In Nepali, the way you speak changes depending on your relationship with the person you’re addressing. Understanding when to use formal versus informal speech is absolutely crucial for cultural respect and appropriate communication. This lesson focuses on the verb “to eat” (खाने khane) in both its casual and polite forms, a pattern that applies to most Nepali verbs.
The register you use depends entirely on your relationship with the listener. This is not optional in Nepali—it’s a fundamental aspect of the language that reflects cultural values of respect and hierarchy.
Use informal forms with: close friends, peers your age, younger siblings, children, and people you know well. Example: “Timi khadai chau” (You are eating) when talking to a friend.
Use formal forms with: parents, grandparents, teachers, elderly people, strangers, and anyone you want to show respect to. Example: “Tapai khadai hunu huncha” (You are eating) when talking to someone older.
The subject pronouns also change: informal uses “Timi” (you), while formal uses “Tapai” (you – respectful). This one change signals the entire shift from casual to respectful speech.
These are the informal conjugations of खाने (khane – to eat) across different tenses. Notice how the endings change based on the subject (I, you, he/she, we, they) and the tense (present, past, future).
| English | Romanized Nepali | Nepali Script |
| PRESENT TENSE (Now) | ||
| I am eating | Ma khadai chu | म खाँदै छु |
| You are eating | Timi khadai chau | तिमी खाँदै छौ |
| He/She is eating | Uh khadai cha | ऊ खाँदै छ |
| We are eating | Hami khadai chau | हामी खाँदै छौँ |
| They are eating | Uniharu khadai chan | उनीहरू खाँदै छन् |
| PAST TENSE (Before) | ||
| I was eating | Ma khadai thiye | म खाँदै थिए |
| You were eating | Timi khadai thiyou | तिमी खाँदै थियौ |
| He/She was eating | Uh khadai thiyo | ऊ खाँदै थियो |
| We were eating | Hami khadai thiyou | हामी खाँदै थियौँ |
| They were eating | Uniharu khadai thiye | उनीहरू खाँदै थिए |
| FUTURE TENSE (Later) | ||
| I will be eating | Ma khadai hunechu | म खाँदै हुनेछु |
| You will be eating | Timi khadai hunechau | तिमी खाँदै हुनेछौ |
| He/She will be eating | Uh khadai hunecha | ऊ खाँदै हुनेछ |
| We will be eating | Hami khadai hune chau | हामी खाँदै हुनेछौँ |
| They will be eating | Uniharu khadai hunechan | उनीहरू खाँदै हुनेछन् |
In formal speech, verbs take on additional complexity. Notice how “hunu huncha” or “hunu hunchaउहाँ खाँदै हुनुहुन्छ” (respect marker) is added to show formality. The subject pronouns also change: Tapai (you formal) instead of Timi, and Uha/Uhaharu instead of Uh/Uniharu.
| English | Romanized Nepali | Nepali Script |
| PRESENT TENSE (Now) | ||
| I am eating | Ma khadai chu | म खाँदै छु |
| You are eating (formal) | Tapai khadai hunu huncha | तपाईं खाँदै हुनुहुन्छ |
| He/She is eating (formal) | Uha khadai hunu huncha | उहाँ खाँदै हुनुहुन्छ |
| We are eating | Hami khadai chau | हामी खाँदै छौँ |
| They are eating (formal) | Uhaharu khadai hunu huncha | उहाँहरू खाँदै हुनुहुन्छ |
| PAST TENSE (Before) | ||
| I was eating | Ma khadai thiye | म खाँदै थिए |
| You were eating (formal) | Tapai khadai hunu hunthiyo | तपाईं खाँदै हुनुहुन्थियो |
| He/She was eating (formal) | Uha khadai hunu hunthiyo | उहाँ खाँदै हुनुहुन्थियो |
| We were eating | Hami khadai thiyou | हामी खाँदै थियौँ |
| They were eating (formal) | Uhaharu khadai hunu hunthiyo | उहाँहरू खाँदै हुनुहुन्थियो |
| FUTURE TENSE (Later) | ||
| I will be eating | Ma khadai hunechu | म खाँदै हुनेछु |
| You will be eating (formal) | Tapai khadai hunu hunecha | तपाईं खाँदै हुनुहुनेछ |
| He/She will be eating (formal) | Uha khadai hunu hunecha | उहाँ खाँदै हुनुहुनेछ |
| We will be eating | Hami khadai hune chau | हामी खाँदै हुनेछौँ |
| They will be eating (formal) | Uhaharu khadai hunu hunechan | उहाँहरू खाँदै हुनुहुनेछन् |
Study how the same sentence changes completely depending on the register. This helps you understand not just the patterns, but when and why to use each form.
Present Tense (Informal): Timi khadai chau। (तिमी खाँदै छौ।)
Present Tense (Formal): Tapai khadai hunu huncha। (तपाईं खाँदै हुनुहुन्छ।)
When to use: Use informal with friends your age. Use formal with teachers, parents, or anyone you want to show respect.
Past Tense (Informal): Timi khadai thiyou। (तिमी खाँदै थियौ।)
Past Tense (Formal): Tapai khadai hunu hunthiyo। (तपाईं खाँदै हुनुहुन्थियो।)
Pattern: Notice how formal speech adds “hunu hunthiyo” (the respect structure) but informal stays simple with just the ending.
Future Tense (Informal): Timi khadai hunechau। (तिमी खाँदै हुनेछौ।)
Future Tense (Formal): Tapai khadai hunu hunecha। (तपाईं खाँदै हुनुहुनेछ।)
Observation: Even in future tense, the formal structure maintains “hunu” showing politeness.
Mastering formal and informal speech is essential for true Nepali fluency. It’s not just about grammar—it’s about cultural respect and appropriate communication. Using the right register shows that you understand and value Nepali social customs.
Informal (Timi, simple endings) vs Formal (Tapai, hunu huncha structure). Both are correct—context determines which to use.
The verb stem stays the same; tense and register change the ending and structure. Once you learn the pattern, you can conjugate any verb.
Using the right form shows respect. Wrong choice can seem rude or too familiar. Listen and mimic native speakers.
Practice switching between formal and informal. Create sentences with both forms. Speak them aloud to build muscle memory.
Now that you’ve learned both registers, challenge yourself:
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