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?
yahā
tyahā
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?
khotā
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 bathyā
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
ghantā
din
Āja
hijo
bhali
ahile
haptā
mahinā
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