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Nepali Language Primer
Learning a few of the basics is really opens up a country
to the traveler, visitor, tourist... Just a little of the
language will help you to get around, to meet people and to
really deepen your experience of a culture. It shows the
locals that you want to learn about them and care about
their country and culture. So start with these basics...
note:
Underlined words are shown as samples only, you should
substitute as necessary
Basic Greetings and Pleasantries
| Nepali Transliteration
|
English Translation |
| Namaste
|
Hello,
Greetings, I bless the divine in you
|
| Namaskar
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The more
respectful version of Namaste
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Hajur
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All purpose term meaning yes?
Pardon, Excuse me?
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(Tapaiilai)
Kasto Cha?
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How are
you?
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(Malai)
Thik Cha
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I am fine
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Khana
khannu bhaiyo?
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Have you
eaten? (used often as informal greeting)
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Dhanybhad
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Thank you
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Tapaiiko
naam ke ho?
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What is you name?
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Mero naam
Ann-Marie ho
|
My name
is Ann-Marie
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Maaph
garnuhos
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Excuse
me/ pardon me/ sorry
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Maile
bhujhina
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I don’t understand
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Maile
bhujhe
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I understand
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Pheri
bhetaunla
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I hope we meet again
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Addressing People / things
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Ann-Marie-ji
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Formal
way to address someone using their name
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Aama /
Buwa
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Mother / Father, but also friendly
term men/women roughly in your parents generation
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Didi /
Bahini
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Older /
Younger sister, but also friendly term used to refer
to other women roughly in your generation
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Dhai /
Bhai
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Older / Younger brother, same as
above
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Nanu /
Babu
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Young
girl / boy child
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Ma / Hami
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I / We
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Tapaii
|
You
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Yo / Tyo
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This /
That
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Verb bases (infinitive form) & Verb
Conjugation
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Janu
|
To go |
Bolnu
|
To speak |
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Aunu |
To come |
Roknu
|
To stop |
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Basnu
|
To sit |
Hidnu |
To walk |
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Khannu
|
To eat |
Khelnu
|
To play |
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Rakhnu |
To put |
Sutnu |
To sleep |
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Garnu |
To do |
Hernu
|
To see |
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Dinu
|
To give |
Pewnu
|
To drink |
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Linu |
To take |
Oothnu
|
rise/wake up |
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Kinnu
|
To buy |
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Note: the order of sentences is reversed in Nepali.
The conjugated verb is always last.
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To politely
ask someone to do something, add a ‘s’
to the verb base. |
Ex. Aunus /
Basnus / Khannus - Please come / Please
eat |
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Add ‘na’ at the beginning to make it
negative
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Ex. Chinni
narakhnus - Please don’t put sugar in
(ex. the tea)
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For first person action, drop the ‘u’
and add ‘choo’ and add ma ( I ) at the
beginning
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Ex. Ma
janchoo/ aunchoo/ baschoo - I am going /
coming / sitting. It can also be
understood for future action. I will go
/ come / sit. |
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For respectful past tense but not first
person (I) just add bhaiyo to the verb
base
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Ex. aunu bhaiyo / khannu bhaiyo - came /
ate
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For informal
way of asking someone if they want to do
something, drop ‘u’ and add ‘e’ |
ex. momo
khanne? / Thamel jane? - Want to eat
momos? / Want to go to Thamel?
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Informal way of asking someone to join
you in doing something, drop ‘nu’ and
add ‘am’
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Ex. Jaam / Basaam / Khaam - Let’s go /
let’s sit / let’s eat
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To combine two verbs, drop ‘u’ & add ‘a’
to first, and drop ‘u’ & add ‘chu to
second.
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Ex. Ma auna sakchu - I can come
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Useful Adjectives
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Mahango / Sasto
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Expensive / Cheap
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Ramro / Naramro
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Good / Bad
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Sapha / Phohar
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Clean / Dirty
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Thulo / Sano
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Big / Small
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Sajilo / Gahro
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Easy / Hard
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Thada / Najik
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Far / Close
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Chito / Dhilo
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Fast / Slow
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Tato / Cheeso
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Hot / Cold (for food)
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Garmi / Jaado
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Hot / Cold (for weather)
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Naya / Purano
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New / Old |
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Dhani / Garib
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Rich / Poor
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Add ‘dherai’ to show ‘very’
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Ex. Trekking dherai gahro cha
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Trekking is very hard
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Question Words
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Ke
|
What |
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Kahaang
|
Where |
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Kati
|
How much |
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Kina / kinabhane
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Why / because
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Kasko
|
Whose |
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Kahile
|
When
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Kun
|
Which |
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Kasari
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How
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Kasto
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How (of quality)
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Food adjectives
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Mitho / namitho
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Tasty / Not tasty
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Bhuteko
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Fried
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Umaaleko
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Boiled
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Noonilo
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Salty
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Gooliyo
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Sweet |
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Amilo
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Sour |
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Tito
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Bitter
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Piro
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Spicy
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Food Items
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Tarkari / Vegetables
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Gajur / Carrots
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Kaulee / Cauliflower
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Bandakobi / Cabbage
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Alu / Potato
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Makai / Corn
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Saag / Spinach
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Kerau / Peas
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Parsi / Pumpkin
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Pyaaj / Onion
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Lasun / Garlic
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Kaankro / Cucumber
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Simee / Beans
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Coursani / Chili
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Adhuwa / Ginger
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Bhatamas / Soybean
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Golbheraa / Tomato
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Dhal / Lentil
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Bhadam / Peanut
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Kaju / Cashew
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Mohar / Honey
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Bhat / Rice
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Dudh / Milk
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Daihee / Yogurt
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Pauroti / Bread (Loaf)
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Chapati / Bread (flat round)
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Tel / Oil |
Noon / Salt
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Chinni / Sugar
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Syaau / Apple
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Keraa / Banana
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Nariwal / Coconut
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Angur / Grapes
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Kagati / Lemon
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Aanp / Mango
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Suntalaa / Orange
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Mewaa / Papaya
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Masu / Meat
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Andaa / Egg
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Macha / Fish
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Kukhura / Chicken
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Kasi / Goat
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Sungur / Pork
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Kalo chiya / Black tea
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Kagatiko chiya / Lemon tea
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Dudh chiya / Milk tea
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Adhuwa chiya / Ginger tea
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Kalo coffee / Black coffee
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Dudh chiya / Milk tea
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Pani / water
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Umaleko pani / Boiled water
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Raksi / Alcohol
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Toomba / Millet beer
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Chyang / Rice beer
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Ras / Juice
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Useful nouns
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Bato / Road
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Pul / Bridge
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Des / Country
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Bajar / Market
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Kotha / Room
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Gau / Village
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Khola / River
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Pasal / Shop
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Khanna / Food
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Ghar / House
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Mithai / Sweets
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Koseli / Gift
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Topee / Hat
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Jhola / Bag, pack
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Git / Song
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Kitaab / Book
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Manche / Person
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Mancheharu / People
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Chorachori / Children
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Bideshi / Foreigner
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Pariwar / Family
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Dharma / Religion
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Numbers
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1 / ek
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6 / cha
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15 / pandhra
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50 / pachaase
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2 / dui
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7 / saat
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20 / beece
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60 / sathi
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3 / tin
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8 / aath
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25 / pacheece
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70 / sattari
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4 / char
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9 / nau
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30 / teece
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80 / assi
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5 / panchs
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10 / das
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40 / chaleece
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90 / nabbe
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100 / ek saye
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200 / dui saye
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1000 ek hazar
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Expressions of
Time
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Aaja / Today
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Hijo / Yesterday
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Bholi / Tomorrow
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Ghanta / Hour
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Din / Day
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Haptaa / Week
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Mahina / Month
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Barsa / Year
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Bihaana / Morning
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Diunso / Afternoon
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Beluka / Evening
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Raatri / Night
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Subha raatri
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Good night
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Kati bhajyo?
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What time is it?
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Ek bhajyo |
One o' clock
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Possession
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Add ‘ko’ to a formal name, pronoun
to show possession
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Tapaiiko / Ann-Marie-ko /
Didi-ko - Your / Ann-Marie’s /
Didi’s (older sister’s)
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Some pronouns have special forms
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Ma – Mero / Hami – Hamro - I – mine
/ We - Ours
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Prepositions
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______maa / At, in, on
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ex. Kathmandumaa / in Kathmandu
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______baata / From
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ex. Kathmandubaata / from Kathmandu
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______sanga / With
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ex. Ann-Mariesanga / with Ann-Marie
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Baahira / Bhitra
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Outside / Inside
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pachhi
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After
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Conjunctions
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ra / and
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ani / and then
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kinabhane / because
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tara / but
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Idiomatic use of
Bhaiyo
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If someone asks is something was
done, to indicate it was, simply
answer ‘bhaiyo’
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If someone is serving you food, to
indicate enough, answer ‘bhaiyo’
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Ke bhaiyo
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What happened?
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Abera bhaiyo
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It’s late
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Different ways
to say Yes / No
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1. Cha / Chainna
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To Locate something on you, to have
something
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ex. Chiya Cha?
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ex. Chiya Cha?
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2.
Ho / Hoina
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To state facts, truths, to define,
to be or not to be
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ex. Yo Thamel ho?
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Is this Thamel (tourist area of
Kathmandu)?
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3. Huncha / Hunna
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To agree to do/not do something,
some action
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ex. Momo khanne? Huncha.
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Shall we eat momos (dumplings)? Yes,
let’s eat.
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Cha / Chaiina & Ho / Hoina are also
the active verb form for ‘to be’
conjugated as ‘I am / You are / He
is. You can add ‘ho’ or ‘cha’ to
make simple sentences. |
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Simple sample
sentences
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Thamel,
kahaang ho?
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Where is Thamel?
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Kahaang jane?
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Where are you going?
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Esko kati parcha?
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How much does this cost? (useful in
stores) |
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Kati ho?
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How much? (useful for asking taxi
drivers) |
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Kahile jane? / kahile khanne?
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When are we going? When are we
eating?
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Tapaiiko ghar kahaang ho?
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Where is your home?
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Mero ghar America-ma ho
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My home is in America
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Ma ali-ali Nepali bolchu
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I only speak a little Nepali
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Bistaari bhannus
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Please speak slowly
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Tapaiiko bihe bhaiyo?
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Are you married? (your marriage
happened?)
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Mero bihe bhaiyo / bhayeko chaina?
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I am married / not married.(My
marriage happened)
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Ma American hun
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I am American
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Jomsom jane baato kun ho?
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Which is the road to Jomsom? (Jomsom
going road)
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Ali sastoma dinus
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Please give it a little cheaper
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Dherai mahango bhaiyo
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It’s very (too) expensive
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Yo / tyo ke ho?
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What is this / that?
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Ek raatiko kati ho?
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How much for one night?
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Feelings and
Emotions
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Ma ______ lagyo / lagena.
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I feel / don’t feel ______.
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Birami / sick
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Bhok / hungry
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Raksi / drunk
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Thirkaa / thirsty
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Khushee / happy
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Dukha / sad
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Thakai / tired
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Alchee / lazy
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Dar / scared
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Nindra / sleepy
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Jaado / cold
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Garmi / hot
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Other simple
sentences
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Tapaiilai ______ man parcha?
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Do you like ______?
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Malai ______ man parcha.
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I like ______.
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ex. Malai Nepali khanna man parcha.
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I
like Nepali food. |
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To express that you like to do
something, use a verb, drop the ‘u’
and add ‘a’
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ex. Malai aath ghanta sutna man
parcha.
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I
like to sleep eight hours. |
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To express that you can do
something, use a verb, drop the ‘u’
add ‘a’ and sakchu
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Ex. Ma kotha herna sakchu.
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Can I see a room.
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Malai ______ chahincha.
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I
need ______ . |
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Malai ______ chahindaina
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I don’t need ______ .
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More coming
soon, keep visiting us!
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Contact
Details:
Nepal4you.com,
GPO Box: 7405,
Kathmandu, Nepal.
email:
info@nepal4you.com
Website:
www.nepal4you.com
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