Chapter 17 – Giving Directions
Unit 1 — Key Vocabulary
In this unit, you will learn common Nepali words and phrases for asking for and giving directions. You will practise asking where a place is, describing locations, and giving simple instructions such as “go straight,” “turn left,” “turn right,” and “cross the street.”
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.
Direction and Location Words
These words help you describe where something is or which direction to go.
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| अगाडि | agāḍi | ahead |
| ___को अगाडि | ___ko agāḍi | in front of ___ |
| कुनामा | kunāmā | at the corner |
| माथि | māthi | above |
| तल | tala | below |
| पछाडि | pacāḍi | behind |
| बीचमा | bīcmā | between |
| त्यसभन्दा पर | tyasbhandā para | beyond |
| टाढा | ṭāḍhā | far |
| नजिक | najik | near / close to |
| सामुन्ने | sāmunne | in front / opposite |
| बायाँ | bāyā̃ | left |
| दायाँ | dāyā̃ | right |
| सीधा | sīdhā | straight |
| तलतिर | talatira | down / downward |
| माथितिर | māthitira | up / upward |
| सडकको अर्कोपट्टि | saḍakko arkopaṭṭi | across the street / other side |
Places and Landmarks
These words help you ask for and understand directions to common places.
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| पुल | pul | bridge |
| बस स्टप | bas sṭap | bus stop |
| चोक | cok | crossroads / intersection |
| संग्रहालय | saṅgrahālaya | museum |
| राउन्ड अबाउट | rāunḍ abāuṭ | roundabout |
| मेट्रो/सबवे प्रवेशद्वार | meṭro/sabwe praweśdwār | metro/subway entrance |
| ट्राफिक लाइट | ṭrāphik lāiṭ | traffic lights |
Compass Directions
These words help you understand basic map and direction language.
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| पूर्व | pūrba | east |
| पश्चिम | paścim | west |
| उत्तर | uttar | north |
| दक्षिण | dakṣiṇ | south |
Useful Phrases
Use these phrases when asking for help, asking where something is, or giving directions.
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| तपाईं मलाई सहयोग गर्नुहुन्छ? | tapāī̃ malāī sahayog garnuhuncha? | Could you help me? |
| नजिकको बस स्टप कता छ? | najikko bas sṭap katā cha? | Where is the nearest bus stop? |
| संग्रहालय कहाँ छ? | saṅgrahālaya kahā̃ cha? | Where is the museum? |
| यो बाटो पछ्याउनुहोस्। | yo bāṭo pachyāunuhos. | Follow this road. |
| बाटो काट्नुहोस् / पार गर्नुहोस्। | bāṭo kāṭnuhos / pār garnuhos. | Cross the road. |
| सडक काट्नुहोस्। | saḍak kāṭnuhos. | Cross the street. |
| बायाँ मोड्नुहोस्। | bāyā̃ moḍnuhos. | Turn left. |
| दायाँ मोड्नुहोस्। | dāyā̃ moḍnuhos. | Turn right. |
| दोस्रो गल्ली लिनुहोस्। | dosro gallī linuhos. | Take the second lane/street. |
| सीधा जानुहोस्। | sīdhā jānuhos. | Go straight. |
| माफ गर्नुहोस्, मैले बुझिनँ। | māph garnuhos, maile bujhinã. | Sorry, I did not understand. |
| बुझ्नुभयो? | bujhnubhayo? | Do you understand? |
| यो टाढा छ? | yo ṭāḍhā cha? | Is it far? |
Useful Sentence Patterns
Use the vocabulary above with these simple direction-giving sentence patterns.
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| बस स्टप कहाँ छ? | bas sṭap kahā̃ cha? | Where is the bus stop? |
| बस स्टप नजिक छ। | bas sṭap najik cha. | The bus stop is near. |
| संग्रहालय सडकको अर्कोपट्टि छ। | saṅgrahālaya saḍakko arkopaṭṭi cha. | The museum is across the street. |
| चोकमा बायाँ मोड्नुहोस्। | cokmā bāyā̃ moḍnuhos. | Turn left at the intersection. |
| ट्राफिक लाइटमा दायाँ मोड्नुहोस्। | ṭrāphik lāiṭmā dāyā̃ moḍnuhos. | Turn right at the traffic light. |
| सीधा जानुहोस्। | sīdhā jānuhos. | Go straight. |
| दोस्रो गल्ली लिनुहोस्। | dosro gallī linuhos. | Take the second lane/street. |
| पुल पछाडि संग्रहालय छ। | pul pacāḍi saṅgrahālaya cha. | The museum is behind the bridge. |
| यो टाढा छैन। | yo ṭāḍhā chaina. | It is not far. |
Practice
Practise asking for and giving simple directions in Nepali.
Example:
नजिकको बस स्टप कता छ?
najikko bas sṭap katā cha?
Where is the nearest bus stop?
सीधा जानुहोस्।
sīdhā jānuhos.
Go straight.
चोकमा बायाँ मोड्नुहोस्।
cokmā bāyā̃ moḍnuhos.
Turn left at the intersection.
संग्रहालय सडकको अर्कोपट्टि छ।
saṅgrahālaya saḍakko arkopaṭṭi cha.
The museum is across the street.
