One Verb Can Make Many Sentences

Definition

A single Nepali verb can create many different meanings by changing its ending. The ending tells us who is doing the action, when it happens, or whether it has already happened.

English	Romanized Nepali (Simple)	Nepali
Go	Jaa	जा
Going	Jaandai	जाँदै
Went	Gayo	गयो
Gone / Already gone	Gai sakyo	गइसक्यो
Will go	Jaanchha	जान्छ

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Basic Forms

Definition

These are the basic forms of the verb used for commands and the dictionary (infinitive) form.

English	Romanized Nepali (Simple)	Nepali
Go! (informal)	Jaa	जा
Go! (polite)	Jaau	जाऊ
Please go.	Jaanuhos	जानुहोस्
To go	Jaanu	जानु

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Present & Continuous Tenses

Definition

The Present/Near Future Tense describes actions that will happen soon. The Present Continuous Tense describes actions happening right now.

English	Romanized Nepali (Simple)	Nepali
I will go	Jaanchhu	जान्छु
You will go	Jaanchhau	जान्छौ
He/She will go	Jaanchha	जान्छ
I am going	Jaandaichhu	जाँदैछु
You are going	Jaandaichhau	जाँदैछौ
He/She is going	Jaandaichha	जाँदैछ

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Past Tenses

Definition

The Simple Past Tense describes an action completed in the past. The Present Perfect Tense describes an action that has already been completed. The Past Perfect Tense describes an action completed before another past action.

English	Romanized Nepali (Simple)	Nepali
He went	Gayo	गयो
You went	Gayou	गयौ
They went	Gaye	गए
He has already gone	Gai sakyo	गइसक्यो
I have already gone	Gai saken	गइसकें
They have already gone	Gai sake	गइसके
Had already gone	Gai sakeko thiyo	गइसकेको थियो

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The Pattern & Practice

Definition

Most Nepali verbs follow the same conjugation pattern. Simply replace the main verb while keeping the endings the same.

English	Romanized Nepali (Simple)	Nepali
Go	Jaa	जा
Eat	Khaa	खा
I will go	Jaanchhu	जान्छु
I will eat	Khaanchhu	खान्छु
I am going	Jaandaichhu	जाँदैछु
I am eating	Khaandaichhu	खाँदैछु
He has already gone	Gai sakyo	गइसक्यो
He has already eaten	Khayi sakyo	खाइसक्यो

More Verbs to Practice

English	Romanized Nepali (Simple)	Nepali
Come	Aau	आउ
Sit	Bas	बस
Sleep	Suut	सुत
Laugh	Haas	हाँस
Walk	Hid	हिँड
Look	Her	हेर
See	Dekh	देख
Buy	Kin	किन
Sell	Bech	बेच
Make	Banaau	बनाउ
Get up	Uth	उठ

Important Exception

The verb जा (Jaa) is irregular in the past tense. Instead of following the normal pattern, it becomes गयो (Gayo), just like Go → Went in English. Most Nepali verbs follow the regular pattern.