Native Speakers
~425,000
in Pakistan (2018)
English/Urdu to Balti Translator
The First & Only Balti translation platform for English/Urdu to Balti with comprehensive language resources.
We can train this translator only with your support. Use the Contribute Translations button and preserve our unique, sweet and beautiful Balti Language for future generations.
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Balti Phrase Quick Table
Useful starter phrases for travelers and local conversations.
| English | Urdu | Balti (Perso-Arabic) | Dialect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello, How are you? | آپ کیسے ہیں؟ | چی حال یو؟ | Skardu |
| What is your name? | آپ کا نام کیا ہے؟ | یری منتخپو چی ان؟ | Common |
| Thank you | شکریہ | زھیریمبو | Common |
| Yes | ہاں | لاس | Common |
| No | نہیں | من | Common |
| Water | پانی | چھو | Common |
| Food | کھانا | زان | Common |
| One | ایک | چک | Common |
| Two | دو | نیس | Common |
| I am from Pakistan | میں پاکستان سے ہوں | نا پاکستان نا ان جو | Skardu |
About the Balti Language
Language Overview
Balti is a Tibetic language spoken by the ethnic Balti people in the Baltistan region of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan and in parts of Ladakh, India. The language is historically written in Tibetan script, though Perso-Arabic script is now more commonly used. Balti retains many sounds from Old Tibetan that were lost in Standard Tibetan.
The Balti language is distinguished by its unique phonetic features, including a simple pitch accent system in multi-syllabic words. Due to the influence of dominant languages like Urdu, Punjabi, and English, as well as religious impact from Arabic and Persian, Balti has been continuously expanding its vocabulary with loanwords.
Total Users
~438,800
worldwide (2018)
Language Family
Sino-Tibetan
Tibeto-Burman branch
Scripts and Writing Systems
Perso-Arabic Script (Current)
The predominant writing system currently in use for Balti. In 1985, Yusuf Hussain Abadi added seven new letters to the Perso-Arabic script to adapt it to the specific needs of the Balti language, making it a complete script for Balti.
جولے، خلزان گا لے؟
Example: "Hello, how are you?" in Perso-Arabic script
Tibetan Script (Historical/Revival)
Balti was written with a version of the Tibetan script from 727 AD, when Baltistan was conquered by Tibetans, until the late 14th century when the Baltis converted to Islam. Recently, scholars have attempted to revive the use of the Tibetan "Yige" alphabet to help preserve indigenous Balti culture.
ཇོ་ལེ། ཁལ་ཟན་ག་ལེ།
Example: "Hello, how are you?" in Tibetan script
Dialect Comparison Examples
| English | Eastern Nubra/Chorbat | Central Khaplu | Western Skardu | Southern Kharmang |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | Oma | Oma | Ona | Oma |
| Keep | Yuq | Yuq | Yuq | Juq |
| Girl | Bono | Bono | Bono | Bomo |
| You | Yan | Yan | Yang | Yan |
| Mountain | Braq | Braq | Blaq | Braq |