Nepali phrasebook

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Nepali (नेपाली) is the sole official language of Nepal, and one of the official languages of India. 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, there are more than 100 different languages and dialects spoken in Nepal. Other languages spoken in Nepal include Tharu around Chitwan, Newari in the Kathmandu Valley, and Sharwa (Sherpa) in the Everest area. Nepali is also the lingua franca of the Indian state of Sikkim.
Most educated Indians and Nepalis are able to communicate in English. Learning even a few words of Nepali can be fun and very useful, especially outside of the tourist district and while trekking.
There are lots words of borrowed from other languages like English, Hindi, French etc. These loan words are slightly modified or are kept unaltered. Therefore, most Nepalese will understand English nouns like television and computer, rather than their Nepali counterparts.

Vowels

Consonants

Phrase list

Basics

; Hello : नमस्ते।Namaste (Nuh-Mas-tay)
; How are you? (formal): तपाईँ कस्तो हुनुहुन्छ ? Tapaii Kasto Hununcha? (tuh-pie-kuhs-toh-who-noon-chaa?)
; Fine, thank you. : सञ्चै छु धन्यबाद । Sanchai Chu, Dhanyabad. (Sun-chai-chu-dhun-yuh-baad)
; How about you? : तपाई चाहिँ? Tapai Chahi? (Tuh-pai-chai)
; What's your name? (formal): तपाईँको नाम के हो ? Tapaiko nam ke ho? (Tuh-pie-koh-naam-ke-ho?)
; My name is ... . : मेरो नाम ...हो।Mero nam ... ho. (May-roh-naam ... hoh.)
; Nice to meet you. (formal)(lit. I am happy to meet you) : तपाईँलाई भेटेर खुसी लाग्यो। Tapai lai bhetera Khusi Lagyo (Tuh-pie-lie-bhay-tay-rah-khu-shi-la-gyo)
; Please. (request) : कृपयाKripaya. (Kree-puh-yah)
; This person is ... . (when introducing somebody) : यो... होYo ... ho (yoh-...-hoh)
; Thank you very much. (formal) : धेरै धेरै धन्यवाद।Dherai Dherai Dhanyabad (Dhey-rei-dhey-rei-dhan-ya-bad)
; Thank you. (normal) : धन्यवाद।Dhanyabad (Dhan-ya-bad)
; yes : होhai (hoh)
; no : होइनhoina (hoi-nuh)
; Excuse me. : माफ गर्नुहोस्Maaf Garnus. (maaf-gur-noos)
; I'm sorry. (begging for forgiveness) : माफ गर्नुहोस्Maaf Garnus. (maaf-gur-noos)
; Goodbye. (there are no words for goodbye so Nepalese people use the phrase "Pheri Bhetaula" which means "See you again"
; See you again : फेरी भेटौँला (phay-ree-bhay-tau-la)

Problems

; Leave me alone. :मलाई एक्लै छोड्नुहोस्। Malaai eklai chodnus. (Ma-laai ek-laai chod-nus)
; Don't touch me! :मलाई नछुनुहोस् Malaai na chunus! (Ma-laai na chu-nus)
; I'll call the police. : म प्रहरीलाई बोलाउँछु। Ma prahari bolau chu. (Ma praharilai bo-lau-n chu)
; Police! : प्रहरी Prahari! (prahari)
; Stop! Thief! : पर्ख चोर। Parkha! Chor! (Pak-ra! cho-r!)
; I need your help. : मलाई सहयोग गर्नुहोस्। Malaai sahayog garnuhos. (Ma-laai sa-ha-yog garnu-hos)
; It's an emergency. :अापत पर्‌यो aapat paryo. (Aa-pat par-yo)
; I'm lost. : म हराएँ। Ma haraye. (Ma ha-ra-ye)
; I lost my bag. :मेरो झोला हरायो। Mero jhola harayo. (Me-ro jho-la ha-ra-yo)
; I lost my wallet. :मेरो वालेट हरायो Mero wallet harayo. (Me-ro wallet ha-ra-yo)
;Do you have extra money?
;लिंग र योनि- Linga ra Yoni (Leen-ga ru Yoe-Nee)
;I'm sick. : मलाई सञ्चो छैन। Malaai sancho chaina. (Muh-lay sann-cho cha-ee-nah)
; I've been injured. : मलाई चोट लाग्यो। Malaai chot lagyo. (Ma-laai cho-t lag-yo)
; I need a doctor. : मलाई डाक्टर चाहियो। Malaai doctor chaiyo. (Ma-laai doctor chai-yo)
; Can I use your phone? : के म तपाईँको फोन प्रयोग गर्न सक्छु? K ma hajur ko Phone prayog garna sakchu? (K ma ha-jur ko phone pra-yog gar-na sak-chu?)

Numbers

; १ (1): एक ek (A-kh)
; २ (2): दुई dui (Du-ee)
; ३(3) : तीन tien (Tee-n)
; ४(4) : चार char (Cha-r)
; ५(5) : पाँच panch (Pa-n-ch)
; ६(6) : छ chha (Cha)
; ७(7) : सात saat (Sa-at)
; ८(8) : अाठ aath (Aa-th)
; ९(9) : नौ nau (Na-u)
; १० (10) : दश das (Daa-ss)
; ११ (11) : एघार eghara (A-ghaa-ra)
; १२ (12) : बाह्र bara (Bha-ra)
; १३ (13) : तेह्र teera (Th-e-ra)
; १४ (14) : चौध chauda (Chau-da)
; १५ (15) : पन्ध्र pandhra (Pan-dra)
; १६ (16) : सोह्र sorha (So-rha)
; १७ (17) : सत्र satra (Sat-ra)
; १८ (18) : अठार athara (Aa-tha-ra)
; १९ (19) : उन्नाइस् unais (Un-nai-s)
; २० (20) : बीस bis (Bis)
; ३० (30) : तीस teece (Tee-sh)
; ४० (40) : चालीस chaleece (Cha-lee-sh)
; ५० (50) : पचास pachaas (Pa-cha-sh)
; ६० (60) : साठीsathi (Sat-ti)
; ७० (70) : सत्तरी sattari (Sa-tha-ri)
; ८० (80) : असी assi (aa-si)
; ९० (90 : नब्बे nabbe (nab-be)
; १०० (100 : सय ek saye (A-kh sai-ya)
; २०० (200) : दुइ सय dwi saye (Du-ee sai-ya)
; ३०० (300): तीन सय tin saye (Tee-n sai-ya)
; १००० (1000) : हजार ek hazar (A-kh Ha-zar)
; २००० (2000) : दुई हजार dwi hazar (Du-ee Ha-zar)
; १००००० (100,000) : एक लाख ek lakh (A-kh la-kh)
; १०००००० (1,000,000) : दश लाख dus lakh (Daa-ss la-kh)
; number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : number _____ (...)
; half : अाधा aadha (aa-dha)
; less : कम kaam (cum)
; more : धेरै dherai (dhe-raii)

Time

; now : ahile (aa-hee-le)
; later : pachi (paa-chi)
; before : agadi (aa-gha-dee)
; morning : bihana (bee-haa-na)
; afternoon : diuso (di-u-sho)
; evening : beluka (be-lu-kha)
; night : rati (raa-ti)

Clock time

; one o'clock AM : bihana ko ek baje (...)
; two o'clock AM : bihana ko dui baje (...)
; noon : madhyanha (...)
; one o'clock PM : diuso ko ek baje (...)
; two o'clock PM : diuso ko dui baje (...)
; midnight : madhyaraat (...)

Duration

; _____ minute(s) : _____ minute(s) (...)
; _____ hour(s) : _____ ghanta(haru) (gh-n-ta)
; _____ day(s) : _____ din(haru) (dee-n)
; _____ week(s) : _____ haptaa(haru) (hap-ta)
; _____ month(s) : _____ mahina(haru) (maa-hee-na)
; _____ year(s) : _____ barsa(haru) (ba-r-sha)

Days

; today : aaja (aa-ja)
; yesterday : hijo (hee-jo)
; tomorrow : bholi (bho-lee)
; this week : yo hapta(yo hap-ta)
; last week : asti ko hapta(as-ti ko hap-ta)
; next week : arko hapta(ar-ko hap-ta)
; Sunday : aaitabaar (ai-ta-bar)
; Monday : sombaar (som-bar)
; Tuesday : mangalbaar (man-girl-bar)
; Wednesday : budhabaar (bu-dho-bar)
; Thursday : bihibaar (bee-hee-bar)
; Friday : shukrabaar (shuk-ro-bar)
; Saturday : shanibaar (sa-ni-bar)

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

Colours

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

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? : malaai naksamaa dekhunus? (...)
; street : baato(...)
; Turn left. : baayaa jaanus. (ba-ya, jaa-noos)
; Turn right. : daya jaanus. (...)
; left : left (baayaa) (bye yaa)
; right : right (dayaa)(die yaa)
; straight ahead : sidha (See-DAH)
; towards the _____ : _____ tira (tei-raw..)
; past the _____ : _____ pachhi (paw-chie)
; before the _____ : _____ aghaaDi (o-gaa-Di)
; Watch for the _____. : _____lai hernus. (lie-hey r-noos)
; intersection : intersection (...)
; north : uttar (u-tta-rr)
; south : dakshin (duck- shin)
; east : purba (pu-r-ba)
; west : paschim (pos-chim)
; uphill : ukaalo (oo-kaa-low)
; downhill : ohralo (o-raa-low)

Taxi

; Taxi! : Taxi!
; Take me to _____, please. : kripaya,malaai________ laanus. (kri-paw-yaa, ma-lie- laa-noos)
; How much does it cost to get to _____? :
____ maa jaana kaati parchha? ( maa-jaa-na ka-ti, par-chaa)
; Take me there, please. : kripaya, malaai tyahaa laanus. (kri-payaa, ma-lie tya-haa, laa-noos)

Money

; Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : America/Australia/Canada ko paisaa chalchha? (...)
; Do you accept British pounds? : Belaayatko paisaa chalchha? (...)
; Do you accept credit cards? : Credit card chalchha? (...)
; Can you change money for me? : Malaai khoodraa dinu hunchha ki? (...)
; Where can I get money changed? : Paisa kahaa saatinchha? (...)
; Can you change a traveler's check for me? : travel check linuhucnhha? (...)
; Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : tralvel check kahaa saatichha? (...)
; What is the exchange rate? : saTahi dar ke chha? (...)
; Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : (ATM)maysin kahaa chaa? (...)

Eating

; A table for one person/two people, please. :kripaya Tebul ek yaa dui janaako lagi. (...)
; Can I look at the menu, please? : ma menu herna sakchhu? (...)
; Can I look in the kitchen? : ma keychen herna sakchhu? (...)
; Is there a house specialty? : gharmaa banaaieko kehi chha? (...)
; Is there a local specialty? : sthaaniya bisess kehi chha? (...)
; I'm a vegetarian. : Ma masu kandina. (Ma- ma-SU Kan-DIE-nah)
; I don't eat pork. : ma bangoor khaadina. (...)
; I only eat kosher food. : I only eat kosher food. (...)
; Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) : yaslaai jalaaunus", please? (...)
; fixed-price meal : nischit darko khaanaa
(...)
; à la carte : à la carte (...)
; breakfast : breakfast (...)
; lunch : lunch (...)
; tea (meal) : tea (...)
; supper : supper (...)
; I want _____. : _____ chahanchhu. (...)
; I want a dish containing _____. : _____bhaeko thaal chahanchhu. (...)
; chicken : kukhuraa (...)
; beef : gaaiko masu (...)
; fish :maachhaa(...)
; ham : ham (...)
; cheese : chij (...)
; eggs : anDaa (...)
; salad : salad (...)
; (fresh) vegetables : (taajaa) tarkaari (...)
; (fresh) fruit : (taajaa) phalphul (...)
; bread :roTi(roti)
; toast : toast (...)
; noodles : chau chau (...)
; rice : bhat (BHAT)
; lentils : daal (da-all)
; May I have ai glass of _____? : malaai ek gilaas _____ dinus? (...)
; May I have a cup of _____? : malaai ek cup _____ dinus? (...)
; May I have a bottle of _____? : malaai ek botal_____ dinus? (...)
; coffee : coffee (...)
; tea (drink) : chiya (CHEE-ah)
; juice : juice (...)
; water : pani (PAN-ee)
; beer : beer (BEER)
; May I have some _____? : malaai kehi _____ dinus? (...)
; salt : nun (noon)
; black pepper : marich (...)
; butter : butter (...)
; I'm finished. : Pugcha. (POOG-CHA)
; It was delicious. : Mito chaa (...)
; Please clear the plates. : Please clear the plates. (The waiter is usually hovering to take your plate, you will not need this)(...)
; The check, please. : Bill please. (Asking for the 'check' may cause some minor confusion)(...)

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 (pani)
; 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? : kati khera bandha hunchha? (...)

Shopping

; Do you have this in my size? : mero size maa mil chha? (...)
; How much is this? : yes ko kati parchha? (...)
; That's too expensive. : yo ekdam mahango bhayo. (...)
; Would you take _____? : _____ rupiya linus? (...)
; expensive : mahango (...)
; cheap : sasto (...)
; I can't afford it. : ma kinna sakdina. (...)
; I don't want it. : malaai chahidaina. (...)
; You're cheating me. : tapaai malaai chhaldai hunuhunchha. (...)
; I'm not interested. : ma ichchhuk chhaina. (..)
; OK, I'll take it. : OK, thik chha, ma yo linchhu. (...)
; Can I have a bag? : malaai euTaa jhoolaa dinus? (...)
; Do you ship (overseas)? : tapaai shipmaa paThaunuhunchha(bidesmaa)? (...)
; I need... : malaai chaahinchha... (...)
; ...toothpaste. : ...danta manjan. (...)
; ...a toothbrush. : ...daat majhne burus. (...)
; ...tampons. : ...tampons. (...)
; ...soap. : sabun. (...)
; ...shampoo. : ...shampoo. (...)
; ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : ...dukhaai haTaaune aushadhi. (...)
; ...cold medicine. : ...chiso dawaai. (...)
; ...stomach medicine. : ...peTko aushadi. (...)
; ...a razor. : ...a razor. (...)
; ...an umbrella. : ...chhataa. (...)
; ...sunblock lotion. : ...sunblock lotion. (...)
; ...a postcard. : ...a postcard. (...)
; ...postage stamps. : ...hulaak Tikat. (...)
; ...batteries. : ...batteries. (...)
; ...writing paper. : ...lekhne kaapi. (...)
; ...a pen. : ...kalam. (...)
; ...English-language books. : ...angreji bhaasaako kitaab. (...)
; ...English-language magazines. : ...angreji bhaasaako patrikaa. (...)
; ...an English-language newspaper. : ...angreji bhaasaako patrikaa. (...)
; ...an English-English dictionary. : ...angreji bhaasaako sabdkosh. (...)

Authority

; I haven't done anything wrong. : Maile kehi galti gareko chaina. (...)
; It was a misunderstanding. : bujhaai maa kehi galti thiyo. (...)
; Where are you taking me? : tapaai malaai kahaa laadai hunuhunchha? (...)
; Am I under arrest? : ma pakrau pareko hu? (...)
; I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : ma American/Australian/British/Canadian naagarik hu. (...)
; I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : ma American/Australian/British/Canadian dutaabaas/ baanijya dutaabaas sanga kura garna chahanchhu. (...)
; I want to talk to a lawyer. : ma wakil sanga kuraa garna chahanchhu. (...)
; Can I just pay a fine now? : ma jariwaanaa maatra tirchhu? (...)