Learning in Practice

In this section, you will use food, taste, and preference expressions in simple real-life situations. You will practise saying what you like, what you do not like, and how food or drinks taste.

Try it in real life

Choose three foods or drinks. Say whether you like them and describe their taste.

Example:

मलाई दालभात मन पर्छ।
malāī dālbhat man parcha.
I like dal bhat.

मलाई चिया मन पर्छ।
malāī ciyā man parcha.
I like tea.

मलाई पिरो खाना मन पर्दैन।
malāī piro khānā man pardaina.
I do not like spicy food.

यो चिया तातो छ।
yo ciyā tāto cha.
This tea is hot.

यो खाना मिठो छ।
yo khānā miṭho cha.
This food is tasty.

Practice task

Practise this short exchange with a partner:

A: तपाईंलाई के मन पर्छ?
tapāī̃lāī ke man parcha?

B: मलाई दालभात मन पर्छ।
malāī dālbhat man parcha.

A: तपाईंलाई चिया मन पर्छ?
tapāī̃lāī ciyā man parcha?

B: हो, मलाई चिया मन पर्छ।
ho, malāī ciyā man parcha.

A: तपाईंलाई पिरो खाना मन पर्छ?
tapāī̃lāī piro khānā man parcha?

B: होइन, मलाई पिरो खाना मन पर्दैन।
hoina, malāī piro khānā man pardaina.

A: खाना कस्तो छ?
khānā kasto cha?

B: खाना मिठो छ।
khānā miṭho cha.

Mini culture note

Food is an important part of Nepali social life. Guests are often offered tea, snacks, or food as a sign of hospitality. Even simple phrases such as मिठो छ (miṭho cha) can help you respond warmly and respectfully.

When eating with others, it is useful to know how to say what you like, what you do not like, and whether something is spicy, sweet, hot, or tasty.

Common mistake

Do not translate “I like…” word for word from English.

In Nepali, use मलाई … मन पर्छ (malāī … man parcha).

Correct:

मलाई चिया मन पर्छ।
malāī ciyā man parcha.
I like tea.

मलाई दालभात मन पर्छ।
malāī dālbhat man parcha.
I like dal bhat.

Negative:

मलाई पिरो खाना मन पर्दैन।
malāī piro khānā man pardaina.
I do not like spicy food.

Also remember: when describing taste or condition, use छ (cha).

यो खाना मिठो छ।
yo khānā miṭho cha.
This food is tasty.

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.

खाना।
khānā.
Food.

चिया।
ciyā.
Tea.

पानी।
pānī.
Water.

मिठो।
miṭho.
Tasty / sweet.

पिरो।
piro.
Spicy.

तातो।
tāto.
Hot.

चिसो।
ciso.
Cold.

मलाई चिया मन पर्छ।
malāī ciyā man parcha.
I like tea.

मलाई पिरो खाना मन पर्दैन।
malāī piro khānā man pardaina.
I do not like spicy food.

Rhythm practice

Read this short exchange aloud:

तपाईंलाई के मन पर्छ?
tapāī̃lāī ke man parcha?

मलाई दालभात मन पर्छ।
malāī dālbhat man parcha.

तपाईंलाई चिया मन पर्छ?
tapāī̃lāī ciyā man parcha?

हो, मलाई चिया मन पर्छ।
ho, malāī ciyā man parcha.

खाना कस्तो छ?
khānā kasto cha?

खाना मिठो छ।
khānā miṭho cha.

Can-do checklist

By the end of this chapter, I can:

• name common foods and drinks
• say what I like
• say what I do not like
• ask what someone likes
• describe food and drinks
• use मिठो (miṭho) for tasty or sweet
• use पिरो (piro) for spicy
• use मलाई … मन पर्छ (malāī … man parcha)
• use मलाई … मन पर्दैन (malāī … man pardaina)
• participate in a simple food-related conversation in Nepali