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Nepali phrasebook Travel Guide

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Nepali is the official language of Nepal. 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, it is not the mother tongue of a large percentage of the population. An example of other languages spoken in Nepal are Tharu around Chitwan, Newari in the Kathmandu Valley, and Sharwa (Sherpa) in the Everest area.

Educated Nepalis can often speak English, because of the proximity of India, even though Nepal was never a British colony. Learning even a few words of Nepali can be fun and very useful, especially outside of the tourist district and while trekking.

Contents

Pronunciation Guide

h A superscript "h" indicates that the proceeding consonant is aspirated. "Aspiration" just means that the sound involves a more forceful breath. At first it will sound like everyone around you is always on the verge of laughing -- "c -ha!- t" "d -ha!- og!" For now it's just important to remember that "th" is not the "th" sound in "that" -- there is no "thuuu" sound in Nepali.

n A superscript "n" indicates that the proceeding vowel is nasal. To the English-speaking ear (don't try to visualize that to hard) nasalized vowels just sound like they are followed by a "n." Listen to yourself say words like "injury," "animal," and "young."

! The trickiest sound for non-natives are the "retroflex" consonants. Usually they are represented by a dot under the letter or by bold text, but I find that too easy to overlook so I'm using an exclamation mark. The retroflex consonants are what make an "Indian accent" sound "Indian." Think of Apu the Quicky Mart owner, from the Simpsons, then:

  1. Find your tongue
  2. Find the inside of your mouth
  3. Use your tongue to poke at the roof of your mouth
  4. Notice there's a kind of ridge behind your top teeth
  5. Curl your tongue so that the bottom of the tip is touching this ridge
  6. Look in a mirror
  7. Do you see the gross bottom of your tongue? Good!
  8. Now say "Doh!" like Homer
  9. Now find someone you know who can make the sound and have them show you

All the Nepali words you'll see here are written in "Roman Transliteration" -- which just means using the Roman alphabet to try and represent sounds in the Nepali alphabet (which isn't really an "alphabet" per se, but that's another conversation).

In English we use a combination of letters to represent different sounds, so the "a" in "father" is different from the "a" in "made" or "bat". In the transliteration of Nepali, one letter pretty much equals one sound. There are no silent "q"s or "k"s or "e"s. K-n-i-e-f is "K-nief," m-a-d-e is "ma-de," etc.

Consonants, with the exception of the aspirated and retroflex variety are pretty much what you'd expect.


Vowels

a 
like 'a' in "apple",
aa 
like 'a' in "made", but longer
e 
'e' in "bed"
i 
like the 'y' in "Johnney"
o 
like 'o' in "top"
u 
like 'oo' in "coop"

Consonants

b 
like 'b' in "bed"
bh 
like 'b' in "bed," but with an extra puff of air, like "Bhuh-ed"
ch 
like 'ch' in "chat"
d 
like 'd' in "dog"
d 
like 'd' in "dog" but with an extra puff of air, like "Dhuh-og"
f 
like 'f' in "frog"
g 
like 'g' in "go"
gh 
like 'g' in "go" but with an extra puff of air "gh
h 
like 'h' in "help" (often silent in the UK and other Commonwealth countries)
j 
like 'dg' in "edge"
k 
like 'c' in "cat"
l 
like 'l' in "love"
m 
like 'm' in "mother"
n 
like 'n' in "nice"
p 
like 'p' in "pig"
q 
like 'q' in "quest" (with "u", almost always)
r 
like 'r' in "row", like 'r' in "feather" (often silent in the UK and other Commonwealth countries at end of word)
s 
like 'ss' in "hiss"
t 
like 't' in "top"
v 
at the beginning of a word, somewhere between the "v" in "vice" and "w" in "wives." In the middle of a word somewhere between the "v" in "vice" and the "b" in "bike." Spelling-wise, these are interchangable ("Shiva-Shiba" "Vishnu"-"Wishnu"). Err on the side of a "v" sound.


Phrase list

Basics

Hello. 
Namaste. (Nah-MAH-stay)
Hello. (formal) 
Namaskar. (Nah-MAH-skar)
How are you? 
Sanci cha? (San-chi-CHA?)
Fine, thank you. 
Sanci cha (San-chi-CHA)
What is your name? 
Hajur ko naam ke ho? (ha-jur ko na-m k ho?)
My name is ______ . 
Meero name ______ ho. (Meer-o nam-ay _____ ho.)
Please. 
indicated by using the polite form
Thank you. 
dhanyabaad (DAH-ne-bat) not used in common conversation.
Yes. 
Hajur. (HA-jur)
No. 
Chaina. (Chi-NA)
Excuse me. (getting attention) 
Excuse me.
Excuse me. (begging pardon) 
Excuse me.
I'm sorry. 
I'm sorry.
Goodbye 
Namaskaar
Goodbye (informal) 
Namaste
I only speak a little Nepali
malaai Nepali bolchu ali-ali[well]. (May-lay nee-pa-li bowl-chu all-ee all-ee)
Do you speak English? 
Tapalaai Angregi bolchu? (Ta-Pay-Lay Ang-gri-gee bol-chu?)
Is there someone here who speaks English? 
Is there someone here who speaks English? \; Help! : Help! (HEHLP!)
Good morning. 
Good morning.
Good evening. 
Good evening. (
Good night. 
Good night.
Good night  
Good night.
I don't understand. 
Maalai buhjina. ()
Where is the toilet? 
Toilet kasari jhaane? (')

Problems

Leave me alone. 
Leave me alone. (...)
Don't touch me! 
Don't touch me! (...)
I'll call the police. 
I'll call the police. (...)
Police! 
Police! (...)
Stop! Thief! 
Stop! Thief! (...)
I need your help. 
I need your help. (...)
It's an emergency. 
It's an emergency. (...)
I'm lost. 
I'm lost. (...)
I lost my bag. 
I lost my bag. (...)
I lost my wallet. 
I lost my wallet. (...)
I'm sick. 
Malaai sancho chaina. (Muh-lay san-chee chan-die-nah)
I've been injured. 
I've been injured. (...)
I need a doctor. 
I need a doctor. (...)
Can I use your phone? 
Can I use your phone? (...)

Numbers

1 
ek (')
2 
dui (...)
3 
tien (...)
4 
char (...)
5 
panch (...)
6 
chha (...)
7 
saat (...)
8 
aath (...)
9 
nau (...)
10 
das (duss)
11 
eghara (...)
12 
bara (...)
13 
teera (...)
14 
chauda (...)
15 
pandhra (...)
16 
sorha (...)
17 
satra (...)
18 
athara (...)
19 
unais (...)
20 
bis (...)
30 
teece (...)
40 
chaleece (...)
50 
pachaase (...)
60 
sathi (...)
70 
sattari (...)
80 
assi (...)
90 
nabbe (...)
100 
ek saye (...)
200 
dwi saye (...)
300 
tin saye (...)
1000 
ek hazar (...)
2000 
dwi hazar (...)
1,000,000 
 ? dus lakh (...)
number _____ (train, bus, etc.) 
number _____ (...)
half 
aadha (...)
less 
kaam (...)
more 
dherai (...)

Time

now 
ahile (...)
later 
pachi (...)
before 
before (...)
morning 
bihana (...)
afternoon 
diuso (...)
evening 
beluka (...)
night 
rati (...)

Clock time

one o'clock AM 
bihana ek baje (...)
two o'clock AM 
bihana dui baje (...)
noon 
madhyantar (...)
one o'clock PM 
diuso ek baje (...)
two o'clock PM 
diuso dui baje (...)
midnight 
madhyaraat (...)

Duration

_____ minute(s) 
_____ minute(s) (...)
_____ hour(s) 
_____ ghanta(haru) (...)
_____ day(s) 
_____ din(haru) (...)
_____ week(s) 
_____ haptaa(haru) (...)
_____ month(s) 
_____ mahina(haru) (...)
_____ year(s) 
_____ barsa(haru) (...)

Days

today 
aaja (...)
yesterday 
hijo (...)
tomorrow 
bholi (...)
this week 
yo hapta(...)
last week 
asti ko hapta(...)
next week 
arko hapta(...)
Sunday 
aaitabaar (...)
Monday 
sombaar (...)
Tuesday 
mangalbaar (...)
Wednesday 
budhabaar (...)
Thursday 
bihibaar (...)
Friday 
shukrabaar (...)
Saturday 
shanibaar (...)

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

Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from Enlish.

Colors

black 
kalo (...)
white 
seto (...)
gray 
kharani (...)
red 
raato (...)
blue 
nilo (...)
yellow 
pahelo (...)
green 
hariyo (...)
orange 
suntala rang (...)
purple 
baijani (...)
brown 
khairo (...)

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? 
Can you show me on the map? (...)
street 
street (...)
Turn left. 
Turn left. (...)
Turn right. 
Turn right. (...)
left 
left (bayah) (bye yaa)
right 
right (dayah)(die yaa)
straight ahead 
sidha (See-DAH)
towards the _____ 
towards the _____ (...)
past the _____ 
past the _____ (...)
before the _____ 
before the _____ (...)
Watch for the _____. 
Watch for the _____. (...)
intersection 
intersection (...)
north 
north (...)
south 
south (...)
east 
east (...)
west 
west (...)
uphill 
uphill (...)
downhill 
downhill (...)

Taxi

Taxi! 
Taxi!
Take me to _____, please. 
Take me to _____, please. (...)
How much does it cost to get to _____? 
How much does it cost to

get to _____? (...)

Take me there, please. 
Take me there, please. (...)


Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? 
Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? (...)
Do you accept British pounds? 
Do you accept British pounds? (...)
Do you accept credit cards? 
Do you accept credit cards? (...)
Can you change money for me? 
Can you change money for me? (...)
Where can I get money changed? 
Where can I get money changed? (...)
Can you change a traveler's check for me? 
Can you change a traveler's check for me? (...)
Where can I get a traveler's check changed? 
Where can I get a traveler's check changed? (...)
What is the exchange rate? 
What is the exchange rate? (...)
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? 
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? (...)

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please. 
A table for one person/two people, please. (...)
Can I look at the menu, please? 
 ? (...)
Can I look in the kitchen? 
Can I look in the kitchen? (...)
Is there a house specialty? 
Is there a house specialty? (...)
Is there a local specialty? 
Is there a local specialty? (...)
I'm a vegetarian. 
Maalai masu kandina. (May-LAY ma-SU Kan-DIE-nah)
I don't eat pork. 
I don't eat pork. (...)
I only eat kosher food. 
I only eat kosher food. (...)
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) 
Can you make it "lite", please? (...)
fixed-price meal 
fixed-price meal (...)
à la carte 
à la carte (...)
breakfast 
breakfast (...)
lunch 
lunch (...)
tea (meal) 
tea (...)
supper 
supper (...)
I want _____. 
I want _____. (...)
I want a dish containing _____. 
I want a dish containing _____. (...)
chicken 
kukhuri (...)
beef 
masu (...)
fish 
fish (...)
ham 
ham (...)
cheese 
chij (...)
eggs 
eggs (...)
salad 
salad (...)
(fresh) vegetables 
(fresh) vegetables (...)
(fresh) fruit 
(fresh) fruit (...)
bread 
bread (...)
toast 
toast (...)
noodles 
noodles (...)
rice 
bhat (BHAT)
lentils 
daal (da-all)
May I have a glass of _____? 
malaai _____? (...)
May I have a cup of _____? 
May I have a cup of _____? (...)
May I have a bottle of _____? 
May I have a bottle of _____? (...)
coffee 
coffee (...)
tea (drink) 
chiya (CHEE-ah)
juice 
juice (...)
water 
pani (PAN-ee)
beer 
beer (BEER)
May I have some _____? 
May I have some _____? (...)
salt 
nun (noon)
black pepper 
black pepper (...)
butter 
butter (...)
I'm finished. 
Pugcha. (POOG-CHA)
It was delicious. 
. (...)
Please clear the plates. 
Please clear the plates. (...)
The check, please. 
The check, please. (...)

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 (...)
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? 
When is closing time? (...)

Shopping

Do you have this in my size? 
Do you have this in my size? (...)
How much is this? 
How much is this? (...)
That's too expensive. 
That's too expensive. (...)
Would you take _____? 
Would you take _____? (...)
expensive 
expensive (...)
cheap 
cheap (...)
I can't afford it. 
I can't afford it. (...)
I don't want it. 
I don't want it. (...)
You're cheating me. 
You're cheating me. (...)
I'm not interested. 
I'm not interested. (..)
OK, I'll take it. 
OK, I'll take it. (...)
Can I have a bag? 
Can I have a bag? (...)
Do you ship (overseas)? 
Do you ship (overseas)? (...)
I need... 
I need... (...)
...toothpaste. 
...toothpaste. (...)
...a toothbrush. 
...a toothbrush. (...)
...tampons. 
...tampons. (...)
...soap. 
sabun. (...)
...shampoo. 
...shampoo. (...)
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) 
...pain reliever. (...)
...cold medicine. 
...cold medicine. (...)
...stomach medicine. 
...stomach medicine. (...)
...a razor. 
...a razor. (...)
...an umbrella. 
...an umbrella. (...)
...sunblock lotion. 
...sunblock lotion. (...)
...a postcard. 
...a postcard. (...)
...postage stamps. 
...postage stamps. (...)
...batteries. 
...batteries. (...)
...writing paper. 
...writing paper. (...)
...a pen. 
...a pen. (...)
...English-language books. 
...English-language books. (...)
...English-language magazines. 
...English-language magazines. (...)
...an English-language newspaper. 
...an English-language newspaper. (...)
...an English-English dictionary. 
...an English-English dictionary. (...)

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong. 
I haven't done anything wrong. (...)
It was a misunderstanding. 
It was a misunderstanding. (...)
Where are you taking me? 
Where are you taking me? (...)
Am I under arrest? 
Am I under arrest? (...)
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. 
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. (...)
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. 
I need to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. (...)
I want to talk to a lawyer. 
I want to talk to a lawyer. (...)
Can I just pay a fine now? 
Can I just pay a fine now? (...)

Learning more

This is where you'd give more information on learning the language, such as links to online courses or textbooks, or suggestions for in-person courses to take.

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