Basic Nepali Phrases for Travelers
Learn common Nepali phrases — with simple pronunciation — to greet locals, shop, eat and travel with confidence in Nepal.
Nepali (नेपाली) is the official language of Nepal and is spoken by the vast majority of people across the country. While English is widely understood in Kathmandu, Pokhara and on popular trekking routes, even a handful of Nepali words goes a long way: locals genuinely light up when travelers greet them with a warm Namaste.
The most useful words to learn first are Namaste (hello), Dhanyabad (thank you), Maaf garnuhos(sorry / excuse me) and the numbers one to ten for shopping and bargaining. Nepali pronunciation is largely phonetic, so once you know the sounds you can read most words as they are written. Use the interactive list below to browse phrases by category, and see the quick answers further down for the phrases travelers ask about most.
Hello
GreetingsNepali: नमस्ते
Pronunciation: nah-mah-stay
Thank you
GreetingsNepali: धन्यवाद
Pronunciation: dhun-yah-baad
What is your name?
GreetingsNepali: तपाईंको नाम के हो?
Pronunciation: tah-pai-ko naam kay ho
My name is ...
GreetingsNepali: मेरो नाम ... हो
Pronunciation: may-ro naam ... ho
How much is it?
ShoppingNepali: कति छ?
Pronunciation: kaati-cha
Can you reduce the price?
ShoppingNepali: अलिकति कम गर्नुहोस्
Pronunciation: ah-lee-kah-tee kaam gar-nu-hos
It's too expensive
ShoppingNepali: धेरै महंगो छ
Pronunciation: dherai-mahango-cha
Where is it?
DirectionsNepali: कहाँ छ?
Pronunciation: kaha-cha
How far is it?
DirectionsNepali: कति टाढा छ?
Pronunciation: kaati-tadha-cha
Left
DirectionsNepali: बायाँ
Pronunciation: ba-ya
Right
DirectionsNepali: दायाँ
Pronunciation: da-ya
Straight
DirectionsNepali: सिधै
Pronunciation: sid-hai
I am hungry
FoodNepali: मलाई भोक लाग्यो
Pronunciation: malai-bhook-lagyo
Water
FoodNepali: पानी
Pronunciation: paani
I like it
FoodNepali: मलाई मन पर्यो
Pronunciation: malai-man-paryo
Please speak slowly
CommunicationNepali: मलाई बिस्तारै बोल्नुहोस्
Pronunciation: ma-lai bis-ta-rai bol-nu-hos
I don't understand
CommunicationNepali: मलाई बुझिएन
Pronunciation: mai-le-bujhina
I can't speak Nepali
CommunicationNepali: म नेपाली बोल्न सक्दिन
Pronunciation: ma nepali-bolna jandina
I need help
EmergencyNepali: मलाई मद्दत चाहिन्छ
Pronunciation: malai-maddat-chahiyo
Where is the doctor?
EmergencyNepali: डाक्टर कहाँ छ?
Pronunciation: doctor-kaha-cha
I need an ambulance
EmergencyNepali: एम्बुलेन्स चाहिन्छ
Pronunciation: ambulance-chahiyo
One
NumbersNepali: १
Pronunciation: ek
Two
NumbersNepali: २
Pronunciation: dui
Three
NumbersNepali: ३
Pronunciation: teen
Four
NumbersNepali: ४
Pronunciation: char
Five
NumbersNepali: ५
Pronunciation: paanch
Six
NumbersNepali: ६
Pronunciation: cha
Seven
NumbersNepali: ७
Pronunciation: saat
Eight
NumbersNepali: ८
Pronunciation: aath
Nine
NumbersNepali: ९
Pronunciation: nou
Ten
NumbersNepali: १०
Pronunciation: das
1 Rupee
CurrencyNepali: १ रुपैयाँ
Pronunciation: ek rupaiya
5 Rupees
CurrencyNepali: ५ रुपैयाँ
Pronunciation: paanch rupaiya
10 Rupees
CurrencyNepali: १० रुपैयाँ
Pronunciation: das rupaiya
20 Rupees
CurrencyNepali: २० रुपैयाँ
Pronunciation: bis rupaiya
50 Rupees
CurrencyNepali: ५० रुपैयाँ
Pronunciation: paashaas rupaiya
100 Rupees
CurrencyNepali: १०० रुपैयाँ
Pronunciation: ek saye rupaiya
500 Rupees
CurrencyNepali: ५०० रुपैयाँ
Pronunciation: paanch saye rupaiya
1000 Rupees
CurrencyNepali: १००० रुपैयाँ
Pronunciation: ek hajar rupaiya
Paisa (cents)
CurrencyNepali: पैसा
Pronunciation: paisa
It's expensive
CurrencyNepali: महंगो छ
Pronunciation: mahango-cha
It's cheap
CurrencyNepali: सस्तो छ
Pronunciation: sasto-cha
Language Tips
Pronunciation Guide
- Namaste (नमस्ते) - nah-mah-stay
- Dhanyabaad (धन्यवाद) - dhun-yah-baad
- Tapaaiko naam ke ho? (तपाईंको नाम के हो?) - tah-pai-ko naam kay ho
Cultural Notes
- Always greet with Namaste
- Use formal language with elders
- Add "ji" for respect
- Learn basic numbers for bargaining
Useful Tips
- Practice numbers 1-10
- Learn food-related phrases
- Memorize emergency phrases
- Download offline phrasebook
Common Nepali Phrases — Quick Answers
How do you say hello in Nepali?
You say hello in Nepali with "Namaste" (नमस्ते), pronounced nah-mah-stay. It is used as a respectful greeting at any time of day, often with palms pressed together. "Namaskar" (नमस्कार) is a slightly more formal version.
How do you say thank you in Nepali?
Thank you in Nepali is "Dhanyabad" (धन्यवाद), pronounced dhun-ya-baad. Adding "ji" for respect or saying it warmly goes a long way with locals.
How do you say good afternoon in Nepali?
Nepali does not commonly use separate time-of-day greetings — "Namaste" is used morning, afternoon and evening. The literal phrase for good afternoon is "Shubha madhyahna" (शुभ मध्याह्न), but it is rarely used in everyday speech.
How do you ask for help in an emergency in Nepali?
To ask for help, say "Maddat garnuhos!" (मद्दत गर्नुहोस्) meaning "please help", or shout "Guhar!" (गुहार) to call for urgent help. Nepal's emergency number for police is 100.
How do you ask "how much is this?" in Nepali?
Ask "Yo kati ho?" (यो कति हो?), pronounced yo kati ho, meaning "how much is this?". It is handy when shopping or bargaining in local markets.