Free survival kit

Népalais survival kit

The 20 essential phrases and 100 key words to get by in Népalais when travelling.

20 phrases
100 key words in the PDF

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Greetings

Népalais	English
namaste	hello, greetings, goodbye
namaskār	respectful greeting
dhanyabād	thank you
dherai dhanyabād	thank you very much
ho	yes
hoina	no
kṛpayā	please
māph garnuhos	excuse me, sorry

Asking for directions

Népalais	English
ko	who
ke	what
kahā̃	where
kahile	when

Emergencies

Népalais	English
ṭāuko	head
ā̃khā	eye(s)
nāk	nose
mukh	mouth

At the restaurant

Népalais	English
pānī	water
ciyā	tea
bhāt	cooked rice
dāl	lentil soup

30 key words to remember

Népalais	English
ṭhīk cha	fine, OK, it's fine
phēri bheṭaũlā	see you again, goodbye
hajur	sir/madam, yes (polite)
svāgatam	welcome
māph pāū̃	I'm sorry, forgive me
ma	I, me
timī	you (intimate, medium respect)
tapāī̃	you (formal, respectful)
ū	he, she (medium)
uhā̃	he, she (honorific)
hāmī	we
tapāī̃haru	you (plural formal)
hunu	to be
cha	is, there is, has
jānu	to go
āunu	to come
khānu	to eat
piunu	to drink
sutnu	to sleep
bolnu	to speak
garnu	to do, to make
hernu	to see, to look
sunnu	to listen, to hear
bhannu	to say, to tell
jānnu	to know
paḍhnu	to read, to study
lekhnu	to write
dinu	to give
linu	to take
man parnu	to like, to love

In context: 5 scenes to get by

On arrival

You land at Tribhuvan airport in Kathmandu in the early afternoon. The immigration line is long and warm. You greet the officer with a "namaste", palms joined, thank him when he hands back your passport, and he replies with a respectful smile.

namaste : hello, greetings, goodbye
namaskār : respectful greeting
dhanyabād : thank you
dherai dhanyabād : thank you very much

In a taxi

You get into a taxi to reach Thamel. The driver asks who is waiting for you, what you are looking for, where your guest house is and when you want to arrive. You answer by pointing to your map on the phone.

ko : who
ke : what
kahā̃ : where
kahile : when

At the café

You enter a bhojanalaya (popular eatery) in the Thamel district. The waiter welcomes you and hands you the menu. You order water, a spiced chai, a traditional dal bhat and a portion of hot lentil soup.

pānī : water
ciyā : tea
bhāt : cooked rice
dāl : lentil soup

In an emergency

You start feeling altitude sickness during a trek. At the clinic, you point to your head to signal dizziness, your blurry eyes, your bleeding nose and your dry mouth. The doctor understands and prescribes rest.

ṭāuko : head
ā̃khā : eye(s)
nāk : nose
mukh : mouth

On departure

On the morning of departure, your host family offers you one last hot tea. You say "yes" for one more cup, "no, thank you" for the food, and end with a "namaste" and a heartfelt "thank you for everything".

ho : yes
hoina : no
kṛpayā : please
māph garnuhos : excuse me, sorry

Cultural notes

The "namaste", palms joined at chest level and a slight head bow, is the universal greeting in Nepal. It is used to say hello, goodbye, and immediately conveys respect.
In Nepal, people traditionally eat with their right hand. The left hand is considered impure. If you are served a traditional dish like dal bhat, observe your hosts and mimic their gestures.
Remove your shoes before entering a home, a temple or some shops. This rule is strict, especially in Hindu and Buddhist sanctuaries. Check whether there are shoes lined up at the entrance.
Nepali distinguishes three levels of politeness for "you": "timi" (familiar), "tapai" (polite, the most useful for you) and "hajur" (highly respectful). With a stranger, stick to "tapai".
Never touch a person's head, even a child's: it is considered the most sacred part of the body. Likewise, avoid pointing your feet at a person or an altar.
Dal bhat is the national dish: white rice, lentil soup, vegetables and sometimes a meat curry. It is often eaten twice a day. "Dal bhat power, twenty-four hour" is a famous local joke.
Bargaining is usual in markets and tourist shops, but stays polite and smiling. A classic rule: start at half the announced price and negotiate up to about two thirds.
Always walk around stupas and chortens clockwise, keeping the monument on your right. It is a mark of respect for the Tibetan Buddhism present in Nepal.

Keep the whole kit on your phone

The 20 phrases, 100 key words and the cultural notes in a PDF to keep offline or print. We also send it to you by e-mail.

A family language

Reconnect with Nepali

The language of your parents, your grandparents or your partner. The one you want to pass on to your children.

A couple, heads close together — Speaking the language of the country means reconnecting with its people.

A mother and her daughter — Now, at home, we speak Nepali.

A mother and her daughter laughing on a sofa — Your in-laws speak Nepali to you. Answer them in Nepali.

A family of five — Children who speak Nepali are the greatest cultural wealth you can bring to your family.

A grandmother holds her grandson in her arms — Your grandparents’ Nepali should not end with them.

Finally understand what is said at the table, and answer back.
“Hi Mum, I speak Nepali!”

A language is passed down from generation to generation. Now it is your turn.

Start Népalais for free

About this kit

Nepali is the official language of Nepal, spoken by around 17 million native speakers. Written in Devanagari, it is also present in regions of India such as Sikkim and Darjeeling. With this kit, you have the basics to greet, eat and find your way, from Kathmandu to the Annapurna treks.

Nepali is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by around 17 million native speakers and used as a lingua franca by more than 30 million people in total. Official language of Nepal, it is also recognized in several Indian states (Sikkim, West Bengal, Darjeeling) and spoken by large diasporas in India, Bhutan and the United Kingdom. Nepali is written in Devanagari, the same alphabet as Hindi and Sanskrit, which makes reading easier for anyone already familiar with one of these languages.

Linguistically, Nepali is close to Hindi and shares much of its core vocabulary, but it is often described as softer and more melodic. The grammar is agglutinative, with subject-object-verb order and a strongly marked system of politeness levels. Three forms of "you" coexist: "timi" for close people, "tapai" for standard politeness, and "hajur" to express deep respect, especially towards elders and figures of authority. This gradation reflects a society deeply attached to social hierarchy and respect.

Nepal hosts eight of the world's ten highest peaks, including Everest, and the culture is imbued with both Hinduism and Buddhism. You will encounter Tibetan stupas, Hindu temples, prayer flags and religious processions. Festivals like Dashain and Tihar shape the year. This kit gathers the essentials to greet, ask for directions, order a meal, handle a medical issue and take leave respectfully. Memorize these phrases before leaving and you will be welcomed warmly, as soon as you arrive in Kathmandu.

Sources and references

Every translation is cross-checked against at least two concordant sources among the references below.

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