Understanding the Basics of Nepali Language

¡Namaste! If the soaring peaks of the Himalayas have ever called your name, or if you simply love discovering new cultures, then the Nepali language is a perfect next adventure. Spoken by more than 17 million people in Nepal and across diaspora communities worldwide, Nepali threads together Sanskrit roots, colorful regional influences, and a melody that’s instantly recognizable once you’ve heard it on Kathmandu’s busy streets or a trekking trail in the Annapurna region. Whether planning a trip, connecting with Nepali friends, or expanding your linguistic résumé, this guide will walk you through the essentials.

Why Learn the Nepali Language?

Before we jump into letters and numbers, let’s talk motivation. Nepali unlocks a deeper experience of the country’s rich culture, from momos sizzling at roadside stalls to the thundering drums of a mountaintop monastery. It’s also closely related to Hindi, so you’ll pick up shared vocabulary that can give you a foothold in other South Asian languages. Plus, if you’ve ever wondered how long it takes to learn a language, Nepali’s phonetic spelling and predictable grammar make it less intimidating than you might think.

Is It Safe to Travel to Kathmandu Now?

Nepal has long been regarded as an exceptionally safe and welcoming destination. If you’re heading to Kathmandu, prepare to be immersed in a vibrant tapestry of art, music, and, yes, absolutely amazing tea.

Curious how we know? The latest episode of the new Tandem podcast, Connected by Language dives deep into what makes Nepali culture so unique. We chat with Jyotshana, a native of Nepal now living abroad, about her everyday life in Kathmandu and nearby smaller cities, and how her cultural identity evolves while navigating life overseas.

A Brief History of the Nepali Language

Every language has a backstory, and Nepali’s is as dramatic as the landscape in which it’s spoken. Emerging from Sanskrit more than a thousand years ago, it absorbed Tibeto-Burman influences as highland clans traded along Himalayan passes. The modern form took shape in the 18th century when King Prithvi Narayan Shah unified Nepal, elevating Khas Kura (an early Nepali dialect) to court status. Today it’s written in Devanagari script (the same script used for Hindi and Marathi), yet its own pronunciation quirks set Nepali apart.

Nepali Alphabet: Devanagari Basics

Before you can say namaste on paper, you need to meet the letters. Nepali uses 46 primary characters: 13 vowels and 33 consonants, plus a handy diacritic system that makes spelling nearly phonetic. Think of the script as Lego blocks: consonants are the bricks, vowels are tiny pegs that snap on. Below is the Nepali alphabet organized by character sets so you can start matching shapes to sounds.

Vowels (स्वर)

• अ /a/ – as in up
• आ /ā/ – as in father
• इ /i/ – as in sit
• ई /ī/ – as in machine
• उ /u/ – as in put
• ऊ /ū/ – as in flu
• ऋ /ri/ – trilled ri (rare in everyday Nepali but common in Sanskrit loans)
• ॠ /rī/ – long trilled rii (very rare, mostly found in mantras)
• ऌ /li/ – vocalic li (archaic)
• ॡ /lī/ – long vocalic lii (archaic and liturgical)
• ए /e/ – as in they
• ऐ /ai/ – as in aisle
• ओ /o/ – as in so
• औ /au/ – as in ouch

Note: Modern Nepali primarily uses the first ten vowels above; the vocalic ऌ, ॡ, ॠ appear mostly in Sanskrit-derived religious or poetic contexts.

Consonants (व्यंजन)

• क /ka/ – crisp k
• ख /kha/ – aspirated kh (burst of air)
• ग /ga/ – hard g
• घ /gha/ – aspirated gh
• ङ /ṅa/ – velar nasal ng as in sing
• च /cha/ – ch in chop
• छ /chha/ – aspirated chh
• ज /ja/ – j in jam
• झ /jha/ – aspirated jh
• ञ /ña/ – palatal nasal ny in canyon
• ट /ṭa/ – retroflex t (tongue flipped back)
• ठ /ṭha/ – aspirated retroflex th
• ड /ḍa/ – retroflex d
• ढ /ḍha/ – aspirated retroflex dh
• ण /ṇa/ – retroflex n
• त /ta/ – dental t
• थ /tha/ – aspirated dental th
• द /da/ – dental d
• ध /dha/ – aspirated dental dh
• न /na/ – dental n
• प /pa/ – p in spin
• फ /pha/ – aspirated ph (like photo)
• ब /ba/ – b in bat
• भ /bha/ – aspirated bh
• म /ma/ – humming m
• य /ya/ – y in yes
• र /ra/ – tapped r (quick flick)
• ल /la/ – l in let
• व /wa/ – between v and w, closer to w
• श /śa/ – retroflex sh
• ष /ṣa/ – palatalized sh (rare)
• स /sa/ – hissy s
• ह /ha/ – h in hat

Each consonant carries an inherent "a" vowel, which you modify with diacritics. Don’t stress about memorizing every swirl today; focus on recognizing the shapes, then practice writing and listening to lock them in.

How to Say Hello in Nepali

Every journey begins with a greeting. To say hello in Nepali, join your palms together, dip your head slightly, and say “नमस्ते” (namaste). It literally means “I bow to you” and works for any time of day.

English	Nepali (Romanized)	Devanagari
Good morning	Subha-prabhat	शुभ प्रभात
Good night	Subha-ratri	शुभ रात्री
How are you?	Tapāɪ̃lai kasto cha?	तपाईंलाई कस्तो छ?

Ready to put new words into practice? Download Tandem and start chatting with native Nepali speakers in minutes!

How to Say Thank You in Nepali

Politeness currency goes a long way when bargaining for trekking gear or ordering a masala chai. The magic words are “धन्यवाद” (dhanyabād); that’s "thank you" in Nepali. You’ll sound even warmer if you add “कृपया” (kripaya) for “please.”

You: Namaste! Yo momo kati ho? (Hi! How much are these momos?)
Vendor: Ek plate das rupaĩã. (One plate, ten rupees.)
You: Kripaya ek plate dinus. Dhanyabād! (Please give me one plate. Thank you!)

Nepali Numbers at a Glance

Buying bus tickets in bustling Kathmandu, haggling over fruit at a village bazaar, or tallying altitude gains on a Himalayan trek, numbers are everywhere in Nepal. Mastering them early helps you read price tags, bus schedules, and even the mileage signs that dot mountain trails. Below you’ll find the core 1-to-10 set in both Devanagari script and Romanized spelling. And once you see the pattern, climbing higher digits is a breeze. Ready to crunch some numbers?

• 1 – एक (ek)
• 2 – दुई (dui)
• 3 – तीन (tīn)
• 4 – चार (chār)
• 5 – पाँच (pā̃ch)
• 6 – छ (chha)
• 7 – सात (sāt)
• 8 – आठ (āṭh)
• 9 – नौ (nau)
• 10 – दस (das)

Notice how most numbers are single-syllable; great for quick bargaining.

Nepali Sayings That Capture the Culture

Nepali idioms paint vivid pictures and reveal cultural values. Sprinkle them into conversation and you’ll sound like a local, and probably get a hearty laugh.

1. “दूधको नुन खस्यो।” Dūdhko nun khasyo. – “The salt fell into the milk.” Used when something pure is suddenly spoiled.
2. “हात्ती आयो, हात्ती आयो, फुस्सा।” Hattī āyo, hattī āyo, phussā. – “The elephant came, the elephant came; nothing!” Said when big promises fizzle out.
3. “नाङ्गो नाच।” Nā̃go nāch. – Literally “a naked dance,” describing a shameless display.
4. “ढुंगा खोज्दा देउता भेटियो।” Dhunga khojdā deuta bhetiyo. – “Found a god while looking for a stone,” meaning you stumbled upon unexpected good luck.
5. “घरको बाघ बस्ती लाग्दैन।” Ghar ko bāgh basti lāgdaena. – “The house tiger can’t rule the village,” reminding us that one’s talents are often overlooked at home.
6. “बुढी भुइँमा, मान्छे जुनीमा।” Buḍhi bhuĩmā, mānchhe junīmā. – “The wife is on the floor while the man aims for the moon,” used when priorities are wildly out of balance.

Nepali Language Typing: Going Digital

Typing Nepali on phones and laptops no longer means wrestling with arcane fonts or keyboard hacks. With today’s built-in transliteration tools and Unicode-friendly layouts, you can switch from “hi” to “नमस्ते” in a single tap. Here’s a quick roadmap for getting Devanagari onto any screen without breaking a sweat:

• Romanized input: Type “dhanyabad” and most keyboards or online tools like Easy Nepali Typing, convert it to “धन्यवाद.”
• Mobile keyboards: iOS and Android both let you add a Nepali (Devanagari or transliteration) layout under Settings → Language & Input.
• Voice typing: Google’s speech-to-text recognises Nepali surprisingly well; tap the mic icon and speak.
• Desktop utilities: On Windows install Nepali Phonetic or use Google Input Tools; on macOS add Devanagari-QWERTY via System Settings → Keyboard.
• Unicode vs. Preeti: Unicode renders consistently across modern devices, while Preeti is an old typewriter-style font still common in print shops. Stick to Unicode for copy-paste harmony.

Tips for Continuing Your Nepali Language Journey

From Devanagari characters to mountain-fresh idioms, you now have a starter kit to explore Nepali. Keep your palms pressed together, stay curious, and remember, consistent conversation is the secret ingredient. Download Tandem to chat with native speakers who’ll cheer you on from your first namaste to your hundredth dhanyabād. Subha yatra, safe travels!