Learning Nepali can be a rewarding and enriching experience, especially if you are planning to travel to Nepal or interact with Nepali-speaking communities. As you move from beginner to intermediate level, expanding your vocabulary is crucial to enhance your communication skills. This article aims to introduce you to some essential Nepali words and phrases that are particularly useful for intermediate learners. These words and phrases will help you navigate various situations, from everyday conversations to more complex interactions.

Everyday Vocabulary

Building a strong foundation of everyday vocabulary is essential for intermediate learners. Here are some commonly used Nepali words that you should know:

1. **घर (ghar)** – House/Home
– Example: मेरो घर काठमाडौँमा छ। (Mero ghar Kathmandu ma cha.) – My house is in Kathmandu.

2. **काम (kaam)** – Work/Job
– Example: तपाईंको काम के हो? (Tapai ko kaam ke ho?) – What is your job?

3. **विद्यालय (vidyalaya)** – School
– Example: मेरो विद्यालय नजिक छ। (Mero vidyalaya najik cha.) – My school is nearby.

4. **पानी (paani)** – Water
– Example: मलाई पानी दिनुहोस्। (Malai paani dinuhos.) – Please give me water.

5. **खाना (khana)** – Food
– Example: खाना तयार छ। (Khana tayar cha.) – The food is ready.

6. **मित्र (mitra)** – Friend
– Example: उनी मेरो मित्र हुन्। (Uni mero mitra hun.) – He is my friend.

7. **माया (maya)** – Love
– Example: मैले उनलाई माया गर्छु। (Maile unlai maya garchu.) – I love her.

8. **पारिवारिक (pariwaarik)** – Family
– Example: पारिवारिक मिलन (Pariwaarik milan) – Family reunion

Describing People and Emotions

Being able to describe people and express emotions is an important part of any language. Here are some useful words for this purpose:

1. **सुन्दर (sundar)** – Beautiful
– Example: त्यो फूल धेरै सुन्दर छ। (Tyo phool dherai sundar cha.) – That flower is very beautiful.

2. **खुसी (khusi)** – Happy
– Example: म आज धेरै खुसी छु। (Ma aaja dherai khusi chu.) – I am very happy today.

3. **दुःखी (dukhhi)** – Sad
– Example: उनी दुःखी देखिन्छिन्। (Uni dukhhi dekhindhchin.) – She looks sad.

4. **बुद्धिमान (buddhiman)** – Intelligent
– Example: तिमी धेरै बुद्धिमान छौ। (Timi dherai buddhiman chhau.) – You are very intelligent.

5. **आलसी (aalsi)** – Lazy
– Example: मेरो दाजु धेरै आलसी छन्। (Mero daaju dherai aalsi chhan.) – My brother is very lazy.

6. **इमान्दार (imaandaar)** – Honest
– Example: उनी एक इमान्दार व्यक्ति हुन्। (Uni ek imaandaar vyakti hun.) – He is an honest person.

7. **धेरै (dherai)** – Very
– Example: म धेरै थकित छु। (Ma dherai thakit chu.) – I am very tired.

Time and Date

Understanding how to talk about time and date is essential for making plans and appointments. Here are some key words and phrases:

1. **समय (samay)** – Time
– Example: समय के हो? (Samay ke ho?) – What time is it?

2. **मिति (miti)** – Date
– Example: आजको मिति के हो? (Aaj ko miti ke ho?) – What is today’s date?

3. **हप्ता (hapta)** – Week
– Example: म हप्ताको अन्त्यमा काठमाडौँ जाँदैछु। (Ma hapta ko antya ma Kathmandu jadai chu.) – I am going to Kathmandu at the end of the week.

4. **महिना (mahina)** – Month
– Example: अर्को महिना मेरो जन्मदिन हो। (Arko mahina mero janmadin ho.) – My birthday is next month.

5. **वर्ष (barsha)** – Year
– Example: म अर्को वर्ष अमेरिका जाँदैछु। (Ma arko barsha America jadai chu.) – I am going to America next year.

6. **बिहान (bihan)** – Morning
– Example: म बिहान दौडन्छु। (Ma bihan daudanchu.) – I run in the morning.

7. **साँझ (saanjh)** – Evening
– Example: म साँझ पढ्छु। (Ma saanjh padchu.) – I study in the evening.

Numbers and Counting

Being able to count and use numbers is fundamental in any language. Here are some important numbers and counting-related words in Nepali:

1. **एक (ek)** – One
2. **दुई (dui)** – Two
3. **तीन (teen)** – Three
4. **चार (chaar)** – Four
5. **पाँच (paanch)** – Five
6. **दस (das)** – Ten
7. **बीस (bees)** – Twenty
8. **सय (saya)** – Hundred
9. **हजार (hajaar)** – Thousand
10. **लाख (laakh)** – Hundred thousand

Examples:
– मैले दुई किताब किनें। (Maile dui kitaab kinen.) – I bought two books.
– त्यो घर एक लाख रुपैयाँमा बेचियो। (Tyo ghar ek laakh rupaiyama bechiyo.) – That house was sold for one hundred thousand rupees.

Common Verbs

Verbs are the action words that make sentences come alive. Here are some common verbs you should know:

1. **खानु (khanu)** – To eat
– Example: मैले खाना खाएँ। (Maile khana khaye.) – I ate food.

2. **जानु (janu)** – To go
– Example: म स्कुल जान्छु। (Ma school janchu.) – I go to school.

3. **आउनु (aunu)** – To come
– Example: उनी घर आउँदैछन्। (Uni ghar aundai chhan.) – He is coming home.

4. **गर्नु (garnu)** – To do
– Example: मैले मेरो गृहकार्य गरें। (Maile mero grihakarya gare.) – I did my homework.

5. **सिक्नु (siknu)** – To learn
– Example: म नेपाली भाषा सिक्दैछु। (Ma Nepali bhasa sikdai chu.) – I am learning the Nepali language.

6. **बोल्नु (bolnu)** – To speak
– Example: उनी नेपाली बोल्न सक्छिन्। (Uni Nepali bolna sakchhin.) – She can speak Nepali.

7. **लेख्नु (lekhnu)** – To write
– Example: मैले पत्र लेखें। (Maile patra lekhe.) – I wrote a letter.

Directions and Locations

Knowing how to ask for and understand directions is essential, especially when traveling. Here are some important words:

1. **दायाँ (daayaa)** – Right
– Example: दायाँ मोड्नुहोस्। (Daayaa modnuhos.) – Turn right.

2. **बायाँ (baayaa)** – Left
– Example: बायाँ मोड्नुहोस्। (Baayaa modnuhos.) – Turn left.

3. **सिधा (sidha)** – Straight
– Example: सिधा जानुहोस्। (Sidha januhos.) – Go straight.

4. **नजिक (najik)** – Near
– Example: विद्यालय यहाँ नजिक छ। (Vidyalaya yaha najik cha.) – The school is near here.

5. **टाढा (taada)** – Far
– Example: बजार टाढा छ। (Bazar taada cha.) – The market is far.

6. **पूर्व (purwa)** – East
– Example: सूर्य पूर्वमा उदाउँछ। (Surya purwama udaunchha.) – The sun rises in the east.

7. **पश्चिम (pashchim)** – West
– Example: सूर्य पश्चिममा अस्ताउँछ। (Surya pashchimma astaunchha.) – The sun sets in the west.

8. **उत्तरी (uttari)** – North
9. **दक्षिणी (dakshini)** – South

Examples:
– म उत्तरी क्षेत्रतिर जान चाहन्छु। (Ma uttari kshetratira jan chahanchu.) – I want to go to the northern region.
– उनी दक्षिणी क्षेत्रमा बस्छन्। (Uni dakshini kshetrama baschhan.) – They live in the southern region.

Travel and Transportation

If you are traveling in Nepal, these words will come in handy:

1. **बस (bas)** – Bus
– Example: म बस स्टपमा छु। (Ma bas stop ma chu.) – I am at the bus stop.

2. **ट्याक्सी (taxi)** – Taxi
– Example: मलाई ट्याक्सी चाहिन्छ। (Malai taxi chahinchha.) – I need a taxi.

3. **रेल (rel)** – Train
– Example: रेल यात्रा कस्तो छ? (Rel yatra kasto cha?) – How is the train journey?

4. **विमान (viman)** – Airplane
– Example: मेरो विमान उडान १० बजे हो। (Mero viman udaan 10 baje ho.) – My flight is at 10 o’clock.

5. **टिकट (tikat)** – Ticket
– Example: मैले टिकट किनें। (Maile tikat kinen.) – I bought a ticket.

6. **सवारी (sawari)** – Vehicle
– Example: यो मेरो सवारी साधन हो। (Yo mero sawari saadhan ho.) – This is my vehicle.

7. **सडक (sadak)** – Road
– Example: सडक धेरै व्यस्त छ। (Sadak dherai byast cha.) – The road is very busy.

Shopping and Dining

When shopping or dining out, these words will help you communicate better:

1. **पसल (pasal)** – Shop
– Example: म पसलमा जाँदैछु। (Ma pasalma jadai chu.) – I am going to the shop.

2. **मूल्य (moolya)** – Price
– Example: यसको मूल्य कति हो? (Yasko moolya kati ho?) – How much is this?

3. **खरिद (kharid)** – Purchase
– Example: मैले केही सामान खरिद गरें। (Maile kehi saaman kharid gare.) – I purchased some items.

4. **रुचाउनु (ruchaaunu)** – To like
– Example: मलाई यो पसल मन पर्छ। (Malai yo pasal man parchha.) – I like this shop.

5. **रेस्टुरेन्ट (restaurant)** – Restaurant
– Example: हामी रेस्टुरेन्टमा खाना खान जाँदैछौं। (Hami restaurantma khana khan jadai chhaun.) – We are going to eat at the restaurant.

6. **मेनु (menu)** – Menu
– Example: कृपया मेनु दिनुहोस्। (Kripaya menu dinuhos.) – Please give me the menu.

7. **भुक्तानी (bhuktani)** – Payment
– Example: मैले भुक्तानी गरें। (Maile bhuktani gare.) – I made the payment.

Health and Emergencies

In case of health issues or emergencies, these words are crucial:

1. **अस्पताल (aspatal)** – Hospital
– Example: मलाई अस्पतालमा जानु छ। (Malai aspatalma janu cha.) – I need to go to the hospital.

2. **डाक्टर (doctor)** – Doctor
– Example: मलाई डाक्टरसँग भेट्नु छ। (Malai doctorsanga bhetna cha.) – I need to see a doctor.

3. **औषधी (aushadhi)** – Medicine
– Example: मैले औषधी लिनु पर्छ। (Maile aushadhi linu parcha.) – I need to take medicine.

4. **रोग (rog)** – Disease
– Example: उनलाई कुनै रोग छैन। (Unlai kunai rog chhaina.) – He has no disease.

5. **रोगी (rogi)** – Patient
– Example: अस्पतालमा धेरै रोगी छन्। (Aspatalma dherai rogi chhan.) – There are many patients in the hospital.

6. **आपतकालीन (apatkaleen)** – Emergency
– Example: यो एक आपतकालीन स्थिति हो। (Yo ek apatkaleen sthiti ho.) – This is an emergency situation.

7. **सुरक्षा (suraksha)** – Safety
– Example: तपाईंको सुरक्षा महत्त्वपूर्ण छ। (Tapai ko suraksha mahatwapurna cha.) – Your safety is important.

Polite Phrases and Expressions

Using polite phrases and expressions can make your interactions more respectful and pleasant:

1. **कृपया (kripaya)** – Please
– Example: कृपया मलाई मद्दत गर्नुहोस्। (Kripaya malai maddat garnuhos.) – Please help me.

2. **धन्यवाद (dhanyabad)** – Thank you
– Example: तपाईंलाई धन्यवाद! (Tapai lai dhanyabad!) – Thank you!

3. **माफ गर्नुहोस् (maaf garnuhos)** – Excuse me/Sorry
– Example: माफ गर्नुहोस्, म ढिलो भएँ। (Maaf garnuhos, ma dhilo bhae.) – Excuse me, I am late.

4. **स्वागतम् (swagatam)** – Welcome
– Example: हाम्रो घरमा तपाईंलाई स्वागत छ। (Hamaru gharma tapai lai swagat cha.) – You are welcome in our home.

5. **तपाईंको नाम के हो? (Tapai ko naam ke ho?)** – What is your name?
– Example: तपाईंको नाम के हो? (Tapai ko naam ke ho?) – What is your name?

6. **मेरो नाम … हो (Mero naam … ho)** – My name is …
– Example: मेरो नाम सुमन हो। (Mero naam Suman ho.) – My name is Suman.

7. **कसरी (kasari)** – How
– Example: तपाईं कसरी हुनुहुन्छ? (Tapai kasari hunuhunchha?) – How are you?

Conclusion

Expanding your vocabulary is a vital step in advancing your language skills. The words and phrases listed in this article are essential for intermediate Nepali learners and will help you navigate various situations more effectively. Practice using these words in your daily conversations to become more fluent and confident in your Nepali language skills. Remember, consistency is key, and the more you practice, the better you will become. Happy learning!