Adverbs in Nepali, known as Kriyavisesan (क्रिया विशेषण), work just like adverbs in English — they modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They give extra information about how, when, where, and to what extent an action is performed. They can be placed before or after the word they modify.
These adverbs describe how an action is performed. They are among the most commonly used adverbs in everyday Nepali speech.
| English | Nepali | Romanised |
|---|---|---|
| Gently | बिस्तारै | Bistarai |
| Quietly | चुपचाप | Chupchap |
| Better | अझ राम्रो | Ajha ramro |
| Hurriedly | हत्तारमा | Hattarama |
| Carefully | सावधानी पुर्वक | Savadhani purvak |
| Beautifully | सुन्दर ढंगले | Sundar dhangale |
| Strangely | अनौठो | Anautho |
| Completely | पूर्ण रुपमा | Purna rupma |
| Strongly | द्र्दतापुर्वक | Dhrdhatapurvak |
| Loudly | चर्को स्वरमा | Charko swarma |
| Quickly | छिटो | Chhito |
| Nicely | राम्रोसँग | Ramrosanga |
These adverbs are used to ask questions. They are essential for forming natural sentences in Nepali conversation.
| English | Nepali | Romanised |
|---|---|---|
| What | के | Ke |
| When | कहिले | Kahile |
| Why | किन | Kina |
| How many | कति वटा | Kati vota |
| Whose | कसको | Kasko |
| Whom | कसलाई | Kaslai |
| Which | कुन | Kun |
These adverbs are used to compare quantities, qualities, or frequency of actions. They are very useful in everyday Nepali communication.
| English | Nepali | Romanised |
|---|---|---|
| More than / Too much | धेरै | Dherai |
| Less than | भन्दा कम | Bhanda kam |
| Equal to | बाराबर | Bara bar |
| Least | कम्तिमा | Kamtima |
| Worse | नराम्रो | Naramro |
| Best | उत्तम | Uttam |
| Worst | सभन्दा खराब | Sabhnada kharab |
| Little | सानो | Sano |
| Always | सधैं | Sadhai |
| Rarely | विरलै | Viralai |
| Usually | सामान्यता | Samanyata |
| Often | अक्सर | Aksar |
| Never | कहिल्यै | Kahilyai |
These describe the extent or degree of an action, adjective, or another adverb.
ऊ धेरै खुसी छ।
U dherai khusi chha. — He is very happy.
मलाई अलि थाहा छ।
Malai ali thaha chha. — I know a little.
These adverbs describe when an action is performed.
म अहिले खाना खाँदैछु।
Ma ahile khana khandai chhu. — I am eating now.
हिजो म स्कूल गएँ।
Hijo ma school gaen. — I went to school yesterday.
These adverbs describe where an action is performed.
मलाई यहाँ राम्रो लाग्छ।
Malai yaha ramro lagchha. — I like it here.
उनी बाहिर खेल्दैछन्।
Uni bahir kheldaichhan. — They are playing outside.
These adverbs describe how often an action is performed.
उनी प्रायः बजार जान्छन्।
Uni praya: bazaar janchhan. — They often go to the market.
म कहिलेकाहीँ सिनेमा हेर्छु।
Ma kahilekai cinema herchhu. — I sometimes watch movies.
A handy reference of other everyday adverbs you’ll use frequently in Nepali conversation.
| English | Nepali | Romanised |
|---|---|---|
| Now | अब | Aba |
| Later | पछि | Pachi |
| Often | अक्सर | Aksara |
| Inside | भित्र | Bhitara |
| Here | यहाँ | Yaham |
| There | त्यहाँ | Tyaham |
| Everywhere | जताततै | Jatatatai |
| Yes | हो | Ho |
| No | छैन | Chaina |
| It is right | यो ठिक छ | Yo thika cha |
| It is wrong | यो गलत हो | Yo galata ho |
We covered all major types of Nepali adverbs — from manner and time to place, frequency, and degree. Use these to express yourself with greater precision and fluency.
Words like बिस्तारै (gently), छिटो (quickly), and धेरै (very) tell us how and to what extent something happens.
Words like अहिले (now), हिजो (yesterday), and प्रायः (often) tell us when and how often an action occurs.
Words like यहाँ (here), बाहिर (outside), and जताततै (everywhere) tell us where something is happening.
Adverbs make your Nepali come alive. Instead of saying just “म गएँ” (I went), say “म छिटो गएँ” (I went quickly) or “म हिजो बजार गएँ” (I went to the market yesterday). Practice using one new adverb each day in a real sentence — that’s the fastest path to fluency!
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