Borem mhunn borem literally means “good, therefore good” or, in slightly better English, “It’s good, so it’s good”. Borem is neuter singular of boro (masc), bori (fem), and both the occurrences of the word in the phrase always remain unchanged regardless of the context in which the phrase may be used. That is because borem refers to an impersonal situation which is always considered to be neuter.
Borem mhunn borem corresponds almost exactly to the sense of the commonly used English phrase “Thank God” as, for instance, in the following sentences:
- Borem mhunn borem tum taka mell’lloi mhunn, na zalear to sanddtolo aslo.
Thank God you met him, else he would have got lost. - Borem mhunn borem amim sotri haddli mhunn. Pavs iet mhunn kednanch chintlem na.
Thank God we brought an umbrella. (I/We) never thought it might rain.
The word mhunn corresponds to “that” (used as a conjunction) in English.