Most first-time visitors to Nepal do not try to learn any Nepali before they arrive. They assume everyone in tourist areas speaks English, so why bother? This thinking is understandable and also slightly unfortunate, because the single greatest thing you can do to change the quality of your experience in Nepal has nothing to do with your itinerary, your gear, or which agency you booked your trek through. It is learning about 50 words of Nepali.
That sounds like an exaggeration. It is not. Nepali people do not expect foreigners to speak their language. When a foreigner says "Namaste" with their palms pressed together, or says "Dhanyabaad" after receiving something, or asks "Kati ho?" in a market while pointing at a piece of fruit, something shifts in the interaction. The person's face changes. There is a moment of genuine surprise, then genuine warmth. You have crossed a threshold that most tourists never approach.
within Nepal's borders
Nepali as first language
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most never try Nepali
"dh" - Softer "d" sound with a small puff of breath
"th" - NOT the English "th" (as in "the"). It is a "t" with a puff of air
"Tapai" - Respectful "you" for anyone you do not know well or older than you
"Timi" - Casual "you" for friends or younger people. When in doubt, use Tapai.
Section 1: Greetings and Basic Courtesies
Start here. These are the words that serve you in every single interaction in Nepal. Learn these ten things and you are already significantly more prepared than most visitors.
Section 2: Essential Daily Phrases
| English | Nepali Script | Pronunciation | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| How much is it? | कति हो? | Kati ho? | Every market, shop, street food stand |
| Too expensive | अति महँगो छ | Ati mahango cha | Opening move in negotiation. Say calmly. |
| Please make it cheaper | सस्तो गर्नुस | Sasto garnus | Follow-up in price bargaining |
| Okay / Alright | हुन्छ | Huncha | Responding to offers, confirming plans |
| No / Doesn't exist | छैन / होइन | Chaina / Hoina | Refusing or when something unavailable |
| There is / Yes, available | छ | Cha | "Pani cha?" : Is there water? "Cha" : Yes. |
| Where is it? | कहाँ छ? | Kahaa cha? | Toilet, hospital, ATM, hotel, temple |
| I don't understand | मैले बुझिन | Maile bujhina | Say clearly, without embarrassment |
| Please speak slowly | बिस्तारै बोल्नुस् | Bistaarai bolnus | Pair with "Maile bujhina" |
| Do you speak English? | अंग्रेजी बोल्नुहुन्छ? | Angrezi bolnuhuncha? | When you have reached the limit of your Nepali |
| I need [thing] | मलाई _____ चाहियो | Malai _____ chahiyo | "Malai pani chahiyo" : I need water |
| I am from [country] | म _____ बाट आएको | Ma _____ bata aako | "Ma America bata aako" : I'm from America |
Section 3: Food and Eating Phrases
| English | Pronunciation | Context |
|---|---|---|
| The food is delicious | Khana mitho cha | Say this after eating. Watch the reaction : pure joy every time. |
| I am hungry | Malai bhok lagyo | Guide, teahouse staff, host family |
| I don't eat meat | Ma maasu khadaina | Vegetarians: memorize this. It is understood everywhere. |
| A little spicy please | Alikati piro | Alikati = a little. Piro = spicy/hot. |
| Not spicy please | Piro nagarnus | For those who cannot handle heat |
| Hot water please | Tatopani diinus na | Essential at high altitude where cold water causes issues |
| Please give me the bill | Bill linus na | At any restaurant |
| Have you eaten? | Khana khanus bhayo? | Genuine Nepali greeting used between people who know each other |
| Tea / Milk tea | Chiya | The drink that runs Nepal. Never refuse a cup offered at someone's home. |
| Water | Pani | Hot = Tatopani. Cold = Chisopani. |
Section 4: Essential Food Vocabulary
| Nepali | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| दाल | Daal | Lentil soup |
| भात | Bhaat | Rice |
| तरकारी | Tarkari | Vegetable curry |
| अचार | Achaar | Pickle / Chutney |
| मोमो | Momo | Dumplings |
| मासु | Maasu | Meat (generic) |
| कुखुरा | Kukhura | Chicken |
| माछा | Macha | Fish |
| दिम | Dim | Egg |
| Nepali | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| दूध | Doodh | Milk |
| दही | Dahi | Yogurt |
| घिउ | Ghyu | Ghee (clarified butter) |
| आलु | Aalu | Potato |
| मिठो | Mitho | Delicious |
| पिरो | Piro | Spicy / Hot |
| तातो | Tato | Hot (temperature) |
| चिसो | Chiso | Cold |
| गुलियो | Gulo | Sweet |
Section 5: Numbers in Nepali
Bargaining tip: When a vendor says a price, say "Dui say" (200) or whatever you want to pay. Then wait. The silence does the work.
Section 6: Directions
Baya (Ba-ya) : Left
Sidha (Sid-ha) : Straight ahead
Mathi (Ma-thi) : Up / Uphill
Tala (Ta-la) : Down / Downhill
Aghi (A-ghi) : Forward / Ahead
Najikal (Na-ji-kai) : Nearby
Tadha (Ta-dha) : Far
Yeha (Ye-haa) : Here
Teha (Te-haa) : There (pointing)
Where is [place]?
Ma haraaye
I am lost.
Yo baato kahaa jaanchha?
Where does this road go?
Najikal cha?
Is it nearby?
Practical tip: When someone points and says "Daya" : go right. Say "Dhanyabaad" and walk that way.
Section 7: Trekking Phrases
| Phrase | Pronunciation | What It Means / When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Let's go! / Move out! | Jam jam | What guides say constantly. Also useful to say yourself to keep pace. |
| I am tired | Thakai lagyo | Say to your guide when you need a break. They will understand immediately. |
| Slowly, slowly | Bistarai bistarai | The trekking mantra. Struggling with altitude? Say this. It covers everything. |
| It is very cold | Dherai thanda cha | Your teahouse host will immediately bring more blankets. |
| Difficulty breathing | Swaas pherna gaahroo cha | CRITICAL. Say this clearly to any guide at high altitude. Altitude sickness is serious. |
| Where is the main trail? | Thulo bato kahaa cha? | When you think you have wandered off route |
| Is the food ready? | Khana pakaunu bhayo? | At teahouses when you have been waiting a while |
| I am going alone | Eklai jaanchhu | When you want to explore a side path independently |
| I am sick | Ma biraami chu | To anyone. They will help find medical attention. |
| Beautiful! / Very nice! | Dherai raamro! | For everything around you. Guides love to hear visitors appreciate the scenery. |
Section 8: Family Terms Used for Strangers
| Nepali | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning | When to Use for Strangers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dai | Daa-i | Older brother | Any slightly older male (waiter, guide, shopkeeper) |
| Bhai | Bhaa-i | Younger brother | Any younger male |
| Didi | Di-di | Older sister | Any slightly older female |
| Bahini | Ba-hi-ni | Younger sister | Any younger female |
| Hajuraamaa | Ha-jur-aa-maa | Grandmother | Elderly woman (great sign of respect) |
| Hajurbuwa | Ha-jur-bu-waa | Grandfather | Elderly man (great sign of respect) |
Practical example: "Dai, bill linus na" (Older brother, please bring the bill) works better than just holding up your hand. The family term signals you see the person as a human, not just a service function.
Section 9: Emergency Phrases
Prahari bolanus (Pra-ha-ri bo-la-nus) : Call the police
Aspatal kahaa cha? (As-pa-tal ka-haa cha?) : Where is the hospital?
Ambulance bolanus : Call an ambulance
Ma biraami chu (Ma bi-raa-mi chu) : I am ill / sick
Mero saaman chorayo (Me-ro saa-man cho-ra-yo) : My belongings have been stolen
Mero passport harayo (Me-ro pass-port ha-ra-yo) : I have lost my passport
Daktarlai bolanus (Dak-tar-lai bo-la-nus) : Please call a doctor
Section 10: Quick-Reference Cheat Sheet
| English | Nepali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello / Goodbye | नमस्ते | Namaste (Na-ma-stay) |
| Thank you | धन्यवाद | Dhanyabaad (Dhan-ya-baad) |
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ गर्नुहोस् | Maaf garnuhos |
| Yes / Okay | हुन्छ | Huncha |
| No | छैन | Chaina |
| How much? | कति हो? | Kati ho? |
| Too expensive | अति महँगो | Ati mahango |
| Where is...? | ... कहाँ छ? | ... kahaa cha? |
| Water | पानी | Pani |
| Food | खाना | Khana |
| I don't understand | मैले बुझिन | Maile bujhina |
| Slowly | बिस्तारै | Bistaarai |
| Delicious | मिठो | Mitho |
| Beautiful / Good | राम्रो | Raamro |
| I am tired | थकाई लाग्यो | Thakai lagyo |
| Help! | मद्दत गर्नुहोस् | Madad garnuhos |
| I am sick | म बिरामी छु | Ma biraami chu |
| I don't eat meat | म मासु खाँदिन | Ma maasu khadaina |
| Nepal is beautiful | नेपाल धेरै राम्रो छ | Nepal dherai raamro cha |
| See you again | फेरि भेटौँला | Pheri bhetaula |
How Learning Even 5 Minutes a Day Before Your Trip Changes Everything
Reading a phrase list is one thing. Having the phrases available in your head when you need them is another. Three approaches that actually work for travelers:
The flashcard method: Write each phrase on an index card or use Anki (free spaced-repetition app). Start with the top 20 most important phrases and practice for ten minutes each day for two weeks before departure. Spaced repetition is the most efficient memorization method known.
The contextual method: Learn phrases in their context rather than as isolated vocabulary. Picture yourself in Kathmandu's Asan market, pointing at a piece of fruit, saying "Kati ho?" Running scenarios mentally builds the contextual memory that makes phrases available in the moment.
The minimal viable set: If you genuinely cannot spend much time, prioritize these twelve phrases above everything else: Namaste, Dhanyabaad, Maaf garnuhos, Huncha, Kati ho, Pani, Khana, Bistarai, Madad garnuhos, Raamro, Mitho, Pheri bhetaula. These twelve cover most daily interactions.
Use it from day one. The worst thing you can do is save your Nepali for when you feel ready. You will never feel ready. Use Namaste from your first minute in the country, every time you greet anyone, without exception. The awkwardness of the first few times is the price of entry, and it is extremely cheap.