This lesson introduces you to common food names, phrases, and expressions used at street stalls and local eateries across Nepal. Whether you’re traveling, learning the language, or just love food, this is a fun and tasty way to improve your Nepali. Learn how to order, ask prices, and talk like a local—all while exploring delicious street snacks and traditional Nepali cuisine!
Learn essential food vocabulary used in Nepali street stalls, restaurants, and everyday conversation. Master these words to order confidently and discuss food in Nepali.
| English | Romanized Nepali | Nepali Script |
|---|---|---|
| Selroti (rice bread) | Selroti | सेलरोटी |
| Tea | Chiya | चिया |
| Samosa (fried pastry) | Samosa | समोसा |
| Pyaji (fried onion snack) | Pyaji | प्याजी |
| Potato stick | Alu stick | आलु स्टिक |
| Sausage stick | Sausage stick | ससेज स्टिक |
| Grilled meat | Sekuwa | सेकुवा |
| Delicious | Mitho / Swadista | मिठो / स्वादिष्ट |
| Food | Khana | खाना |
| Rice flour | Chamalko pitho | चामलको पीठो |
| Sugar | Chini | चिनी |
| Ghee | Gheu | घिउ |
| Chickpeas | Chana | चना |
| Egg | Anda | अण्डा |
| Onion | Pyag | प्याज |
| Dumpling | Momo | म:म: |
| Fried momo | Tareko momo | तारेको म:म: |
| Noodles | Chowmein | चाउमिन |
| Pani puri (water snack) | Panipuri | पानीपुरी |
| Chatpate (spicy snack) | Chatpate | चट्पटे |
| Keema noodles | Keema noodles | कीमा नुडल्स |
| Spices | Masala | मसला |
| Coriander | Dhaniya | धनियाँ |
| Pickle | Achar | अचार |
| Meat | Masu | मासु |
| Chicken | Kukhura | कुखुरा |
| Pork | Sungurko masu | सुँगुरको मासु |
| Fried | Tareko / Vuteko | तारेको / भुटेको |
| Puffed rice | Murai | मुरै |
| Sour | Khatai / Khatta | खटाइ / खट्टा |
| Green chilli | Hariyo khursani | हरियो खुर्सानी |
| Tomato | Tomato | गोलभेंडा |
| Lemon | Kagati | कागती |
| Mushroom | Cheu | च्याउ |
| Water | Pani | पानी |
| Cold | Chiso | चिसो |
| Spicy | Piro | पिरो |
Learn essential phrases for ordering food, asking prices, and discussing food quality at Nepali street stalls and restaurants. Use these sentences to order with confidence.
| English | Romanized Nepali | Nepali Script |
|---|---|---|
| The food is delicious. | Khana swadista/mitho cha. | खाना स्वादिष्ट/मिठो छ। |
| I like Selroti. | Malai selroti manparcha. | मलाई सेलरोटी मन पर्छ। |
| Tea is sweet. | Chiya guliyo cha. | चिया गुलियो छ। |
| Selroti is made from rice flour. | Selroti chamalko pitho bata banaincha. | सेलरोटी चामलको पिठोबाट बनाइन्छ। |
| Selroti is delicious. | Selroti swadista cha. | सेलरोटी स्वादिष्ट छ। |
| Samosa is very tasty. | Samosa derai mitho cha. | समोसा धेरै मिठो छ। |
| I want to eat pyaji and tea. | Ma pyaji ra chiya khana chahanchu. | म प्याजी र चिया खान चाहन्छु। |
| Please give me 2 alu sticks. | Kripaya malai dui ota alu stick dinuhos. | कृपया मलाई २ वटा आलु स्टिक दिनुहोस्। |
| Mushroom stick is spicy. | Mushroom stick piro cha. | मशरूम स्टिक पिरो छ। |
| How much is the cost per stick? | Euta stickko kati ho? | एउटा स्टिकको कति हो? |
| I want pork sekuwa. | Malai pork sekuwa garidinus. | मलाई पोर्क सेकुवा गरिदिनुस्। |
| Sekuwa is tastier with pickle. | Sekuwa achar sanga ajhai mitho huncha. | सेकुवा अचारसँग अझै मिठो हुन्छ। |
| I am eating momo. | Ma momo khadaichu. | म म:म: खाँदैछु। |
| Momo is incomplete without pickle. | Achaar bina momo adhuro huncha. | अचार बिना म:म: अधुरो हुन्छ। |
| I want fried momo. | Malai fried momo garidinus. | मलाई फ्राइड म:म: गरिदिनुस्। |
| Momo and chowmein are popular in Nepal. | Momo ra chowmein nepalma derai prasidha cha. | म:म: र चाउमिन नेपालमा धेरै प्रसिद्ध छ। |
| This water is very spicy. | Yo pani derai piro cha. | यो पानी धेरै पिरो छ। |
| Please add only a little spice in chatpate. | Chatpatema thorai piro halidinus. | चटपटेमा थोरै पिरो हालिदिनुस्। |
| Is laphing available here? | Yaha laphing paincha? | यहाँ लाफिङ पाइन्छ? |
| Is this keema noodles? | K yo keema noodles ho? | के यो कीमा नुडल्स हो? |
| This is cold. | Yo chiso cha. | यो चिसो छ। |
Nepali food vocabulary opens doors to cultural understanding and practical communication. From street snacks like selroti and samosa to beloved dishes like momo and chowmein, mastering these words lets you order confidently, ask about ingredients, and discuss food quality with locals. Food is a universal language—use these phrases to connect with Nepali culture through cuisine!
|
Principle 01
Cultural Connection
Food is central to Nepali culture. Learning food vocabulary helps you connect authentically with locals and understand their way of life. |
Principle 02
Practical Skills
These phrases let you order food, ask prices, and discuss flavors—essential skills for travelers and daily conversation in Nepal. |
Principle 03
Enjoyable Learning
Learning through food is fun and engaging, making it easier to remember vocabulary and practice naturally in real-life situations. |
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