NepaliPHRASEBOOK & DICTIONARY

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make the most of this phrasebook ...Anyone can speak another language! It’s all about confidence. Don’t worry if you can’t remember your school language lessons or if you’ve never learnt a language before. Even if you learn the very basics (on the inside covers of this book), your travel experience will be the better for it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain when the locals hear you making an effort.

fi nding things in this book For easy navigation, this book is divided into sections. The Pronun-ciation and Grammar chapters are the ones you’ll thumb through time and again. The Getting Around and Accommodation chapters cover basic travel situations like catching transport and finding a bed. The Meeting People and Interests chapters give you conver-sational phrases and the ability to express opinions – so you can get to know people. Food has a section all of its own: gourmets and vegetarians are covered and local dishes feature. The Health and Emergencies chapters equip you with health and police phrases, just in case. The Sustainable Travel section, finally, completes this book. Use the comprehensive Index to find everything easily. Oth-erwise, check the traveller’s Dictionary for the word you need.

being understoodThroughout this book you’ll see coloured phrases on each page. They’re phonetic guides to help you pronounce the language. Start with them to get a feel for how the language sounds. The Pronun-ciation chapter will explain more, but you can be confident that if you read the coloured phrase, you’ll be understood.

communication tipsBody language, ways of doing things, sense of humour – all have a role to play in every culture. The boxes included throughout this phrasebook give you useful cultural and linguistic information that will help you communicate with the locals and enrich your travel experience.

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Finding Your Way ............... 53Directions ........................... 55Addresses ........................... 56Tempo, Taxi & Rickshaw ...... 56Buying Tickets ..................... 58

Air .................................... 59Bus ................................... 60Boat ................................... 61Car .................................... 62Bicycle ................................ 63

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ....................................................9Map ..................................... 8 Abbreviations Used this Book .. 10

PRONUNCIATION ................................................11Vowels .............................. 11Consonants ........................ 12

Stress ................................. 14The Nepali Aphabet ............ 15

GRAMMAR ...........................................................17Word Order ....................... 17Articles & Demonstratives .... 17Nouns ................................ 18Pronouns ............................ 19Possessives ......................... 21Adjectives & Demonstratives 22Verbs ................................. 23

To Be ................................. 27To Have ............................. 30Modals ............................... 31Imperative .......................... 32Questions ........................... 32Postpositions ....................... 33Conjunctions ...................... 34

MEETING PEOPLE .................................................35You Should Know .............. 35Greetings & Goodbyes ........ 36Civilities ............................. 36Forms of Address ................ 37Attracting Someone’s

Attention .......................... 38Body Language................... 39First Encounters................... 40

Making Conversation .......... 41Nationalities ....................... 44Cultural Differences ............ 46Age .................................... 47Occupations ....................... 47Feelings ............................. 50Breaking the Language

Barrier ............................. 51

GETTING AROUND ..............................................53

ACCOMMODATION .............................................65Finding Accommodation ..... 65Booking Ahead ................... 66Checking In ........................ 67

Requests & Queries ............. 68Complaints ......................... 70Checking Out ..................... 71

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6 Contents

FOOD ................................................................121Through the Day ............... 121Vegetarian &

Special Meals ................. 122Snacks ............................. 123

Eating Out ........................ 124Typical Dishes ................... 127At the Market .................... 130Drinks .............................. 137

TREKKING & MOUNTAINEERING .......................139Requesting Information ..... 139Hiring Porters ................... 141Asking Directions .............. 142On the Path ...................... 144Camping .......................... 146

Weather ........................... 147Seasons ............................ 148Geographical Terms ......... 148Fauna .............................. 150Flora & Agriculture ............ 153

AROUND TOWN ..................................................73Looking For ... .................... 73At the Bank ......................... 74At the Post Office ................ 76Telecommunications ........... 77

Sightseeing ......................... 80At the Embassy ................... 84Going Out.......................... 84

FAMILY .................................................................89Questions ........................... 89Replies ............................... 90Family ................................ 91

Talking with Parents ............ 92Talking with Children .......... 94

INTERESTS ............................................................95Talking about Travelling ...... 95Common Interests ............... 97Music ................................. 98Cinema & Theatre .............. 99

Opinions .......................... 101Politics .............................. 101Environment ..................... 104Staying in Touch ............... 105

SHOPPING .........................................................107Looking For ... .................. 107Making a Purchase ........... 108Bargaining ....................... 110Souvenirs ......................... 111Essential Items .................. 112Clothing ........................... 112Materials .......................... 114Colours ............................ 114

Toiletries........................... 115Stationery & Publications ... 116Music ............................... 117Photography ..................... 117Smoking ........................... 118Sizes & Comparisons ........ 119Weights & Measures ......... 120

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7Contents

HEALTH ..............................................................155At the Doctor .................... 155Ailments ........................... 157Women’s Health ............... 160Special Health Needs ........ 162

Alternative Treatments ....... 163Parts of the Body ............... 164At the Chemist .................. 166

SPECIFIC NEEDS.................................................167Travelling with the

Family ........................... 167Disabled Travellers ........... 168Pilgrimage & Religion ........ 169

TIME, DATES & FESTIVALS ..................................171Telling the Time ................ 171Days of the Week .............. 172The Nepalese Calendar .... 173Dates ............................... 174Present ............................. 175Past .................................. 175Future .............................. 176

During the Day ................. 176Gods & Prominent

Beings ........................... 177Festivals ........................... 179Birthdays .......................... 183Weddings ......................... 184Toasts & Condolences ....... 185

NUMBERS & AMOUNTS .....................................187Cardinal Numbers ............ 187Ordinal Numbers ............. 188Fractions .......................... 189

Counters .......................... 189Useful Amounts ................ 190

EMERGENCIES ...................................................191Police ............................... 192 Health .............................. 195

ENGLISH–NEPALI DICTIONARY ..........................197

INDEX ................................................................251

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL ........................................255

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8 Map

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