Thougallon

**Thougallon** (), also known as **Thougallol** (), is the formal court register of the Meitei language, historically used in the royal administration, religious ceremonies, and classical literature of the Meitei civilization in Manipur Kingdom. It is characterized by its structured syntax, ceremonial vocabulary, and use of honorific expressions. Thougallon functioned as a medium for official communication within the court and in the composition of ritual and scholarly texts, often written in the traditional Meitei Mayek script. It is distinct from the vernacular forms of Meitei spoken by the general population and reflects the stratified linguistic practices of pre-modern Meitei society.

## Etymology

Etymologically, the Meitei language term "Thougallon" (; /tʰəu.gəl.lón/) is composed of thou (“duty” or “obligation”), gal, derived from kal (“to serve”), and lon (“language” or “speech”), collectively conveying the sense of a “language of duty and service.”

## Application of term

Thougallon (; /tʰəu.gəl.lón/) denotes both (1) a specialized form of speech used in royal and aristocratic contexts, as well as (2) a codified system of etiquette governing verbal conduct in the presence of figures of authority, such as kings, ministers, and nobles. Thougallon functioned not merely as a linguistic variety but also as a normative framework prescribing appropriate modes of address, honorific usage, and ritualized expressions required in formal court settings. It is a medium through which social hierarchy, respect, and loyalty were formally articulated. Through its structured vocabulary and prescribed usage, Thougallon reinforced court protocol and symbolized adherence to the political and cultural order of the Meitei royal court.

## Spread

Thougallon, the royal register of the Meitei language, originated within the royal dynasties of Manipur. Historically, it was predominantly used by the monarchy; however, its use gradually extended beyond the royal court. This shift occurred as commoner women ascended to positions as queens or palace attendants, and princesses married men from non-royal families, facilitating increased social interaction and cultural exchange between the royalty and commoners.

## Vocabulary

|Words|Latin transliterations|Vernacular Meitei equivalents|Latin transliterations|English translations|Note(s)|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
||chaaithaba||irujaba|to bath||
||lengba||chatpa|to go or to move||
||lengkhatpa||hougatpa|to arise||
||thonba|/|setpa / chinba|to wear / to adorn||
||haaba||chaaba|to eat||
||phaanba / faanba||thakpa|to drink||
||mityeng taaba||yengba|to see / to watch / to look||
||hang-gatpa||haaijaba|to say / pray||
||chin kuppa||chin tengba|to brush teeth / to wash mouth||
||khaangjet||pheijom / feijom|traditional Meitei loincloth worn by men||
||kokthon||kokyet / luhup|traditional Meitei headdress worn by men||
||khudaa||phidaa / fidaa|cushion||
||namkhaang||phurit / innaphi|coat / shawl|phurit is actually translated as shirt, but also can be interpreted as coat, while innaphi is a clothing to be wrapped around the upper body as outerwear, and not innerwear, and can be loosely translated as shawl|
||sang-gaai / shang-gaai||yum|house / building||
||khudong||hidaakphu / hidaakpu|smoking pipe / hookah||
||luk / look||chaak|meal||
||cheppa||hippa|to sleep/lay down||
||yaambung||taada|elder brother||
||ichem sija / ichem shija||eeche|elder sister||
||ichal ibemma / ichan ibemma||eechal / eechan|younger sister||

### For the kings exclusively

|Words|Latin transliterations|Vernacular Meitei equivalents|Latin transliterations|English translations|Note(s)|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
||shakyeng mingshel / sakyeng mingsel||mingshel / mingsel|mirror / looking glass||
||sana khongnet saa||sagol / samu|horse / elephant|In classical terminology, sana khongnet saa means "the animal deemed to be mounted by the royalty". Sagol / Shagol means horse and Samu / Shamu means elephant.|
||sana khutsu thang||thang|sword||

## Related pages

- Ancient Meitei literature
- Ancient Khuman language
- Ancient Moirang language
- Ancient Meitei hymns
- Meitei ritual songs
- Meitei literature
- Meitei proverbs
- Meitei profanity
- Meitei grammar

## Infobox (language)

- **name**: Thougallon
- **altname**: Meitei royal language
- **acceptance**: Meitei royalty
- **image**: Classical Meetei Mayek & Eastern Nagari (Bengali script) transliteration of the word "Thougallon", which is a royal court register of Meitei language (alias Manipuri language).jpg
- **imagecaption**: Classical Meetei Mayek & Eastern Nagari (Bengali script) transliteration of "Thougallon"
- **states**: Manipur, parts of Meitei people in Assam, Assam & Meitei people in Tripura, Tripura; parts of Meitei people in Myanmar, Myanmar and Meitei people in Bangladesh, Bangladesh
- **region**: Manipur Kingdom (historical)
- **creator**: Meitei royal etiquette
- **ethnicity**: Meitei ethnicity
- **speakers**: Meitei royalties and nobles (Ningthouja dynasty, Khuman dynasty, Luwang dynasty, and others from the Meitei confederacy)
- **speakers2**: Meitei people (while talking to the royalties and nobles)
- **familycolor**: Sino-Tibetan
- **family**: Sino-Tibetan
- **fam1**: Sino-Tibetan
- **fam2**: Tibeto-Burman
- **fam3**: Meitei
- **ancestor**: Proto-Sino-Tibetan
- **ancestor2**: Proto-Sino-Tibetan
- **ancestor3**: Proto-Tibeto-Burman
- **ancestor4**: Proto-Meitei
- **ancestor5**: Ancient Meitei language
- **script**: Meitei script, Bengali script
- **development body**: Department of Art and Culture, Government of Manipur
- **notice**: IPA