Learning in Practice

In this section, you will use greetings and introduction phrases in simple real-life situations. You will practise introducing yourself, asking someone’s name, saying where you are from, and continuing a short polite conversation.

Try it in real life

Practise introducing yourself to a classmate, friend, teacher, or language partner. Say your name and where you are from.

Example:

नमस्ते।
namaste.
Hello.

मेरो नाम बिनोद हो।
mero nām Binod ho.
My name is Binod.

म क्यानडाबाट आएको हुँ।
ma Kyānaḍābāṭa āeko hũ.
I am from Canada.

तपाईंको नाम के हो?
tapāī̃ko nām ke ho?
What is your name?

Practice task

Practise this short exchange with a partner:

A: नमस्ते।
namaste.

B: नमस्ते।
namaste.

A: मेरो नाम माया हो। तपाईंको नाम के हो?
mero nām Māyā ho. tapāī̃ko nām ke ho?

B: मेरो नाम राज हो।
mero nām Rāj ho.

A: तपाईं कहाँबाट आउनुभएको हो?
tapāī̃ kahā̃bāṭa āunubhaeko ho?

B: म क्यानडाबाट आएको हुँ।
ma Kyānaḍābāṭa āeko hũ.

A: तपाईंलाई भेटेर खुशी लाग्यो।
tapāī̃lāī bheṭera khuśī lāgyo.

B: मलाई पनि खुशी लाग्यो।
malāī pani khuśī lāgyo.

Mini culture note

Introductions in Nepali often include more than just a name. People may also ask where someone is from, what they study, where they live, or how they are connected to the place or group.

Using नमस्ते (namaste) and तपाईं (tapāī̃) helps make the introduction respectful. This is especially useful when meeting teachers, elders, hosts, community members, or people you do not know well.

Common mistake

Do not translate English introductions word for word.

In Nepali, “My name is …” is usually expressed as:

मेरो नाम … हो।
mero nām … ho.
My name is …

Not:

म … नाम हो।
ma … nām ho.

Also, remember to use तपाईंको नाम के हो? (tapāī̃ko nām ke ho?) when asking someone’s name politely.

Say it aloud

Practise these slowly. Then say them more naturally.

After you practise, use the audio recorder below to record yourself. Listen to your recording and try again if you want to improve your pronunciation.

नमस्ते।
namaste.
Hello.

मेरो नाम … हो।
mero nām … ho.
My name is …

तपाईंको नाम के हो?
tapāī̃ko nām ke ho?
What is your name?

तपाईं कहाँबाट आउनुभएको हो?
tapāī̃ kahā̃bāṭa āunubhaeko ho?
Where are you from?

म क्यानडाबाट आएको हुँ।
ma Kyānaḍābāṭa āeko hũ.
I am from Canada.

तपाईंलाई भेटेर खुशी लाग्यो।
tapāī̃lāī bheṭera khuśī lāgyo.
Nice to meet you.

Rhythm practice

Read this short exchange aloud:

नमस्ते।
namaste.

मेरो नाम माया हो।
mero nām Māyā ho.

तपाईंको नाम के हो?
tapāī̃ko nām ke ho?

मेरो नाम राज हो।
mero nām Rāj ho.

तपाईंलाई भेटेर खुशी लाग्यो।
tapāī̃lāī bheṭera khuśī lāgyo.

मलाई पनि खुशी लाग्यो।
malāī pani khuśī lāgyo.

Can-do checklist

By the end of this chapter, I can:

• greet someone politely
• introduce myself in Nepali
• say my name
• ask someone’s name politely
• say where I am from
• ask where someone is from
• use तपाईं (tapāī̃) respectfully
• say “Nice to meet you”
• take part in a short introductory conversation in Nepali