The short answer
Here is the good news first: Nepali is written in Devanagari, the same script as Hindi, so you can sound out every menu and signboard, and Hindi is widely understood thanks to Indian films and TV. English works in hotels and tourist areas. Even so, Nepalis light up at a namaste and dhanyabad in their own tongue - and the phrases below carry you through momo stalls, taxi bargaining and temple mornings.
The five phrases that matter most
नमस्ते
namaste
Hello (also namaste at any hour)
नमस्ते
धन्यवाद
dhanyabad
Thank you
धन्यवाद
तपाईं अंग्रेजी बोल्नुहुन्छ?
tapai angreji bolnuhunchha?
Do you speak English?
क्या आप अंग्रेज़ी बोलते हैं?
म मासु खाँदिनँ
ma maasu khaandina
I do not eat meat
मैं मांस नहीं खाता/खाती
यसको कति पर्छ?
yasko kati parchha?
How much is this?
यह कितने का है?
All the phrases
Greetings and thanks
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello (also namaste at any hour) | नमस्ते | namaste | नमस्ते |
| How are you? (polite) | सन्चै हुनुहुन्छ? | sanchai hunuhunchha? | आप कैसे हैं? |
| I am fine, thank you | म सन्चै छु, धन्यवाद | ma sanchai chhu, dhanyabad | मैं ठीक हूं, धन्यवाद |
| Thank you | धन्यवाद | dhanyabad | धन्यवाद |
| See you again (how Nepalis say goodbye) | फेरी भेटौँला | pheri bhetaula | फिर मिलेंगे (अलविदा) |
Getting help
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | हो | ho | हां |
| No | होइन | hoina | नहीं |
| Please | कृपया | kripaya | कृपया |
| Excuse me / sorry | माफ गर्नुहोस् | maaf garnuhos | क्षमा करें / माफ़ कीजिए |
| Do you speak English? | तपाईं अंग्रेजी बोल्नुहुन्छ? | tapai angreji bolnuhunchha? | क्या आप अंग्रेज़ी बोलते हैं? |
| I do not understand | म बुझिनँ | ma bujhina | मैं नहीं समझा/समझी |
| I am lost | म हराएँ | ma haraen | मैं रास्ता भूल गया/गई |
Food (vegetarian, Jain, allergies)
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| I do not eat meat | म मासु खाँदिनँ | ma maasu khaandina | मैं मांस नहीं खाता/खाती |
| Is this vegetarian? | यो शाकाहारी हो? | yo shakahari ho? | क्या यह शाकाहारी है? |
| Some water, please | पानी दिनुहोस् | paani dinuhos | थोड़ा पानी दीजिए |
| Less spicy, please | कम पिरो दिनुहोस् | kam piro dinuhos | कम तीखा, कृपया |
| It was delicious | मिठो भयो | mitho bhayo | बहुत स्वादिष्ट था |
Directions and transport
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where is the bus to _____? | _____ जाने बस कहाँ छ? | _____ jaane bus kahaan chha? | _____ की बस कहाँ है? |
| Where is the toilet? | शौचालय कहाँ छ? | shauchalaya kahaan chha? | टॉयलेट कहाँ है? |
Shopping and numbers
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| How much is this? | यसको कति पर्छ? | yasko kati parchha? | यह कितने का है? |
| That is too expensive | एकदम महँगो भयो | ekdam mahango bhayo | बहुत महंगा है |
Emergency
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| I need a doctor | मलाई डाक्टर चाहियो | malai doctor chaahiyo | मुझे डॉक्टर चाहिए |
Save or print
Save the top phrases as a picture to send to your parents, or print the whole sheet.
The five phrases that matter most
- Hello (also namaste at any hour) / नमस्ते
- नमस्ते (namaste)
- Thank you / धन्यवाद
- धन्यवाद (dhanyabad)
- Do you speak English? / क्या आप अंग्रेज़ी बोलते हैं?
- तपाईं अंग्रेजी बोल्नुहुन्छ? (tapai angreji bolnuhunchha?)
- I do not eat meat / मैं मांस नहीं खाता/खाती
- म मासु खाँदिनँ (ma maasu khaandina)
- How much is this? / यह कितने का है?
- यसको कति पर्छ? (yasko kati parchha?)
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Quick questions
Sources
- Wikivoyage: Nepali phrasebook · checked 30 Oct 2026