Teach Yourself Nepali lessons
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Nepali Lessons for Teach Yourself Nepali By Netra Prasad Paudyal University of Kiel
Transcript of Teach Yourself Nepali lessons
Nepali Lessonsfor
Teach Yourself Nepali
ByNetra Prasad Paudyal
University of Kiel
is Nepali course has been wrien, prepared and designed by Netra Prasad Paudyal for the Bachelor’s and Master’s level students in the University of Kiel, Germany. is work is still in-progress, so it contains only few random lessons in this book. If you want to have a more updated version of this work, you can always contact us.
© Netra P. Paudyal, University of Kiel, 2014! (No part of this material may be reproduced, published, distributed, displayed without a wrien permission from the author.)
As it contains the authentic linguistic data from a native speaker of the language and also a linguist, it can be cited in scientific articles and linguistic papers, but please contact the author before you cite this work!)
Cover photo: Pashupatināth temple, originally posted to Flickr.com by Laxman āpā, extracted from Wikipedia
email: [email protected]
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Table of contents(work in-progress)
About this courseAbout the Nepali languagee overview of Nepali script and sound system
1. Geing into the language 111.1 Speaking: Communication starters in a new seing1.2 Introduce yourself1.3 Grammar: Personal pronouns and honorific system in Nepali1.4 Word store1.5 Test yourself exercises
2. Introducing a friend 182.1 Speaking: Mirko introduces his friend Robert to a Nepali girl2.2 Basic sentences for greetings, farewell and holidays2.3 Grammar: Nepali alphabets, scripts and writing in Devanagari2.4 Word store2.5 Test yourself exercises
3. Greeting people 263.1 Speaking: How are you?3.2 Asian-type informal greetings3.3 Grammar: Constructing syllables3.4 Word store3.5 Test yourself exercises
4. Addressing each other 384.1 Speaking: Dinesh sir!4.2 Cultural information: addressing people in Nepal4.3 Grammar: is-type auxiliary verbs, ho, cha, and huncha4.4 Word store4.5 Test yourself exercises
5. Introducing each other 465.1 Speaking: Tapāīko subha nām ke ho?5.2 Nepali numbers, use of numbers in conversation5.3 Grammar: Writing symbols for consonant clusters and conjuncts 5.4 Word store5.5 Test yourself exercises
6. Looking for things, asking and giving things 536.1 Speaking: Mero shisākalam kahā cha?6.2 Imperative forms, positive and negative imperative forms6.3 Grammar: Nouns, plural formation and associative plural forms
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6.4 Word store6.5 Test yourself exercises
7. Asking people to repeat 597.1 Speaking: Pheri bhannus ta maile bujhina7.2 Cultural information: non-verbal communication (handshake, eye contact)7.3 Grammar: adverbs of time, use of adverbs in Nepali7.4 Word store7.5 Test yourself exercises
8. Wh-questions with a child 668.1 Speaking: Mero nayā school bag kahā cha?8.2 Ordinal numbers and their use8.3 Grammar: Interrogative pronouns, wh- movement, multiple wh- words8.4 Word store8.5 Test yourself exercises
9. Talking about time and routine 729.1 Speaking: Tapāī bihāna kati baje uthnu huncha?9.2 Reading passage: A typical village routine in Nepal9.3 Grammar: Yes/questions, color adjectives and their use9.4 Word store9.5 Test yourself exercises
10. Yo kun thāũ ho? 7810.1 Speaking: Hoina, yo Kiel ho.10.2 Use of the particle re in Nepali10.3 Grammar: Adverbs of place10.4 Word store10.5 Test yourself exercises
11. Talking about activities 8511.1 Speaking: tapāī āune sanibār ke garnuhuncha? 11.2 Nepali calendar: Months, days, popular saying about months11.3 Grammar: conjugation of verbs11.4 Word store11.5 Test yourself exercises
12. Talking about food, likes and dislikes 9212.1 Speaking: I am hungry!12.2 Nepali foods: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, aernoon snacks, drinks12.3 Grammar: Taste/food adjectives, use of food adjectives12.4 Word store12.5 Test yourself exercises
13. Nepali drinks 10013.1 Tea culture in Nepal13.2 Popular drinks in the different parts of Nepal
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13.3 Grammar: Adverbs of frequency and their use in conversation13.4 Word store13.5 Test yourself exercises
14. Landing at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu 10514.1 You are welcome to Nepal14.2 Cultural talks in Nepalese family14.3 Grammar: Descriptive adjectives14.4 Word store14.5 Test yourself exercises
15. Asking for help and directions 11115.1 Can I ask you something?15.2 Emergency phrases and sentences, Trekking in Nepal15.3 Grammar: possessive forms in Nepali (-ko, -ka, -kī)15.4 Word store15.5 Test yourself exercises
16. Learn how to identify and express your feelings 11716.1 Expression of feelings and emotions16.2 Human body, organs, different diseases and visit to a doctor16.3 Grammar: the versatile verb lāgnu ‘to aache to’ 16.4 Word store16.5 Test yourself exercises
17. Visit to Tribhuvan university 12417.1 Kirtipur 17.2 Structure of education in Nepal17.3 Grammar: case markers (-le, -ko, -ma, -bāta, sita, sanga)17.4 Word store17.5 Test yourself exercises
18. Volunteering in a school( 13018.1 Knowing the head sir and other school staffs 18.2 Classroom language: essential phrases18.3 Grammar: 18.4 Word store18.5 Test yourself exercises
(more lessons to come)
Appendices: 138-1461. Key to teach yourself exercises (to be wrien)2. Nepali Folk song: Resham Phiriri3. Nepali Text based on the familiar topics and events4. Nepali exercises and exam preparation guidelines
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About this course
Some people think that language is a vast ocean where one can swim very comfortably if s/he masters over it. But actually you don’t need an entire ocean to swim; you can create your own ocean with sufficient amount of water for you. Once you learn how to swim well in your own space, you can always jump into the ocean later on. Language learning also follows the similar fashion. You do not need to focus on entire language at once. You just start from the basic ones, choose the item that you need for your purpose at the moment and gradually move forward everyday. is is a very unique Teach Yourself Nepali Lessons. We have designed it to give you a very easy way to learn speak, read, and even write Nepali words in Devanagari correctly. It gives you the ability to learn new Nepali words not only by the way they are wrien, but also with correct pronunciation. Further units of dialogues, reading passages, notes on Nepalese culture and more functions of the Nepali language.
We have made great efforts to provide in this course many useful Nepali words that you will certainly find handy in many practical situations.
We hope you will enjoy this course!
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Acknowledgements
First and foremost, I would like to thank Prof. John Peterson for organizing the Nepali course in the University of Kiel. is encouraged me to write different topics on Nepali grammar and day-to-day conversations. I would also like to thank my Bachelor’s and Master’s students who took part in this course at the university of Kiel. Many thank for all of them for their patience, suggestions and comments. (more to come)
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Diacritics, abbreviations, and symbols
ā( long /a/, traditionally represented as /aa/ḍ( retroflex /d/ḍh( retroflex /dh/d( dental /d/, pronounced like /th/ in thedh( dental /dh/ī( long /i/, traditionally represented as /ii/ṅ( pronounced like /ng/ in singñ( appears in Sanskrit, rare in Nepaliṭ( retroflex /t/, also represented as /t/t( dental /t/, ṭh( retroflex /th/th( dental /th/ū( long /u/, traditionally represented as /oo or uu/----:( visarga (appears only in loan words from Sanskrit)alt( alternative formv( verbv-s( vowel signs (-ा, ि-, -ी, , , , , -ो and -ौ)LH( low honorific (for children, intimate childhood friends, servants, wives)MH( middle honorific HH( high honorificSH( super honorific
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e overview of script and alphabets (िल#प र वण(ह*)Nepali (Nep. *पाली) is wrien in the Devanāgarī script, which is also used for Sanskrit, Hindi, Konkani, Bodo, Marathi, Maithili and Bhojpuri among some other vernacular languages and dialects. is is a phonetic script, which means that almost every word is pronounced exactly as it is wrien. Like English or German, it is wrien from le to right in horizontal lines. Devanāgarī is part of the Brahmic family of scripts of Nepal, India, Tibet, and South-East Asia. An earlier version of Devanāgarī is found in the Kutilā inscription of Bareilly dated to 992 CE. e use of the name Devanāgarī is relatively recent, and the older term Nāgarī is still common.
Nepali consonants (+पाली .य0जन वण(ह*)Nepali has moderately large consonant inventories. ere are 36 consonant sounds, 25 of which clubbed into groups of 5 leers with closely related sounds. Each of the 5 groups of consonants has its final member a nasal consonant. e traditional system very helpfully orders consonants according to the way they are pronounced, and they are listed here in alphabetical order. Nepali borrows a number of words from Sanskrit. is list also includes the consonants which appear in borrowed words from Sanskrit. Moreover it also includes the conjunct phonemes where two consonants form a single alphabet. All these borrowed and conjunct consonants make the list of Nepali consonants a bit longer, but actually they are very less productive in day-to-day Nepali.
क ख ग घ ङ च छ ज झ ञka kha ga gha ṅa ca cha ja jha ña
ट ठ ड ढ ण त थ द ध नṭa ṭha ḍa ḍha ṇa ta tha da dha na
प फ ब भ म य र ल व शpa pha ba bha ma ya ra la wa sha
ष स ह K L Mṣa sa ha kṣa tra gya
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Nepali vowels (+पाली Nवर वण(ह*)Altogether, there are 12 vowel sounds in Nepali. But only the first 10 of them are commonly used in everyday speech and the last 2 of them are reserved for the loan words, especially from Sanskrit. One major difference between Nepali and English/German is that Nepali vowels have two forms: one form for when they stand alone and another for when the vowel unites to a consonant. For this purpose there 9 vowel signs (vs) which Devanagari employs to unite vowels with consonants.
अ अा इ ई उ ऊ ए ऎ अो अौ अX अ:a/ʌ ā/aa i ī/ii u ū/oo e ē o au aṇ/ang aha
-ा ि- -ी -ो -ौ
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1 Getting into the language(photo sourse webpage, used temporally on class handouts)
1.1 Starting questions (भाषा ]^शका ]शनह*)As the whole class is departing for a discovery of a new language, it is a natural process to start from very basic questions that we encounter in a new place. Teacher holds a bole of water on his hand and asks to the students:
A: यो . हो? yo ke ho? ( this ( what ( is ‘What is this?’
B: यो पानी हो। yo pāni ho. ( this ( water (is. ( ‘is is water.’
en again the teacher holds a book and asks to the students:
A: ( यो( . ( हो?( yo ke ho? this what is ‘What is this?
B: यो 2कताब हो। yo kitāb ho.( this ( book ( is( ‘is is a book.’
Now one of the students holds a pen on his hand and asks to a student in the classroom: yo ke ho? ‘What is this?’
A: ( यो( . ( हो? yo ke ho? this what is ‘What is this?
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B: यो कलम हो। yo kalam ho. ( this ( pen ( is( ‘is is a pen.’
en the teacher keeps a glass near the window and asks to the students:
A: 7यो . हो? tyo ke ho? ‘
( that ( what ( is ( ‘What is that?’
B: ((7यो((((((2गलास( हो। tyo gilās ho.
( that ( glass ( is( ‘at is a glass.’
en the teacher shows a bag to the students and asks:
A: 7यो . हो? tyo ke ho?
( that ( what ( is( ‘What is that?’
B: 7यो झोला हो। tyo jholā ho.
( that ( bag ( is( ‘at is a bag.’
Now the teacher shows the door and asks the students:
A: 7यो . हो? tyo ke ho?
that what is ‘What is that?’
B: 7यो ढोका हो। tyo dhokā ho.(
( that ( door ( is( ‘at is a door.’
Whose things are these?en the teacher holds his bole of water and asks to the students A, and answers himself in B:
A: यो क<को पानी हो। yo kasko pāni ho?
this ( whose water ( is ‘Whose water is this?’
B: यो =रो पानी हो। yo mero pāni ho
( this( my ( water (is( ‘is is my water.’
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Now the teacher holds one of students book and asks (A), then the student replies in (B).
A: यो क<को 2कताब हो? yo kasko kitāb ho?
this ( whose book ( is( ‘Whose book is this?’
B: 7यो =रो 2कताब हो। tyo mero kitāb ho.
( that ( my ( book( is( ‘at is my book.’
en the teacher asks one of the students pointing her or her pen:
A: 7यो क<को कलम हो। tyo kasko kalam ho?( that ( whose pen ( is( ‘Whose pen is that?’
the student is expected to reply as in B:
B: यो =रो कलम हो। yo mero kalam ho.
( this ( my ( pen ( is( ‘is is my pen.’
Note that the word final ब /b/ is oen pronounced as प /p/ in Nepali. So the word kitāb ‘book’ is oen pronounced as kitāp.
1.2 Giving a short introduction (Nव-प#रचय)Give a brief introduction about yourself including your name, occupation and the place where you live.
A Bachelor level student who has just decided to do some Nepali course introduces himself in the classroom:
नम<?! =रो नाम ……हो। म 2ब@याथB CD। म कीलमा ब<छF। म *पाली भाषा 2सIन चाहKछF।Namaste! Mero nām …….. ho. Ma eutā bidhyārthī hũ. Ma Kielmā baschu. Ma Nepālī bhāṣā sikna chāhanchu.
Hello. My name is………. I am a student. I live in Kiel. I want to learn the Nepali language.
A foreign PhD student who has just been landed in Nepal for his linguistic fieldwork in the central Nepal introduces himself:
नम<?! =रो नाम 2पटर हो। म अ=2रकाबाट अाएको CD। म *पालमा दराई भाषाको अनFसKधान
गदRछF।Namaste! Mero nām Peter ho. Ma Amerikabāta āyeko hũ. Ma Nepalmā Darāi bhāṣāko anusandhān gardachu.
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Hello. My name is Peter. I am from the USA. I research on the Darai language in Nepal.
A German female tourist introduces herself in Nepal:
नम<?। =रो नाम मा2रया हो। म जमRन पयRटक CD। मलाई *पाल धTरU मनपछR।Namaste! Mero nām Maria ho. Ma German paryatak hũ. Malāī Nepāl dherai manparcha.
Hello. My name Maira. I am a German tourist. I like Nepal very much.
A Nepali fellow living in the East region of Nepal introduces himself to American Peace corps volunteers:
नम<?! =रो नाम धनVर राई हो। =रो घर धनकXटा िजYलाको िछKताZ गा. 2ब. स. वाडR न २ मा पदRछ। म ^शा` एउटा िशbक CD।Namaste! Mero nām Dhanser Rāi ho. Mero ghar Dhankutā jillāko Chintāng gā. bi. sa. wārd number 2 mā pardacha. ma peshāle eutā sikṣak hũ.
Namaste! My name is Dhanser Rai. My home is in ward number 2 of Chintang VDC in Dhankuta district. By occupation, I am a teacher.
1.3 Grammar (.याकरण):Personal pronouns and honorific forms in Nepali
1st Person (]थम प_`ष)In Nepali there are two first person pronouns, ‘ma’ and ‘hāmī’ showing number but not gender.
( म ( ma ( ‘I’( हामी ( hāmī ( ‘We’
Note that हामी hāmī ‘we’ is sometimes used in the place of ‘I’ to denote a class or a group. When it is absolutely necessary to make it clear that हामी hāmī is intended to mean we in plural, the pronoun is marked with the plural marking suffix -हc -harū, e.g. हामीहc 2व@याथB हd hāmīharū bidhyārthī haũ. ‘We are students.’
2nd Person (#aतीय प_`ष)ere are at least 7 different forms for a single ‘you’ form in Nepali. A speaker chooses a particular form in one situation on the basis of the social status of the participant of the conversation.
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In the above list, tapāī is the most productive one, as a foreigner, you can use it to almost everyone.
3rd Person (तb#तय प_`ष)
Demonstratives (दश(कह*)e function of demonstrative is to show the particular person or object that we are talking about. e demonstratives in English are this, that, these and those. ey can be used either as adjectives with a following noun (e.g. is food is tasty.) or as pronouns with no following nouns (e.g. is is good.’), meaning ‘this thing’ or ‘this person’.
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In Nepali also the demonstratives function exactly like in English. ey function both as adjectives and pronouns.
singular plural( यो yo ‘it, this’ (( यी yī ‘these’( 7यो tyo ‘that’( ( ती tī ‘those’
यो झोला हो। yo jholā ho. ‘is is a bag.’7यो झोला राeो छ। yo jholā rāmro cha. ‘at bag is nice.’
Conjugation of the verb khānu ‘to eat’ (खान_ #cयाको `पायन)1st Person
ma cāucāu khānchu. ( ‘I eat noodles.’hamī cāucāu khānchaũ. ( ‘We eat noodles.’
2nd Persontã cāucāu khānchas. ( ‘You eat noodles.’timī cāucāu khānchau. ( ‘You eat noodles.’tapāī cāucāu khānuhuncha ( ‘You eat noodles.’yahã cāucāu khānuhuncha. ( ‘You eat noodles.’hajur cāucāu khānuhuncha. ( ‘You eat noodles.’sarkār cāucāu khāibaksinuhuncha. ( ‘Your highness eat noodles.’mausuph cāucāu khāibaksinuhuncha. ( ‘Your majesty eat noodles.’
3rd Personū cāucāu khāncha. ( ‘He eats noodles.’ū cāucāu ‘khānche. ( ‘She eats noodles.’ūni cāucāu khānchan. ( ‘He eats noodles.’tini cāucāu khānchan. ( ‘He eats noodles.’uni cāucāu khānchin. ( ‘He eats noodles.’wahã cāucāu khānuhuncha. ‘He eats noodles.’yo kitāb ho. ( ( ‘is is a book.’yī kalam hun. ( ( ‘ese are pens.’tyo dhokā ho. ( ( ‘at is a door.’tī merā kitābharū hun. ( ‘ose are my books.’
1.4 Word store (शdदावली)
Devanagari Roman Englishयो yo this7यो tyo that. ke what
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Devanagari Roman Englishहो ho isपानी pāni water2कताब kitab bookकलम kalam pen2गलास gilās glassझोला jholā bag/rucksackढोका dhokā door=रो mero myक<को kasko whoseभाषा bhāṣā languageअ@ययन adhyan researchगछFR garchu, v. garnu I doचाउचाउ cāucāu noodle
1.5 Test yourself exercises (अeयासह*)1. Please Introduce yourself.(include: Name, where do you live, and what do you do)2 Answer the following questions
a. How many pronouns are there in Nepali? b. Whom do you use the Nepali pronoun ‘tã’?c. Which one is the most common second person pronoun for you?
3. You saw an unusual thing in your friends room. How do you ask him?4. You saw something unusual far from you. How do you ask about that?5. Fill the correct form of the pronoun
a. ………… khānchu (ma, hāmī)b. ………… khānchaũ (ma, hāmī)c. ………… khānchas (tã, timī)d. ………… khānchau (tã, timī)e. ………… khānuhuncha (tapāī, hāmī)f. ………… khānchu (ma, hāmī)
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3 Greeting people
(photo: Kantipur Daily 12.02.15)
3.1 Conversation (कfराकानी) Namaste (Nah-mas-tay) sometimes expressed also as Namaskār, is a customary greeting when people meet or depart. When it is spoken to another person, it is usually accompanied with a slight bow and hands jointed together, palms touching the fingers pointing upwards, close to the chest. Although it originates from hindu culture of the indian subcontinent, now it is quite common beyond Asia as well. e literal meaning of namaste is, Nama means bow, as means I, and te means you. erefore, it literally means “I bow to you”. is form of greeting is extremely common in Nepal.
Two friends meet aer a long time: (most formal version of greeting)
िशव: नम<?! (तपाइg) सKचU CनFCKछ?Shiva: Namaste! (tapāī) sanchai hunuhuncha? ‘Hello! How are you?’ gदार: सKचU छF। तपाइgलाई 2न।Kedār: Sanchai chu. Tapāīlāī ni. ‘I am fine. How about you?’
िशव: म प2न सKचU छF। धKयवाद।Shiva: Ma pani sanchai chu. Dhanyabād. ‘I am also fine. anks!’
Nepali man named Ramesh greets his long time family friend Mark. is version of greeting is more like semi-formal.
रhश: नम<?! (तपाइgलाई) क<तो छ?Ramesh: Namaste! (tapāīlāī) kasto cha? ‘How are you?’
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माकi: नम<?! (मलाई) 2ठक छ। तपाईलाई 2न?Mark: Namaste! (Malāī) thik cha. Tapāīlāī ni? ‘I am fine. What about you?’
A Nepali woman named Rama greets her daily friend Maya. is version of greeting is the most friendliest one and is considered to be informal. is is very famous among all levels of students (School to University), colleagues and close friends.
रमा: नम<?! . छ? Ramā: Namaste! Ke cha? ‘How are you?’
माया: 2ठकi छ। 2तeो 2न?Māyā: ikai cha! Timro ni? ‘It’s ok. How about you?’
3.2 Informal Asian-type greetings (अनौपचा#रक अिभवादनह*)Like in many other Asian countries (e.g. China, India or Cambodia), there are also some other common informal ways of greetings in Nepal. ese are mostly associated with food depending on the particular time of speaking. In the morning time usually between 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM, people can greet you simply by saying ‘Did you drink your morning-tea?’.
ए: नम<?! िचया 2पउनF भयो? A: Namaste! ciyā piunu bhayo. ‘Did you drink your morning-tea?’
Foreigners who are not familiar with this kind of custom might regard this as an invitation to have a drink together. However, this is just a simple greeting, not a real invitation, so you can reply with “piyẽ” or “piyẽko chaina” which means “yes, I drank” or “No, not yet”. It simply means that they care you.
#ब: 2पएD। तपाइg` 2न? B: Piyẽ. Tapāīle ni? ‘I drank. What about you?’
In the same way, during the lunch and also around the dinner time, people can greet you by saying:
ए: नम<? खाना खानF भयो? B: Namaste! Khānā khānu bhayo? ‘Have you eaten already?’
#ब: (k`) खाएको छUन। तपाइg` 2न? B: (Maile) khāyeko chaina. Tapāīle ni? ‘I have not eaten. What about you?’
In addition to these, there are some other expressions for saying hello in Nepali, like “where are you going?”, “what are you doing?”, “are you going to work?”, and so on. We can see that when they greet each other, they like to ask about the things that other side is doing, just did or is going to do. ose people who are not accustomed to these kinds of greetings might think that the person saying hello is geing into their personal space. But actually, the Nepalese person asking this question does not really want to know “where are you going” or “what did you do?”, they simply want to
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express their concern for the other person. Some examples of this type of greetings are given below:
ए: नम<?! कता 2हडनF भएको? A: Namaste! katā hidnu bhayeko? ‘Where are you going?’
#ब: बजार 2तर 2हडTको 2न। B: Bajār tira hideko ni. ‘I am going towards the market.’
ए: नम<?! . गदm CनFCKछ? A: Namaste! Ke gardai hunuhuncha? ‘What are you doing?’
#ब: एउटा सानो काम गnको 2न। B: Eutā sāno kām gareko ni. ‘I am doing a small work.’
ए: <कXल 2हडनF भएको? A: School hidnu bhayeko? ‘Are you going to school?’
#ब: हजFर, <कXल 2हडTको। B: Hajur, school hideko. ‘Yes, I am going to school.’
3.3 Grammar (.याकरण): Nepali Vowels (+पाली Nवर वण(ह*)ere are 12 vowel sounds in Nepali, which includes both the long and short vowels. Although Sanskrit, the ancestral language of Nepali, had a phonological distinction in vowel length (for example, /i/ versus /i:/ and /u/ versus /u:/, there is no such distinction in spoken Nepali. Out of 12 vowels 9 vowels have different vowel signs (v-s in the table below) which are aached to consonants to form syllables.
Dev. v-s Roman Nep-San IPA examples
अ a a ʌ like the ‘a’ in ago, apply, alive
अा -ा aa ā ā like the ‘a’ in father
इ ि- i i i like the i in hit
ई -ी ii ī i: like the ee in feet
उ u u u like the ‘u’ in put
ऊ uu/oo ū u: like the oo in food
ए e e e like the ‘e’ in met
ऐ ee/ai ē ai like the ‘oy’ sound in boy
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Dev. v-s Roman Nep-San IPA examples
अो -ो o o o like the ‘o’ in orange
अौ -ौ au au au like the ‘ow’ in cow
अq an/am an/am ʌŋ/ʌm
like in Nepali अqश ʌŋsh ‘a part of something’
अ: aha aha ʌh appears in Sanskrit words
However, due to some phonological processes like h-deletion, there are some words in which speakers produce long vowels, such as [paaɖ] ‘mountain’, analyzed phonemically as /pahāɖ/.
Vowel pairs (Nवर वण(को सम_ह)While learning consonants, you saw that 5 closely related consonants (e.g., क, ख, ग, घ, ङ or प, फ, ब, भ, म) form a group in Nepali. ey are easily learnt and remembered if we learn them in such a group. Nepali vowels also form a group of two sounds. In this section, we learn them together in such groups.
अ /a/ vs अा /ā/अ /a/ is a short vowel. In Devanagari writing, it looks like a 3 with a capital T aer it and then a short hyphen in the middle to connect them together. is vowel does not have a vowel sign and appears inherently in all consonants (for example क ka, ख kha, ग ga). e vowel अा /ā/ is a long vowel. is is why it is traditionally represented as /aa/ in some texts and books. In Devanagari writing, it is very similar to अ, but अा has an extra vertical stroke (ा) on the right hand side. When you have to use अा with consonants, you have to just make the vowel sign (ा) at the end of the consonant.
अ /a/ English अा /ā/ English
कम kam less काम kām work
कप kap cup काप kāp an angle
खत khat mark, scar खात khāt a pile
अbर akṣar alphabet अाDप āp mango
इ /i/ vs ई /ī/इ /i/ is another short vowel. It pronounced like the /i/ in hit. It looks like a capital S with a short line on top and a small curved line below, for example इtछा icchā
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‘interest’. When we write it with consonants, we join the corresponding vowel sign (ि-) from the le side of the consonant, for example, ciyā ‘tea’ is wrien as िचया. On the other hand, ई /ī/ is a long vowel. It is traditionally represented as /ii or also ee/. It pronounced like the ee in see. It is wrien like the short vowel इ, but it gets an extra curved sign on the top, for example ईमान īmān ‘trustworthiness or belie’. But when we write it with consonants, we aach the corresponding vowel sign (-ी) from the right hand side of the consonant, for example, गीत gīt ‘a song’.
उ /u/ vs ऊ /ū/उ /u/ is a short and rounded vowel. It is pronounced like the /u/ in put. In Devanagari writing, it looks like a 3 with a line on top (उ), for example उिचत ucit ‘agreeable, proper’. When we write it with consonants, we use the corresponding vowel sign (), underneath the consonant. Let’s see an example, कXकXर kukur ‘dog’. e vowel ऊ /ū/ is a long vowel. It is pronounced like the oo in food. In Devanagari writing, it is very similar to the short vowel उ, but it has an extra curved line on the right hand side. Notice the difference between the short उ and the long ऊ, for example ऊन ūn ‘wool’. When we combine it with consonants, we use the corresponding vowel sign () underneath the consonant. Let’s see the following examples:
फuल ūl ( ‘flower’ठvलो thūlo ( ‘the big one’
ए /e/ vs ऐ /ai/ए /e/ is a short vowel. It is pronounced like the e in met. Some examples of this vowel are:
एक ek ‘one’एम. ए. em m ‘MA degree’
When the ए /e/ is combined with consonants, we use the corresponding vowel sign () on the top of the consonant.
. ke ( ‘what’
.रा kerā ( ‘banana’wल khel( ‘a game’
ऐ /ai/ is a long vowel. It is similar to ए but it has a small sign on top. It is pronounced like the oy in boy. (But this is not accurate)
ऐना aina ‘mirror’
When this is combined with consonants, we use the corresponding vowel sign (). Compare that there was only one () mark for short ए, but it has got two marks ().
पUसा paisā ‘money’मकi makai ‘corn’
अो /o/ vs अौ /au/अो /o/ is pronounced just like English o in orange.
अोखली ( okhalī ‘a small mortar’अोठ ( oth ( ‘a lip’अोढनF ( odhnu ‘to cover with’
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e vowel अौ /au/ is very similar to the previous vowel अो, but it has got an extra mark on top.
अौजार( aujār( ( ‘equipments’अdठी( aũthī( ( ‘a ring’खाKछd ( khānchaũ( ‘we eat’
ऋ /ri/e ऋ /ri/ is the last phoneme we deal in this section. Traditionally it is classified as a vowel of the Sanskrit language and usually placed in the middle of the vowel chart. But now many people wonder why it is considered a vowel when there is the consonant r in the sound. It is considered a vowel in traditional grammar because it is a syllabic consonant which can form a syllable by itself. It is pronounced exactly like the ri in Christina. As a learner of the Nepali language, you do not need to be worried very much with this sound because it is extremely rare in Nepali. is sound is found only in the borrowed words from Sanskrit. For example, ऋ2ष risi ‘a seer’, it has also become a common male name in South Asia.
When it is combined with consonants, it gets the corresponding vowel sign () just underneath the consonant. Some popular words are:
कyपा ( kripa( ( ‘kindness’कyपया ( kripaya ( ‘please’कy2ष (((((((((kriṣi (((((((((((‘agriculture’कyषक ( kriṣak (( ‘farmer’मzग( ( mriga( ( ‘deer’
Applying vowels sings on consonants (माLा र बाmखरी)Nepali follows Sanskrit ways to combine vowels and consonants together in very simple ways. e vowel sings are applied on all the consonants and produced a table called Barahkhari which is very popular among Nepalese and all school-going children in Nepal.
Every vowel except the first vowel अ /a/ has a vowel sign which is aached to a consonant to form a syllable in Nepali. e अ /a/ is inherent in the consonant itself. When the vowel other than अ /a/ is added to a consonant, it automatically replaces the अ /a/.
Vowel signs (मा{ा) are aached to the consonant क /ka/ in the following ways:क k(( + अ( ( ( )( क( ka
क ka( + अा( ( ( -ा)( का( kāक ka( ((((((+ इ((((((((((((((ि- ) ( 2क (((((kiक ka( + ई( ( (-ी)( की( kīक ka( + उ( ( ( )( कX( kuक ka( + ऊ( ( ( )( कu( kū
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क ka( + ऋ( ( ( कy( kriक ka( + ए( ( ()( .( ke
क ka( + ए( ( ()( कi( kaiक ka( + अो( ( (-ो)( को ( koक ka( + अौ( ( (-ौ)( कौ ( kauक ka( + अq/अD(( ()( क}( kãक ka( + अ:( ( (:)( क:( ka
ख kha, खा khā, िख khi, खी khī, खF khu, खv khū, w khe, खU khai, खो kho, खौ khau, खD khã, ख: kha
ग ga, गा gā, 2ग gi, गीgī, गF gu, गv gū, ~ ge, गU gai, गो go, गौ gau, गD gam, ग: ga:
न na, ना nā, 2न ni, नी nī, नF nu, नv nū, * ne, नU nai, नो no, नौ nau, नD nam, न: na:
one exception:
र ra, रा rā, 2र ri, री rī, ` ru, * rū, n re, रU rai, रो ro, रौ rau, रD ram, र: ra:
Note: In Nepali, a consonant can only support one vowel sign at a time. In words in which one vowel follows directly another, the second vowel must always appear as a full vowel character.
Some examples:�ई duī ( ‘two’खाउ khāu ( ‘please eat’गाई gāī ( ‘cow’
Constructing words including vowels (Nवर वण( स#हतका शdदह*)
अ( ( )( a ( ( म, ( कमल, ( पसल, ( बलअा( (-ा)( ā( ( अामा, (बाबा, ( मामा, ( माछा, ( राजाइ(((((ि-) ((( i (((((((((((((2नल, ((िशर, (िजत, (िमल, (2दन, िचयाई( (-ी)( ī( ( चीन, ( तील, ( शीत, ( रीत, ( गीतउ( ( )( u( ( पFल, ( सFन, ( नFन, ( कXन, ( कXकXर, मFखऊ( ( )( ū( ( फuल, ( जvन, ( �ध, ( ठvलो, ( पvराऋ( ( )( ri( ( कy, ( धzत, ( अमzत
ए( ()( e( ( ., ( ^ट, ( wत, ( =ट, ( wलए( ()( ai( ( मकi, ( लUलU, ( तUD`, ( k`, ( थUली
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अो( (-ो)( o( ( कोट, ( झोल, ( खोल, ( मोलअौ( (-ौ)( au( ( दौड,( कौवा,( फौज
Words with both vowels and consonants (Nवर र .य0जनबाट बn+ शdदह*)Pronounce and practice to write the following words in Devanagari including the vowels अ, अा, इ, ई and the corresponding vowel signs.
Dev. Roman English Dev.
कलम kalam pen
अामा āmā mother
अाउनF āunu to come
कान kān ear
कागत kāgat paper, documents
कपाल kapāl hair
तबला tabalā a drum
जहाज jahāj airplane
{ास trās fear
इtछा icchā wish, desire
क2व kavi poet
क2वता kavitā poem
इ2तहास itihās history
ई�र īshvar god
सलाई salāī a match box
चीन cīn China
गीत gīt song
Pronounce and practice to write the following words in Devanagari including उ, ऊ, ए, ऐ and the corresponding vowel signs.
Dev. Roman English Dev.
उचाइ ucāi height, tallness
उ�यालो ujyālo bright, clear, shining
उडान udān act of flying, flight
पFल pul bridge
सFन sun gold
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Dev. Roman English Dev.
कXकXर kukur dog
ऊ ū pron. s/he, it, that
ऊन ūn wool, woolen
ऊज� ūrjā power
फuल phūl flower
भvगोल bhūgol geography
एउटा euta one
एकता ekatā oneness, unity, agreement
wत khet field, land
.रा kerā banana
ऐन ain law, rule, act
ऐना ainā looking glass, mirror
मकi makai corn, maize
क�ची kaĩcī scissors, shears
Pronounce and practice to write the following words in Devanagari including (अो, अौ and the corresponding vowel signs.
Dev. Roman English Dev.अोठ oth lipअोलRनF orlanu to descend, to climb downअो2सलो
osilo damp, moist, humidकोठा kothā room, apartment, cabinगोजी gojī pocket, pouchझोला jholā bag, rucksack
अौतार autār avatar, incarnation of deityअौषधी auṣadhī medicineअौषत ausat averageचौकी caukī police substation, a guardनौलो naulo quite new, uniqueफौज phauj army, inf. crowd
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3.4 Word store (शdदावली)
Dev. Roman English2हडनF hidnu to walkअामा āmā motherमामा māmā maternal uncleजामा jāmā full skirtतामा tāmā bamboo shootsसडक sadak roadमोटर motar vehicle पसल pasal shop2स*मा sinemā cinema, filmठTगाना thegānā address2टकट tikat ticketखाना khānā foodनvन nūn saltबटर batar buerपाउरोटी pāurotī breadिचउरा ciurā beaten riceगFदपाक gudapāk a kind of sweetमासF māsu meat�ाKस frāns Franceमाग māg demandहजार hajār thousandsफuल phūl flower.रा kerā bananaघोडा ghodā horseपोखरा pokharā a city in Nepalथाल thāl dinner plateदाZ dāṅ a city in Nepal
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3.5 Test yourself exercise (अeयासह*)1. Pronounce the following words and write them out in Devanagari.
Roman English Devanagari
kākā uncle
kām work
āmā mother
kharāyo rabbit
gamalā earthen pot for flowers
kamalā name of a girl
caro bird
rāmro good, nice
bhāṣā language
chātā umbrella
2. Read the following phrases and write them out in Devanagari using the proper vowel signs.
mero ghar (( ‘my home’meri bahinī ( ‘my sister’tapāīko bhāī( ‘your brother’wahāko kitāb ( ‘my book’mero bas ( ( ‘my bus’tāto ciyā( ( ‘a hot tea’mero mukh ( ‘my mouth’
3. Read the following sentences and write them out in Devanagari using the proper vowel signs.
ma bhāt khānchu. (‘I eat rice.’mero nām rām ho. (‘My name is Ram.’yo mero ho. ( ‘is is mine.’yo mero kitāb ho. ( ‘is is my book.’tyo kitāb tapāīko ho. ‘at is your book.’
4. Add different types of vowel signs and complete this in ka, kā, ki style च, ज, प, ल, म,
5. Read aloud and transliterate the following Nepali words.अामा, मामा, जामा, तामा, सडक, मोटर, पसल, 2स*मा, ठTगाना, 2टकट, खाना, बाDदर, पानी, कील,
नोग�, नvन, 2गलास, बटर, पाउरोटी, हो�ल, रानीपोखरी, जमRनी, िचउरा, गFदपाक, मासF, �ाKस6. Read aloud and transliterate the following Nepali words.
माग, एक(, हजार, फuल, .रा, गाई, कXकXर, घोडा, पोखरा, थाल, .टी, दाङ
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7. Try to make at least five words words with each of the following vowel signs (ा, ि-, -ी, and ).8. Try to make at least three words with each of the following vowel signs (, , , ो, and ौ).
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13.3 Grammar (.याकरण)Adverbs of frequency (अावb#तवाचक #cया#वoषण)ere are only a limited number of frequency adverbs in Nepali. ey are basically used to describe how frequently we do an activity.
% Nepali Roman English
100% सDधU sadhai always100% 2दन2दनU/2दनCD dindinai/dinahũ everyday
90% धTरU जसो dherai jaso usually
80% �ाय: (जसो), अIसर prāya jaso, aksar oen, frequently
70% सामाKयतया sāmānyatayā normally, generally
50% क2ह`काही kahilekāhī sometimes
30% कदािचत kadācit occasionally
10% 2बरलU biralai seldom
5% अाIकल झFIकल ākkal jhukkal rarely
0% क2ह`प2न (होइन) kahilepani nāi never
Use of adverbs of frequency in Nepaliम दश वषRको भए। k` चार कbामा पढछF। म सDधU <कXल जाKछF। म धTरU जसो चार ब� घर फक�KछF। =रो बFवा �ाय सात ब� घर अाइपF�F CKछ। घरको सबU 2कन=ल सामाKयतया ममी` गनFRCKछ। म क2ह` का2ह फXटबल wYछF। म अाIकलझFIकल िछ=की गाDउमा प2न फXटबल wYन जाKछF। तर म सा2थ सDग क2ह` प2न झगडा गदmन।
ma dash barṣako bhaye. maile cār kakṣāmā padhchu. ma dherai jaso cār baje ghar pharkanchu. mero buwā prāya sāt baje ghar āipugnu huncha. gharko sabai kinmel samanyatayā mamile garnuhuncha. ma kahikāhi phutbal khelchu. ma ākkal jhukkal chimeki gāũmā pani footbal khelna jānchu. Tara ma sāthi saṅa kahile pani jhagadā gardaina.
I am ten years old. I study in four class. I usually return home at 4 PM. Normally my mum does all the shopping for our home. Sometimes I play football. I rarely go the neighboring village to play the football. But I never fight with my friends.
Use of frequency adverbs in daily conversations
ए: तपाइg` 2बहानमा . 2पउनF CKछ? A: Tapāīle bihānmā ke piunu huncha? ‘What do you drink in the morning?’
#ब: म सधU िचया 2पउछF। B: Ma sadhai ciyā piuchu. ‘I always drink tea.’
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ए: तपाइgको बFवा सधU मिKदर जानFCKछ? A: Tapāīko buwā sadhai mandir jānuhuncha. ‘Does your father always go to temple?’
#ब: क2ह`का2ह जानFCKछ।B: Kahile kāhi jānuhuncha. ‘He goes to temple sometimes.’
13.4 Word store (शdदावली)
Dev. Roman English
मिKदर mandir temple
2पउछF piuchu, v. piunu I drink
कbा kakṣa class room
फक�KछF pharkanchu, v. pharkanu I return
2कन=ल kinmel shopping
िछ=की chimekī neighbor
गाउD gāũ, alt. gām village
सा2थ sāthi friend
झगडा jhagadā fight
13.5 Test yourself exercises (अeयासह*)1. Write the following roman phrases/sentences in Devanagari2. Make your own sentences with the following frequency adverbs.
a. सधUb. धTरU जसोc. क2ह`काहीd. अाIकल झFIकलe. क2ह` प2न (होइन)
3. Translate the following sentences/phrases into Nepalia. I like to eat Nepali food. b. My father drinks tea everyday.c. Beer is popular in Germany.d. But I like coffee very much.e. I rarely go there.
4. Rewrite the complete sentence using the adverb in the brackets in its usual position.a. उ <कXल जाKछ। (सDधU) ‘He goes to School.’b. उ सा2थ सDग wYछ। (धTरU जसो) ‘He plays with a friend.’
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c. म न2दमा नFहाउन जाKछF। (2बरलU) ‘I rarely go to swim in river.’d. उ2नहc` 2दउसोमा 2ट िभ �दmनन। (क2ह` प2न) ‘ey never watch TV in the
aernoon.’e. =रो सानो भाइ बFवा सDग बजार जाKछ। (क2ह` का2ह) ‘My small brother goest to market
with father.’
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14 Landing at Tribhuvan airport, Kathmandu
14.1 Conversation (कfराकानी)Jana and Diana, two young students from Germany, have just landed on Kathmandu airport for their first fieldwork in Nepal. Ajaya, a senior hotel manager, has been sent to receive them.
अजय: नम<? । Ajaya: Namaste! ‘Hello’
याना: हजFर ? Jana: Hajur? ‘Pardon’
अजय: तपाइg याना होइन ? Ajaya: Tapāī Jana hoina? ‘Aren’t you Jana?’
याना: हो, म याना CD । नम<? । Jana: Ho, ma Jana hũ. Namaste! ‘Yes, I am Jana. Namaste!’
अजय: अ2न तपाइg चा�ह 2डअाना � । Ajaya: Ani tapāī cāhĩ Diana hai. ‘And you are Diana, aren’t you?’
#डअाना: हजFर, म 2डअाना CD । Diana: Hajur, ma Diana hũ. ‘Yes, I am Diana.’
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अजय: *पालमा तपाइgहcलाई <वागत छ । म अजय CD, 2क�तपFर 2हलसाइड होटलको �या*जर । Ajaya: Nepalmā tapāīharūlāī swāgat cha. ma Ajaya hũ, Kirtipur Hillside Hotelko manager. ‘You both are welcome in Nepal. I am Ajaya, the manager of Kirtipur Hillside Hotel.’
याना: धKयवाद अजयजी । तपाइgलाई ��र खF2स ला�यो । Jana: Dhanyabād Ajayaji. Tapāīlāī bhetera khusi lāgyo. ‘ank you Ajaya. We are pleased to meet you.’
अजय: तपाइgहc सKचU CनFCKछ ? अ2न या{ा क<तो भयो 2न ? Ajaya: Tapāīharū sanchai hunuhuncha? Ani yatrā kasto bhayo ni? ‘Are you alright/fine? And how was your journey/flight?
#डअाना: हामीहc सKचU छd । या{ा 2नकi राeो भयो तर अिल थकाइ ला~को छ । Diana: Hāmīharū sanchai chaũ. Yatrā nikai rāmro bhayo tara ali thakāi lāgeko cha. ‘We are fine. e travel was very good but (we) are a bit tired.’
याना: अजयजी होटल यहाDबाट क2त टाढा पछR ? jana: Ajayaji Hotel ehābāta kati tādhā parcha? ‘How far is the hotel from here, Ajaya?’
अजय: धTरU टाढा छUन । ट�ाIसीमा जाDदा क2रब 2बस िम*टमा पF2गKछ । Ajaya: Dherai tādhā chaina. Taximā jādā karib bīs minetmā pugincha. ‘It is not very far. If we go by a taxi, it takes about 20 minutes.’
(अ2न सबUजना ट�ाIसी चढछन)
Note: #न ni is an interrogative particle placed at the end of the sentence; sometimes it has an additional force. Unlike Japanese particles, this is not obligatory in Nepali, but when it is used it makes the sentence a bit nice.
14.2 Cultural talks in Nepalese familyWelcome to a nepalese family! Nepalese people are slightly reserved in the beginning. So, you might not have to ask many questions at first. But once you are warmly welcomed and have been offered a cup of tea, be ready for many typical questions. Like in other Asian countries, family is the most important social unit in Nepal. So, obviously many questions will be asked about your family and relationships. If you are a woman, there will be questions about marriage and children. Topics to avoid initially would include politics, religion, caste/community differences and sex. However, once you are familiar with people, you will notice that men will discuss politics at great length, especially given the political situation in Nepal.
Maria is living in a family in the remote part of Nepal for her internship. Let’s she what type of questions she has to answer in the local community. In this conversation, B is Maria or probably you aer few months and A is Maria’s host Sunitā.
ए: तपाइg क2त वषR CनF भयो?A: Tapāī kati barsa hunu bhayo? ‘How old are you?’
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#ब: म ?इस वषR पF~q। B: Ma tis teis barsa pugẽ. ‘I am twenty three years old.’
ए: क2त तीस? A: Kati tis? ‘How much (years)? irty?’
#ब: होइन, बीस र तीन। B: Hoina, bis ra tin. ‘No, twenty and three.’
ए: तपाइgको प2रवारमा को को CनF CKछ?A: Tapāīko pariwārmā ko ko hunu huncha?
#ब: बFवा, अामा, एउटा सानो भाइ र एउटी ठvिल 2ददी CनFCKछ। B: Buwā, āmā, eutā sāno bhāi ra euti thūlī didī hunuhuncha.
ए: तपाइgको दाजF र ब2हनी छUनन?A: Tapāīko dāju ra bahinī chainan? ‘Don’t you have brothers and sisters?’
#ब: अहD, छUनन। B: Ahã, chainan. ‘No, I don’t.’
ए: तपाइgका बFवा-अामा` . गनFRCKछ? A: Tapāīkā āmā buwā ke garnu huncha? ‘What does your parents do?’
#ब: =रो बFवा िशbक र अामा नसR CनFCKछ। B: Mero buwā sikṣak ra āmā nurse hunuhuncha. ‘My father is a teacher and my mother is a nurse.’
ए: तपाइgको भाइ र 2ददी` . गनFRCKछ?A: Tapāīkā dājubhāi ra didīle ke garnuhuncha? ‘What does your brothers and sisters do?’
#ब: �बUजना` 2ब�2ब@यालयमा अ@ययन गदRछन। B: Dubaijanāle bishowbidhyalayamā adhyan gardachan.
‘My both siblings study in a university.’
ए: तपाइgको 2ब� भयो 2क नाइ?A: Tapāīko bihe bhayo ki nāi?
‘Are you married or not?
#ब: (=रो 2ब�) भएको छUन। B: (Mero bihe) bhayeko chaina. ‘I am not married.’
(If you are married)
ए: तपाइgका क2तवटा बtचा छन? A: Tapāīka katiwatā bacchā chan? ‘How many children do you have?’( ( or
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ए: तपाइgका क2तवटा बाबF-नानी छन?A: Tapāīkā katiwatā bābu ra nanī chan? ‘How many sons and daughters do you have?’
#ब: =रा बtचा छUनन। B: Merā bacchā chainan. ‘I have no kids.’
ए: तपाइgको �ीमान` . गनFRCKछ?A: Tapāīko shrimānle ke garnuhuncha? ‘What does your husband do?’
14.3 Grammar (.याकरण)Descriptive adjectives (#वoषण)Nepali adjectives mostly end in -o (-ो) and inflect for gender (masculine vs feminine). e following chart gives a brief overview of their structure of masculine, feminine and plural forms.
Masculine form
Feminine form
Plural/m/f Meaning
सानो sāno सानी sānī साना sānā small
ठvलो thūlo ठvली thūlī ठvला thūlā big
होचो hoco होची hocī होचा hocā short
अग�ो aglo अग�ी aglī अग�ा aglā tall
लाटो lāto लाटी lātī लाटा lātā dumb
बाठो bātho बाठी bāthī बाठी bāthā clever
मोटो moto मोटी motī मोटा motā fat
पातलो pātalo पातली pātalī पातला patalā thin
त�नो taruno त�नी tarunī त�ना tarunī young
बFढो budho बFढी budhī बFढा budhā old
राeो rāmro राeी rāmrī राeा rāmrā nice, beautiful
लामो lamo - लामा lāmā long
छोटो choto - छोटा chotā short
Note that in many languages, adjectives agree with a noun (phrase) in number and gender. is is not a new topic in linguistics. As you see in the above table, in Nepali also, adjectives agree with gender and number of the noun.
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14.4 Word store (शdदावली)Dev. Roman English
खF2स ला�F khusi lāgnu to be happy�टनF bhetnu to meet
सKचU CनF sancai hunu to be in good health
या{ा yatrā travel, journey
2नकi nikai fairly, very
थकाइ ला�F thakāi lāgnu to be tired
टाढा tādā far
धTरU dherai much
क2रब karib nearly, approximately
बीस bīs twenty
वषR barsa year
?इस teis twenty-three
तीस tīs thirty
प2रवार pariwār family
बFवा buwā father
िशbक shikṣak teacher
2ददी didī elder sister
2ब� bihe marriage
बtचा bacchā child
�ीमान shrimān husband
14.5 Test yourself exercises (अeयासह*)1. Choose the correct adjective.
a. यो =रो सानो/सानी भाइ हो। Yo mero sāno/sānī bhāi ho. ‘is is my small brother.’
b. 7यो =रो सानो/सानी छोरी हो। Tyo mero sāno/sānī chorī ho. ‘at is my small daughter.’
c. यो .टो लाटो/लाटी छ। Tyo keto lāto/lāto cha. ‘is boy is dumb.’
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d. 2तeी ब2हनी मोटो/मोटी छ। Timri bahinī moto/motī cha. ‘Your sister is fat.’
e. तपाइgकी �ीम2त राeो/राeी िछन। Tapāīki shrimati ramro/ramri chin. ‘Your wife is beautiful.’
2. Translate the following sentences into Nepali.a. Aren’t you Ajaya?b. Yes, I am Ajaya.c. How far is Pashupati temple from here?d. Which subject do you study in university?e. How old are you?f. at is my father.
3. Translate the following sentences into English.a. तपाइgको बाबF क2त वषRको भयो?b. तपाइg धTरU पातली CनFCKछ।c. =रो छोरो मोटो छ। य<` धTरU चक`ट खाKछ। d. यो बाटो छोटो छ।e. तपाइgको होटल हामीलाई राeो ला�यो।
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15 Asking for help and directions
15.1 Conversation (कfराकानी)It is very helpful when you know some local native phrases for asking for help and directions. is chapter provides you a number different of situations where you might need help during your travel or stay in Nepal.
You don’t have a pen with you. But you need one to fill your arrival form in the Kathmandu international airport. Don’t worry, you can borrow a pen from a person nearby:
तपाइp: . म एकिछनको ला2ग तपाइgको कलम पाउन सIछF? You: ‘Can I have your pen for a moment?’
Nथा#नय: CKछ 2न। िलनFस न। Local: ‘Yes, sure. Please take it.’
तपाइp: धKयवाद। You: ‘ank you!’
Modern airports are very confusing for many people. You want to know the exit door at the airport:
तपाइp: म हराएD। . म .2ह कXरा सो@न सIछF? You: I am lost. Can I ask you something?
Nथा#नय: हजFर, सो@नFहोस। Local: ‘Yes, please!’
तपाइp: यहाDबाट बा2हर 2न<क* ढोका कता होला? You: ‘Where is the exit door?’
Nथा#नय: तपाइg 2सधU जानFहोस। Local: ‘Please go straight’
You cannot stop your urine until you reach to your Hotel. It’s urgent for you to empty your bladder. No worry, ask for the nearest bathroom.
तपाइp: दाजF, यहाD सौचालय कहाD होला? You: ‘Hello brother, where is the bathroom here?’
Nथा#नय: 2सधा जानFहोस र बायाD/दायाD मो2डनFहोस। Local: ‘Please go straight and turn le/right’
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You are going to stay in Kirtipur Hillside Hotel in Kathmandu. ere is no one to pick you up at the airport, so you want to go by a taxi. Ask for a nearest taxi stand at the airport.
तपाइp: यहाD ट�ािIस कहाD पाइKछ? You: ‘Where can I get a taxi here?’
Nथा#नय: ट�ािIस बा2हर पाइKछ। Local: ‘You can get a taxi outside of the airport.’
तपाइp: धKयवाद। You: ‘ank you.’
You want to send few beautiful postcards of the Kathmandu valley to your family back home. You want to go to the post office and want to ask someone about the post office.
तपाइp: यहाD Cलाकघर कहाD छ?You: ‘Where is the post office nearby?’
Nथा#नय: काठमा�डdको सबU भKदा ठvलो Cलाक घर सFनधारामा छ।Local: Kathmandu’s biggest post office is in Sundhara.
तपाइp: सFनधारा कहाD छ?You: Where is Sundhara?
Nथा#नय: धरहरा भएको ठाउD नU सFनधारा हो। 7य2ह नU Cलाकघर प2न छ। Local: Sundhara is the place where tower is.
तपाइp: धKयवाद, अजय जी।You: ank you, Ajaya ji.
15.2 Emergency phrases and sentencesHere are some Nepali phrases and exclamations for use in emergencies, natural calamities and other difficult situations. Hopefully you won’t need to use them! But it is always a good idea to learn them to express your feeling immediately with the local people. Note that in a genuine emergency, you can contact the tourist police or the nearest police station.
Asking for help (सहयोग माq_)गFहार, गFहार! Guhār, guhār! ‘Help (me), help (me)!’सहयोग Help!
Natural disaster (]ाकr#तक #बपिs)प2हरो! Landslide!
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बा2ढ! Flood!म िच2प�एD। I am slipped.
Accidents (tघ(टना)म �घRटनामा प�। I met an accident.ए�बF`Kस बोलाउनFहोस! Call the ambulance!पFिलस(लाई) बोलाउनFहोस! Call the police!
Medical emergencies (#बरामी र NवाNuय)म 2बरामी छF! I am sick.मलाई डाIटर कहाD लUजानFहोस। Please take me to a doctor.म हि<पटल जान चाहKछF। I want to go to a hospital.तपाईलाई अ2ह` क<तो छ? How are you feeling now?मलाई <वास फ�नR गा�ो भयो। I’m having trouble breathing.चाडU 2नको CनFहोस! ‘Get well soon!’
Loss, the, robbery (हराउन_, चो#रन_, डकv#तमा पन_()चोर, चोर! ief!म लF2टएD। I am robbed.=रो पसR चो2रयो। My purse has been stolen.=रो कागजप{ भएको �याग हरायो। ‘I lost my bag with documents.’=रो सामान चो2रयो। ‘My stuffs are stolen.’
Harassment (Sexual) and physical violence (wयानxवा हमला)म कX2टएD। I’ve been aacked. उ<` मलाई मानR खो�यो। ‘He tried to kill me.’
Other difficult situations (अnय पन( सy+ समNयाह*)पख/पखनFहोस! ‘Wait!’�क/�कनFहोस! ‘Stop!’घरमा अागो ला�यो। ‘e building is on fire.’7यहाD अागो ला~को छ। ‘ere is fire.’k` =रो पासपोटR �2टन। ‘I can’t find my passport.’मलाई एक�U छोडनFहोस! ‘Please leave me alone!’
15.3 Grammar (.याकरण)Forming Possessive construction in Nepali (सzबnध कारक)Possessive forms contain two elements: the possessor or owner (अ2धकारी), and the thing possessed or property (स�बिKधत ब<तF). In ‘John’s home’ John is the owner and the
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home is his property. As we see in the above example the most usual way to express possession in English is by the use of apostrophe ‘s. e apostrophe ‘s is used to mark the possessor or owner, and the property or the possessed item remain unmarked.
Nepali possessive construction is somewhat similar to English in terms of marking of the possessor. But unlike English apostrophe ‘s, Nepali marks possession with declinable suffix -को -ko, which agrees in number and gender. e general format for possessive structure in Nepali is X-ko Y, with Y being the noun modified and the phrase X-ko its possessive modifier. e various different forms of the suffix -को -ko can be arranged into the following table:
Masculine FeminineSg. -को -ko -की -kīPl. -का -kā -का -kā
Examples of the use of various forms of को -ko are given clearly in the following table:
Masculine Feminine
Sg. राजFको 2कताब Rājuko kitāb ‘Raju’s book’
राजFकी 2ददी Rajukī didī ‘Raju’s sister’
Pl. राजFका 2कताब(हc) Rajukā kitāb(harū) ‘Raju’s books’
राजFका 2ददी(हc) Rajukā didī(harū) ‘Raju’s sisters’
Specific uses of the possessive -को -ko in Nepali:1. As shown in the above examples, the most common use of -को -ko is to indicate the
ownership or possession, e.g. िमराको कलम Mirāko kalam ‘Mira’s pen’2. To indicate that the item possessed is a component of the other item, e.g. मोबाइलको
खोल mobāilko khol ‘mobile’s cover’3. To indicate a relationship, particularly that of kinship, between two or more parties,
e.g. दाइको सा2थ dāiko sāthi ‘brother’s friend’, माक�की ब2हनी Markokī bahinī ‘Marko’s sister’, गोख�को सFKतला gorkhāko suntala ‘the orange from Gorkha’
Note that the को -ko is not added to the the following first (म, हामी) and second person (तD, 2तमी) pronouns. Instead, the special possessive adjectival form is used with these pronouns.
( म( =रो( ‘my’( हामी( हाeो( ‘our’
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( तD( ?रो( ‘your’ (2तमी( 2तeो(((((‘your’
15.4 Word store (शdदावली)
Dev. Roman Englishएकिछन ekchin for a momentउचाइ ucāi heightहराएD harāẽ (v. harāunu) I am lostसो@न/सो@नF sodhna to askढोका dhokā doorिलनFस linus (v. linu) Please take it2सधU sidhai (alt. sidhā) straightसौचालय saucālaya bathroomबायाD bāyā leदायाD dāyā rightपाइKछ paincha (v. painu) to be availableCलाक घर hulāk ghar post officeसा2थ sāthi friendब2हनी bahinī younger sisterसFKतला suntalā orangeगोख� gorkhā a place in Nepal
15.5 Test yourself exercises (अeयासह*)1. Fill the gaps with the possessive case of nouns. Decide weather you have to use को ko, की ki or का ka
a. राम सDग कलम छ। 7यो रामको कलम हो।b. माक� सDग 2कताब छ। 7यो _____________हो।c. बtचा wलौना wYछ। यो _________________हो।d. र=श र ब2हनी राधा असल छन। ______________Cन।e. अोली सDग धTरU कमलहc छन। 2त _______________Cन।f. =रो सा2थ यो घरमा ब<छ। यो ________________हो।
2. Circle all of the possessive nouns in the narrative below and write them in your notebook.
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अाज रा2त राeो सDग सF7न स2कन। बा2हर कXकXरहcको भFकाइ चक� 2थयो। एक Cल कXकXरहc घरको अागनमा ज�मा भएर भF2कर�का 2थए। ब2हनीको कोठामा ब�ी बिलर�को 2थयो। निजक गएर
�nको, ब2हनीका 2कताबहc चारU2तर फiिलएका 2थए। उ सोफामा नU 2नदाए2क र2हछ। फ�2र िछ=कीको घर 2तर ��, र=शकी �ीमती प2न .2ह काम गदm 2थइन। कXकXरहc भF2क र�का 2थए। म फ�2र 2नदाएD।
3. Fill the correct form of छ cha and हो ho in the following sentences. a. भाइको 2गलासमा िचया ______।b. दाजFका 2कताबहc राeा ______।c. यानाकी ब2हनी पातली _______।d. यो हाeो घर _____।e. =रो बFवाको नाम शोभाखर ______।
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16.3 Grammar (.याकरण): the versatile verb लाq_ lāgnuIn the above expressions, you see that the verb लाq_ lāgnu ‘to be aached to’ is the most versatile feeling verb in Nepali. It is extremely common in day-to-day speech to express different types of feelings and emotions. So obviously it has a lot of different meanings according to different situations. e most literal meaning of ला�F lāgnu is ‘to be aached to’. For example,
बो�लमा 2बक� ला�यो। Bottalmā birko lāgyo. ‘e lid is aached to the bole.’
is is the most simple use of the verb lāgnu. It’s main functions is in the feeling expressions and bodily sensations. For example,
मलाई डर ला�यो। Malāī dar lāgyo. ‘I am afraid.’ (literally, To me fear is aached.)’
मलाई जाडो ला�यो। Malāī jādo lāgyo. ‘I am (feeling) cold.’ (literally, To me cold is aached.’)
मलाई चोट ला�यो। Malāī cot lāgyo. ‘I am injured.’
We can also use lāgnu to mean ‘seems’ in few constructions where we think something is true or false. For example,
मलाई यो स2ह ला�यो। Malāī yo sahi lāgyo. ‘To me it seems true.’
मलाई यो स2ह ला~न। Malāī yo sahi lāgen. ‘To me it doesn’t seem true.’
If there is an infinitive form of the verb just before the verb lāgnu, then the meaning is ‘to begin to’. For example,
यFnश �न ला�यो। ‘Euresh began to cry.’
चोर भा� ला�यो। ‘e thief began to run away.’
हामी गाउDन ला�यd ‘We began to sing.’
k` *पाली बF�न ला~q ‘I began to understand Nepali.’
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When we use lāgnu with time words, we want to know how long it or something takes. In this situation, lāgnu is translated something like ‘to be taken’.
टकBबाट काठमा�डd स�म क2त घ�टा ला�यो। ‘How many hours did it take from Turkey to Kathmandu?.
पोखरा पF� क2त समय ला�छ? ‘How long does it take to reach to Pokhara?’
When lāgnu appears with some nouns denoting direction or a particular location, then the lāgnu is translated as ‘towards the direction’, for example,
राम घर 2तर ला�यो। ‘Ram went towards (his) home.’
का` त 2ब श 2तर ला�यो। ‘Kale went to a foreign country.’
16.4 Word store (शdदावली)
Dev. Roman English
भोक bhok hunger
2तख� tirkhā thirst
गमB garmī hot, warm
प2सना pasinā sweat
िचसो ciso cold
जाडो jādo cold
`क lek high-cold
खF¡ा khuā leg
�¢यो dukhyo, v. dukhnu hurt
पोYयो polyo, v. polnu burnt
िचKता cintā worry
डर dar fear
2रस ris anger
था£ thākẽ, v. thāknu I am tired
िघन ghin disgust
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Dev. Roman English
सF¤ sunẽ, v. sunnu I heard
चोट cot injury
स2ह sahi right
गलत galat wrong
गाउDन gaũn sing
बF�न bujhna to understand
16.5 Test yourself exercises (अeयासह*)1. Translate the following sentences into Nepali.
a. I am afraid.b. I am worried.c. He began to sleep.d. How long does it take to reach to Lumbini?e. I am injured.
2. Translate the following sentences into English.a. मलाई जाडो ला�यो।b. मलाई 2नK¥ा ला�यो।c. उसलाई 2परो ला�यो।d. तपाइgलाई िघन ला�यो।e. हालीहcलाई चोट ला�यो।
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Appendix-1{शम #फ#र#र
Resham phiririNepali Folk song (composer Buddhi Pariyār)
nशम 2फ-2र-2र, nशम 2फ-2र-2र, उडTर जाउD 2क डाDडामा भK�याङnशम 2फ-2र-2र, Resham Phi-ri-ri, Resham Phi-ri-riUdera jāũ ki dāndāmā bhanjyāngResham Phi-ri-ri(Like a silk (scar) circulating freely in the air, I wish to fly over the hills.)
एक ना` बK�क, �ईना` बK�क मzगलाई ता.को।मzगलाई k` ता.को होईन, मायालाई डाD.को।।Ek nāle banduk, duī nāle banduk, mirgalāī tākekoMirgalāī maile tākeko hoina māyālāī dākeko(One barreled gun, two barreled gun, targeted at a deer. It’snot the deer that I’m focusing on, but calling my love.)
nशम 2फ-2र-2र, nशम 2फ-2र-2र, उडTर जाउD 2क डाDडामा भK�याङnशम 2फ-2र-2र, Resham Phi-ri-ri, Resham Phi-ri-riUdera jāũ ki dāndāmā bhanjyāngResham Phi-ri-ri
कXकXरलाई कX2त-कX2त, 2बरालोलाई सF2र।2तeो हाeो माया 2प�त दोबाटोमा कX2र।।Kukurlāī Kuti-Kuti, Birālolāī SuriTimro ra Hāmro Māyāpirti Dobātomā Kuri(e first stanza appears just to rhyme with the second line. It’s meaning calling dog, calling cat. You and I fell in love by waiting each other at the crossroad.)
nशम 2फ-2र-2र, nशम 2फ-2र-2र, उडTर जाउD 2क डाDडामा भK�याङnशम 2फ-2र-2र, Resham Phi-ri-ri, Resham Phi-ri-riUdera jāũ ki dāndāmā bhanjyāngResham Phi-ri-ri
अाकाशमा जहाज, सडकमा मोटर न’भए गाडा छ।यो मन ज<तो 7यो मन भए, तागतU गाढा छ।।Ākāshmā Jahāj, sadakmā motor, na bhaye gādā chaYo mana jasto tyo mana bhaye tāgatai gādhā cha.
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(ere is plane in the sky, vehicle on the road, if not, I have a bull-cart. If your heart wishes like mine those things are not hard.)nशम 2फ-2र-2र, nशम 2फ-2र-2र, उडTर जाउD 2क डाDडामा भK�याङnशम 2फ-2र-2र, Resham Phi-ri-ri, Resham Phi-ri-riUdera jāũ ki dāndāmā bhanjyāngResham Phi-ri-ri
सानोमा सानो गाइको बाtछो िभरUमा राम राम।छोडTर k` स2कन जान, ब� माया सDगU जाम।।Sānomā sāno gāiko bāccho bhiraimā, Rām, RāmChodera jāna sakina maile, baru māyā sangai jām(Again the purpose of the first stanza is to rhyme with the second one (meaning a small calf on a cliff we just pray for god) I could not go leaving you alone, so my love let's go together.)
nशम 2फ-2र-2र, nशम 2फ-2र-2र, उडTर जाउD 2क डाDडामा भK�याङnशम 2फ-2र-2र, Resham Phi-ri-ri, Resham Phi-ri-riUdera jāũ ki dāndāmā bhanjyāngResham Phi-ri-ri(Like a silk (scar) circulating freely in the air, I wish to fly over the hills.)
Word store (शdदावली):resham ( ( ‘silk’phriri (( ( ‘to fly by circulating in the air’udera (v. udnu) ( ‘to fly’jāũ (v. jānu)( ( ‘to go’dāndā (( ( ‘mountain, hill)bhanjyāng ( ( ‘a narrow passage in mountain’ek nāle banduk ( ‘one barreled gun’duī nāle banduk ( ‘two barreled gun’mirga (( ( ‘deer’tākeko (v. tāknu) ( ‘to target at’māyā (( ( ‘love, be-loved person’dobāto ( ( ‘e meeting point of two roads.’kuri (v. kurnu) ( ‘to wait’dākeko (v. daknu) ( ‘to call someone’kuti-Kuti ( ( ‘Child’s or an expressive word/calling word for dog’suri ( ( ( ‘Child’s or an expressive word/calling word for cat’māyāpirti ( ( ‘love’kuri (v. kurnu) ( ‘wait’Ākāsh (( ( ‘sky’Jahāj ( ( ( ‘plane’
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sadak (( ( ‘road’motor (( ( ‘vehicle’na bhaye ( ( ‘if not’gādā ( ( ( ‘bull cart’mana (( ( ‘heart’jasto ( ( ( ‘like’tyo mana ( ( ‘that heart’tāgatai ( ( ‘also tāgat) ( ‘strength’gādā ( ( ( ‘thick, strong’sānomā sāno (( ‘small of the small’gāiko bāccho (( ‘cal’bhirai (~bhir)( ( ‘cli’rām, rām ( ( ‘an exclamation of surprise, pity’chodera (v. chodnu) ( ‘to leave behind’jāna (v. jānu) (( ‘to go’sakena maile (( ‘I cannot’baru ( ( ( ‘beer, rather’māyā (( ( ‘love’sangai jām ( ( ‘let’s go together’
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Appendix-2
जम(नीको िजतकोला#ग थोमस म_लरको तीन गोल
थोमस मFलर` २०१४ को 2व�कपमा प2हलो ©ा2ªक गnपिछ जमRनी` पोचFRगललाई ४-० ` िज7यो। मFलरको यो प2हलो अKतराि«¬य ©ा2ªक हो। यो िजत` जमRन 2टम समvह ‘जी’ को 2व�ता बKयो। चार वषR अगा2ड दिbण अ2�कामा भएको wलमा सव�2धक पाDच गोल ग2र उन` गोYडTन बFट प2न िज?का 2थए। यो वषR ®ािजलमा प2न उ2न 2नIकi राeो w`।
#रयो#द |+#रयो,2व�कप फXटबलमा जमRनीको िजतमा खFसी CDदU अ=2रकन पप गा2यका 2रहाना` आफ°ो 2टसटR उचा`र ®ा �दशRन गn2क िछन । फाइनल wल �नR ®ािजल पF~की गा2यका 2रहाना` जमRनीको जसB लगाएर िजतमा उ�Tिजत CDदU ®ा खाएकी Cन । ®ािजलको समथRन गदm आए प2न 2रहाना फाइनलमा भ* जमRनीको समथRन गनR पF~की 2थइन । फाइनलमा जमRनी` अज±िKटनालाई १–० गोल` हराएपिछ 2रहाना 2नIकi उ�Tिजत ब*को सqचारमा@यमह�` जनाएका छन ।
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2टसटR उचा`र कालो ®ा खाएपिछ उIत bT{मा फXटबलका दशRक र उनका समथRकह�को िभडभाड ला~को 2थयो भ* िम2डयामा आएको सो फोटो अ2ह` भाइरल भइर�को छ । कXनU न कXनU मा@यमबाट
आफuलाई चच�मा Yयाउन सफल 2रहानाको फXटबल फ�डा` एक पटक चच� बटF`को छ ।
य_वा #व}श, गाउ~ स_नसान
*पालमा बढदो ²रोजगारी र घरk काम गनR 2हिtकचाउदा दU2नक दजRनौ यFवायFवतीहc श बा2हर गईर�का छन। यस2र बा2हर जा*हcको लामो लक� 2बमान<थलमा सधU नU िखKछ। यFवा पF<ता बा2हर जादा, अाज *पालका धTरU जसो गाउDहc यFवा2वहीन भएका छन। बFढाबFढी, .टा.टी र म2हला मा{
गाउDमा िखKछन।
2व श जा* अ2धक³श १८ िख ४० वषRस�मका यFवाहc छन। यो�यता अनFसारको जा2गर, तलब नपाउदा र घरk .2ह µयवसाय गनR लजाउदा यFवाहc 2ब शी* ¶म बढTको हो।
*पालबाट कामको ला2ग बा2हर जा*हcको ठvलो
सq¢या खाडी मFलFक जाKछन। कतार, म`2सया, �बई र बहराईनमा धTरU *पाली` काम गछRन।
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Appendix-3: Evaluation
Monthly work for Students learning NepaliUniversity of Kiel
Full marks: 50Time:
Please answer the following set of questions on a separate sheet of paper at home and handover it to your teacher in your next class.
1. How many consonants are there in Nepali? Please prepare a list of them in Devanagari.
2. Please write the corresponding alphabets of the following consonants in Devanagari:kha, gha, ṅa, ca, ja, jha, ña, ṭha, ṇa, dha, pa, ha, kṣa, tra
3. Please write the corresponding vowel sings of the following Nepali vowels:क k(( + अ( (क ka( + अा( (
क ka ( + इ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (क ka( + ई( (क ka( + उ( (क ka( + ऊ( (क ka( + ए( (
क ka( + ए( (क ka( + अो( (क ka( + अौ( (
4. Use all the vowel sings on the ‘च’ alphabet and complete it in the format of ka-kā, ki-kī.
5. Write the following words in Devanagari:kalam, samaya, ghar, damkal, kām, kukhurā, kirā, Kiel, Nepāl, birko, ramro, miṭho
6. Write the following phrases in Devanagari:mero ghar (( ‘my house’mero bahinī ( ( ‘my sister’tapāīko bhāī ( ( ‘your brother’wahāko kitāb ( ( ‘my book’mero bas ( ( ( ‘my bus’tāto ciyā( ( ( ‘a hot tea’mero mukh ( ( ‘my mouth’yo mero kitāb ho. ( ‘is is my book.’
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tyo kitāb tapāīko ho. ( ‘at is your book.’
7. Write the following words with a nasalized vowels in Devanagari:hã, chāyã, nayā, gāũ, sãga, pāc, tapāī, garẽ, ākhā,
8. Write the following words (with र r) in Devanagari:gardā, mardā, tirdā, bharti, garne, herne, dartā, paryo, taryo, garyo, heryo, bākhrā
9. Write the following phrases in Devanagari:a. kāmle gardāb. kām garne keto āyo.c. ke kām paryo?d. phūl bue jhandāe. yo chetramā pāni parcha?f. Kielmā hiũ paryog. Nepāl rāmro cha. h. Germanyle yuddha cāhadaina. i. tapāīko nām darta garnuhos.
10. Write out the following expressions in Devanagari and also fill the correct form of ho/cha.
a. mero kapmā kaphi…….।b. mero kitāb kahā ……..?c. yo mero bhāi ……..?d. tapāīko jholāmā ke ……..?e. tyo bottalko pānī Mirkoko …..?f. Janako bue chātā kahā ……?
11. What are the corresponding Nepali expressions? Please translate the following expressions in Nepali.
Phrases for GreetingsHi, Hello ( ( ( (Good morning ( ( (Good aernoon ( ( (Welcome (to greet someone) (Hello my friend ( ( (How are you? (familiar)( ( How are you? (polite)( ( How are you? (super polite) (I am fine, thank you. ( (And you? (familiar) ( ( (And you? (polite) (( (And you? (super polite) ( (Good. ( ( ( (What’s new? ( ( (It’s alright, nothing new ( (
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ank you (very much). ( (Make yourself home. ( (
12. Translate these sentences/phrases into Nepalia. It always rains in Kiel.b. ere are seven days in a week.c. I will be back right away.d. Next week, I go to Nepal.e. I won’t come tomorrow. f. I am a bit busy in this week.g. What is this?h. What is that?
13.A. Make sentences using the following Nepali words/phrases:a. फ�2रb. भोिलc. ²लFकाd. तF�KतUe. अक� ह·ताf. .2ह समय प2ह`
B. Write the plural forms of the following Nepali nouns.टा, घर, शहर, म2हला, =रो कXकXर, मिKदर, बस
14. Write a short introduction of yourself in Nepali (at least 3 sentences).
15. Translate the following conversation into Nepali: (two foreign folks meet in Kathmandu)
A: HiB: HiA: I am Nala. What is your good name?B: My name is Tim. Where are you from?A: I am from Germany. And you?B: I am also a German. I am very happy to see you in Nepal.A: When did you come to Nepal? B: I came before 2 weeks. A: Where do you stay in Kathmandu?B: I stay in amel.A: Pardon! Could you repeat it, please!B: THAMEL!A: Wow, that’s a nice place!B: Ja, see you again. B: Ok, see you again.
16. Please translate the following Nepali sentences into English or German.a. =रो अामाको नाम मा2रया हो।b. म 2ब@याथB CD।c. तपाइg . गनFR CKछ?
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d. जमRनीको राजधानी ब¸लन हो। *पालको राजधानी काठमा�डd हो। �बU ठvला शहर Cन।e. यFरोप घF�न समरमा रमाईलो CKछ। 2वKटरमा धTरU जाडो CKछ र 2हउD प2न पछR।f. सगरमाथामा सधU 2हउD पछR। तर समरमा खा<सU पदmन।g. म एक 2दन सगरमाथा चढछF।
17. Read the following Nepali words wrien in Devanagariअामा, मामा, तामा, सडक, मोटर, पसल, 2स*मा, ठTगाना, 2टकट, खाना, बाDदर, पानी, कील, नोग�, नvन, 2गलास, बटर, पाउरोटी, हो�ल, रानीपोखरी, जमRनी, िचउरा, गFदपाक, मासF, �ाKस
(is is just a small part of a work-in-progress material. If you need a more updated version of this material, please contact the author. I highly appreciate your comments and suggestions to improve this work, if you have some, please drop me few lines immediately. email: [email protected])
धnयवाद, Danke, ank you!
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