Sports have been an integral part of Mongolian culture for centuries. From the galloping horses of horse racing to the grappling fighters of Bokh wrestling, Mongolians have been participating in athletic activities for leisure and competition purposes. Join us as we delve into the thrilling world of sports in Mongolia and discover why it continues to be a cherished part of the nation’s cultural identity.
Sports or спорт (sport) are not just a way to pass the time but rather a celebration of the nomadic lifestyle, horsemanship skills, and the strength and endurance of the people. Here are 3+ major sports you should know about if you are learning Mongolian culture.
Sports In Mongolian
Horse Racing
Horse racing, or Хурдан морины уралдаан (Khurdan moriny uraldaan), is one of the most popular sports in Mongolia and dates back to the time of Genghis Khan. It remains to be a cherished part of the country’s cultural heritage. During the Naadam Festival, the national holiday celebrated every year in July, horse racing takes center stage as riders race against each other to see who is the fastest and most skilled.
Wrestling
Wrestling, known as Бөх (bökh), is one of the most popular sports in Mongolia and is considered a manly sport among Mongolian athletes. This form of folk wrestling has a rich history in Mongolian culture and has been passed down from generation to generation.
Бөх (bökh) tournaments are a staple of the Naadam Festival, a national holiday celebrated every year in July, where professional wrestlers from all over Mongolia gather to compete for prestige and glory.
Бөх (bökh) has also made its mark on Olympic history, with Mongolian wrestlers earning Olympic medals and a silver medal in the 2022 Asian Wrestling Championships. Wrestling is popular in Mongolia and Inner Mongolia, where it continues to be an essential part of the region’s cultural heritage.
Sport in Mongolia is an essential part of the country’s history, and Бөх (bökh) wrestling is no exception, as it showcases the strength, endurance, and skills of Mongolian athletes.
Archery
Archery Байт харваа (Bait kharvaa) has been enjoyed by Mongolians for centuries and was a crucial skill for the Mongolian army during their conquests. Today, archery remains a popular pastime for many, with competitions occurring during the Naadam Festival. Participants aim to shoot arrows at targets from horseback, displaying their horsemanship skills and accuracy.
Modern Sports In Mongolia
In addition to these traditional sports, modern sports such as football (soccer) which is хөлбөмбөг (khölbömbög), basketball which is сагсан бөмбөг (sagsan bömbög), and ice hockey which is мөсөн хоккей (mösön khokkyei) are gaining popularity in Mongolia. The country also has a thriving national football league, and the Mongolian national team has been competing in international competitions, bringing a new level of excitement to the country’s sports scene.
Words For Sports In Mongolian
| English | Mongolian | Romanization |
| Air Sports | Агаарын Спорт | Agaaryn Sport |
| Athletics | Хөнгөн Атлетик | Khöngön Atlyetik |
| Ball Sports | Бөмбөгний Спорт | Bömbögnii Sport |
| Board Sports | Удирдах Зөвлөлийн Спорт | Udirdakh Zövlöliin Sport |
| Combat Sports | Байлдааны Спорт | Baildaany Sport |
| Cycle Sports | Дугуйн Спорт | Duguin Sport |
| Gymnastics | Гимнастик | Gimnastik |
| Ice Sports | Мөсөн Спорт | Mösön Sport |
| Indoor Sports | Тасалгааны Спорт | Tasalgaany Sport |
| Mind Sports | Оюун Санааны Спорт | Oyuun Sanaany Sport |
| Motorsports | Моторспорт | Motorsport |
| Racket Sports | Ракет Спорт | Rakyet Sport |
| Strength Sports | Хүчний Спорт | Khüchnii Sport |
| Target Sports | Зорилтот Спорт | Zoriltot Sport |
| Water Sports | Усан Спорт | Usan Sport |
Board Sports
| English | Mongolian | Romanization |
| All-Terrain Windsurfing | Бүх Газрын Салхин Серфинг | Bükh Gazryn Salkhin Syerfing |
| Bodyboarding | Бодибординг | Bodibording |
| Freeboarding | Freeboarding | Freeboarding |
| Kiteboarding | Кайтбординг | Kaitbording |
| Kneeboarding | Өвдөгний Уралдах | Övdögnii Uraldakh |
| Mountainboarding | Ууланд Гулгах | Uuland Gulgakh |
| Skateboarding | Скейтборд | Skyeitbord |
| Snowboarding | Сноуборд | Snoubord |
| Surfing | Серфинг Хийх | Syerfing Khiikh |
| Windsurfing | Виндсерфинг | Vindsyerfing |
Athletic Sports
| English | Mongolian | Romanization |
| Archery | Байт Харваа | Bait Kharvaa |
| Cycling | Дугуйн | Duguin |
| Gymnastics | Гимнастик | Gimnastik |
| High Jump | Өндөр Үсрэлт | Öndör Üsrelt |
| Javelin Throw | Жад Шидэлт | Jad Shidelt |
| Pole Vault | Тулгууртай Харайлт | Tulguurtai Kharailt |
| Shooting | Буудлага | Buudlaga |
| Swimming | Усанд Сэлэх | Usand Selekh |
| Wrestling | Бөхийн Барилдаан | Bökhiin Barildaan |
Water Sports
| English | Mongolian | Romanization |
| Barefoot Water-Skiing | Хөл Нүцгэн Усан Цанаар Гулгах | Khöl Nütsgen Usan Tsanaar Gulgakh |
| Horse Surfing | Морин Серфинг | Morin Syerfing |
| Jet Boating | Тийрэлтэт Усан Онгоц | Tiireltet Usan Ongots |
| Scuba Diving | Усанд Шумбах | Usand Shumbakh |
| Sea Walking | Далайн Алхах | Dalain Alkhakh |
| Sub-Wing Diving | Далайн Шумбах | Dalain Shumbakh |
| Underwater Hockey | Усан Доорх Хоккей | Usan Doorkh Khokkyei |
| Wake-Skating | Сэрэх Тэшүүр | Serekh Teshüür |
Air Sports
| English | Mongolian | Romanization |
| Aerobatics | Аробатик | Arobatik |
| Aeromodelling | Нисэх Загварчлал | Nisekh Zagvarchlal |
| Air Racing | Агаарын Уралдаан | Agaaryn Uraldaan |
| Ballooning | Бөмбөлөг Хөөргөх | Bömbölög Khöörgökh |
| Bodyflight | Биеийн Нислэг | Biyeiin Nisleg |
| Drone Racing | Дрон Уралдаан | Dron Uraldaan |
| Flyboarding | Флайбординг | Flaibording |
| High Diving | Өндөр Шумбалт | Öndör Shumbalt |
| Kite Fighting | Цаасан Шувууны Тулаан | Tsaasan Shuvuuny Tulaan |
| Kiteboarding/Kitesurfing | Кайтбординг/Кайтсерфинг | Kaitbording/Kaitsyerfing |
| Paragliding | Параглайдин | Paraglaidin |
| Powered Paragliding | Хөдөлгөөнт Параглайд | Khödölgöönt Paraglaid |
| Rally Flying | Ралли Нисдэг | Ralli Nisdeg |
| Ultralight Aviation | Хэт Хөнгөн Нисэх Онгоц | Khet Khöngön Nisekh Ongots |
Target Sports
| English | Mongolian | Romanization |
| Archery | Байт Харваа | Bait Kharvaa |
| Billiards | Бильярд | Biliyard |
| Bowling | Боулинг | Bouling |
| Croquet | Крокет | Krokyet |
| Darts | Дартс | Darts |
| Five Pin Bowling | Таван Зүү Боулинг | Tavan Züü Bouling |
| Golf | Гольф | Golif |
| Hunting | Ан Агнуур | An Agnuur |
| Knife Throwing | Хутга Шидэх | Khutga Shidekh |
| Lawn Bowling | Зүлгэн Боулинг | Zülgen Bouling |
| Marbles | Гантиг | Gantig |
| Miniature Golf | Бяцхан Гольф | Byatskhan Golif |
Gymnastics
| English | Mongolian | Romanization |
| Acrobatic Gymnastics | Акробатын Гимнастик | Akrobatyn Gimnastik |
| Aerobic Gymnastics | Аэробик Гимнастик | Aerobik Gimnastik |
| Artistic Gymnastics | Уран Сайхны Гимнастик | Uran Saikhny Gimnastik |
| Parkour | Паркур | Parkur |
| Rhythmic Gymnastics | Уран Сайхны Гимнастик | Uran Saikhny Gimnastik |
| Trampolining | Трамплин | Tramplin |
| Tumbling | Уналт | Unalt |
Useful Sentences
Want to interact with the locals better? Use these Mongolian sentences to make it easier.
| English | Mongolian | Romanization |
| Gymnastics and athletics are two different sports. | Гимнастик ба хөнгөн атлетик бол хоёр өөр спорт юм. | Gimnastik ba khöngön atlyetik bol khoyor öör sport yum. |
| Board sports have seen a decline in popularity. | Удирдах зөвлөлийн спортын нэр хүнд буурчээ. | Udirdakh zövlöliin sportyn ner khünd buurchee. |
| Have you tried your hand at air sports yet? | Та агаарын спортоор хичээллэж амжаагүй юу? | Ta agaaryn sportoor khicheellej amjaagüi yuu? |
| Ball sports are a mystery to me. | Бөмбөгний спорт бол миний хувьд нууцлаг зүйл юм. | Bömbögnii sport bol minii khuvid nuutslag züil yum. |
| Watching athletics brings me joy. | Хөнгөн атлетик үзэх нь надад баяр баясгаланг авчирдаг. | Khöngön atlyetik üzekh ni nadad bayar bayasgalang avchirdag. |
| Target sports can improve your focus. | Зорилтот спорт нь таны анхаарлыг сайжруулж чадна. | Zoriltot sport ni tany ankhaarlyg saijruulj chadna. |
| Water sports provide a sense of calm and increase flexibility. | Усан спорт нь тайван байдлыг өгч, уян хатан байдлыг нэмэгдүүлдэг. | Usan sport ni taivan baidlyg ögch, uyan khatan baidlyg nemegdüüldeg. |
| Strength sports are great for building muscle. | Хүчний спорт нь булчин барихад маш сайн. | Khüchnii sport ni bulchin barikhad mash sain. |
Wrapping Up
These sports continue to bring people together, celebrate the country’s rich cultural heritage, and showcase the Mongolian people’s strength, endurance, and skills. If you want to learn more about Mongolian culture and language, check out Ling, as it has the best features to help you learn 60+ languages. Download the Ling today from Google Play Store or App Store and start your journey to fluency in Mongolian!
Enjoyed this post? Also, check out our guide for Mongolian phrases and shopping vocabulary.
