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{{Short description|Tibeto-Burman language of Sikkim, Nepal and Bhutan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox language
| name = Lepcha
| altname = | nativename = {{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰛᰩᰵᰛᰧᰵᰶ}}}} {{lang|lep|Róng ríng}}

| region = [[Sikkim]], [[India]]; parts of [[Nepal]] and [[Bhutan]]
| speakers = 66,500
| date = 2011-2013
| ref = <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/lep|title=Lepcha|work=Ethnologue|access-date=2018-08-08|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/Language_MTs.html|title=Statement 1: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues - 2011|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=2018-07-07}}</ref>
| familycolor = Sino-Tibetan
| fam2 = [[Tibeto-Burman languages|Tibeto-Burman]]
| script = [[Lepcha script]] [[Tibetan script]]
| nation = {{flag|India}}
* [[Sikkim]]
| iso3 = lep
| notice = IPA
| glotto = lepc1244
| glottorefname = Lepcha
| image = File:Róng ríng in Lepcha language script.svg
| imagecaption = The word 'Róng ríng' written in Lepcha (Róng) Script
}}
{{Contains special characters
| special = Lepcha characters
| fix = Help:Multilingual support
| error = question marks, boxes, or other symbols
| image = LEPCHA_LETTER_FLA.svg
| link = Lepcha (Unicode block)
| alt = <?>
| compact =
}}

'''Lepcha''', also called '''Róng''' ([[Lepcha script|Lepcha]]: {{Lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰛᰩᰵᰛᰧᰵᰶ}}}}; ''Róng ríng''), is a [[Tibeto-Burman languages|Tibeto-Burman language]] spoken by the [[Lepcha people]] in [[Sikkim]], [[India]] and parts of [[West Bengal]], [[Nepal]], and [[Bhutan]].

==Population==
Lepcha is spoken by minorities in the Indian states of [[Sikkim]] and [[West Bengal]], as well as parts of [[Nepal]] and [[Bhutan]]. Where it is spoken, it is considered to be an aboriginal language, pre-dating the arrival of the [[Tibetan languages]] ([[Sikkimese Tibetan language|Sikkimese]], [[Dzongkha]], and others) and more recent [[Nepali language]]. Lepcha speakers comprise four distinct communities: the Renjóngmú of [[Sikkim]]; the Támsángmú of [[Kalimpong]], [[Kurseong]], and [[Mirik]]; the ʔilámmú of [[Ilam District]], [[Nepal]]; and the Promú of southwestern [[Bhutan]]. Lepcha-speaking groups in India are larger than those in Nepal and Bhutan.<ref name=Plaisier2007>{{cite book|title=A grammar of Lepcha |volume=5 |series=Tibetan studies library: Languages of the greater Himalayan region |first=Heleen |last=Plaisier |publisher=[[Brill Publishers|BRILL]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-90-04-15525-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DpCXEc_9RWcC}}</ref><ref name=NIL/>

The Indian census reported 50,000 Lepcha speakers,<ref name=e18>{{Ethnologue18|lep}}</ref> however the number of native Lepcha speakers in India may be closer to 30,000.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

===Endangerment===
Since the 1650s, Lepcha has been an endangered language due to the encroachment of Lepcha spheres of life by [[Tibetic languages|Tibetan]] and later [[Nepali language|Nepali]]. By 1951, 72% of Lepchas were bilingual in Lepcha and Nepali, the latter of which had become the [[lingua franca]] of the community. No monolingual Lepcha speakers were recorded, and 20% of Lepchas could only speak Nepali. Transmission of Lepcha to younger generations has been hindered by primary schools teaching exclusively in Nepali, leading to Lepcha only being learned later in life.<ref name=change>{{cite journal|journal=The Linguistics Journal|title=Language change in Lepcha: An assessment|first=Satarupa|last=Dattamajumdar|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717041627if_/https://www.linguistics-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Volume-6-Issue-1-2012.pdf|year=2012|volume=6|issue=1|pages=185-204}}</ref>

Marriages into Nepali-speaking families, central government promotion of [[Hindi language|Hindi]] and an increasing interest in [[English language|English]] among the younger generations have also been cited as significant pressures against Lepcha.<ref name=Rai>{{cite journal|first=Bishwas Mani |last=Rai|doi=10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i01.13333|journal=International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research|title=Examining Transformation in Lepcha Culture and Language within Dzongu, Upper Sikkim: A Reflective Analysis|year=2024|volume=6|issue=1|doi-access=free}}</ref>

==Classification==
Lepcha is difficult to classify, but [[George van Driem]] (2001) suggests that it may be closest to the [[Mahakiranti languages]], a subfamily of the [[Himalayish languages]].<ref name=vanDriem2001>{{cite book|first=George |last=van Driem |year=2001 |title=Languages of the Himalayas: An Ethnolinguistic Handbook of the Greater Himalayan Region |publisher=Brill |isbn=90-04-12062-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fiavPYCz4dYC}}</ref>

Lepcha is internally diverse, showing lexical influences from different majority language groups across the four main Lepcha communities. According to Plaisier (2007), these [[Nepali language|Nepali]] and [[Sikkimese Tibetan language|Sikkimese Tibetan]] influences do not amount to a dialectal difference.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

[[Roger Blench]] (2013) suggests that Lepcha has [[Austroasiatic languages#Possible extinct branches|an Austroasiatic substratum]], which originated from a now-extinct branch of Austroasiatic that he calls "Rongic".<ref>{{cite web |last=Blench |first=Roger |date=2013-12-31 |url=https://www.academia.edu/5562335/Rongic_a_vanished_branch_of_Austroasiatic |title=Rongic: a vanished branch of Austroasiatic |website=Academia.edu}}</ref>

==Features==
Lepcha is a non-[[tone (linguistics)|tonal]] Sino-Tibetan language, although it does have phonemic stress or pitch that may be marked in the [[Lepcha script]].<ref name=Plaisier2007/>{{rp|37}} Much of its lexicon is composed of monosyllabic elements.<ref name=NIL>{{cite web |url=http://sikkim.nic.in/north/html/lepcha.htm |title=Lepchas and their Tradition |publisher=National Informatics Centre, Sikkim |work=Official Portal of NIC Sikkim State Centre |date=2002-01-25 |access-date=2011-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017203541/http://sikkim.nic.in/north/html/lepcha.htm |archive-date=17 October 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Notably, words that are commonly considered [[obscenity|obscene]] or [[taboo]] in other languages are not treated as such by native speakers.<ref name=NIL/>

==Script and romanization==
{{main|Lepcha script}}
The [[Lepcha script]] is a [[syllabary|syllabic]] script featuring a variety of special marks and [[Typographic ligature|ligatures]]. Its genealogy is unclear. Early Lepcha manuscripts were written vertically, a sign of [[chinese writing system|Chinese]] influence.<ref name=Coulmas>{{cite book|last=Coulmas |first=Florian |title=The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Writing Systems |publisher=Blackwell |year=1996 |isbn=0-631-21481-X |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y3KdxBqjg5cC}}</ref> Prior to the development of the Lepcha script, Lepcha literary works were composed in the [[Tibetan script]].<ref name=NIL/>

Lepcha language is romanized according to varying schemes, the prevailing system being that of [[George Byers Mainwaring|Mainwaring]] (1876). Most linguists, including Plaisier (2007), whose system is used in this article, have followed modified versions of Mainwaring's system. Other linguists and historians have used systems based on European languages such as English, French, and German.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

==Phonology==

===Consonants===
Lepcha consonants appear in the chart below, following Plaisier (2007):<ref name=Plaisier2007/>{{rp|21–32}}
{| class="wikitable"
!colspan=2|
! [[Labial consonant|Labial]]
! [[Dental consonant|Dental]]
! [[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
! [[Retroflex consonant|Retroflex]]
! [[Palato-alveolar consonant|Palato- alveolar]]
! [[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! [[Velar consonant|Velar]]
! [[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|- align=center
!colspan=2|[[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
|{{IPAlink|m}} {{angbr|m}} ||{{IPAlink|n}} {{angbr|n}} || || || ||{{IPAlink|ɲ}} {{angbr|ny}} ||{{IPAlink|ŋ}} {{angbr|ng}} ||
|- align=center
!rowspan=3|[[Plosive consonant|Plosive]]
![[voicelessness|voiceless]]
|{{IPAlink|p}} {{angbr|p}} ||{{IPAlink|t}} {{angbr|t}} || ||{{IPAlink|ʈ}} {{angbr|tr}} || ||{{IPAlink|c}} {{angbr|c}} ||{{IPAlink|k}} {{angbr|k}} ||{{IPAlink|ʔ}} {{angbr|ʔ}}
|- align=center
![[aspiration (phonetics)|aspirated]]
|{{IPAlink|pʰ}} {{angbr|ph}} ||{{IPAlink|tʰ}} {{angbr|th}} || ||{{IPAlink|ʈʰ}} {{angbr|thr}} || ||{{IPAlink|cʰ}} {{angbr|ch}} ||{{IPAlink|kʰ}} {{angbr|kh}} ||
|- align=center
![[voice (phonetics)|voiced]]
|{{IPAlink|b}} {{angbr|b}} ||{{IPAlink|d}} {{angbr|d}} || ||{{IPAlink|ɖ}} {{angbr|dr}} || || ||{{IPAlink|ɡ}} {{angbr|g}} ||
|- align=center
!rowspan=3|[[Affricate consonant|Affricate]]
![[voicelessness|voiceless]]
| || ||{{IPAlink|ts}} {{angbr|ts}} || || || || ||
|- align=center
![[aspiration (phonetics)|aspirated]]
| || ||{{IPAlink|tsʰ}} {{angbr|tsh}} || || || || ||
|- align=center
![[voice (phonetics)|voiced]]
| || ||rowspan="2"|{{IPAlink|z}}~{{IPAlink|dz}} {{angbr|z}} || || || || ||
|- align=center
!rowspan=2|[[Fricative consonant|Fricative]]
![[voice (phonetics)|voiced]]
|{{IPAlink|v}} {{angbr|v}} || || ||{{IPAlink|ʒ}} {{angbr|j}}|| || ||
|- align=center
![[voicelessness|voiceless]]
|{{IPAlink|f}} {{angbr|f}} || ||{{IPAlink|s}} {{angbr|s}} || || {{IPAlink|ʃ}} {{angbr|sh}}|| || ||
|- align=center
!colspan=2|[[Approximant]]
|{{IPAlink|w}} {{angbr|w}}||{{IPAlink|l}} {{angbr|l}}|| || || ||{{IPAlink|j}} {{angbr|y}}|| ||{{IPAlink|h}} {{angbr|h}}
|- align=center
!colspan=2|[[Trill consonant|Trill]]
| || ||{{IPAlink|r}} {{angbr|r}}|| || || || ||
|}
Retroflex phonemes /ʈ/, /ʈʰ/, and /ɖ/ are written in [[Lepcha script]] as {{lang|lep|ᰀᰥ}} {{transliteration|lep|kr}}, {{lang|lep|ᰝᰥ}} {{transliteration|lep|hr}}, and {{lang|lep|ᰃᰥ}} {{transliteration|lep|gr}}, respectively. Most, though not all, instances of retroflex consonants indicate a word is of [[Tibetic languages|Tibetan]] origin. To distinguish this retroflex sound in [[Lepcha script]], a dot may be written underneath: {{lang|lep|ᰀᰥ᰷}}, {{lang|lep|ᰝᰥ᰷}}, and {{lang|lep|ᰃᰥ᰷}}. Native instances of non-retroflex {{lang|lep|ᰀᰥ}} {{transliteration|lep|kr}}, {{lang|lep|ᰝᰥ}} {{transliteration|lep|hr}}, and {{lang|lep|ᰃᰥ}} {{transliteration|lep|gr}} may either be pronounced as written or as {{angbr|tr}}, {{angbr|thr}}, and {{angbr|dr}}. For example, {{transliteration|lep|tagrikup}}, {{gloss|boy}}, may be said either {{IPA|[ta ɡri kɯʔp̚]}} or {{IPA|[ta ɖi kɯʔp̚]}}.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

Lepcha has three glide consonants that may occur after certain initial consonants: {{IPA|/r/}}, {{IPA|/j/}}, and {{IPA|/l/}}. When the phoneme {{IPA|/r/}} operates as a glide, it can combine with {{IPA|/j/}} as a double-glide: {{lang|lep|ᰕᰥᰤᰩᰮ}} {{transliteration|lep|mryóm}}, {{gloss|to spread over the ground, creep}}. Notably, syllables with the glide {{IPA|/l/}} are given their own independent forms in the [[Lepcha script]].<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

Velar consonants {{IPA|/k/}} and {{IPA|/ɡ/}} preceding front vowels {{IPA|/i/}} or {{IPA|/e/}} are palatalized as {{IPA|[kʲ]}} and {{IPA|[ɡʲ]}}, respectively. Fricatives {{IPA|/s/}} and {{IPA|/ʃ/}} are merged before {{IPA|/i/}}.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

Lepcha speakers tend not to distinguish between {{IPA|/z/}} and {{IPA|/ʒ/}}, pronouncing both as {{IPA|[z]}}~{{IPA|[dz]}}~{{IPA|[ʒ]}}. Additionally, initial {{IPA|/ŋ/}} is occasionally realized as {{IPA|[ɦ]}}. Under the influence of [[Nepali language|Nepali]], some Lepcha speakers have lost the distinction between {{IPA|/pʰ/}} and {{IPA|/f/}}, and between {{IPA|/v/}} and {{IPA|/w/}}.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

Of the above phonemes, only {{IPA|/m/, /n/, /ŋ/, /k/, /t/, /p/, /r/}}, and {{IPA|/l/}} may be syllable-final. Native speakers tend to neutralize the difference between final {{IPA|/n/}} and {{IPA|/ŋ/}}. In syllable-final position, stops are realized as an unreleased stop, usually pronounced with a simultaneous {{IPA|/ʔ/}}: for example, {{IPA|/k/}} becomes {{IPA|[ʔk̚]}}.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

===Vowels===
According to Plaisier (2007), Lepcha has eight vowels:<ref name=Plaisier2007/>{{rp|17–21}}
{| class="wikitable"
!rowspan="2"| !! [[Front vowel|Front]] !! [[Central vowel|Central]] !!colspan="2"| [[Back vowel|Back]]
|-
!colspan="3"| [[Unrounded vowel|Unrounded]]
! [[Rounded vowel|Rounded]]
|-
|- align=center
! [[Close vowel|Close]]
| {{IPA link|i}} {{angbr|i}}, {{angbr|í}} || || {{IPA link|ɯ}} {{angbr|u}} || {{IPA link|u}} {{angbr|ú}}
|- align=center
! [[Close-mid vowel|Close-mid]]
| rowspan="3"|{{IPA link|e}}~{{IPA link|ɛ}} {{angbr|e}}|| || || {{IPA link|o}} {{angbr|o}}
|- align=center
! [[Mid vowel|Mid]]
| {{IPA link|ə}} {{angbr|a}}, {{angbr|â}} || ||
|- align=center
! [[Open-mid vowel|Open-mid]]
| || || {{IPA link|ɔ}} {{angbr|ó}}
|- align=center
! [[Open vowel|Open]]
| || {{IPA link|a}} {{angbr|á}} || ||
|}
The phoneme denoted by {{angbr|í}} is shortened and appears in closed syllables; {{angbr|i}} is longer and appears in open syllables. The phoneme /e/ is realized as {{IPA|[e]}} in open syllables and in closed syllables before {{IPA|/ŋ/}} or {{IPA|/k/}}. Closed syllables ending in {{IPA|/p/}}, {{IPA|/m/}}, {{IPA|/l/}}, {{IPA|/n/}}, {{IPA|/r/}}, and {{IPA|/t/}} show free variation between {{IPA|[e]}}, {{IPA|[ɛ]}}, and even {{IPA|[ɪ]}}. Distinctions between {{IPA|/o/}} and {{IPA|/ɔ/}} are often lost among non-literate speakers, particularly those highly fluent in [[Nepali language]], which does not contrast the sounds.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

==Grammar==
Lepcha grammar features nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, and verbs. Word order is typically [[subject–object–verb]] (SOV). Lepcha morphology is somewhat [[agglutination|agglutinative]], though most bare Lepcha lexicon is made up of one- or two-syllable words. Nouns are arranged into either head-first or head-last noun phrases. Relative clauses and genitive phrases precede nouns, whereas markers for demonstratives, definiteness, number, case, and other particles follow the noun. Lepcha is an [[ergative language]], where the ergative case indicates transitivity and completedness of the event. There is no grammatical agreement between different parts of speech (i.e. verb conjugation). Adjectives follow nouns they modify, function as predicates, or stand independently as nominal heads. Adverbs generally directly precede verbs, and [[reduplication]] is generally productive for adverbs of time (e.g. {{transliteration|lep|nám}} {{gloss|year}} → {{transliteration|lep|nám-nám}} {{gloss|yearly}}).<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

===Syntax===
Some basics of Lepcha syntax are outlined in Mainwaring (1876).<ref name=Mainwaring1876>{{cite book|year=1876|last=Mainwaring|first=George Byres|title=Grammr of the Rong (Lepcha) Language|location=Calcutta|publisher=Baptist Mission Press}}</ref>{{rp|119-130}}

The basic word order in Lepcha is [[subject–object–verb]]. Adjectives follow the noun they modify.

Possessors precede the nouns they possess.

===Nouns===
According to Plaisier (2007), Lepcha has only two true "[[grammatical case|cases]]" that modify the noun morphologically: the [[definite article]] {{transliteration|lep|-re}} and the [[dative case]] marker {{transliteration|lep|-m}}. All other noun markers, including for example the genitive marker, are actually invariable postpositions. A series noun markers may follow a single noun. Together, these cases and postpositions are:<ref name=Plaisier2007/>
{| class="wikitable"
! Postposition !! Meaning
|-
| {{lang|lep|-ᰠᰴ}} {{transliteration|lep|-sang}} || human plural
|-
| {{lang|lep|-ᰎᰴ}} {{transliteration|lep|-pong}} || non-human plural
|-
| {{lang|lep|-ᰛᰬ}} {{transliteration|lep|-re}} || definite, topic
|-
| {{lang|lep|-ᰍᰪ}}/{{lang|lep|-ᰍᰪᰰ}} {{transliteration|lep|-nu}}/{{transliteration|lep|nun}} || ergative, ablative
|-
| {{lang|lep|- ᰮ}} {{transliteration|lep|-m}} || dative
|-
| {{lang|lep|-ᰠᰦ}} {{transliteration|lep|-sá}} || genitive
|-
| {{lang|lep|-ᰀᰦ}} {{transliteration|lep|-ká}} || locative
|-
| {{lang|lep|-ᰕᰪ}} {{transliteration|lep|-mu}} || only
|-
| {{lang|lep|-ᰉᰬᰳ}} {{transliteration|lep|-nyet}} || both
|}

Plurals are marked differently according to whether they are human ({{transliteration|lep|-sang}}) or non-human ({{transliteration|lep|-pong}}) nouns. Notably, the plural is not used when the noun is followed by a number.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

According to Plaisier (2007), Lepcha [[personal pronoun]]s are as follows:<ref name=Plaisier2007/>
{| class="wikitable"
! !! Singular (Oblique) !! Dual !! Plural
|-
! First person
| {{lang|lep|ᰃᰨ}} {{transliteration|lep|go}} ({{lang|lep|ᰀᰠᰪ}} {{transliteration|lep|kasu}}) || {{lang|lep|ᰀᰦᰉᰧᰶ}} {{transliteration|lep|kányí}} || {{lang|lep|ᰀᰦᰚᰫ}} {{transliteration|lep|káyú}}
|-
! Second person
|{{lang|lep|ᰝᰩ}} {{transliteration|lep|hó}} ({{lang|lep|ᰣᰦᰌᰨ}} {{transliteration|lep|ʔádo}}) || {{lang|lep|ᰣᰦᰉᰧᰶ}} {{transliteration|lep|ʔányí}} || {{lang|lep|ᰣᰦᰚᰫ}} {{transliteration|lep|ʔáyú}}
|-
! Third person
| {{lang|lep|ᰝᰪ}} {{transliteration|lep|hu}} ({{lang|lep|ᰝᰪᰌᰨ}} {{transliteration|lep|hudo}}) || {{lang|lep|ᰝᰪᰉᰧᰶ}} {{transliteration|lep|hunyí}} || {{lang|lep|ᰝᰪᰚᰫ}} {{transliteration|lep|huyú}}
|}
Oblique forms appear in parentheses above. Lepcha personal pronouns can refer only to humans; otherwise demonstratives are used. Personal pronouns may take the definite article {{transliteration|lep|-re}}.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

====Thematic classes====
Many Lepcha nouns can be grouped into one of several classes based on associated characteristics. For example, many animal names begin with the [[Lepcha script]] syllabic {{angbr|sâ}}, e.g., {{lang|lep|ᰠᰲᰶ}} {{transliteration|lep|sâr}} {{gloss|goat}}, {{lang|lep|ᰠᰶᰛᰤᰨᰮ}} {{transliteration|lep|sâryom}} {{gloss|otter}}, {{lang|lep|ᰠᰶᰜᰩᰭ}} {{transliteration|lep|sâlók}} {{gloss|rhinoceros}}, and {{lang|lep|ᰠᰝᰪ}} {{transliteration|lep|sâhu}} {{gloss|monkey}}. Other noun classes include {{angbr|sâ}} and {{angbr|ka}} for plants, and {{angbr|pe}} or {{angbr|pâ}} for snakes and bamboo products.<ref name=NIL/><ref name=dictionary>{{cite book|title=Dictionary of the Lepcha-language
|editor-first=Albert |editor-last=Grünwedel |first=George Byres |last=Mainwaring |publisher=Unger bros. |year=1898 |url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924023194198}}</ref>

===Verbs===
Lepcha verbs generally function as [[predicate (grammar)|predicate]]s or, in [[relative clause]]s, as modifiers before a head-noun. Verbs may also be nominalized by a combination of suffixes. For example, {{transliteration|lep|zo}} {{gloss|eat}} may be suffixed to produce {{transliteration|lep|zo-shang-re}} {{gloss|eating}}.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

Many [[intransitive verb]]s incorporate a [[causative]] {{transliteration|lep|-y-}} [[infix]], sometimes followed by a {{transliteration|lep|-t}} suffix, to take a [[transitive verb|transitive]] sense:
* {{lang|lep|ᰕᰦᰭ}} {{transliteration|lep|mák}} {{gloss|die}} → {{lang|lep|ᰕᰤᰦᰭ}} {{transliteration|lep|myák}} {{gloss|kill}};
* {{lang|lep|ᰏᰶ}} {{transliteration|lep|plâ}} {{gloss|come forth}} → {{lang|lep|ᰏᰤᰶ}} {{transliteration|lep|plyâ}} {{gloss|bring forth}};
* {{lang|lep|ᰄᰫ}} {{transliteration|lep|glú}} {{gloss|fall down}} → {{lang|lep|ᰄᰤᰳ/ᰄᰤᰬᰳ}} {{transliteration|lep|glyat/glyet}} {{gloss|drop}}.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

Verbs are followed by grammatical suffixes and particles. Verbal particles indicating sureness, polite requests, authoritativeness, dubiousness, and other nonlexical information follow clauses. Below is a chart of such verb- and clause-final suffixes and particles largely following Plaisier (2007):<ref name=Plaisier2007/>
{| class="wikitable"
! Suffix or Particle !! Meaning
|-
| {{transliteration|lep|-wám/-ʔám/-bám}} || progressive
|-
| {{transliteration|lep|-tho}} || exhaustive
|-
| {{transliteration|lep|-hát}} || perfective
|-
| {{transliteration|lep|-shang}} || infinitive
|-
| {{transliteration|lep|-bú}} || factual
|-
| {{transliteration|lep|-re}} || definite
|-
| {{transliteration|lep|nón}} || resultant
|-
| {{transliteration|lep|ká}} || [[adhortative]]
|-
| {{transliteration|lep|gó}} || question
|-
| {{transliteration|lep|le}} || polite request
|-
| {{transliteration|lep|ma}} || assertive
|-
| {{transliteration|lep|ce}} || authoritative
|-
| {{transliteration|lep|te}} || dubiousness
|-
| {{transliteration|lep|pá}} || certainty
|-
| {{transliteration|lep|lyók}} || inference
|}

Verbs are negated by a [[circumfix]], {{transliteration|lep|ma-{{circumfix|...}}-n(e)}}, e.g., {{transliteration|lep|khut}} {{gloss|to be able}} becomes {{transliteration|lep|ma-khut-ne}} {{gloss|to be unable}}.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

== Vocabulary ==
These are some sample words published in Renato Figuerido's Lepcha dictionary.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.freelang.net/online/lepcha.php?lg=gb |title=Freelang Lepcha-English dictionary |last=Figuerido |first=Renato B. |date=2014}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Caption text
|-
! English !! Lepcha (Latin) !! Lepcha (Róng/Lepcha script)
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Lady || Ku-mo || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{script|Lepc|ᰀᰪᰕᰨ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Let || kón || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰀᰩᰰ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Proceed || Dí || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰌᰧᰶ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Reach a height || Thók || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰋᰩᰭ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Riverbank || Klóp || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰁᰩᰱ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| A cut || Mó || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰕᰩ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| To pull || Krút || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰀᰥᰫᰳ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Go || Nóng || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰍᰩᰵ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Flabby || Thyor || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰋᰤᰨᰲ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Reflective Light || Lóng || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰜᰩᰵ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Palm || Lyók || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰜᰤᰩᰭ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| To be short || Tan || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰊᰰ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Meat || Ke-rung || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰀᰬᰛᰪᰵ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Overclouded || Muk || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰕᰪᰭ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| What comes first || Ták || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰊᰦᰭ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Mother || A-mo || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰣᰕᰨ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| To knot || Tyep || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰊᰤᰬᰱ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| A spec of Sterculia || Ke-hlyám kun || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰀᰬᰞᰤᰮ ᰀᰪᰰ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Be on strong legs || Krang || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰀᰥᰴ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Dirt || Me-ri || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰕᰬᰛᰧ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| To slice || Líp || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰜᰧᰶ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Entire || Shem || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰡᰬᰮ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Cold || Hyáng || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰝᰤᰦᰵ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| To be drawn together || Chom || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰇᰨᰮ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| One's Self || Te-do || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰊᰬᰌᰨ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Wide || Veng || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰟᰬᰵ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| To arrest || Tho || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰋᰨ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| To crush || Shíp || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰡᰧᰶ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Mouth || A-bong || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰣᰓᰨᰵ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| To twist || Kar || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰀᰲ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Arrow || Sa-li || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰠᰜᰧ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Egg || Tí || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰊᰧᰶ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| To sit || Ngan || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰅᰰ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Flow round || Kyúl || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰀᰤᰫᰯ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Overclouded || Pe-mang || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰎᰬᰕᰴ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| House || A-dóng || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰣᰌᰩᰵ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Carry || Bú || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰓᰫ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Dream || Mong || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰕᰨᰵ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| A corner || Tung-kyang || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰊᰪᰵᰀᰤᰴ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Basket || Dyóng || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰌᰤᰩᰵ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Large || Túng || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰊᰫᰵ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Husband || Evo || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰣᰬᰟᰨ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Grain || Gró || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰃᰥᰩ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Rice basket || Ku-mu || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰀᰪᰕᰪ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Placenta || A-yeng-tyol || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰣᰚᰬᰵᰊᰤᰨᰯ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Quick || Rem || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰛᰬᰮ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| Sew || Hrap || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰝᰥᰱ}}}}}}
|-
|style="padding:30px;"| A spec of Solanum || Ke-lim-bi || {{huge|{{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰀᰬᰜᰧᰮᰓᰧ}}}}}}
|}

==Sample text==
The following text is Article 1 of the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]] in Lepcha:<ref name="UDHR_Lepcha">{{cite web |url=https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/UDHR/Documents/UDHR_Translations/lep.pdf |trans-title=Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Lepcha translation |title=ᰀᰪᰵᰶᰛᰦᰵ ᰝᰦᰵ ᰜᰦᰵ ᰝᰥᰪᰵ ᰠᰦᰵᰶ ᰛᰦᰵᰶᰊᰦᰵ ᰜᰦᰵ ᰀᰪᰵᰶ ᰛᰦᰵ ᰝᰦᰵ ᰜᰦᰵ|website=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights |language=Lepcha |page=1|access-date=15 January 2026}}</ref>

=== Lepcha in Róng Script ===
{{Block indent|{{Lang|lep-Lepc|ᰠᰕᰆᰪ ᰍᰬᰊ: ᰠᰕᰆᰪ-ᰍᰬᰊ ᰀᰪᰃᰧᰊ ᰎᰦᰆᰎᰛᰌᰨᰅ, ᰣᰦᰓᰪᰣᰦᰕᰨᰊ, ᰣᰦᰈᰤᰀ, ᰠᰅᰃᰤᰨ ᰃᰬᰍᰎᰍ ᰣᰰ ᰠᰕᰠᰕᰆᰨ ᰜᰤᰦᰅᰌᰬ ᰣᰰ ᰕᰎᰬᰜᰟᰪ ᰏᰤᰨᰍᰰ ᰍᰪᰛ, ᰣᰧᰊ ᰣᰍ ᰠᰈᰨᰅᰌᰨᱏᰨᰈᰨᰅ ᰠᰤᰪᰋᰨ ᰠᰪᰈᰨᰅᰌᰨ ᰋᰨ ᰕᰪᰌᰪᰀᰕᰪᰌᰪᰀ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰬᰊ ᰕᰃᰦᰊ ᰀᰦᰊ ᰍᰰ ᰀᰦᰊ ᰠᰕᰤᰪᰛᰬᰕ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰇᰤᰨᰛᰧᰶᰀᰦ ᰎᰧᰋᰨ ᰋᰨᰅᰎᰨᰅᰠᰦ ᰋᰨᰅ ᰍᰧᰠᰧᰶᰕᰣᰨ ᰻ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰓᰬᰀ ᰃᰬᰍᰎᰍ, ᰜᰤᰦᰅ ᰋᰨᰀᰦ ᰣᰦᰎᰧᰶᰍ ᰣᰦᰟᰨᰍ ᰜᰤᰦᰅ ᰌᰬᰎ ᰝᰦᰌᰨ ᰠᰮᰕᰪ ᰠᰛᰬᰌᰨ ᰋᰨ, ᰆᰰᱏᰧᰀ ᰈᰤᰫᰅᰕᰃᰦᰊ ᰣᰰ ᰜᰤᰦᰅ ᰈᰤᰫᰅᰠᰦ ᰈᰤᰫᰅ ᰜᰤᰦᰅ ᰜᰧᰈᰨᰅ ᰠᰳᰌᰨᰜᰦ ᰋᰨᰀᰦ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰬᰊ ᰕᰈᰪᰀᰕᰣᰨ ᰻}}}}
=== Lepcha in Devanagari Script ===
{{Block indent|{{Lang|lep-Deva|समचु-नेत: कुगित पाचपरदोङ, आबुआमोत, आज्यक, सङग्यो गेनपन अन् समसमचो ल्याङदे अन् मपेलवु प्ल्योनन् नुर, इत अन सजोङदोडोजोङ स्युथो सुजोङदो थो मुदुकमुदुक आब्रेत मगात कात नन् कात सम्युरेम आरे छ्योरीका पिथो थोङपोङसा थोङ निसीमओ । आरेबेक गेनपन, ल्याङ थोका आपीन आवोन ल्याङ देप हादो सम्मु सरेदो थो, चण्डिक ज्यूङमगात अन् ल्याङ ज्यूङसा ज्यूङ ल्याङ लिजोङ सत्दोला थोका आब्रेत मजुकमओ ।}}}}

=== Romanisation ===
{{Block indent|{{translit|lep|ISO|samcu net: samcu-net kugit pācaparadong, ābuāmota, ājyaka, sanggyo genpan an samsamco lyāngde an mapelwu plyonn nur, it an sajongdoḍḍojong syutho sujongdo tho mudukmuduk ābret magāt kāt nan kāt samyurem āre chyoriíkā pitho thongpongsā thong nisímao | ārebek genpan, lyāng thokā āpín āwon lyāng dep hādo sammu saredo tho, canḍḍik jyúngmagāt an lyāng jyúngsā jyúng lyāng lijong satdolā thokā ābret majukmao}}}}
=== IPA Transcription ===
{{Block indent|{{IPA|/sam.cu net । sam.cu net ku.git paː.ca.pa.ra.doŋ, aː.bu.aː.mo.ta, aː.d͡ʒja.ka, saŋ.gjo gen.pan an sam.sam.co ljaːŋ.de an ma.pel.wu pljonn nur, it an sa.d͡ʒoŋ.doɖ.ɖo.d͡ʒoŋ sju.tʰo su.d͡ʒoŋ.do tʰo mu.duk.mu.duk aː.bret ma.gaːt kaːt nan kaːt sam.ju.rem aː.re cʰjo.riː.ka pi.tʰo tʰoŋ.poŋ.sa tʰoŋ ni.siː.ma.o । aː.re.bek gen.pan, ljaːŋ tʰo.ka aː.piːn aː.won ljaːŋ dep haː.do sam.mu sa.re.do tʰo, can.ɖɖik d͡ʒjuːŋ.ma.gaːt an ljaːŋ d͡ʒjuːŋ.sa d͡ʒjuːŋ ljaːŋ li.d͡ʒoŋ sat.do.la tʰo.ka aː.bret ma.d͡ʒuk.ma.o/}}}}
=== Translation ===
{{Block indent|'''Article 1:''' All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.<ref>{{UDHR|code=en|label=English}}</ref>}}

==See also==
{{Incubator|code= lep}}
*[[Lepcha script]]
*[[Sikkimese Tibetan language]]
*[[Languages of Nepal]]
*[[Languages of India]]
*[[Languages of Bhutan]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite web|url=http://www.lepcha.info/ |title=Information on Lepcha Language and Culture |first=Heleen |last=Plaisier |date=2010-11-13 |access-date=2011-04-16}}
*{{cite book|first=George Byres |last=Mainwaring |title=A grammar of the Róng (Lepcha) language, as it exists in the Dorjeling and Sikim hills |publisher=Printed by C. B. Lewis, Baptist Mission Press |place=Calcutta |year=1876 }}

{{Sino-Tibetan languages}}
{{Languages of Northeast India}}
{{Languages of Bhutan}}
{{Languages of Nepal}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lepcha Language}}
[[Category:Bodish languages]]
[[Category:Languages of Sikkim]]
[[Category:Languages of Nepal]]
[[Category:Languages of Bhutan]]
[[Category:Unclassified Sino-Tibetan languages]]
[[Category:Languages of Koshi Province]]

Lepcha language - Revision history

Rrajani at 04:38, 21 March 2026