Pronunciation in Nepali (Part – 2) Learn How to Speak Clearly and Correctly

In this video, we focus on Nepali pronunciation continuation of part 1 to help you speak more naturally and confidently. Learn how to pronounce Nepali sounds, letters, and words the correct way.

To help you speak more fluently, we include plenty of examples, slow and fast pronunciation, and everyday Nepali words you can start using right away. By the end of this lesson, you’ll feel more comfortable with the rhythm, tone, and flow of spoken Nepali.

LONG vs SHORT VOWELS

Short → Long pairs:
अ — आ
इ — ई
उ — ऊ

Examples:

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
Art	Kala	कला
Time	kaal	काल
With	Sita	सित
Sita	Sita	सीता
clan	Kul	कुल

Compound Consonants

क्त — kta
 त्र — tra
 द्य — dya
 ज्ञ — gya
 श्म — shma

Examples:

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
Power	Shakti	शक्ति
Triangle	Trikon	त्रिकोण
Knowledge	Vidya	विद्या
Wisdom	Gyaan	ज्ञान
Cremation ground	Smashaan	श्मशान

Tricky Sound Pairs

स — sa
 श — sha
 ष — ṣha (retroflex sha)

छ — chh
 च — cha

ब — ba
 भ — bha (with air)

Examples:

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
Signature	Sahi	सही
Peace	Shant	शान्त
Conspire	Sadyantra	षड्यन्त्र
Want	Chahiye	चाहिए
Daughter	Chori	छोरी
Meet	Bhet	भेट

Smooth Word Connection

Examples:

मैं-le–बु-झेँ → मैले बुझें (sounds like mai-le-bu-jhen) which means I understood
 यो–सु-न्नु-हो-स् → यो सुन्नुस् (sounds like yo-sun-nus) which means listen this
 sita–आ-उँ-छ → sita आउँछ (sounds like kaa-li-aaun-cha) Sita will come

THE SOFT र

The Nepali र is light and quick. It’s not a heavy roll. Think of tapping the tongue gently once.

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
Red	Rato	रातो
Beautiful	Ramro	राम्रो
Train	Rel	रेल
To cry	Runu	रूनु

Minimal pairs:
 रा vs र्रा
 Example:
 घर्रा (gharra) vs घरा (ghara)

INTONATION & FLOW

Nepali uses steady, calm intonation. The tone doesn’t jump up and down; it stays smooth.

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
Where are you going?	Timi kata jadaixau	तिमी कता जाँदैछौ?
The weather is nice today.	Aja mausam ramro cha	आज मौसम राम्रो छ।
Wait for minute.	Ekchin parkhanus	एकछिन पर्खिनुस।

Sentence Practice

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
How are you?	Tapai kasto hunuhuncha?	तपाईं कस्तो हुनुहुन्छ?
Please say that again!	Malai feri ekchoti vannuhos	मलाई फेरि एकचोटी भन्नुस्।
I am practicing Nepali speaking.	Ma Nepali bolna abhyas gardai chu	म नेपाली बोल्न अभ्यास गर्दै छु।
This became easy to understand	Yo sabai bujhna sajilo vayo	यो सबै बुझ्न सजिलो भयो।