Bhasaly › Learn Nepali › Phrases
Nepali phrases for a short visit
छोटो बसाइ
The lines a visitor actually uses, and the ones you will hear back. Romanized first so you can say them today. Every phrase is recorded — open it in Bhasaly to hear it.
Hear these phrases →First words
The ones you use every hour
namaste with palms together is hello AND goodbye, any time of day. Nepalis rarely say thank you aloud — save dhanyabaad for real favours — for everything else a smile and hunchha is enough.
| namaste | hello · goodbye | नमस्ते |
| hajur | yes? · pardon? (the polite everything-word) | हजुर |
| hunchha | okay · sure | हुन्छ |
| theek chha | it is fine | ठीक छ |
| maaf garnus | sorry · excuse me | माफ गर्नुस् |
| ho | yes (it is) | हो |
| hoina | no (it is not) | होइन |
| dhanyabaad | thank you (for real favours) | धन्यवाद |
Being polite
Respect lives in the verb — and in hajur
There is no everyday word for please — politeness rides on the -nus verb ending and on hajur. Called by name? Answer hajur. Strangers are family: daai and didi.
| daai | older brother — any man a bit older | दाइ |
| didi | older sister — any woman a bit older | दिदी |
| bhaai | younger brother | भाइ |
| bahini | younger sister | बहिनी |
| basnus | please sit | बस्नुस् |
| parkhanus | please wait | पर्खनुस् |
| hundaina | no, that will not work | हुँदैन |
Meeting someone
Introductions
mero naam … ho — my name is … — needs no verb changes. bhetera khusi laagyo — nice to meet you — is always warmly received.
| mero naam | my name (is…) | मेरो नाम |
| tapaaiko naam ke ho? | what is your name? | तपाईंको नाम के हो? |
| bhetera khusi laagyo | nice to meet you | भेटेर खुसी लाग्यो |
| ma alikati nepaali bolchhu | I speak a little Nepali | म अलिकति नेपाली बोल्छु |
| ma bujhdina | I do not understand | म बुझ्दिन |
| bistaarai bhannus | please say it slowly | बिस्तारै भन्नुस् |
| pheri bhetaunlaa | see you again | फेरि भेटौंला |
Sentence patterns
Four frames that do the work
Four frames cover most of what you need. Tap a word, hear the whole sentence.
What you will hear
Street greetings & replies
Two greetings double as small talk: kataa jaane? — where are you off to — and khaanaa khaanubhayo? — have you eaten? A vague cheerful answer is the right answer.
| kataa jaane? | where are you off to? (a greeting) | कता जाने? |
| khaanaa khaanubhayo? | have you eaten? (a greeting) | खाना खानुभयो? |
| chha | there is · we have | छ |
| chhaina | there is not · we do not have | छैन |
| khaanus | eat! (the invitation) | खानुस् |
| kati basne? | how long are you staying? | कति बस्ने? |
| kun deshbaata? | from which country? | कुन देशबाट? |
Numbers
Prices come in these
Bazaar prices run pachaas to paanch saya rupees; hotel nights in hajaar. Tourist-area sellers switch to English numbers — villages will not.
| ek | 1 | एक |
| dui | 2 | दुई |
| paanch | 5 | पाँच |
| das | 10 | दस |
| bees | 20 | बीस |
| pachaas | 50 | पचास |
| saya | 100 | सय |
| dui saya | 200 | दुई सय |
| paanch saya | 500 | पाँच सय |
| hajaar | 1,000 | हजार |
Getting around
Taxis, buses & mountain roads
Kathmandu taxis have meters and rarely use them — settle the price first, or try mitarma jaane? Micro-buses go everywhere; call your stop out loud.
| tyaaksi | taxi | ट्याक्सी |
| bas | bus | बस |
| mitarma jaane? | will you use the meter? | मिटरमा जाने? |
| kati parchha? | how much does it cost? | कति पर्छ? |
| yahaan roknus | stop here | यहाँ रोक्नुस् |
| bistaarai jaanus | please go slowly | बिस्तारै जानुस् |
Directions
Catch one word of the answer
Ask with the kahaan chha? frame above, then listen for these.
| daayaa | right | दायाँ |
| baayaa | left | बायाँ |
| seedhaa | straight on | सीधा |
| agaadi | ahead · in front | अगाडि |
| najik | near | नजिक |
| taadhaa | far | टाढा |
| yahaa | here | यहाँ |
| tyahaa | there | त्यहाँ |
On the trail
Walking words
ukaalo is uphill, oraalo down — the two words that describe every day in the hills. bistaarai bistaarai — slowly, slowly — works as a complete sentence.
| baato | the trail · the way | बाटो |
| ukaalo | uphill | उकालो |
| oraalo | downhill | ओरालो |
| kati ghantaa? | how many hours? | कति घण्टा? |
| ek ghantaa | one hour | एक घण्टा |
| bistaarai | slowly | बिस्तारै |
| malaai thakaai laagyo | I am tired | मलाई थकाइ लाग्यो |
Eating
Dal bhat & tea
daal bhaat comes with refills — the server returns until you say pugyo. thapnus asks for more, and khaanaa miTho chha makes the kitchen’s day.
| daal bhaat | dal bhat (the meal) | दालभात |
| chiyaa | milk tea | चिया |
| khaanaa mitho chha | the food is delicious | खाना मीठो छ |
| thapnus | more, please (the refill word) | थप्नुस् |
| pugyo | enough — I am full | पुग्यो |
| piro | spicy | पिरो |
| ma maasu khaanna | I do not eat meat | म मासु खान्न |
Being a guest
In a Nepali home
Shoes come off at the door. Refusing food takes three warm tries — alikati maatra takes a small portion; pugyo plus a smile ends it kindly.
| juttaa kholnus | shoes off (you will be told) | जुत्ता खोल्नुस् |
| alikati maatra | just a little | अलिकति मात्र |
| ghar raamro chha | your home is lovely | घर राम्रो छ |
| khaajaa | snacks (you will be offered) | खाजा |
| ma jaanchhu hai | I will be off now (the polite leave-taking) | म जान्छु है |
Shopping
Fixed in shops, soft in markets
Shops have fixed prices; tourist markets bend a little. chaahidaina — I do not need it — turns away touts kindly. Keep walking as you say it.
| mahango bhayo | that is too expensive | महँगो भयो |
| ali ghataaunus | a little less, please | अलि घटाउनुस् |
| theek chha, linchhu | okay, I will take it | ठीक छ, लिन्छु |
| chaahidaina | I do not need it | चाहिँदैन |
| herdai maatra | just looking | हेर्दै मात्र |
At the hotel
Rooms & hot water
taato paani — hot water — is the question that matters, in city hotels and trail lodges alike. Ask for a kambal — a blanket — before the night turns cold.
| ek raatko kati? | how much for one night? | एक रातको कति? |
| saancho | the key | साँचो |
| chiso | cold | चिसो |
| kambal | blanket | कम्बल |
| bholi jaanchhu | I leave tomorrow | भोलि जान्छु |
Getting help
Serious words, hopefully unused
maddat garnus — please help — is the sentence to know; say it clearly. Carry your address written down — any hotel will write it in Nepali for you.
| maddat garnus | please help | मद्दत गर्नुस् |
| prahari | police | प्रहरी |
| aspataal | hospital | अस्पताल |
| daaktar | doctor | डाक्टर |
| aushadhi | medicine | औषधि |
| ma biraami chhu | I am sick | म बिरामी छु |
| mero pet dukhyo | my stomach hurts | मेरो पेट दुख्यो |
| ma haraaen | I am lost | म हराएँ |
| hosiyaar | careful! | होसियार |
Staying in touch
Phone, wifi & photos
Wifi is in most lodges and cafes — ask with the chha? frame. Local SIMs need your passport. Ask before photographing people, always.
| phon | phone | फोन |
| nambar | number | नम्बर |
| sim kaard | SIM card | सिम कार्ड |
| chaarj garna milchha? | can I charge this? | चार्ज गर्न मिल्छ? |
| photo khichna milchha? | may I take a photo? | फोटो खिच्न मिल्छ? |
Ask where anything is
Where is the ___?
| shauchalaya kahaan chha? | Where is the bathroom? | शौचालय कहाँ छ? |
| bas kahaan chha? | Where is the bus? | बस कहाँ छ? |
| pasal kahaan chha? | Where is the shop? | पसल कहाँ छ? |
| aspataal kahaan chha? | Where is the hospital? | अस्पताल कहाँ छ? |
| baato kahaan chha? | Where is the way? | बाटो कहाँ छ? |
| hotel kahaan chha? | Where is the hotel? | होटेल कहाँ छ? |
Ask if something is available
Do you have ___?
| paani chha? | Do you have water? | पानी छ? |
| chiyaa chha? | Do you have tea? | चिया छ? |
| kothaa chha? | Do you have a room? | कोठा छ? |
| taato paani chha? | Do you have hot water? | तातो पानी छ? |
| waiphai chha? | Do you have wi-fi? | वाइफाइ छ? |
| khaanaa chha? | Do you have food? | खाना छ? |
Ask for something politely
___, please.
| paani dinus | Water, please. | पानी दिनुस् |
| chiyaa dinus | Tea, please. | चिया दिनुस् |
| daal bhaat dinus | Dal bhat, please. | दालभात दिनुस् |
| saancho dinus | The key, please. | साँचो दिनुस् |
| yo dinus | This one, please. | यो दिनुस् |
| menu dinus | The menu, please. | मेनु दिनुस् |
Ask any price
How much is ___?
| yo kati ho? | How much is this? | यो कति हो? |
| kothaa kati ho? | How much is the room? | कोठा कति हो? |
| chiyaa kati ho? | How much is the tea? | चिया कति हो? |
| tikat kati ho? | How much is the ticket? | टिकट कति हो? |
| bhaadaa kati ho? | How much is the fare? | भाडा कति हो? |
Common questions
How do you say hello in Nepali?
Namaste. The greetings section above has the full set, including the reply you are likely to hear back.
Do I need an account to use these Nepali phrases?
No. Every phrase on this page is open to read, and you can hear all of them in Bhasaly without signing up.
Do I need to read the Nepali script to use these?
No. Every line is romanized first, so you can say it straight away. The script is there alongside if you want to start reading it.
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