your neck of the woods?

nîmû yûnyoû sî kônên oxon xe li gô hoî wokto ko. Have you had a chance to get outside today?

kûu wuîtsî lîmîen 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.

ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ

ʋȷ ⱴ̑ȷ ɽʄ ɔʇʓ́ı ʓȷ ɐɟ ꜿı ɂɽɟ ʋɋı ƨɟƶʄ? How has the weather been in your neck of the woods?

ƨɟƶʄ ɀ̃ʄɀɽʄ ɐɟ ɔıƨ̃ʇ ɽɋ̃ ɋɿ ʓȷ ꜿı ɂɽɟ ʒ̑c ɔ. Have you had a chance to get outside today?

ɔʄɽʃ ʒʃɽ̆ɟɐɟ ʓɟƶɟɽ̃ɿ 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.