Introduction
ढ has a strong retroflex sound. When you pronounce it, your tongue curls slightly backward. It is different from ध, which has a softer aspirated dental sound.
Today, instead of learning only words that begin with ढ, we’ll learn 30 useful Nepali words that contain the letter ढ.
This will help you recognize ढ when reading real Nepali words.
30 Useful Vocabulary
| English Meaning | Romanized Nepali | Nepali |
|---|---|---|
| Door | Dhoka | ढोका |
| Stone | Dhunga | ढुङ्गा |
| Drain | Dhal | ढल |
| Slow / late | Dhilo | ढिलो |
| Structure / design | Dhancha | ढाँचा |
| Back | Dhad | ढाड |
| To lean / tilt | Dhalkinu | ढल्किनु |
| To bow down / pay respect | Dhognu | ढोग्नु |
| Shield | Dhaal | ढाल |
| Pile / heap | Dhipro | ढिप्रो |
| Traditional millet dish | Dhido | ढिँडो |
| Cover / lid | Dhakkan | ढक्कन |
| To flow / slope downward | Dhalnu | ढल्नु |
| To cover | Dhaknu | ढाक्नु |
| To climb | Chadhnu | चढ्नु |
| To read / study | Padhnu | पढ्नु |
| To increase / grow | Badhnu | बढ्नु |
| Study | Padhai | पढाइ |
| Nose ornament | Dhungri | ढुङ्ग्री |
| To lie / tell a lie | Dhatnu | ढाँट्नु |
| More / greater | Badhi | बढी |
| Growing / increasing | Badhdo | बढ्दो |
| Reading | Padhdai | पढ्दै |
| Studied / educated | Padheko | पढेको |
| To teach | Padhaunu | पढाउनु |
| Teaching | Padhaaune | पढाउने |
| To make someone climb | Chadhaunu | चढाउनु |
| Climbing | Chadhai | चढाइ |
| Ladder / staircase | Sidhi | सिँढी |
| Hill / ridge | Daanda | डाँडा |
🔤 Notice the Letter ढ
The letter ढ can appear in many different words and word forms:
ढोका · ढुङ्गा · ढल · ढिलो · ढाँचा · ढाड · ढल्किनु · ढोग्नु · ढाल · ढक्कन
It also appears in words such as:
पढ्नु · पढाइ · बढ्नु · चढ्नु · चढाइ · सिँढी
This is useful because you will often encounter ढ inside a word rather than only at the beginning.
15 Useful Sentences
| English | Romanized Nepali | Nepali |
|---|---|---|
| The door is open. | Dhoka khulla chha. | ढोका खुल्ला छ। |
| This stone is very heavy. | Yo dhunga dherai gahro chha. | यो ढुङ्गा धेरै गाह्रो छ। |
| The drain is blocked. | Dhal thuniyeko chha. | ढल थुनिएको छ। |
| He walks slowly. | U dhilo hindchha. | ऊ ढिलो हिँड्छ। |
| This building has a strong structure. | Yo bhawanko dhancha baliyo chha. | यो भवनको ढाँचा बलियो छ। |
| My back hurts. | Mero dhaad dukheko chha. | मेरो ढाड दुखेको छ। |
| The tree is leaning. | Rukh dhalkiyeko chha. | रुख ढल्किएको छ। |
| He bowed down to his parents. | Usle aama-buwalai dhogyo. | उसले आमाबुवालाई ढोग्यो। |
| The soldier is carrying a shield. | Sipahile dhaal bokeko chha. | सिपाहीले ढाल बोकेको छ। |
| There is a pile of stones here. | Yahaan dhungako dhipro chha. | यहाँ ढुङ्गाको ढिप्रो छ। |
| Put the lid on the pot. | Bhaandama dhakkan lagaau. | भाँडामा ढक्कन लगाऊ। |
| I need more time. | Malai badhi samaya chhaahincha. | मलाई बढी समय चाहिन्छ। |
| Please cover the food. | Khaana dhaknu hos. | खाना ढाक्नुहोस्। |
| We have to climb the hill. | Hamilai daanda chadhnuparchha. | हामीलाई डाँडा चढ्नुपर्छ। |
| I study every morning. | Ma harek bihaana padhchhu. | म हरेक बिहान पढ्छु। |
Final Reading Challenge
Read this sentence slowly:
ढिलो नगरी ढोका खोलेर ढुङ्गाको बाटो हुँदै डाँडा चढ्नुहोस्।
Try to identify every word containing ढ.
The more you practice recognizing ढ in different words, the easier Nepali reading will become.


