Language

Nepal in a Nutshell

The roots of Nepals’ diverse linguistic heritage are the three major language groups: Indo-Aryan, Tibeto-Burman and various indogenous language isolates. The major languages in Nepal according to the 2011 census are Nepali (44.6%), Maithili (11.7%), Bhojpuri (Awadhi Language) (6.0%), Tharu (5.8%), Tamang (5.1%), Nepal Bhasa (3.2%), Bajjika (3%) and Magar (3.0%), Doteli (3.0%), Urdu (2.6%) and Sunwar.

Nepali is derived from Sanskrit and is written in Devanagari script. Nepali serves as lingua franca and is the official language which helps to communicate between the different ethnolinguistic groups. Varieties of Tibetan are spoken in and north of the higher Himalaya.

Nepali

Pronunciation

Vowels:

  • a as the ‘u’ in ‘hut’
  • ā as the ‘ar’ in ‘garden’ (without the ‘r’ sound)
  • e as the ‘e’ in ‘best’ but longer
  • i as the ‘I’ in ‘sister’ but longer
  • s the ‘o’ in sold
  • u as the ‘u’ in ‘put’
  • ai as the ‘i’ in ‘mine’
  • au as the ‘ow’ in ‘cow’

Consonants:
Most Nepali consonants are similar to their English counterparts. The exceptions are the so called retroflex consonants and the aspirated consonants. Retroflex sounds are made by curling the tongue tip back to touch the roof of the mouth as you make sound. Aspirated consonants are sounded more forcefully than they would be in English and are made by a short puff of air. Don’t confuse the Nepali aspirated combinations ph and th with their English counterparts in words like ‘phone’, ‘teeth’, ‘thin’. In Nepali, the ph is pronounced as the ‘p’ in ‘pit’ and the th as the ‘t’ in ‘time’.

Conversation & Greetings

welcome

hello

What is your name?

My name is…

How are you?

Reply to ‘how are you?’

Where are you from?

I’m from…

good morning

good afternoon

good evening

good night

Have a nice day!

swagatam

namaste

Tapaiko naam ke ho?/Timro naam ke ho?

Mero naam … ho

Timi lai kasto cha?/Tapaii lai kasto cha?

Malaai sanchai cha. tapaaiilaaii nie?

Tappaaiikii ghara kaaham ho?

Mero ghara … ho

subha prabhat

namaskar

subha sandhya

subha ratri

Subha din!

Essentials

Thank you.

Excuse me.

Please (give me)

Please (you have)

Yes (I have)

no

maybe

ok

Where?

here

there

good/pretty

bad

I don’t need it.

I don’t have it.

Wait a minute.

 

dhanyabaad

hajur

dinuhos

khānuhos

ho, chā

chainna/Haina

sayaad

theekcha

Kahā?

yah

tyah

ramro

naramro

Mailai chahina.

Ma sanga chhaina.

Ek chhin parkhanos.

Accommodation

Where is a …?

guesthouse

hotel

gampsite

lodge

What is the adress?

Please write down the adress.

Can I get a place to stay here?

Do you have rooms available?

May I look at the room?

How much is it per night?

Does it include breakfast?

room

hot Water

clean

dirty

… kahā chha?

pāhuna ghar

hotel

shivir

laj

Thengānā ke ho?

thegānā lekhunuhos

Yahā bās paunchha?

Kanau kotha upalabda cha?

Kothā herna sakchhu?

Ek rātko, kati paisa ho?

Bihāanako khāna samet ho?

khot

tāto pāni

sapha

phobhar

Language Difficulties

Do you speak English?

I only speak a little Nepalis.

I don’t understand.

I understand.

Please say it again.

Please speak more slowly!

Tapaai Angreji bolnuhunchha?

Ma ali nepali bolchhu.

Maile buhjina.

Ma bujhchu.

Pheri bhanuhos.

Tapai bistārai bolnuhos!

Directions

Where is the toilet?

How do I get to …?

left

right

straight ahead

I’m lost.

Get lost!/Go away!

Toilet kata cha?

… kasari jhaane?

baayaa

dayya

sidha

Ma haraya.

Yaha bata haat!

Shopping & Services

Where is the market?

What is it made of?

How much?

That’s  enough!

I like this

I don’t like this

money

cheap

expensive

less

more

little bit

How much is this?

bank

embassy

museum

police

post office

What time does it open/close?

I want to change some money.

Bazār kata parchha?

Kele baneko?

Kati?

Pugyo!

Malai yo ramro lagyo.

Malai yo ramro lageno.

paisa

sasto

mahango

kam

badhi

alikati, aliali

Yes ko kati parchha?

baink

… rājdutāvas

samrāhālaya

prahari

post afis

Kai baje kholchha/bandha gharcha?

Pasiā sātnu manlāgcha.

Food & Meals

Have a nice meal!

I’m a vegetarian.

I don’t eat pork.

food

water

tea

coffee

Ramrai khanu hola!

Ma masu kandina.

Ma bangoor khaadina.

kanna

paani

chiya

coffee

Emergencies

Help!

It’s an emergency!

There’s been an accident!

Please call a doctor!

Where is the (public) toilet? 

I’m lost!

Guhār!

Āpat paryo!

Durghantanā bhayo!

Dāktarlai bolaunuhos!

Shauchalaya kaha chha?

Ma harāye!

Health

Where is the nearest hospital?

Where can I find a good doctor?

I don’t feel well.

I have diarrhoea.

I have altitude sickness.

I have a fever.

I’m having trouble breathing.

medicine

pharmacy

I have …

asthma

diabetes

epilepsy

Rāmro dāktar kaha pāincha?

Yahā aspatāl kahā chha?

Malāi Sancho.

Dishā lāgyo.

Lekh lāgyo.

Joro āyo.

Sās pherna sakdina.

ausadhi

ausadhi pasal

Malāi … lāgyo.

damko bathy

madhu meha

chāre rog

Time & Dates

What time is it?

It’s one o’clock.

minute

hour

day

today

yesterday

tomorrow

now

week

month

What day is today?

Today is …

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Kati bajyo?

Ek bajyo.

minet

ghant

din

Āja

hijo

bhali

ahile

hapt

mahin

Āje ke bar?

Āja … ho.

Som bār

Mandal bār

Budh bār

Bihi bār

Sukra bār

Sani bār

Āita bār

Nepali Numbers

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

ek

dui

teen

chaar

paa~ch

chha

saat

aatth

nau

das

egaara

baara

tayra

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

chaudha

pandhra

sora

satra

atthaara

un-naais

bees

ek-kaais

baais

tay-is

chaubis

pachchis

chhabbis

27

28

29

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1000

sat-taais

atttthaais

unantis

tees

chaalis

pachaas

saatttthi

satri

as-si

nab-be

saya

hazaar

 

 

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