In this lesson, you’ll learn essential Nepali phrases that are commonly used in daily life conversations. These practical expressions will help you communicate confidently in Nepali while travelling, meeting people, shopping, eating out, or living in Nepal. Whether you’re making small talk, describing places, handling misunderstandings, or asking for directions, you’ll have the language tools you need.
Start conversations naturally with these common greeting phrases and small talk expressions used by Nepali speakers.
| English | Romanized Nepali | नेपाली Script |
|---|---|---|
| How is your day today? | Aja tapai ko din kasto cha? | आज तपाईंको दिन कस्तो छ? |
| What are you doing today? | Tapai aja k gardai hunuhuncha | तपाईं आज के गर्दै हुनुहुन्छ? |
| I’m a bit busy, but I’ll make time later. | Ma alikati byasta chu, tara pachi samaya nikalchu | म अलिकति व्यस्त छु, तर पछि समय निकाल्छु। |
| Let’s see / We’ll see. | Herdai jaun | हेर्दै जाऔँ। |
Use these phrases to talk about your daily activities, routines, observations, and what you’re learning.
| English | Romanized Nepali | नेपाली Script |
|---|---|---|
| I’m working right now. | Ma ahile kamma chu | म अहिले काममा छु। |
| I study in the morning and work in the evening. | Ma bihan padchu ra beluka kam garchu | म बिहान पढ्छु र बेलुका काम गर्छु। |
| I’m learning Nepali and slowly beginning to understand. | Ma nepali sikdaichu ra bistarai bujhdaichu | म नेपाली सिक्दैछु र बिस्तारै बुझ्दैछु। |
| Kathmandu traffic is annoying sometimes. | Kathmanduko traffic kahile kahi derai jhanjhatilo huncha | काठमाडौँको ट्राफिक कहिलेकाहीँ धेरै झन्झटिलो हुन्छ। |
| But the food and people here are nice. | Tara yahako khana ra manche ramra chan | तर यहाँको खाना र मान्छे राम्रा छन्। |
Learn how to describe and comment on places, food, weather, and experiences in a natural Nepali way.
| English | Romanized Nepali | नेपाली Script |
|---|---|---|
| This place is peaceful. | Yo thau shanta cha | यो ठाउँ शान्त छ। |
| That restaurant’s food is tasty. | Tyo restaurant ko khana swadilo cha | त्यो रेस्टुराँको खाना स्वादिलो छ। |
| The weather is nice, good for going out. | Aja mausam ramro cha, ghumna jana ramro cha | आज मौसम राम्रो छ, घुम्न जान राम्रो छ। |
| I enjoyed the trip a lot. | Yatra nikai ramailo vayo | यात्रा निकै रमाइलो भयो। |
Master phrases for asking opinions, giving constructive feedback, and expressing your own views in conversations.
| English | Romanized Nepali | नेपाली Script |
|---|---|---|
| What do you think? | Tapailai k lagcha | तपाईंलाई के लाग्छ? |
| Do you think this is good or not? | Tapailai yo ramro lagcha ki lagdaina | तपाईंलाई यो राम्रो लाग्छ कि लाग्दैन? |
| In my view, this is fine. | Mero vicharma yo thik cha | मेरो विचारमा यो ठीक छ। |
| That seemed a bit different to me. | Malai tyo ali bhinna lagyо | मलाई त्यो अलि भिन्न लाग्यो। |
| How’s this design? | Yo design kasto cha | यो डिजाइन कस्तो छ? |
| I like it, but the color could be a bit bolder. | Malai man paryo, tara rang ali chamkilo bhaye ramro hunthiyo | मलाई यो मन पर्छ, तर रङ अलि चम्किलो भए राम्रो हुन्थ्यो। |
| Okay, thank you. | Thik cha, dhanyabad | ठीक छ, धन्यवाद। |
Essential phrases for when you don’t understand something or need someone to speak more slowly or clearly.
| English | Romanized Nepali | नेपाली Script |
|---|---|---|
| Did I understand correctly? | Maile sahisanga bujheya | मले सहीसँग बुझेँ? |
| What did you say? Please say it again. | Tapaile k vannu vyo? pheri vanidinuhos | तपाईंले के भन्नु भयो? फेरि भनिदिनुहोस्। |
| Could you speak slowly? | K tapai bistarai bolna saknuhuncha | के तपाईं बिस्तारै बोल्न सक्नुहुन्छ? |
| It’s hard for me to understand when spoken quickly. | Chito bolda malai bujhna garo huncha | छिटो बोल्दा मलाई बुझ्न गाह्रो हुन्छ। |
| Please explain a little more clearly. | Kripaya ali spasta vannu hos | कृपया अलि स्पष्ट भन्नुहोस्। |
Learn practical phrases for shopping, asking prices, negotiating, and checking sizes.
| English | Romanized Nepali | नेपाली Script |
|---|---|---|
| How much is this? | Yo kati vayo | यो कति भएको? |
| Can it be a little cheaper? | K ali kam huna sakcha | के अलि कम हुन सक्छ? |
| This size doesn’t fit me. | Yo size malai milena | यो साइज मलाई मिलेन। |
| Can I see another color? | Ma arko rang herna sakchu | म अर्को रंग हेर्न सक्छु? |
| Okay thanks. | Thik cha, dhanyabad | ठिक छ, धन्यवाद। |
Useful phrases for ordering food, making special requests, and asking about the bill at restaurants and cafés.
| English | Romanized Nepali | नेपाली Script |
|---|---|---|
| Please give one cup of black coffee. | Ek cup black coffee dinuhos | एक कप ब्ल्याक कफी दिनुहोस्। |
| Don’t add sugar. | Chini narakhnuhos | चिनी नराख्नुहोस्। |
| Will you eat here or take away? | Yaha khanu huncha ki laijanuhuncha | यहाँ खानुहुन्छ कि लैजानुहुन्छ? |
| Please pack it for takeaway. | Please pack garera dinuhos | प्लिज प्याक गरेर दिनुहोस्। |
| How much is the bill? | Bill kati vayo | बिल कति भयो? |
Essential direction phrases to help you navigate Nepali cities, towns, and streets confidently.
| English | Romanized Nepali | नेपाली Script |
|---|---|---|
| Go straight. | Sidhai januhos | सिन्धै जानुहोस्। |
| Turn left from there. | Tyahabata baya modnuhos | त्यहाँबाट बाँया मोड्नुहोस्। |
| That is near the bridge. | Tyo pul najiki cha | त्यो पुल नजिकै छ। |
| Go straight, cross the bridge and turn right. | Sidha januhos, pul par garera daya modnuhos | सिधा जानुहोस्, पुल पार गरेर दायाँ मोड्नुहोस्। |
Master these essential phrases to communicate confidently in everyday Nepali situations, from casual conversations to practical transactions.
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Principle 01
Natural Conversations
Start with small talk like “Tapai ko din kasto cha?” (How is your day?) and describe your daily life naturally using present tense verbs. |
|
Principle 02
Describing & Opinions
Use “Tapailai k lagcha?” (What do you think?) to ask opinions and describe places with adjectives like “shanta” (peaceful) and “ramro” (nice). |
|
Principle 03
Clarification & Asking
Don’t hesitate to ask “Pheri vanidinu hos?” (Please say it again) and “K bistarai bolna saknu huncha?” (Can you speak slowly?). |
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Principle 04
Practical Transactions
Master shopping, dining, and direction phrases. Always be polite with “Kripaya” (please) and “Dhanyabad” (thank you). |
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