Learn Some Basic Nepali Phrases To Use While In Nepal
Not only in Nepal but in any other country where you are traveling, knowing one or two phrases or terms of the local language makes your trip easy and more enjoyable. Considering Nepal as a friendly destination, you will get a lot of happy reactions if you use one or two of the following basic Nepali phrases, at the very least. And, here are some of the common Nepali phrases that we use in Nepal.
All the words that are written in Bold Italics are Nepali phrases/words.
Let’s start with some basic greetings. These are the phrases that are generally used when you meet someone for the first time and continue a bit of a conversation.
Hello – Namaste | Namaskar, or you can simply say hello
Good Morning – It’s Shubha Prabhat in the Nepali language, however, you can also say good morning, as in we are used to it rather than Shubha Prabhat
Good Evening – same goes for the good evening, you can simply say good evening
How are you?- Timilai Kasto Chha? Or Sanchai Chhau?
I am fine. Thank you. – Ma thikai Chhu as in I’m good. Or, Malai sanchai Chha, it means I am fine. And, Dhanyabad (Thank You)
What’s up? – K chha? Thik Chha? (Thik Chha? Also refers to how are you. Or, how are you doing?
See you again – Feri Vetaula, it also means let’s meet again.
Where are you from?- Timi kaha bata aayeko?
The answer to that will be like Ma (your country) bata aayeko.
What is your name? – Timro naam k ho?
The answer to that will be like Mero naam (your name) ho.
Now, here are a few words that are often used by the traveler. It’s easy to learn and remember and you’ll feel like you have learned a lot of words.
Yes – Ah or ho
(If you are considering giving an answer for something like Do you have a visa or ticket? Then you can answer with Chha. Chha means to have or to have something)
No – hoina
(Just like Chha, If you do not have things then you can say Chhaina). Chhaina means you don’t have it.
Maybe- Saayad
Thanks – Dhanyabad (as mentioned earlier). Or, you can simply say thanks.
Sorry – you can use sorry. But the actual translation of sorry is Maaf Garnuhos. You can use this word in like Maaf Garnuhos, Hajurle k vannu vayeko? – It means Sorry, what did you say?
Again – Feri
Where? – Kaha? or kata?
What? – K?
Why? – Kina?
When? – Kahile?;
Please – Kripaya but please is also fine.
Alright – Thik Chha
I’m tired – Ma Thaki Rakheko Chhu
I’m happy – Ma Khusi Chhu. If you want to say I’m truly happy, You can say Ma Sachhai Khusi Chhu. And, for I am very happy, you can say Ma Dherai Nai Khusi Chhu. Or, Ma Nikai Nai Khusi Chhu.
I need a taxi – Malai Eauta Taxi Chahiyo | Chahinchha
Right – Daaya
Left – Baaya
Straight ahead – Sidhaa Agaadi
Good – Raamro
Very good – Dherai Raamro (Dherai means more)
Bad – Naraamro
You – Timi (If you are talking to the same age group of people or younger than you) or Tapai ( for elder people than you). If you want to speak with more respect then, you can use Hajur. Like Hajurlai kasto xa? It means how are you but in a more respective manner.
Well, Hajur is also used as an answer if someone calls you. Like if someone calls you by your name then you can answer them with Hajur. It’s more like saying yes, how can I help you?
With that, here are some general words or phrases that you can use while in hotels, shops, or restaurants.
Tea – Chiya
Coffee -Coffee
Sugar – Chini
Mint tea – Dudh Chiya
Milk –Dudh
Water – Paani
Toilet – Most of us nowadays use the word toilet for it. But the actual Nepali word for this is Shauchaalaya or Charpi
Room – Kotha
Hotel – Hotel
House – Ghar
Tips – Tips or Bakshish
Money – Paisa or Rupiya
How much is this? – Yeslai Kati Parchha?
Can I look at this? – K ma yo herna sakchhu? Or Maile yo saman herna milchha?
That’s very nice – Yo Ek Damai Ramro Chha. Or, simply Ramro Chha.
Too expensive – Dherai Mahango Chha
No thanks, I do not want it. – Haina Thik Xa. Malai Yo Chahidaina.
Ok – Hunchha
Today – Aaja
Tomorrow – Bholi
Yesterday – Hijo
Some Terms for Money
In Nepal, we generally call money, Paisa even though Paisa actually denotes a small unit of money. It’s actually a smaller unit than a Rupee. The Nepalese Currency is called Rupiyaa or Rupaiyaa. But you can ask like Kati Paisa Vayo? To ask how much it cost.
One – Ek
Two – Dui
Three – Teen
Four – Chaar
Five – Paanch
Six – Chha ( Similar to Have_ Chha)
Seven – Saat
Eight – Aatha
Nine – Nau
Ten – Dus
Twenty – Bis
Thirty – Tees
Forty – Chaalish
Fifty – Pachaash
Sixty – Saathi
Seventy – Sattari
Eighty – Assi
Ninty – Nabbe
Hundred – Saye
Two hundred – Dui Saye
Three hundred – Teen Saye (It’s simple. All you need to do is add Saye (hundred) after the first numerical word.)
Thousand- Hajaar
Two thousand – Dui Hajaar ( Same process as in hundred. Add the numeric word before Hajaar (thousand)
*Note: The adding and counting of numbers are only easy from one up to ten. For Eleven, twenty-one, and such terms, there are different words. You need to learn Nepali to understand and practice all those words.)