[19] The term Manipuri is widely used, but problematic because of its ambiguous scope: next to being a synonym for Meitei/Meetei, it can also refer in a wider sense to the native ethnic groups in the hills of Manipur.

[20] The vast majority of them (1,522,132 people, 86 percent of the total) are in the state of Manipur, which is also their place of origin.

[22][a] A significant number (168,133 people, 9.5 percent) of Meitei language speakers are in the state of Assam.

[20] In the Barak Valley region of Assam, Meitei people are the third largest ethnic group, after Bengalis and Hindi speakers.

[29][30] In 1100 CE, Loyumba Shinyen (Old Manipuri: ꯂꯣꯌꯨꯝꯄ ꯁꯤꯟꯌꯦꯟ, romanized: Loyumpa Shinyen), an ancient Meitei language constitution was written and regulated under the supervision of Meitei King Loiyumba (Loyumba) (1074 CE-1112 CE) in the Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur).

[39] Some Meitei settlements in modern-day Myanmar originate from the 1758–1759 war, and from the Burmese occupation of Manipur from 1819 to 1826.

[43] The Meitei Mayek script has seen a revival in recent decades, and is now seen in street signs, schools, newspapers, and legislative proceeding records.

[46][47][48] It is an epic poem based on the ancient romantic adventure tale of Khamba and Thoibi.

[69] The Meitei people follow a traditional calendar called Maliyafam Palcha Kumsing, which has 12 months and a 7-day week.

are the only non-vegetarian elements used and a significant number of meiteis follow it where meat is cooked and eaten outside the house if consumed.

Rice is the main carbohydrate source in a Meitei dish; typically, it is served with vegetables, fish, freshwater snails, crabs, oyesters, eels etc.

Among the most famous species of fishes Manipuri Sareng (Wallago attu) or commonly known as Helicopter catfish, Hilsa (ilish Tenualosa ilisha), freshwater snails (pila (gastropod)) and edible oysters are considered a delicacy.

The vegetables, herbs and fruits consumed in the region are more similar to those in Southeast/East/Central Asian, Siberian, Arctic, Polynesian and Micronesian cuisines such as Myanmar, Thailand, Inuit, etc.

E.g. treebean (yongchak), galangal (loklei), culantro (awa phadigom), lime basil (mayangton), fishwort (tokningkhok) and many others, which are not cultivated in northern India.

A typical every day Meitei meal will have rice, vegetable or fish curry, a piquant side dish (either morok metpa or eromba accompanied with herbs), a champhut (a steamed/boiled vegetable with little sugar, e.g., carrot, pumpkin or cucumber slices or steamed/boiled mustard green stems, etc.

Women tend to dominate the local markets as sellers of food items, textiles, and traditional clothing.

[71] Arambai Tenggol is a socio-political organisation involved in the revival and preservation of indigenous Meitei culture, which has developed into an armed milita in the course of the 2023–2025 Manipur violence.