Nepali phrasebook

Nepali (नेपाली) is the sole official language of Nepal, and one of the official languages of India. It's related to Hindi, Punjabi, and other Indo-Aryan languages, and is normally written with the Devanagari script (as is Hindi). While most Nepalese people speak at least some Nepali, there are more than 100 different languages and dialects spoken in Nepal. Other languages spoken in Nepal include Tharu around Chitwan, Newari in the Kathmandu Valley, and Sharwa (Sherpa) in the Everest area. Nepali is also the lingua franca of the Indian state of Sikkim.

Most educated Indians and Nepalis are able to communicate in English. Learning even a few words of Nepali can be fun and very useful, especially outside of the tourist district and while trekking.

There are lots words of borrowed from other languages like English, Hindi, French etc. These loan words are slightly modified or are kept unaltered. Therefore, most Nepalese will understand English nouns like television and computer, rather than their Nepali counterparts.

Vowels

There are total 12 vowels in the Nepali language.

अ (a) 

like 'a' in "all"

आ (aa) 

like 'a' in "father"

इ (i) 

like the 'i' in "sit"

ई (ii) 

like 'e' in "eat"

उ (u) 

like 'u' in "put"

ऊ (uu) 

like 'oo' in "root"

ऋ (ri) 

like 're' in "reason"

ए (e) 

like 'e' in "bed"

ऐ (ai) 

a+i in quick succession

ओ (o) 

like 'o' in "go"

औ (au) 

a+u in quick succession

Consonants

There are 33 consonants with an extra 3 minor variants. Please not that these are consonants with an attached vowel like क्+अ= क. This is how alphabets appear. The consonants below are attached with other vowels to form other sounds like: थ+आ=था, न+उ=नु, त+औ=तौ and so on.

Velar consonants

क (ka) 

like 'ca' in "call"

ख (kha) 

like 'kha' in "khaki"

ग (ga)  

like 'go' in "gone"

घ (gha) 

like 'gha' in "Ghana"

ङ (nga) 

sounds similar to '-ing'

Palatal consonants

च (cha) 

like 'chu' in "church"

छ (chaa) 

like 'chu' in "church" but more aspirated

ज (ja) 

like 'ju' in "jug"

झ (jha) 

like 'ju' in "jug" but more aspirated

ञ (nya) 

like 'na' in "nausea"

Retroflex consonants

ट (tta) 

like 'ta' in "talk"

ठ (ttha) 

like 'ta' in "talk" but more aspirated

ड (dda) 

like 'do' in 'dog'

ढ

(ddha) : like 'do' in 'dog' but more aspirated

ण (andha)

like 'nuh' but retroflexed

Dental consonants

त (ta) 

like 'ta' in "talk" but dental

थ (thaa) 

like 'thu' in "thunder"

द (da) 

same as "the"

ध (dha) 

like "the" but more aspirated

न (na) 

like "nu" in "nun"

Labial consonants

प (pa) 

like 'pa' in "Paul"

फ (pha) 

like 'fa' in "fall"

ब (ba) 

like 'ba' in "ball"

भ (bha) 

like 'va' in "vault"

म (ma) 

like 'ma' in "mall"

Semivowels

य (ya) 

like 'ya' in "yawn"

र (ra) 

like 'ru' in "run"

ल (la) 

like 'lo' in "love"

व (wa) 

like 'wo' in "work"

Sibilants

श (sha) 

like 'sha' in "shawl"

ष (sa) 

like 'sha' but retroflex

स (sa) 

like 'sa" in "saw"

Glottal

ह (ha) 

like 'ha' in "hall"

क्ष (xa) 

like 'chyaa'

त्र (tra) 

like 'tra' but dental

ज्ञ (gya) 

like 'gya'

Phrase list

Basics

Hello 

नमस्ते।Namaste (Nuh-Mas-tay)

How are you? (formal)

तपाईँ कस्तो हुनुहुन्छ ? Tapaii Kasto Hununcha? (tuh-pie-kuhs-toh-who-noon-chaa?)

Fine, thank you. 

सञ्चै छु धन्यबाद । Sanchai Chu, Dhanyabad. (Sun-chai-chu-dhun-yuh-baad)

How about you? 

तपाई चाहिँ? Tapai Chahi? (Tuh-pai-chai)

What's your name? (formal)

तपाईँको नाम के हो ? Tapaiko nam ke ho? (Tuh-pie-koh-naam-ke-ho?)

My name is ... . 

मेरो नाम ...हो।Mero nam ... ho. (May-roh-naam ... hoh.)

Nice to meet you. (formal)(lit. I am happy to meet you) 

तपाईँलाई भेटेर खुसी लाग्यो। Tapai lai bhetera Khusi Lagyo (Tuh-pie-lie-bhay-tay-rah-khu-shi-la-gyo)

Please. (request) 

कृपयाKripaya. (Kree-puh-yah)

This person is ... . (when introducing somebody) 

यो... होYo ... ho (yoh-...-hoh)

Thank you very much. (formal) 

धेरै धेरै धन्यवाद।Dherai Dherai Dhanyabad (Dhey-rei-dhey-rei-dhan-ya-bad)

Thank you. (normal) 

धन्यवाद।Dhanyabad (Dhan-ya-bad)

yes 

होhai (hoh)

no 

होइनhoina (hoi-nuh)

Excuse me. 

माफ गर्नुहोस्Maaf Garnus. (maaf-gur-noos)

I'm sorry. (begging for forgiveness) 

माफ गर्नुहोस्Maaf Garnus. (maaf-gur-noos)

Goodbye. (there are no words for goodbye so Nepalese people use the phrase "Pheri Bhetaula" which means "See you again"

See you again 

फेरी भेटौँला (phay-ree-bhay-tau-la)

Problems

Leave me alone. 

मलाई एक्लै छोड्नुहोस्। Malaai eklai chodnus. (Ma-laai ek-laai chod-nus)

Don't touch me! 

मलाई नछुनुहोस् Malaai na chunus! (Ma-laai na chu-nus)

I'll call the police. 

म प्रहरीलाई बोलाउँछु। Ma prahari bolau chu. (Ma praharilai bo-lau-n chu)

Police! 

प्रहरी Prahari! (prahari)

Stop! Thief! 

पर्ख चोर। Parkha! Chor! (Pak-ra! cho-r!)

I need your help. 

मलाई सहयोग गर्नुहोस्। Malaai sahayog garnuhos. (Ma-laai sa-ha-yog garnu-hos)

It's an emergency. 

अापत पर्‌यो aapat paryo. (Aa-pat par-yo)

I'm lost. 

म हराएँ। Ma haraye. (Ma ha-ra-ye)

I lost my bag. 

मेरो झोला हरायो। Mero jhola harayo. (Me-ro jho-la ha-ra-yo)

I lost my wallet. 

मेरो वालेट हरायो Mero wallet harayo. (Me-ro wallet ha-ra-yo)

I'm sick. 

मलाई सञ्चो छैन। Malaai sancho chaina. (Muh-lay sann-cho cha-ee-nah)

I've been injured. 

मलाई चोट लाग्यो। Malaai chot lagyo. (Ma-laai cho-t lag-yo)

I need a doctor. 

मलाई डाक्टर चाहियो। Malaai doctor chaiyo. (Ma-laai doctor chai-yo)

Can I use your phone? 

के म तपाईँको फोन प्रयोग गर्न सक्छु? K ma hajur ko Phone prayog garna sakchu? (K ma ha-jur ko phone pra-yog gar-na sak-chu?)

Numbers

१ (1)

एक ek (A-kh)

२ (2)

दुई dui (Du-ee)

३(3) 

तीन tien (Tee-n)

४(4) 

चार char (Cha-r)

५(5) 

पाँच panch (Pa-n-ch)

६(6) 

छ chha (Cha)

७(7) 

सात saat (Sa-at)

८(8) 

अाठ aath (Aa-th)

९(9) 

नौ nau (Na-u)

१० (10) 

दश das (Daa-ss)

११ (11) 

एघार eghara (A-ghaa-ra)

१२ (12) 

बाह्र bara (Bha-ra)

१३ (13) 

तेह्र teera (Th-e-ra)

१४ (14) 

चौध chauda (Chau-da)

१५ (15) 

पन्ध्र pandhra (Pan-dra)

१६ (16) 

सोह्र sorha (So-rha)

१७ (17) 

सत्र satra (Sat-ra)

१८ (18) 

अठार athara (Aa-tha-ra)

१९ (19) 

उन्नाइस् unais (Un-nai-s)

२० (20) 

बीस bis (Bis)

३० (30) 

तीस teece (Tee-sh)

४० (40) 

चालीस chaleece (Cha-lee-sh)

५० (50) 

पचास pachaas (Pa-cha-sh)

६० (60) 

साठीsathi (Sat-ti)

७० (70) 

सत्तरी sattari (Sa-tha-ri)

८० (80) 

असी assi (aa-si)

९० (90 

नब्बे nabbe (nab-be)

१०० (100 

सय ek saye (A-kh sai-ya)

२०० (200) 

दुइ सय dwi saye (Du-ee sai-ya)

३०० (300)

तीन सय tin saye (Tee-n sai-ya)

१००० (1000) 

हजार ek hazar (A-kh Ha-zar)

२००० (2000) 

दुई हजार dwi hazar (Du-ee Ha-zar)

१००००० (100,000) 

एक लाख ek lakh (A-kh la-kh)

१०००००० (1,000,000) 

दश लाख dus lakh (Daa-ss la-kh)

number _____ (train, bus, etc.) 

number _____ (...)

half 

अाधा aadha (aa-dha)

less 

कम kaam (cum)

more 

धेरै dherai (dhe-raii)

Time

now 

ahile (aa-hee-le)

later 

pachi (paa-chi)

before 

agadi (aa-gha-dee)

morning 

bihana (bee-haa-na)

afternoon 

diuso (di-u-sho)

evening 

beluka (be-lu-kha)

night 

rati (raa-ti)

Clock time

one o'clock AM 

bihana ko ek baje (...)

two o'clock AM 

bihana ko dui baje (...)

noon 

madhyanha (...)

one o'clock PM 

diuso ko ek baje (...)

two o'clock PM 

diuso ko dui baje (...)

midnight 

madhyaraat (...)

Duration

_____ minute(s) 

_____ minute(s) (...)

_____ hour(s) 

_____ ghanta(haru) (gh-n-ta)

_____ day(s) 

_____ din(haru) (dee-n)

_____ week(s) 

_____ haptaa(haru) (hap-ta)

_____ month(s) 

_____ mahina(haru) (maa-hee-na)

_____ year(s) 

_____ barsa(haru) (ba-r-sha)

Days

today 

aaja (aa-ja)

yesterday 

hijo (hee-jo)

tomorrow 

bholi (bho-lee)

this week 

yo hapta(yo hap-ta)

last week 

asti ko hapta(as-ti ko hap-ta)

next week 

arko hapta(ar-ko hap-ta)

Sunday 

aaitabaar (ai-ta-bar)

Monday 

sombaar (som-bar)

Tuesday 

mangalbaar (man-girl-bar)

Wednesday 

budhabaar (bu-dho-bar)

Thursday 

bihibaar (bee-hee-bar)

Friday 

shukrabaar (shuk-ro-bar)

Saturday 

shanibaar (sa-ni-bar)

Months

The Nepali Calendar, called Bikram Sambat or B.S., is a lunar calendar based on ancient Hindu tradition. It is roughly 57 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar (the year 2000 AD was equivalent to the years 2056-2057 BS). The beginning of the year usually falls on the 13th or 14th of April. Therefore, the months are not compatible with the Gregorian calendar.

April 

Baisakh (...)

May 

Jestha (...)

June 

Asadh (...)

July 

Shrawan (...)

August 

Bhadra (...)

September 

Ashoj (...)

October 

Kartik (...)

November 

Mangshir (...)

December 

Poush (...)

January 

Magh (...)

February 

Falgun (...)

March 

Chaitra (...)

Writing time and date

Colours

black 

kalo (...)

white 

seto (...)

gray 

kharani (...)

red 

raato (...)

blue 

nilo (...)

yellow 

pahelo (...)

green 

hariyo (...)

orange 

suntala rang (...)

purple 

baijani (...)

brown 

khairo (...)

pink 

gulabi (..'.)

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____? 

Ticket ko kati paisa ho _____? (...)

One ticket to _____, please. 

Euta ticket dinu hos _____? (...)

Where does this train/bus go? 

Yo gadi kahan janchha? (...)

Where is the train/bus to _____? 

Gaadi kahan pauchha _____? (...)

Does this train/bus stop in _____? 

Yo gadi _____ ma rokchha? (...)

When does the train/bus for _____ leave? 

Gadi kun bela janchha _____? (...)

When will this train/bus arrive in _____? 

Kun bela ma puginchha _____? (...)

What time does the last bus leave? 

Last bust kun bela janchha? (...)

Directions

How do I get to _____ ? 

_____ kasari jhaane? (...)

...the train station? 

...the train station? (...)

...the bus station? 

...the bus station? (...)

...the airport? 

...the airport? (...)

...downtown? 

...downtown? (...)

...the youth hostel? 

...the youth hostel? (...)

...the _____ hotel? 

...the _____ hotel? (...)

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? 

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? (...)

Where are there a lot of... 

Where are there a lot of... (...)

...hotels? 

...hotels? (...)

...restaurants? 

...restaurants? (...)

...bars? 

...bars? (...)

...sites to see? 

...sites to see? (...)

Can you show me on the map? 

malaai naksamaa dekhunus? (...)

street 

baato(...)

Turn left. 

baayaa jaanus. (ba-ya, jaa-noos)

Turn right. 

daya jaanus. (...)

left 

left (baayaa) (bye yaa)

right 

right (dayaa)(die yaa)

straight ahead 

sidha (See-DAH)

towards the _____ 

_____ tira (tei-raw..)

past the _____ 

_____ pachhi (paw-chie)

before the _____ 

_____ aghaaDi (o-gaa-Di)

Watch for the _____. 

_____lai hernus. (lie-hey r-noos)

intersection 

intersection (...)

north 

uttar (u-tta-rr)

south 

dakshin (duck- shin)

east 

purba (pu-r-ba)

west 

paschim (pos-chim)

uphill 

ukaalo (oo-kaa-low)

downhill 

ohralo (o-raa-low)

Taxi

Taxi! 

Taxi!

Take me to _____, please. 

kripaya,malaai________ laanus. (kri-paw-yaa, ma-lie- laa-noos)

How much does it cost to get to _____? 

____ maa jaana kaati parchha? ( maa-jaa-na ka-ti, par-chaa)

Take me there, please. 

kripaya, malaai tyahaa laanus. (kri-payaa, ma-lie tya-haa, laa-noos)

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? 

America/Australia/Canada ko paisaa chalchha? (...)

Do you accept British pounds? 

Belaayatko paisaa chalchha? (...)

Do you accept credit cards? 

Credit card chalchha? (...)

Can you change money for me? 

Malaai khoodraa dinu hunchha ki? (...)

Where can I get money changed? 

Paisa kahaa saatinchha? (...)

Can you change a traveler's check for me? 

travel check linuhucnhha? (...)

Where can I get a traveler's check changed? 

tralvel check kahaa saatichha? (...)

What is the exchange rate? 

saTahi dar ke chha? (...)

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? 

(ATM)maysin kahaa chaa? (...)

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please. 

kripaya Tebul ek yaa dui janaako lagi. (...)

Can I look at the menu, please? 

ma menu herna sakchhu? (...)

Can I look in the kitchen? 

ma keychen herna sakchhu? (...)

Is there a house specialty? 

gharmaa banaaieko kehi chha? (...)

Is there a local specialty? 

sthaaniya bisess kehi chha? (...)

I'm a vegetarian. 

Ma masu kandina. (Ma- ma-SU Kan-DIE-nah)

I don't eat pork. 

ma bangoor khaadina. (...)

I only eat kosher food. 

I only eat kosher food. (...)

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) 

yaslaai jalaaunus", please? (...)

fixed-price meal 

nischit darko khaanaa

(...)

à la carte 

à la carte (...)

breakfast 

breakfast (...)

lunch 

lunch (...)

tea (meal) 

tea (...)

supper 

supper (...)

I want _____. 

_____ chahanchhu. (...)

I want a dish containing _____. 

_____bhaeko thaal chahanchhu. (...)

chicken 

kukhuraa (...)

beef 

gaaiko masu (...)

fish 

maachhaa(...)

ham 

ham (...)

cheese 

chij (...)

eggs 

anDaa (...)

salad 

salad (...)

(fresh) vegetables 

(taajaa) tarkaari (...)

(fresh) fruit 

(taajaa) phalphul (...)

bread 

roTi(roti)

toast 

toast (...)

noodles 

chau chau (...)

rice 

bhat (BHAT)

lentils 

daal (da-all)

May I have ai glass of _____? 

malaai ek gilaas _____ dinus? (...)

May I have a cup of _____? 

malaai ek cup _____ dinus? (...)

May I have a bottle of _____? 

malaai ek botal_____ dinus? (...)

coffee 

coffee (...)

tea (drink) 

chiya (CHEE-ah)

juice 

juice (...)

water 

pani (PAN-ee)

beer 

beer (BEER)

May I have some _____? 

malaai kehi _____ dinus? (...)

salt 

nun (noon)

black pepper 

marich (...)

butter 

butter (...)

I'm finished. 

Pugcha. (POOG-CHA)

It was delicious. 

Mito chaa (...)

Please clear the plates. 

Please clear the plates. (The waiter is usually hovering to take your plate, you will not need this)(...)

The check, please. 

Bill please. (Asking for the 'check' may cause some minor confusion)(...)

Bars

Do you serve alcohol? 

Do you serve alcohol? (...)

Is there table service? 

Is there table service? (...)

A beer/two beers, please. 

A beer/two beers, please. (...)

A glass of red/white wine, please. 

A glass of red/white wine, please. (...)

A pint, please. 

A pint, please. (...)

A bottle, please. 

A bottle, please. (...)

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. 

_____ and _____, please. (...)

whiskey 

whiskey (...)

vodka 

vodka (...)

rum 

rum (...)

water 

water (pani)

club soda 

club soda (...)

tonic water 

tonic water (...)

orange juice 

orange juice (...)

Coke (soda) 

Coke (...)

Do you have any bar snacks? 

Do you have any bar snacks? (...)

One more, please. 

One more, please. (...)

Another round, please. 

Another round, please. (...)

When is closing time? 

kati khera bandha hunchha? (...)

Shopping

Do you have this in my size? 

mero size maa mil chha? (...)

How much is this? 

yes ko kati parchha? (...)

That's too expensive. 

yo ekdam mahango bhayo. (...)

Would you take _____? 

_____ rupiya linus? (...)

expensive 

mahango (...)

cheap 

sasto (...)

I can't afford it. 

ma kinna sakdina. (...)

I don't want it. 

malaai chahidaina. (...)

You're cheating me. 

tapaai malaai chhaldai hunuhunchha. (...)

I'm not interested. 

ma ichchhuk chhaina. (..)

OK, I'll take it. 

OK, thik chha, ma yo linchhu. (...)

Can I have a bag? 

malaai euTaa jhoolaa dinus? (...)

Do you ship (overseas)? 

tapaai shipmaa paThaunuhunchha(bidesmaa)? (...)

I need... 

malaai chaahinchha... (...)

...toothpaste. 

...danta manjan. (...)

...a toothbrush. 

...daat majhne burus. (...)

...tampons. 

...tampons. (...)

...soap. 

sabun. (...)

...shampoo. 

...shampoo. (...)

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) 

...dukhaai haTaaune aushadhi. (...)

...cold medicine. 

...chiso dawaai. (...)

...stomach medicine. 

...peTko aushadi. (...)

...a razor. 

...a razor. (...)

...an umbrella. 

...chhataa. (...)

...sunblock lotion. 

...sunblock lotion. (...)

...a postcard. 

...a postcard. (...)

...postage stamps. 

...hulaak Tikat. (...)

...batteries. 

...batteries. (...)

...writing paper. 

...lekhne kaapi. (...)

...a pen. 

...kalam. (...)

...English-language books. 

...angreji bhaasaako kitaab. (...)

...English-language magazines. 

...angreji bhaasaako patrikaa. (...)

...an English-language newspaper. 

...angreji bhaasaako patrikaa. (...)

...an English-English dictionary. 

...angreji bhaasaako sabdkosh. (...)

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong. 

Maile kehi galti gareko chaina. (...)

It was a misunderstanding. 

bujhaai maa kehi galti thiyo. (...)

Where are you taking me? 

tapaai malaai kahaa laadai hunuhunchha? (...)

Am I under arrest? 

ma pakrau pareko hu? (...)

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. 

ma American/Australian/British/Canadian naagarik hu. (...)

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. 

ma American/Australian/British/Canadian dutaabaas/ baanijya dutaabaas sanga kura garna chahanchhu. (...)

I want to talk to a lawyer. 

ma wakil sanga kuraa garna chahanchhu. (...)

Can I just pay a fine now? 

ma jariwaanaa maatra tirchhu? (...)