Essential Nepali Phrases

In this video, we’ll learn essential Nepali phrases that are commonly used in daily life conversations. These phrases will help you communicate confidently in Nepali while travelling, meeting people, shopping, or living in Nepal.

Natural small talk

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
How is your day today?	Aja tpai 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 jau	“हेर्दै जाऔँ”

Talking about daily life

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
But the food and people here are nice.	Ma ahile kamma chu	म अहिले काममा छु।
Kathmandu traffic is annoying sometimes.	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।

Describing things/places

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
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।

Asking opinions & sharing your view

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
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.		मेरो विचारमा यो ठीक छ।
That seemed a bit different to me.	Malai tyo ali bhinna lagyo	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 chamkilo bhaye ramro hunthiyo	मलाई यो मन पर्छ, तर रङ अलि चम्किलो भए राम्रो हुन्थ्यो।
Okay, thank you.	Thik cha, dhanyabaad	ठीक छ, धन्यवाद।

Handling misunderstandings

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
Did I understand correctly?	Maile sahisanga bujhey	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।

Shopping

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
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, dhanyabaad	ठिक छ, धन्यवाद।

Eating out

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
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?

Directions

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
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।