If you know English words like in, on, under, behind, after, before — these are called Prepositions in English. In Nepali, the word for Preposition is पूर्वसर्ग (Purvasarga). But Nepali mainly uses Postpositions — words that come after nouns, called उत्तरसर्ग (Uttarsarga).
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to say phrases like in the room, behind the house, after three days, before work, and from Kathmandu to Pokhara.
In English, the grammar word comes before the noun. In Nepali, it comes after the noun.
|
English (Preposition + Noun)
in the room
on the table under the chair |
Nepali (Noun + Postposition)
कोठामा
टेबलमाथि कुर्सीतल |
Learn how to describe where something is located using Nepali postpositions.
घरनिर = near the house · स्कूलनिर = near the school
म स्कूलनिर छु। — I am near the school.
घरतिर = toward the house
ऊ घरतिर गयो। — He went toward the house.
घरमाथि = above the house · टेबलमाथि = on the table
किताब टेबलमाथि छ। — The book is on the table.
टेबलतल = under the table
कुकुर टेबलतल छ। — The dog is under the table.
घरबाहिर = outside the house
म घरबाहिर छु। — I am outside the house.
घरभित्र = inside the house
बच्चा घरभित्र छ। — The child is inside the house.
घरको पछाडि = behind the house
बगैंचा घरको पछाडि छ। — The garden is behind the house.
घरको अगाडि = in front of the house
गाडी घरको अगाडि छ। — The car is in front of the house.
स्कूल र पसलको बीचमा = between the school and shop
बैंक स्कूल र पसलको बीचमा छ। — The bank is between the school and shop.
सबैमध्ये = among all
ऊ सबैमध्ये राम्रो छ। — He is the best among all.
Use these postpositions to talk about when something happens.
एक बजेतिर = around one o’clock
म एक बजेतिर आउँछु। — I come around one o’clock.
तीन दिनमा = in three days
काम तीन दिनमा सकिन्छ। — The work finishes in three days.
तीन दिनअघि = three days ago
ऊ तीन दिनअघि आयो। — He came three days ago.
तीन दिनभित्र = within three days
काम तीन दिनभित्र गर। — Do the work within three days.
कामको बीचमा = during work
कामको बीचमा फोन नगर। — Don’t call during work.
दिनभरि = all day long
आज पानी दिनभरि पर्यो। — It rained all day.
पाँच बजेसम्म = by five o’clock
पाँच बजेसम्म आउनु। — Come by five o’clock.
तीन बजेदेखि = from 3 o’clock
कक्षा तीन बजेदेखि सुरु हुन्छ। — Class starts from 3 o’clock.
पाँच महिनादेखि = for five months / since five months ago
म यहाँ पाँच महिनादेखि छु। — I have been here for five months.
तीन दिनपछि = after three days
म तीन दिनपछि जान्छु। — I will go after three days.
Build Nepali phrases by taking any noun and adding a postposition directly after it. Practice with घर (house):
|
Noun + Postposition
घर + भित्र
= घरभित्र
inside the house
|
Noun + Postposition
घर + बाहिर
= घरबाहिर
outside the house
|
|
Noun + Postposition
घर + तिर
= घरतिर
toward the house
|
Noun + Postposition
घर + माथि
= घरमाथि
above the house
|
Four essential principles to remember from this lesson.
|
Principle 01
Postpositions Come After
Unlike English prepositions, Nepali postpositions always follow the noun. The formula is always: Noun + Postposition. |
Principle 02
Place Postpositions
10 core place postpositions cover directions and locations: निर, तिर, माथि, तल, बाहिर, भित्र, पछाडि, अगाडि, बीचमा, मध्ये. |
|
Principle 03
Time Postpositions
10 core time postpositions express when events happen: तिर, मा, अघि, भित्र, बीचमा, भरि, सम्म, देखि, बाट, पछि. |
Principle 04
Context Matters
Some postpositions like तिर and देखि serve double roles (place and time). Context always clarifies meaning — trust the sentence around them. |
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