Here is what nobody tells you before your first trip to Nepal: the single most effective thing you can do to improve every interaction, every meal, every morning at a teahouse, every direction-asking moment on a mountain trail is not to research more hotels or pack better gear or book an extra acclimatisation day.
It is to learn twenty words of Nepali.
Twenty words. That is not a language course. That is a Sunday afternoon with a notebook and a willingness to look slightly ridiculous practising pronunciation at home. The return on that investment in warmth, in laughter, in the specific quality of being genuinely welcomed rather than efficiently served is one of the best ratios in travel.
50 Nepali Phrases Every Traveler Should Know
Nepali speakers are extraordinarily forgiving of foreign pronunciation. They are also disproportionately delighted by any attempt. A mangled “Dhanyabad” after dinner earns more goodwill than a perfectly silent nod ever will. Your guide will correct your pronunciation with the patient amusement of someone who has watched this specific mispronunciation happen before, and a small cross-cultural comedy routine will develop, and by day four of the trek you will have an actual relationship rather than a service transaction.
That is what language does. Even twenty words of it. Especially twenty words of it.
Here are fifty.
A Note on Pronunciation
Nepali is a phonetic language words are generally pronounced as they look, which is more than English can claim. A few principles help:
“a” sounds like the “u” in “but” not like the “a” in “cat.” Namaste is “nuh-MUS-tay,” not “NAM-uh-stay.”
“aa” sounds like the “a” in “father” a longer, open vowel. Dhanyabad has the “dhan” rhyming with “bun.”
Aspirated vs unaspirated consonants: Some words have a “ph” that is not an “f” sound it is a “p” with a puff of air. Pheri (again/see you) is “PH-eri” with that puff, not “FERRY.”
The best pronunciation trick: Say each word out loud three times while your guide watches. Let them correct you. This is how every good language session in Nepal actually works.
Part 1: Greetings Nepali Pharses The Words That Open Every Door
1. Namaste (nuh-MUS-tay) The universal Nepali greeting used for hello, goodbye, and as a sign of respect simultaneously. Accompanied by pressing palms together (the anjali gesture) and a slight bow. It means roughly “I bow to the divine in you.” When a teahouse owner greets you at 5am on a cold mountain morning with “Namaste,” and you reply with the same gesture instead of a sleepy grunt, you have already done something right.
2. Namaskar (nuh-mus-KAAR) A more formal version of Namaste, used for elders and people you particularly want to show respect toward. If you want to greet your guide’s grandmother, use this one.
3. Tapaaiko naam ke ho? (tuh-PAI-ko naam ke ho?) “What is your name?” People across the world are disproportionately moved when a foreigner asks their name in their own language. Use this. The response will be their name. Your response to their response should be
4. Mero naam ___ ho (ME-ro naam ___ ho) “My name is ___.” Fill in the blank. This is the beginning of every non-transactional conversation you will have in Nepal.
5. Kasto chha? (KAS-to chha?) “How are you?” The standard follow-up to Namaste. Expect the response.
6. Sanchai chhu (sun-CHAI chhu) “I am fine.” Also the answer you give when someone asks you how you are, which will happen constantly on any trekking route. Sanchai also means healthy appropriate given that at altitude, the two are essentially the same question.
7. Pheri bhetaula (FE-ri BHE-tau-la) “See you again” a warm goodbye that implies you hope to return. Saying this to a teahouse owner when you leave their lodge carries more warmth than “bye.” It implies you thought this place was worth coming back to.
8. Subha prabhat (SOO-bha pra-BHAHT) “Good morning.” More formal than Namaste but used by guides greeting you at dawn. Say it back. On a pre-dawn pass-crossing day, it is the most civilised word in any language.
9. Subha ratri (SOO-bha RAT-ri) “Good night.” Say this when retiring to your sleeping bag in a teahouse at 8pm because it is genuinely cold and you have a 4:30am start.
10. Dai / Didi (DAI / DEE-dee) “Older brother / Older sister” used to address any adult male or female respectively who is roughly your age or older, in an informal, warm context. Calling a teahouse owner “Didi” instead of “excuse me” changes the entire register of the interaction.
Part 2: Trekking Phrases — The Words That Actually Move You
11. Bistarai bistarai (bis-TAR-ee bis-TAR-ee) “Slowly, slowly.” The most important two words in high-altitude trekking. Your guide will say them when you are walking too fast. You will say them to yourself at 5,000 metres when your lungs are screaming. They are practical advice, cultural wisdom, and philosophical instruction simultaneously. Tattoo them on the inside of your eyelids before your trek begins.
12. Kati tadha chha? (KA-ti TA-dha chha?) “How far is it?” The phrase you will use at every village, every junction, every teahouse visible in the distance. Critical caveat: Nepali distance is often measured in time, and Nepali time is often aspirational. “One hour” can mean anything from 40 minutes (downhill, light pack, strong local) to three hours (uphill, heavy pack, altitude). Ask, listen, and then add 40%.
13. Bato kahaan chha? (BA-to ka-HAAN chha?) “Where is the trail?” Essential at any junction where the path splits and your offline map shows a straight line through what appears to be a cliff.
14. Mathi (MA-ti) “Up.” Combine with pointing gesture at trail junctions when language fails entirely.
15. Tala (TA-la) “Down.” The counterpart to mathi. Together these two words plus confident gestures get you through most mountain navigation conversations.
16. Daayen (DAA-yen) “Right.” Directional. Use with pointing for disambiguation.
17. Bayen (BAA-yen) “Left.” Directional. Locals will often gesture anyway, but knowing the word means you can confirm.
18. Jam jam (jam jam) “Let’s go, let’s go.” Your guide says this when rest stops have gone on long enough. You say it when you want to look energetic. It is also useful as a self-motivational phrase at 5:30am when leaving the sleeping bag feels impossible.
19. Thakyo (THA-kyo) “Tired.” Honest communication with your guide matters above 4,000 metres. Say this when you need a break. Guides respect trekkers who communicate clearly far more than trekkers who push silently until they collapse.
20. Dherai ramro (DHE-rai RAM-ro) “Very beautiful.” When the mountains take your breath away and they will this is the phrase. Dherai means “very.” Ramro means “beautiful/good.” Deploy at every viewpoint, every sunrise, every moment when you feel that a silence is insufficient.
21. Tashi Delek (TA-shi DE-lek) The traditional Sherpa greeting, meaning “good luck and good health.” Not Nepali Tibetan but used extensively in the Khumbu and Sherpa communities. Saying this to a Sherpa instead of Namaste earns a reaction of genuine surprise and warmth. Almost no foreign trekkers know it.
Part 3: Food Phrases — The Words That Feed You
22. Khana dinus (KHA-na DEE-nus) “Please give me food.” Polite, direct, universally understood at any teahouse in Nepal. The word dinus makes it a respectful request rather than a demand the difference between “food” and “food, please.”
23. Dal bhat (daal baat) The national meal. You will eat this. You should eat this every day. When in doubt, order this. Note the pronunciation: “bhat” rhymes with “hot,” not “bat.” Getting this wrong in a teahouse produces gentle, universal, endlessly patient correction from the cook.
24. Mitho chha (MEE-tho chha) “It is delicious.” Say this after eating at any teahouse and watch the cook appear from the kitchen. People who prepare food want to know it was good. This four-syllable phrase produces a reaction disproportionate to its effort.
25. Chiya dinus (CHEE-ya DEE-nus) “Please give me tea.” You will use this phrase four to six times per day on any Nepal trek. Tea is the fuel of the Himalayas. Tea at 4am before a pass crossing. Tea at 9am at a rest stop. Tea at every teahouse you pass without stopping for long enough to sit down. Learn this phrase before any other food vocabulary.
26. Paani dinus (PAA-ni DEE-nus) “Please give me water.” Paani is water. Essential vocabulary. “Paani chha?” (is there water?) is useful when approaching a village.
27. Piro chaina (PIE-ro CHAI-na) “Not spicy.” If you have a sensitive stomach or simply prefer your dinner without the specific fire that Nepali chili provides, this phrase is your friend. Piro means spicy. Chaina means “there isn’t” or “I don’t want.”
28. Ma shakahari hun (ma sha-KA-ha-ri hun) “I am vegetarian.” Clear, unambiguous, and produces a menu reconfiguration at any teahouse in Nepal. Nepal has a strong tradition of vegetarian cooking this phrase never causes inconvenience, only mild reorganisation.
29. Khana khanu bhayo? (KHA-na KHA-nu BHA-yo?) “Have you eaten?” The most common Nepali social question after “how are you?” — because in Nepal, checking whether someone has eaten is how you check whether they are alright. Knowing this question explains why your guide asks it every time you stop.
30. Ek cup chiya (ek cup CHEE-ya) “One cup of tea.” Ek is one. Works as a room service request, a teahouse order, or a very efficient morning conversation.
Part 4: Shopping Phrases — The Words That Save You Money
31. Kati ho? (KA-ti ho?) “How much is it?” The most useful shopping phrase. Works in any market, any teahouse, any trekking shop. Two syllables, infinite applications.
32. Mahal chha (MA-hal chha) “It is expensive.” State this calmly, without aggression, and watch the negotiation begin. Mahal means expensive. Knowing this word implies you know what things should cost, which immediately changes the dynamic.
33. Sasto chha? (SAS-to chha?) “Is it cheap?” or “Is there a discount?” Sasto means cheap. A useful counter-offer opener.
34. Thik chha (THEEK chha) “It is fine / okay / agreed.” Used to confirm a price, accept a service, or simply acknowledge that everything is acceptable. Also functions as a general agreement signal in conversation. Thik chha ends negotiations, accepts offers, and fills silences.
35. Chaina (CHAI-na) “No / I don’t want it / there isn’t any.” The word that stops persistent touts in their tracks. Say calmly, without hostility, with a slight head shake. Chaina is neither rude nor aggressive it is simply clear. If someone persistently approaches you in busy areas, politely say “Chaina” and continue walking calmly.
36. Ramro chha (RAM-ro chha) “It is good/beautiful.” Use this when you like something at a shop, when you are admiring a piece of craft, when you want to compliment without committing to a purchase.
37. Ma herne matra hun (ma HER-ne MAT-ra hun) “I am only looking.” The browser’s declaration. Delivered with a smile, this prevents the full sales conversation while maintaining goodwill.
Part 5: Emergency and Essential Phrases The Words That Matter Most
38. Maddat garnos (MAD-dat GAR-nos) “Please help me.” The most important phrase in this guide. Speak it clearly, at volume, if you need assistance.
39. Daktar kahaan chha? (DAK-tar ka-HAAN chha?) “Where is the doctor?” Daktar is a borrowed word from English close enough to its origin to be recognisable but sufficiently Nepali to be understood in any context.
40. Aspatal kahaan chha? (us-PA-tal ka-HAAN chha?) “Where is the hospital?” Another borrowed word. Aspatal from “hospital.” At altitude, this phrase matters.
41. Tauko dukhyo (TAU-ko DUK-hyo) “My head hurts.” The altitude sickness alarm bell. If you say this to your guide, they will take it seriously. They should.
42. Mapha garnus (MA-pha GAR-nus) “I’m sorry / excuse me / please forgive me.” Used for genuine apologies, for getting someone’s attention, for accidentally walking into a Buddhist ceremony, for every small social friction that travel produces. Mapha garnus smooths everything.
43. Ke bhayo? (ke BHA-yo?) “What happened?” Useful in any situation where something has clearly occurred and you need to understand what.
44. Paisa chaina (PAI-sa CHAI-na) “I don’t have money / No money.” Said to persistent vendors when you genuinely mean it or when you are practising declining gracefully. Not a negotiating tactic reserve for actual use.
45. Police kahaan chha? (po-LEECE ka-HAAN chha?) “Where is the police?” Borrowed from English. Recognisable enough to be understood even with imperfect pronunciation.
Part 6: Bonus Phrases The Words That Make People Laugh
46. Dherai thakyo (DHE-rai THA-kyo) “Very tired.” The honest report after a 10-hour pass-crossing day. Saying this with appropriate dramatic emphasis produces sympathy, tea, and sometimes a better room.
47. Ramailo chha (ra-MAI-lo chha) “It is fun / I am enjoying this.” Say this at festivals, at meals, at any moment of genuine enjoyment. Nepali people sharing an experience with you like to know you are enjoying it.
48. Dherai mitho (DHE-rai MEE-tho) “Very delicious.” The superlative version of mitho chha. Deploy after particularly excellent dal bhat. Produces the same kitchen-appearance effect as mitho chha, but faster.
49. Ma bujhina (ma BUJ-hi-na) “I don’t understand.” Clear, honest, and prevents the social awkwardness of nodding blankly at a Nepali conversation you have completely lost the thread of.
50. Nepal maan paryo (ne-PAAL maan PAR-yo) “I love Nepal.” Save this for the last day before you fly home. Say it to your guide. Watch what happens to their face.
The One Rule That Covers All Fifty
Nepali speakers are not judging your accent. They are not comparing you to the trekker who spoke perfect Nepali last week. They are noticing with a specific, warm attention that you tried. That you learned something of theirs before they had to learn something of yours. That you showed up in their language, however imperfectly, rather than waiting for them to show up in yours.
The most important Nepali word is not in any phrasebook. It is the willingness to try. The willingness to say “namaste” instead of “hi.” The willingness to mangle “dhanyabad” after dinner and see the cook’s face light up.
Pack these fifty phrases alongside your down jacket and your trekking poles. They weigh nothing. They change everything.
The Explore All About Nepal team is based in Kathmandu and learns something new in Nepali every week. For more about connecting with Nepal’s culture and people, explore our related guides below.