Chapter 10 – Greetings and Introductions
Unit 4 — Grammar Focus
Nationality and Profession
Nationality words (like “Canadian” or “Nepali”) and profession/role words (like “student” or “teacher”) commonly appear in Nepali identity sentences—sentences that say who someone is or what someone is (think “X = Y,” as in “I am Canadian” or “She is a teacher”).
In these sentences, the first part is the subject (the person being talked about) and the second part is the identity label (nationality or role).
Nepali links them using “to be” forms from हो (ho) and हुनु (hunu), and the exact form changes depending on who the subject is (I/you/he/she), singular vs. plural, and how polite you want to sound (casual vs. respectful).
To make an identity sentence negative, Nepali uses forms such as होइन (hoina) / होइनन् (hoinan) and the polite हुनुहुन्न (hunuhunna), with the negative form also adjusting for number and respect level.
Table 10.4.1 – Affirmative identity sentences: nationality and profession (हो/हुनु)
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| म क्यानेडियन हुँ। | ma kyāneḍiyan hũ. | I am Canadian. |
| म विद्यार्थी हुँ। | ma widyārthī hũ. | I am a student. |
| हामी नेपाली हौँ। | hāmī nepālī haũ. | We are Nepali. |
| हामी शिक्षक हौँ। | hāmī śikṣak haũ. | We are teachers. |
| तिमी अमेरिकी हौ। | timī amerīkī hau. | You are American. (familiar) |
| तिमी नर्स हौ। | timī nars hau. | You (familiar) are a nurse. |
| तपाईं इन्जिनियर हुनुहुन्छ। | tapāī̃ injiniyar hunuhuncha. | You (polite) are an engineer. |
| ऊ पाकिस्तानी हो। | ū pākistānī ho. | He/She is Pakistani. |
| ऊ शिक्षक हो। | ū śikṣak ho. | He/She is a teacher. |
| उनी चिनियाँ हुन्। | unī ciniyā̃ hun. | He/She is Chinese. |
| उनी विद्यार्थी हुन्। | unī widyārthī hun. | He/She is a student. |
| उनीहरू फिलिपिनी हुन्। | unīharū philipinī hun. | They are Filipino. |
| उनीहरू शिक्षक हुन्। | unīharū śikṣak hun. | They are teachers. |
| उहाँ भारतीय हुनुहुन्छ। | uhā̃ bhāratīya hunuhuncha. | He/She (hon.) is Indian. |
| उहाँ प्राध्यापक हुनुहुन्छ। | uhā̃ prādhyāpak hunuhuncha. | He/She (hon.) is a professor. |
| उहाँहरू जापानी हुनुहुन्छ। | uhā̃harū jāpānī hunuhuncha. | They (hon.) are Japanese. |
| उहाँहरू शिक्षक हुनुहुन्छ। | uhā̃harū śikṣak hunuhuncha. | They (hon.) are teachers. |
Table 10.4.2 – Negative identity sentences: nationality and profession (होइन/होइनन्/हुनुहुन्न)
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| म क्यानेडियन होइन। | ma kyāneḍiyan hoina. | I am not Canadian. |
| म शिक्षक होइन। | ma śikṣak hoina. | I am not a teacher. |
| हामी नेपाली होइनौँ। | hāmī nepālī hoinaũ. | We are not Nepali. |
| हामी विद्यार्थी होइनौँ। | hāmī widyārthī hoinaũ. | We are not students. |
| तिमी अमेरिकी होइनौ। | timī amerīkī hoinau. | You (familiar) are not American. |
| तिमी नर्स होइनौ। | timī nars hoinau. | You (familiar) are not a nurse. |
| तपाईं इन्जिनियर हुनुहुन्न। | tapāī̃ injiniyar hunuhunna. | You (polite) are not an engineer. |
| ऊ पाकिस्तानी होइन। | ū pākistānī hoina. | He/She is not Pakistani. |
| ऊ शिक्षक होइन। | ū śikṣak hoina. | He/She is not a teacher. |
| उनी चिनियाँ होइनन्। | unī ciniyā̃ hoinan. | He/She is not Chinese. |
| उनी विद्यार्थी होइनन्। | unī widyārthī hoinan. | He/She is not a student. |
| उनीहरू फिलिपिनी होइनन्। | unīharū philipinī hoinan. | They are not Filipino. |
| उनीहरू शिक्षक होइनन्। | unīharū śikṣak hoinan. | They are not teachers. |
| उहाँ भारतीय हुनुहुन्न। | uhā̃ bhāratīya hunuhunna. | He/She (hon.) is not Indian. |
| उहाँ प्राध्यापक हुनुहुन्न। | uhā̃ prādhyāpak hunuhunna. | He/She (hon.) is not a professor. |
| उहाँहरू जापानी हुनुहुन्न। | uhā̃harū jāpānī hunuhunna. | They (hon.) are not Japanese. |
| उहाँहरू शिक्षक हुनुहुन्न। | uhā̃harū śikṣak hunuhunna. | They (hon.) are not teachers. |
Discourse Particles
In everyday Nepali, short words called discourse particles help manage the flow of conversation. They usually do not change the core meaning of a sentence, but they add interaction meaning, such as inclusion (“too”), inviting a response (“and you?”), or moving the conversation forward (“okay, let’s…”). These particles are very common in greetings, introductions, and small talk.
नि (ni)
नि (ni) is a short response particle that helps manage turn-taking in conversation. It often signals, “Now your turn,” or “What about you?” Speakers use नि to invite the other person to respond without repeating the full question. It is especially common after greetings, check-ins, and short information exchanges.
Table 10.4.3 – Discourse particle नि (ni): “and you?” / turn-taking responses
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| तपाईंलाई नि? | tapāī̃lāī ni? | And you? |
| मलाई सन्चै छ। तपाईंलाई नि? | malāī sancai cha. tapāī̃lāī ni? | I’m fine. And you? |
| मेरो घर भ्यानकुभरमा छ। तपाईंको नि? | mero ghar bhyānkubharmā cha. tapāī̃ko ni? | My home is in Vancouver. And yours? |
| मेरो नाम माया हो। तपाईंको नि? | mero nām māyā ho. tapāī̃ko ni? | My name is Maya. And yours? |
ल (la)
ल (la) is a very common discourse marker used to close a point and move the conversation forward. It often functions like “okay,” “alright,” or “then” in English. Speakers use it to accept what was said, confirm a decision, or transition to the next action in a sequence.
Table 10.4.4 – Discourse particle ल (la): “okay/alright/then” (closing and moving forward)
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| ल, अब बसौँ। | la, aba basaũ. | Okay, now let’s sit. |
| ल, ठीक छ। | la, ṭhīk cha. | Okay, that’s fine. |
| ल, अब सुरु गरौँ। | la, aba suru garaũ. | Okay, let’s start now. |
| ल, त्यसो भए भोलि भेटौँ। | la, tyaso bhaye bholi bheṭaũ. | Okay then, let’s meet tomorrow. |
त (ta)
त (ta) marks topic focus or contrast. It highlights what the speaker is focusing on, often with the meaning “as for…” or “but…” depending on context. It is useful when the speaker wants to shift attention to a particular person/thing or present a contrasting point.
Table 10.4.5 – Focus/contrast particle त (ta): “as for…” / contrast / emphasis
| Nepali| | Transliteation | English |
|---|---|---|
| म त नेपालबाट हुँ। | ma ta nepālbāṭa hũ. | As for me, I’m from Nepal. |
| त्यो त राम्रो छ। | tyo ta rāmro cha. | That one is nice though. |
| आज त धेरै चिसो छ। | āja ta dherai ciso cha. | Today it’s really cold (today in particular). |
| यो त सजिलो छ। | yo ta sajilo cha. | This is easy actually / This one is easy. |
Note for learners
ta does not usually change the grammar of the sentence; it changes the pragmatic meaning (focus/contrast).
चाहिँ (cāhĩ)
चाहिँ (cāhĩ) is a focus marker that means “specifically” or “as for X.” It helps the speaker single out one item/person from others, clarify a contrast, or emphasize the topic. Compared to त, चाहिँ often feels more explicit and “pointing” (this one in particular).
Table 10.4.6 – Focus marker चाहिँ (cāhĩ): “specifically / this one”
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| मेरो घर चाहिँ काठमाडौँमा छ। | mero ghar cāhĩ kāṭhamāṇḍaũmā cha. | My home is in Kathmandu (specifically). |
| उहाँ चाहिँ शिक्षक हुनुहुन्छ। | uhā̃ cāhĩ śikṣak hunuhuncha. | He/She (specifically) is a teacher. |
| यो चाहिँ मेरो किताब हो। | yo cāhĩ mero kitāb ho. | This one is my book. |
| मेरो नाम चाहिँ अनिता हो। | mero nām cāhĩ anitā ho. | My name, specifically, is Anita. |
Using Kinship Terms to Address Others
In Nepali, it is very common to address people—whether they are strangers, friends, or acquaintances—by using a kinship term instead of a personal name.
Speakers choose a term that fits the situation and the person’s age or social relationship. Kinship terms can also be used with a person’s name like a social title, such as अमृता दिदी (amritā didī) or मदन भाइ (madan bhāī). This is a natural way to sound polite while also showing warmth and familiarity.
Table 10.4.7 – Kinship terms as forms of address
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| दाइ, तपाईंलाई कस्तो छ? | dāī, tapāī̃lāī kasto cha? | Brother (sir), how are you? |
| दिदी, तपाईं कहाँबाट हुनुहुन्छ? | didī, tapāī̃ kahā̃bāṭa hunuhuncha? | Sister (ma’am), where are you from? |
| भाइ, तपाईंको नाम के हो? | bhāī, tapāī̃ko nām ke ho? | Brother (young man), what is your name? |
| बहिनी, तपाईं सन्चै हुनुहुन्छ? | bahinī, tapāī̃ sancai hunuhuncha? | Sister (young woman), are you well? |
| बाजे, माफ गर्नुहोस्। | bāje, māph garnuhos. | Grandfather (sir), excuse me. |
| बजै, यहाँ बस्नुस्। | bajai, yahā̃ basnus. | Grandmother (ma’am), please sit here. |
| अमृता दिदी, नमस्ते। | amṛtā didī, namaste. | Amrita didi, hello. |
| सलिल भाइ, धन्यवाद। | salil bhāī, dhanyawād. | Salil bhāi, thank you. |
