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Whenever you visit a new country, learning some simple words and phrases will help you connect with the locals and smooth the way when you can't make yourself understood. These phrases can help you when you're bartering for gifts for your loved ones or doing something as simple as ordering food.

Learning another language, no matter how badly you butcher it when you speak, also shows respect to the people of the country that you are visiting and that's something that should always be encouraged. So, here are some useful words and phrases:

The Basics

Namaste	Hello, Greetings, I bless the divine in you
Ma	I
Cha	Yes (I have)
Chhaina	No (I don't have)
Theekcha	OK
Hajur	Excuse me?
Dinuhos	Please (give me)
Khanuhos	Please (you have)
(Tapaiilai) Kasto Cha?	How are you?
(Malai) Thik Cha	I am fine
Khana khannu bhaiyo?	Have you eaten? (used as an informal greeting)
Dhanybhad	Thank you
Tapaiiko naam ke ho?	What is your name?
Mero naam Matt ho	My name is Matt
Maaph garnuhos	Excuse me/ pardon me/ sorry
Maile bhujhina	I don’t understand
Maile bhujhe	I understand
Pheri bhetaunla	I hope we meet again

Addressing People or Things

Matt-ji	Formal way to address someone using their name (in this case, Matt)
Aama / Buwa	Mother / Father, but also a friendly term for men/women roughly your parents' age
Didi / Bahini	Older / Younger sister, but also a friendly term for other women roughly your age
Dhai / Bhai	Older / Younger brother but also a friendly term for other men roughly your age
Nanu / Babu	Young girl / young boy
Ma / Hami	I / We
Tapaii	You
Yo / Tyo	This / That

Useful Adjectives

Mahango / Sasto	Expensive / Cheap
Ramro / Naramro	Good / Bad
Sapha / Phohar	Clean / Dirty
Thulo / Sano	Big / Small
Sajilo / Gahro	Easy / Hard
Thada / Najik	Far / Close
Chito / Dhilo	Fast / Slow
Tato / Cheeso	Hot / Cold (for food)
Garmi / Jaado	Hot / Cold (for weather)
Naya / Purano	New / Old
Dhani / Garib	Rich / Poor
Add ‘dherai’ to show ‘very’
Eg. Trekking dherai gahro cha	Trekking is very hard

Questions

Ke	What
Kahaang	Where
Kati	How much
Kina / kinabhane	Why / because
Kasko	Whose
Kahile	When
Kun	Which
Kasari	How
Kasto	How (when talking about quality)

Food Adjectives

Mitho / namitho	Tasty / Not tasty
Bhuteko	Fried
Umaaleko	Boiled
Noonilo	Salty
Gooliyo	Sweet
Amilo	Sour
Tito	Bitter
Piro	Spicy

Food Items

Tarkari / Vegetables	Gajur / Carrots
Kaulee / Cauliflower	Bandakobi / Cabbage
Alu / Potato	Makai / Corn
Saag / Spinach	Kerau / Peas
Pyaaj / Onion	Lasun / Garlic
Kaankro / Cucumber	Simee / Beans
Coursani / Chili	Adhuwa / Ginger
Bhatamas / Soybean	Golbheraa / Tomato
Dhal / Lentil	Kaju / Cashew
Bhadam / Peanut	Bhat / Rice
Mohar / Honey	Dudh / Milk
Chapati / Bread (flat round)	Tel / Oil
Noon / Salt	Chinni / Sugar
Daihee / Yogurt	Pauroti / Bread (Loaf)
Syaau / Apple	Keraa / Banana
Nariwal / Coconut	Angur / Grapes
Kagati / Lemon	Aanp / Mango
Suntalaa / Orange	Mewaa / Papaya
Masu / Meat	Andaa / Egg
Macha / Fish	Kukhura / Chicken
Kasi / Goat	Sungur / Pork
Kalo chiya / Black tea	Kagatiko chiya / Lemon tea
Dudh chiya / Milk tea	Adhuwa chiya / Ginger tea
Kalo coffee / Black coffee	Dudh chiya / Milk tea
Pani / water	Umaleko pani / Boiled water
Raksi / Alcohol	Toomba / Millet beer
Chyang / Rice beer	Ras / Juice

Useful Nouns

Bato / Road	Pul / Bridge	Des / Country	Bajar / Market
Kotha / Room	Gau / Village	Khola / River	Pasal / Shop
Khanna / Food	Ghar / House	Mithai / Sweets	Koseli / Gift
Topee / Hat	Jhola / Bag, pack	Git / Song	Kitaab / Book
Manche / Person	Mancheharu / People	Chorachori / Children	Bideshi / Foreigner
Pariwar / Family	Dharma / Religion

Numbers

1 / ek	2 / dui	3 / tin	4 / char
5 / panchs	6 / cha	7 / saat	8 / aath
9 / nau	10 / das	15 / pandhra	20 / beece
25 / pacheece	30 / teece	40 / chaleece	50 / pachaase
60 / sathi	70 / sattari	80 / assi	90 / nabbe
100 / ek saye	200 / dui saye	1000 ek hazar

Time

Aaja / Today	Hijo / Yesterday	Bholi / Tomorrow	Ghanta / Hour
Din / Day	Haptaa / Week	Mahina / Month	Barsa / Year
Bihaana / Morning	Diunso / Afternoon	Beluka / Evening	Raatri / Night

Subha raatri	Good night
Kati bhajyo?	What time is it?
Ek bhajyo	One o' clock

Simple Example Sentences

Thamel, kahaang ho?	Where is Thamel?
Kahaang jane?	Where are you going?
Esko kati parcha?	How much does this cost? (useful in stores)
Kati ho?	How much? (useful for asking taxi drivers)
Kahile jane?	When are we going?
kahile khanne?	When are we eating?
Tapaiiko ghar kahaang ho?	Where is your home?
Mero ghar New Zealand-ma ho	My home is in New Zealand
Ma ali-ali Nepali bolchu	I only speak a little Nepali
Bistaari bhannus	Please speak slowly
Tapaiiko bihe bhaiyo?	Are you married? (your marriage happened?)
Mero bihe bhaiyo / bhayeko chaina?	I am married / not married.(My marriage happened)
Jomsom jane baato kun ho?	Which is the road to Jomsom? (Jomsom going road)
Ali sastoma dinus	Please give it a little cheaper
Dherai mahango bhaiyo	It’s very (too) expensive
Yo / tyo ke ho?	What is this / that?
Ek raatiko kati ho?	How much for one night?

Feelings and Emotions

Ma ______ lagyo / lagena	I feel / don’t feel ______.
Birami / sick	Bhok / hungry
Raksi / drunk	Thirkaa / thirsty
Khushee / happy	Dukha / sad
Thakai / tired	Alchee / lazy
Dar / scared	Nindra / sleepy
Jaado / cold	Garmi / hot

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