Learning to count in a new language can be an exciting and rewarding challenge. Nepali, the official language of Nepal, is rich in cultural history and linguistic beauty. For travelers, expatriates, or language enthusiasts, counting from 1 to 50 in Nepali can be a useful skill. This article will guide you through the process, breaking down each number with pronunciation tips and cultural insights.
Before diving into the numbers, it’s essential to understand why learning to count in Nepali is beneficial. Whether you’re planning a trip to Nepal, want to communicate with Nepali speakers, or simply enjoy learning new languages, mastering numbers is a fundamental part of language acquisition. Numbers are used daily in various contexts such as shopping, telling time, and navigating places.
Nepali numbers, like many other languages, follow a specific structure. The Nepali numerical system is based on the Devanagari script, which is also used in Hindi and Sanskrit. Here’s a brief overview of the structure:
1-9: These are unique numbers with their own names.
10-19: These numbers are combinations of 10 (दश – “das”) and the numbers 1-9.
20-29: These numbers are combinations of 20 (बीस – “bis”) and the numbers 1-9.
30-39: These numbers are combinations of 30 (तीस – “tis”) and the numbers 1-9.
40-49: These numbers are combinations of 40 (चालीस – “chalis”) and the numbers 1-9.
50: This is a unique number with its own name.
Let’s start with the basics. Here are the numbers 1 to 10 in Nepali, along with their pronunciation and Devanagari script.
1 – एक (ek): Pronounced as “ayk”.
2 – दुई (dui): Pronounced as “doo-ee”.
3 – तीन (tin): Pronounced as “teen”.
4 – चार (char): Pronounced as “char”.
5 – पाँच (paanch): Pronounced as “paanch”.
6 – छ (chha): Pronounced as “chha”.
7 – सात (saat): Pronounced as “saat”.
8 – आठ (aath): Pronounced as “aath”.
9 – नौ (nau): Pronounced as “nau”.
10 – दश (das): Pronounced as “dahs”.
Moving on, here are the numbers 11 to 20. Notice the pattern of combining “दश” (das) with the numbers 1-9.
11 – एघार (eghara): Pronounced as “ay-gha-ra”.
12 – बाह्र (bahra): Pronounced as “baa-hra”.
13 – तेह्र (tehra): Pronounced as “tay-hra”.
14 – चौध (chaudha): Pronounced as “chow-dha”.
15 – पन्ध्र (pandhra): Pronounced as “pan-dhra”.
16 – सोह्र (sohra): Pronounced as “soh-ra”.
17 – सत्र (satra): Pronounced as “sat-ra”.
18 – अठार (athara): Pronounced as “a-tha-ra”.
19 – उन्नाइस (unnais): Pronounced as “oon-nais”.
20 – बीस (bis): Pronounced as “bees”.
Next, let’s look at the numbers 21 to 30. These numbers combine “बीस” (bis) with the numbers 1-9.
21 – एक्काइस (ekkāis): Pronounced as “ek-kai-s”.
22 – बाइस (bāis): Pronounced as “ba-is”.
23 – तेइस (teis): Pronounced as “tay-is”.
24 – चौबीस (chaubis): Pronounced as “chow-bis”.
25 – पच्चीस (pachchis): Pronounced as “pach-chis”.
26 – छब्बीस (chhabbis): Pronounced as “chha-bis”.
27 – सत्ताइस (sattāis): Pronounced as “sat-tai-s”.
28 – अठ्ठाइस (aṭṭhāis): Pronounced as “aṭ-ṭhai-s”.
29 – उनन्तिस (unāntis): Pronounced as “oo-nan-tis”.
30 – तीस (tīs): Pronounced as “tees”.
Here are the numbers 31 to 40, combining “तीस” (tis) with the numbers 1-9.
31 – एकत्तिस (ekattis): Pronounced as “ay-ka-tis”.
32 – बत्तिस (battis): Pronounced as “ba-tis”.
33 – तेत्तिस (tettis): Pronounced as “tay-tis”.
34 – चौँतिस (chauntis): Pronounced as “chow-tis”.
35 – पैंतीस (paitīs): Pronounced as “pai-tees”.
36 – छत्तिस (chhattis): Pronounced as “chha-ttis”.
37 – सैँतीस (saintīs): Pronounced as “sain-tees”.
38 – अठतीस (aṭhatis): Pronounced as “aṭ-ha-tis”.
39 – उनन्चालीस (unanchālis): Pronounced as “oo-nan-chaa-lis”.
40 – चालीस (chālis): Pronounced as “chaa-lis”.
Finally, here are the numbers 41 to 50, combining “चालीस” (chālis) with the numbers 1-9.
41 – एकचालीस (ekchālis): Pronounced as “ayk-chaa-lis”.
42 – बयालीस (bayālīs): Pronounced as “ba-yaa-lis”.
43 – त्रिचालीस (trichālis): Pronounced as “tri-chaa-lis”.
44 – चौवालीस (chaubālīs): Pronounced as “chow-baa-lis”.
45 – पैंतालीस (paintaālīs): Pronounced as “pain-taa-lis”.
46 – छयालीस (chhayālīs): Pronounced as “chhyaa-lis”.
47 – सन्तालीस (santālīs): Pronounced as “san-taa-lis”.
48 – अठचालीस (aṭhachālis): Pronounced as “aṭ-ha-chaa-lis”.
49 – उनन्चास (unanchās): Pronounced as “oo-nan-chas”.
50 – पचास (pachās): Pronounced as “pa-chas”.
Learning a new numerical system can be daunting, but here are some tips to make the process easier:
Practice Regularly: Consistency is key. Practice counting every day to build familiarity.
Use Flashcards: Create flashcards with the Nepali number on one side and the English number on the other. Test yourself regularly.
Engage with Native Speakers: Try to use the numbers in conversations with native Nepali speakers. This real-world application helps reinforce your learning.
Listen and Repeat: Listen to audio recordings of Nepali numbers and repeat them. This helps with pronunciation and memorization.
Write Them Down: Writing the numbers repeatedly can help cement them in your memory.
Use Mnemonics: Create associations or stories around the numbers to make them more memorable.
Understanding how numbers are used in daily life can provide context and aid in learning. Here are some common uses:
Shopping: Bargaining and purchasing items in markets often involve numbers. Knowing how to count can help you negotiate prices.
Time: Telling time in Nepali requires knowledge of numbers. Whether you’re catching a bus or meeting a friend, being able to read and say the time is crucial.
Addresses: Numbers are essential when navigating addresses, whether you’re visiting someone or finding a location.
Money: Handling money, understanding prices, and making transactions all require familiarity with numbers.
Social Interactions: Numbers come up in various social contexts, such as discussing ages, dates, and quantities.
Once you’re comfortable with counting to 50, you can expand your knowledge to higher numbers. Here’s a brief overview of the structure beyond 50:
60 – साठी (saathī): Pronounced as “saa-thi”.
70 – सत्तरी (sattarī): Pronounced as “sat-ta-ri”.
80 – अस्सी (assī): Pronounced as “as-si”.
90 – नब्बे (nabbē): Pronounced as “nab-bay”.
100 – एक सय (ek saya): Pronounced as “ayk sa-ya”.
These numbers follow similar patterns to those you’ve already learned, combining tens with the numbers 1-9.
Learning to count to 50 in Nepali is a valuable skill that can enhance your communication abilities and deepen your understanding of the language and culture. By breaking down the numbers into manageable sections, practicing regularly, and applying them in real-world contexts, you can master this essential aspect of Nepali. So, whether you’re planning a trip to Nepal, interacting with Nepali speakers, or simply expanding your linguistic horizons, counting in Nepali is a great place to start. Happy learning!
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