Chapter 10 – Introductions and Social Exchanges
Unit 1 — Key Vocabulary
In this unit, you will learn common Nepali words and phrases for greetings and introductions. You will practise asking someone’s name, where they are from, how they are, and how to respond politely in everyday conversation.
Study the words below first. Read each Nepali word or phrase, look at the transliteration, and practise saying it aloud. Use the English meaning to check your understanding.
Vocabulary
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| अँ | ã | yes |
| अनि | ani | and / then |
| अब | aba | now |
| आएको | āeko | came / arrived |
| आउनु | āunu | to come |
| अहिले | ahile | now / currently |
| ओहो | oho | oh! |
| कहाँ | kahā̃ | where? |
| कहाँबाट | kahā̃bāṭa | from where? |
| काठमाडौं | kāṭhamāṇḍaũ | Kathmandu |
| देश | deś | country |
| नाम | nām | name |
| पहिलो पटक | pahilo paṭak | first time |
| फेरि | pherī | again |
| भेट्नु | bheṭnu | to meet |
| भित्र | bhitra | inside |
| बस्नु | basnu | to sit / to stay |
| बुझ्नु | bujhnu | to understand |
| सहर | sahar | city |
| सुन्दर | sundar | beautiful |
| ठाउँ | ṭhāũ | place |
| केही छैन | kehi chaina | no problem / it’s okay |
Nationalities
These words help you say where someone is from or describe someone’s nationality.
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| क्यानेडियन | kyāneḍiyan | Canadian |
| अमेरिकी | amerīkī | American |
| नेपाली | nepālī | Nepali |
| भारतीय | bhāratīya | Indian |
| पाकिस्तानी | pākistānī | Pakistani |
| चिनियाँ | ciniyā̃ | Chinese |
| जापानी | jāpānī | Japanese |
| कोरियाली | koriyālī | Korean |
| अष्ट्रेलियन | aṣṭreliyan | Australian |
| ब्रिटिश | briṭiś | British |
| फ्रेन्च | phrench | French |
| जर्मन | jarman | German |
| स्पेनी | spenī | Spanish |
| इटालियन | iṭāliyan | Italian |
| मेक्सिकन | meksikan | Mexican |
| ब्राजिलियन | brājiliyan | Brazilian |
Professions
These words help you identify people by their role, job, or position.
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| विद्यार्थी | widyārthī | student |
| शिक्षक | śikṣak | teacher |
| शिक्षिका | śikṣikā | teacher (female) |
| प्राध्यापक | prādhyāpak | professor / instructor |
| प्रोफेसर | prophesar | professor |
| नर्स | nars | nurse |
| डाक्टर | ḍākṭar | doctor |
| इन्जिनियर | injiniyar | engineer |
| चालक | cālak | driver |
| व्यापारी | byāpārī | shopkeeper / businessperson |
| कर्मचारी | karmacārī | employee / staff |
Useful Phrases
Use these phrases in greetings, introductions, and polite conversation.
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| अँ, बुझें। | ã, bujhẽ. | Yes, I understood. |
| केही छैन। | kehi chaina. | No problem. |
| कृपया चिया खानुस्। | kṛpayā ciyā khānus. | Please have some tea. |
| तपाईं कहाँबाट आउनुभयो? | tapāī̃ kahā̃bāṭa āunubhayo? | Where did you come from? |
| तपाईं कहाँबाट हुनुहुन्छ? | tapāī̃ kahā̃bāṭa hunuhuncha? | Where are you from? |
| तपाईंको घर कहाँ हो? | tapāī̃ko ghar kahā̃ ho? | Where is your home? |
| तपाईंको नाम के हो? | tapāī̃ko nām ke ho? | What is your name? |
| तपाईंलाई कस्तो छ? | tapāī̃lāī kasto cha? | How are you? |
| तपाईंलाई नि? | tapāī̃lāī ni? | And you? |
| तपाईंलाई भेटेर खुशी लाग्यो। | tapāī̃lāī bheṭera khuśī lāgyo. | Nice to meet you. |
| फेरि भेटौँला। | pherī bheṭaũlā. | See you again. |
| माफ गर्नुहोस्। | māph garnuhos. | Sorry / excuse me. |
| मलाई ठीक छ। | malāī ṭhīk cha. | I am fine. |
| मलाई पनि खुशी लाग्यो। | malāī pani khuśī lāgyo. | Nice to meet you too. |
| मलाई सन्चै छ। | malāī sancai cha. | I’m well. |
| हाम्रो घरमा स्वागत छ। | hāmro gharmā swāgat cha. | Welcome to our home. |
| यहाँ बस्नुस्। | yahā̃ basnus. | Please sit here. |
Practice
Practise introducing yourself and asking simple questions.
Example:
तपाईंको नाम के हो?
tapāī̃ko nām ke ho?
What is your name?
मलाई सन्चै छ।
malāī sancai cha.
I’m well.
तपाईं कहाँबाट हुनुहुन्छ?
tapāī̃ kahā̃bāṭa hunuhuncha?
Where are you from?
तपाईंलाई भेटेर खुशी लाग्यो।
tapāī̃lāī bheṭera khuśī lāgyo.
Nice to meet you.
फेरि भेटौंला।
pherī bheṭaũlā.
See you again.
