# Tibetan

/tɪˈbɛtən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tibetan
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. relating to Tibet

adjective · CEFR B1

relating to the region of Tibet, its culture, or its traditions.

For teachers: pertaining to the geographical region of Tibet or its cultural and religious heritage.

- We visited a restaurant that served traditional Tibetan tea with butter.
- The scholar spent decades studying Tibetan Buddhist manuscripts to understand the historical development of the region's monastic traditions.

### 2. a person

noun · CEFR B1

a person who comes from Tibet.

For teachers: a native or inhabitant of Tibet, or a person of Tibetan descent.

- The shop is owned by a Tibetan who moved here ten years ago.
- Many Tibetans living in exile have worked tirelessly to preserve their unique cultural identity through community schools and arts programmes.

### 3. the language

noun · CEFR B1

the language spoken by people from Tibet.

For teachers: the language or group of dialects spoken in Tibet and parts of the Himalayas.

- She is learning to read Tibetan so she can study ancient texts.
- Classical Tibetan remains a vital liturgical language for practitioners of Buddhism across Central and East Asia.

## Examples

- I really enjoy eating Tibetan food.
- The museum is hosting an exhibition of Tibetan art and historical manuscripts next month.
- Scholars have spent decades studying Tibetan Buddhist texts to better understand the philosophical developments of the region during the medieval period.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.