ðɛɹ tɹænslˈeɪʃən ɪz ʌnsˈɜːʔn̩, bˌʌt ðɛɹ ɐpˈɪɹz təbi ɐ kənsˈɛnsəs ðæt ðeɪ ɑːɹ bˈeɪst ˌɔn ɐ sˈɪstəm sˈɪmɪlɚ tə ðə tʃaɪnˈiːz kˈæləndɚ wˌɪtʃ wʌz ˈɔːlsoʊ ɐdˈɑːptᵻd baɪ mˈɛni tˈɜːkɪk pˈiːpəlz ænd baɪ ðə mˈɔŋɡɑːlz, wɪð ɐ sˈaɪkəl ʌv twˈɛlv jˈɪɹz, ˈiːtʃ bˈɛɹɪŋ ðə nˈeɪm əvən ˈænɪməl.
Their translation is uncertain, but there appears to be a consensus that they are based on a system similar to the Chinese calendar (which was also adopted by many Turkic peoples and by the Mongols), with a cycle of 12 years, each bearing the name of an animal.