Who Does Mong Refer To?

We have consciously named our group the Mong Equality Committee (MEC) to highlight the English word “Mong.”  Mong is the equivalent of Hmong.  Just as Hmong refers to both “white Hmong” and “blue/green Hmong,” Mong refers to both groups as well.  It simply reflects the correct spelling of how the “blue/green Hmong” or Mong Leng would pronounce and write the name of our people in English.

Mong Der includes the “H” in front of Mong when writing in English (Hmong), but Mong Leng does not (Mong).  That is just how our two dialects are; in our language, Mong Der would write our name as “Hmoob,” and Mong Leng would write our name as “Moob.”  There is absolutely nothing wrong with using Hmoob or Moob just as there is absolutely nothing wrong with using Hmong or Mong.

Again, Mong refers to all members of our community just as Hmong refers to all members of our community.