Numbers are one of the most practical things to learn in any language. In Nepali, knowing your numbers unlocks a surprising range of everyday situations: bargaining at a market in Kathmandu, asking how many hours to the next tea house on the Annapurna Circuit, telling a driver which floor your hotel is on, understanding prices, dates, phone numbers, and bus times.
The good news is that Nepali numbers follow clear, learnable patterns. Once you know the numbers 1 through 20 and a handful of tens (20, 30, 40…), you can construct any number up to 100 and beyond. The logic is consistent and, in some ways, more transparent than English.
This guide walks you through every number from 1 to 100, explains the patterns that make Nepali numerals learnable, and gives you practical exercises to lock them into memory. Audio for every number is available in BolNepali's numbers module.
Before You Start: A Note on Nepali Numeral Systems
Nepali uses two numeral systems in parallel.
Arabic numerals (0–9): These are the same numerals used in English and most of the world — 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc. They appear widely in Nepali contexts, especially on price tags, signs, digital displays, and formal documents aimed at international readers.
Devanagari numerals: Nepali also has its own set of written numerals in Devanagari script: ०, १, २, ३, ४, ५, ६, ७, ८, ९. You will see these on older signs, traditional documents, and contexts where Devanagari text predominates. They look quite different from Arabic numerals but follow the same base-10 system.
Both systems represent the same spoken numbers. The spoken Nepali for "five" is "paanch" regardless of whether it is written as 5 or ५. As a learner, focus first on the spoken forms and the Arabic numerals; Devanagari numerals can come later.
Numbers 1–10: The Foundation
These are the ten numbers you must know perfectly before anything else. Every higher number is built on them.
| Number | Nepali | Devanagari | Pronunciation Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ek | एक | EK |
| 2 | Dui | दुई | DU-i |
| 3 | Teen | तीन | TEEN |
| 4 | Chaar | चार | CHAAR |
| 5 | Paanch | पाँच | PAANCH |
| 6 | Chha | छ | CHHA |
| 7 | Saat | सात | SAAT |
| 8 | Aath | आठ | AATH |
| 9 | Nau | नौ | NAU |
| 10 | Das | दस | DAS |
Pronunciation notes:
- Dui (2): The "ui" is a two-vowel combination — say "doo-ee" quickly.
- Teen (3): The long "ee" vowel, like "teen" in English.
- Chha (6): The "chh" is an aspirated "ch" sound — say "ch" with a breath of air.
- Nau (9): Rhymes with "now" in English.
Practise: Cover the Nepali column and say each number from the Arabic numeral alone. Then cover the Arabic numeral and say the number from the Nepali word alone. Repeat until immediate — no thinking required.
Numbers 11–19: The Teens
Nepali teens are not as regular as the English "-teen" pattern. Each one from 11 to 19 has its own distinct form that must be memorised.
| Number | Nepali | Devanagari | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Eghaara | एघार | e-GHAA-ra |
| 12 | Baara | बाह्र | BAA-ra |
| 13 | Tera | तेह्र | TE-ra |
| 14 | Chaudha | चौध | CHAU-dha |
| 15 | Pandhra | पन्ध्र | PAN-dhra |
| 16 | Sora | सोह्र | SO-ra |
| 17 | Satra | सत्र | SAT-ra |
| 18 | Athaara | अठार | a-THAA-ra |
| 19 | Unnais | उन्नाइस | un-NAAI-s |
Memory tip for 11–19:
These do not follow an obvious pattern from 1–9, but several of them echo the base numbers in a recognisable way: "tera" (13) resembles "teen" (3); "chaudha" (14) starts like "chaar" (4); "paandhra" (15) starts like "paanch" (5); "satra" (17) echoes "saat" (7); "athaara" (18) echoes "aath" (8). Notice and use these echoes as memory pegs.
Numbers 20–100: Tens and Compounds
From 20 onwards, Nepali numbers follow a more systematic pattern: the tens word comes first, then the units word. The two are often merged into a single compound rather than said separately as in English.
The Tens
| Number | Nepali | Devanagari | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Das | दस | DAS |
| 20 | Bees | बीस | BEES |
| 30 | Tees | तीस | TEES |
| 40 | Chaalis | चालीस | CHAA-lis |
| 50 | Pachaas | पचास | pa-CHAAS |
| 60 | Saath | साठी | SAAT-hi |
| 70 | Satari | सत्तरी | SAT-ta-ri |
| 80 | Assi | असी | AS-si |
| 90 | Nabbe | नब्बे | NAB-be |
| 100 | Say / Ek say | सय / एक सय | SAI / EK SAI |
Numbers 21–29
The twenties follow a regular compound pattern: Bees (20) + units.
| Number | Nepali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Ekkais | EK-kais |
| 22 | Baais | BAA-is |
| 23 | Teis | TEIS |
| 24 | Chaubis | CHAU-bis |
| 25 | Pachis | PA-chis |
| 26 | Chhabbis | CHAB-bis |
| 27 | Satais | sa-TAIS |
| 28 | Aathais | aa-THAIS |
| 29 | Unnatis | un-NA-tis |
Numbers 30–39
| Number | Nepali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Ekatees | EK-a-tees |
| 32 | Battees | BAT-tees |
| 33 | Tetees | TE-tees |
| 34 | Chauntees | CHAUN-tees |
| 35 | Paitees | PAI-tees |
| 36 | Chhattees | CHAT-tees |
| 37 | Saitetees | SAI-te-tees |
| 38 | Aithatees | AI-tha-tees |
| 39 | Unchaalis | un-CHAA-lis |
Numbers 40–49
| Number | Nepali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Ekchaalis | EK-chaa-lis |
| 42 | Bachaalis | ba-CHAA-lis |
| 43 | Techaalis | te-CHAA-lis |
| 44 | Chauwanchaalis | chau-WAN-chaa-lis |
| 45 | Paintaalis | pain-TAA-lis |
| 46 | Chhayaalis | chha-YAA-lis |
| 47 | Sattaalis | sat-TAA-lis |
| 48 | Atthaalis | at-THAA-lis |
| 49 | Unchaas | un-CHAAS |
Numbers 50–59
| Number | Nepali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Ekaun | EK-aun |
| 52 | Baun | BAUN |
| 53 | Tripan | tri-PAN |
| 54 | Chaunpan | chaun-PAN |
| 55 | Pachpan | PACH-pan |
| 56 | Chhappan | CHAP-pan |
| 57 | Santpan | SANT-pan |
| 58 | Athpan | ATH-pan |
| 59 | Unasath | u-na-SATH |
Numbers 60–69
| Number | Nepali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Eksath | EK-sath |
| 62 | Basath | ba-SATH |
| 63 | Tirsath | tir-SATH |
| 64 | Chausath | chau-SATH |
| 65 | Paisath | pai-SATH |
| 66 | Chhaisath | chhai-SATH |
| 67 | Satsath | sat-SATH |
| 68 | Athsath | ath-SATH |
| 69 | Unahattar | u-na-HAT-tar |
Numbers 70–79
| Number | Nepali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 71 | Ekahattar | e-ka-HAT-tar |
| 72 | Bahattar | ba-HAT-tar |
| 73 | Tirhattar | tir-HAT-tar |
| 74 | Chauhattar | chau-HAT-tar |
| 75 | Pachahattar | pa-cha-HAT-tar |
| 76 | Chhayahattar | chha-ya-HAT-tar |
| 77 | Sathattar | sat-HAT-tar |
| 78 | Athhattar | ath-HAT-tar |
| 79 | Unaassi | u-NAA-si |
Numbers 80–89
| Number | Nepali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 81 | Ekaassi | e-KAAS-si |
| 82 | Baassi | BAAS-si |
| 83 | Tiraassi | ti-RAAS-si |
| 84 | Chauraassi | chau-RAAS-si |
| 85 | Pachaassi | pa-CHAAS-si |
| 86 | Chhayaassi | chha-YAAS-si |
| 87 | Sataassi | sa-TAAS-si |
| 88 | Athaassi | a-THAAS-si |
| 89 | Unanabbe | u-na-NAB-be |
Numbers 90–99
| Number | Nepali | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | Ekanabbe | e-ka-NAB-be |
| 92 | Banabbe | ba-NAB-be |
| 93 | Tiranabbe | ti-ra-NAB-be |
| 94 | Chauranabbe | chau-ra-NAB-be |
| 95 | Pachanabbe | pa-cha-NAB-be |
| 96 | Chhayanabbe | chha-ya-NAB-be |
| 97 | Satanabbe | sa-ta-NAB-be |
| 98 | Athanabbe | a-tha-NAB-be |
| 99 | Unansay | u-nan-SAI |
| 100 | Ek say | EK SAI |
The Pattern Behind the Numbers
Once you see it, Nepali's number system has a clear structure. In compounds from 21 onwards:
- The tens base is modified — bees becomes "ek-kais" (21), "baais" (22), etc.
- From 91–99, the base "nabbe" (90) is preceded by the units prefix
- The teen-like construction "una" (meaning "one less than") appears in 19, 29, 39, 49, 59, 69, 79, 89, 99 — each being "one less than" the next ten
This "una" pattern is distinctive and worth noting: 19 = unnaais (one less than 20), 29 = unnatis (one less than 30), 39 = unchaalis (one less than 40), and so on.
Practical Uses of Nepali Numbers
At the Market
The most common use of numbers for travellers is price negotiation. When a vendor tells you a price, they will often say it in Nepali, especially in local markets away from tourist centres.
- "Paanch say rupiya" — 500 rupees
- "Ek hajaar" — 1,000 (ek = one, hajaar = thousand)
- "Dui hajaar" — 2,000
When bargaining, common responses: - "Ali sasto garnos" — Can you make it a bit cheaper? - "Teen say diunchhu" — I'll give you 300
Telling the Time
Nepali uses a 12-hour clock. The structure is: number + baje (o'clock).
- "Ek baje" — 1 o'clock
- "Paanch baje" — 5 o'clock
- "Saadhe das baje" — 10:30 (saadhe = half past)
- "Paune chha baje" — quarter to 6 (paune = quarter to)
Giving Your Phone Number
Say each digit individually, as in English: "Nau, paanch, saat..." etc.
Distances and Trekking
- "Kati ghanta?" — How many hours?
- "Tin ghanta" — Three hours
- "Paanch kilometre" — Five kilometres
Dates
Nepali dates use the Bikram Sambat calendar (BS), which runs approximately 56.7 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar. The year 2026 CE is approximately 2082–2083 BS. Numbers are used in the same way for dates.
5 Exercises to Memorise Nepali Numbers
Exercise 1: Counting Aloud
Count from 1 to 20 aloud every morning for two weeks. Once this is automatic, count from 20 to 50. Then 50 to 100. Make it a daily two-minute habit.
Exercise 2: Price Challenges
Look at price tags, receipts, or numbers around you and convert them into Nepali aloud. The petrol price, the supermarket total, the house number on your street — convert everything.
Exercise 3: Flashcard Drills
Create Anki flashcards with numbers on one side and the Nepali word (in Devanagari) on the other. Review daily. Focus on the ranges that feel least secure.
Exercise 4: Digit-by-Digit Phone Numbers
Take a phone number and read it aloud in Nepali — digit by digit, then as a full number. This forces you to access individual numerals quickly.
Exercise 5: Listening Practice
BolNepali's numbers module includes listening exercises where native speakers say a number and you identify it. This trains your ear to hear Nepali numbers at natural speaking speed.
Beyond 100: A Quick Reference
Once you know 1–100, extending to higher numbers is straightforward:
| Number | Nepali |
|---|---|
| 100 | Ek say |
| 200 | Dui say |
| 500 | Paanch say |
| 1,000 | Ek hajaar |
| 10,000 | Das hajaar |
| 100,000 | Ek lakh |
| 1,000,000 | Das lakh |
| 10,000,000 | Ek karod |
Note that South Asian numbering uses "lakh" (100,000) and "karod" (10,000,000) rather than the Western "million" and "billion". Nepali prices and quantities are frequently expressed in lakhs: "Paanch lakh rupiya" = 500,000 rupees.
Devanagari Numerals Reference
For completeness, here are the Devanagari numerals alongside their Arabic equivalents:
| Arabic | Devanagari |
|---|---|
| 0 | ० |
| 1 | १ |
| 2 | २ |
| 3 | ३ |
| 4 | ४ |
| 5 | ५ |
| 6 | ६ |
| 7 | ७ |
| 8 | ८ |
| 9 | ९ |
Learn More at BolNepali
BolNepali's numbers module includes native-speaker audio for every number from 1 to 1,000, listening exercises, interactive practice, and real-world number dialogues covering shopping, time, dates, and trekking distances.
Start free at bolnepali.com.
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