Definition

Proper noun 1. A Mongolic language: The standard and official language of Mongolia, based on the dialect spoken by the Khalkha people. 2. A Mongolian ethnic group: The largest subgroup of the Mongols, constituting the majority of the population in Mongolia.

Usage Examples

• As a language:
  • The government documents are published in Khalkha and English.
  • She is studying Khalkha to better understand Mongolian culture.
• As a people:
  • The Khalkha have a rich tradition of nomadic pastoralism.
  • This custom is specific to the Khalkha and other northern Mongol groups.

Advanced Usage

• Khalkha Mongolian: This is the full, precise term for the official state language of Mongolia, distinguishing it from other Mongolic languages like Buryat or Oirat.
  • Linguists note that Khalkha Mongolian uses vowel harmony.

Variants and Related Words

• Khalkha Mongol: An alternative term for a member of the Khalkha ethnic group.
• Khalkh (or Qalq-a): A transliteration variant found in academic and historical texts.

Synonyms

• For the language: Mongolian (in its modern, standard form), Halh.
• For the people: (none are perfect synonyms) Halh Mongols, Eastern Mongols (in a broader historical context).

Notes on Meaning

It is critical to distinguish between the two primary meanings: 1. The linguistic meaning refers specifically to the standardized official language. 2. The ethnographic meaning refers to the dominant ethnic group whose dialect formed the basis for that language. The word itself originates from the name of the people.

Noun

1. the language of the Khalkha that is the official language of the Mongolian People's Republic
2. the Mongol people living in the central and eastern parts of Outer Mongolia