Pahauh Institute

07/22/2026

Beautiful Tattoo that uses Hmong writing characters. Can you read them?

07/07/2026

Did you know Hmong has its own word for "wristwatch"?

While many of us use borrowed words from other languages, this term has been part of the Hmong vocabulary for many years and is familiar to many people who have studied Hmong in formal educational settings.

Thanks to a Pahauh Scholar for designing this beautiful wristwatch.

06/12/2026

"Do Hmong people have days of the week in Hmong?"

This is one of the most common questions I receive.

The answer is yes!

Hmong has names for all seven days of the week, and each carries its own unique name and pronunciation.

Take a look at the chart below and see how many you already know.

Can you name today's day in Hmong without looking?

06/02/2026

Did you know that the Hmong language has names for more than 20 generations of ancestors and descendants?

Most family trees stop at grandparents or great-grandparents.

Hmong lineage (faj feem) extends much further, preserving the connection between past, present, and future generations.

How many of these generation names do you recognize?

What's the furthest generation you can name?

05/26/2026

Due to many requests, here is the link to a Pahauh Font. The keyboard layout is below. This works for both PC and MAC.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Yfn-Mv_UxRB3dXaPEiV2RZX1ncMZ-6aD?usp=sharing

05/19/2026

Did you know the term 𖬌𖬰 𖬄𖬟 (Koom Haum) commonly used today originated from Pahauh Hmong?

The term became widely recognized through 𖬌𖬰 𖬄𖬟 𖬄𖬟 𖬀𖬶𖬮 (Koom Haum Haum Xeeb) organizations established in Ban Vinai refugee camp after the war. These organizations helped families and clans reconnect, support one another, preserve traditions, and rebuild community during a time of displacement and uncertainty. Because of this history, Koom Haum came to represent more than just an “organization.” It symbolizes unity, structure, and the collective strength of the Hmong people.

In Pahauh Hmong, words carry history, identity, and memory. Preserving and teaching the Pahauh writing system is not only about language. It is about protecting the knowledge, stories, and spirit of the Hmong people for future generations.

https://youtu.be/N0slIo2Hr2A?si=4ChD6h7-FEcPxdyW

𖬀𖬰𖬞 𖬙𖬶𖬧𖬵 𖬒𖬰𖬮𖬵 𖬆𖬰𖬞 𖬀𖬰𖬬 𖬂𖬲𖬜 𖬋𖬰𖬬 𖬓𖬰𖬬 𖬑𖬞𖬰 𖬓𖬲𖬞 𖬎𖬰𖬞𖬹 𖬅𖬤𖬵 𖬄𖬲𖬟 𖬖𖬲𖬦 𖬓𖬰𖬬𖬷

05/16/2026

Thank you to Hmoob Twin Cities News for capturing and sharing our recent graduates as they completed learning the fundamentals of the Pahauh Hmong Writing System. Watch and listen to their experiences and reflections from the journey.

5 /16 /2026 Nqua Hu Neeg Hmoob Tuaj kawm Ntawv Phaj Hauj

05/13/2026

Due to many people asking about the meaning behind the symbols on the Hmong flag, I decided to make a simple diagram explaining each part and what it represents.

🔴 Red represents sacrifice and triumph.
🟡 Yellow symbolizes justice and righteousness.
☀️ The sun represents the purity of the ethnicity.
✡️ The six-sided star symbolizes the power of God’s son.
⚡ The four sacred figures represent the 4 Gods of Thunder.

Whether viewed culturally, spiritually, or historically, these symbols carry deep meaning to many people and reflect strength, identity, resilience, and belief.

I hope this helps give a better understanding of the symbolism. See less