Learning Nepali before a trek in Nepal is one of the best decisions you can make — not because you need it to survive, but because it transforms what the experience actually is.
English is spoken on most major trekking routes by guides, lodge owners, and many locals. You will not starve or get lost because you do not speak Nepali. But the moments that define a trek in Nepal — the unexpected conversation at a tea house, the shared laughter with a porter, the warm exchange with a village elder who has never left the mountains — almost always happen in Nepali.
Locals notice the effort. They light up when a foreign trekker uses even basic Nepali. The warmth you receive in return is disproportionate to the small amount of vocabulary required. A few dozen words, pronounced with genuine effort and delivered with a smile, will open doors that an unlimited budget cannot.
This guide gives you the 60 most useful Nepali phrases for trekking, organised by when and where you will actually use them on the trail. Audio for every phrase is available on BolNepali.
Before We Start: A Note on Pronunciation
Nepali is a phonetically consistent language — it is spelled almost exactly as it sounds, which is good news. A few sounds require attention from English speakers:
- "a" sounds like the "a" in "about" (not the "a" in "cat")
- "aa" is a longer "a" sound, like in "father"
- "th" is an aspirated "t" — push a puff of air out after the "t" (not the English "th" as in "the")
- "dh" is a breathed "d" — the same aspirated effect
- "kh" is a breathed "k"
- "gh" is a breathed "g"
The best way to learn correct pronunciation is through audio. BolNepali provides native-speaker audio for all vocabulary in our trekking lesson series. Read the romanisation here, then check your pronunciation with our audio.
Part 1: Greetings — The Foundation of Everything
These are the phrases you will use most. Nepali greetings are not just social lubricant — they carry genuine cultural weight, and using them correctly signals respect.
Namaste (na-ma-STAY) Hello / Greetings — also used for goodbye. Press your palms together in front of your chest as you say it. Works with everyone, in every situation, at every time of day.
Namaskar (na-ma-SKAAR) A slightly more formal version of Namaste. Use with elders, religious figures, or people in positions of authority.
Kasto chha? (KAS-to chha?) How are you?
Thik chha (THEEK chha) I'm fine / Good. This is also the standard reply to Kasto chha.
Sanchai chha? (san-CHAI chha?) Are you well? (A slightly more formal variation of Kasto chha)
Mero naam _ ho (ME-ro naam ___ ho) My name is _____. Fill in your name. Locals love knowing your name.
Tapaaiiko naam ke ho? (ta-PAA-ee-ko naam ke ho?) What is your name? Use this and you will have a proper conversation started.
Kaha bata aunu bhaeko? (ka-HA ba-TA aa-nu bhae-KO?) Where are you from?
Australia bata (aus-TRAY-lee-ya ba-TA) From Australia.
Pheri bhetaula (PHE-ri bhe-TAU-la) See you again / Until we meet again. A warm farewell.
Part 2: Trail Navigation — Getting Where You Are Going
Once you leave Kathmandu or Pokhara, the trail can branch, signage can be absent, and your guide may be fifty metres ahead. These phrases help you navigate.
_ kaha chha? (___ KA-ha chha?) Where is _____? Fill in the place name.
Bato kaha chha? (BA-to ka-HA chha?) Where is the path / road?
Yeso bato milchha? (YE-so BA-to MIL-chha?) Is this the right path?
Mathi (MA-thi) Up / Uphill.
Tala (TA-la) Down / Downhill.
Agaadi (a-GAA-di) Straight ahead / Forward.
Daaya (DAA-ya) Right.
Baaya (BAA-ya) Left.
Najikaai chha? (na-ji-KAA ee chha?) Is it nearby?
Tadha chha? (TA-dha chha?) Is it far?
Kati ghanta lagchha? (KA-ti GHAN-ta lag-chha?) How many hours does it take?
Bistarai Bistarai (bis-ta-RAI bis-ta-RAI) Slowly slowly. Used when your guide is walking too fast, or when you are telling yourself to pace properly at altitude.
Jam jam (JAM JAM) Let's go / Come on. Your guide will say this constantly when it is time to move.
Roknus / Basus (ROK-nus / BA-sus) Stop / Sit down. Useful when you need a break.
Part 3: Tea House Essentials — Food, Accommodation, and Comfort
Tea houses (or "lodge" in Nepali) are your home on the trail. Knowing how to order, ask for what you need, and handle basic logistics makes the experience considerably smoother.
Ek kamara chha? (EK ka-MA-ra chha?) Is there a room? / Do you have a room?
Kati parchha? (KA-ti PAR-chha?) How much does it cost?
Paani diinus (PAA-ni di-NUS) Please give water.
Paani tataaunu (PAA-ni ta-TAA-nu) Hot water, please. (Literally "please heat the water")
Khana taiyaar chha? (KHA-na tai-YAAR chha?) Is the food ready?
Dal bhat diinus (DAL bhaat di-NUS) Please give me dal bhat. The national dish — rice, lentils, vegetable curry. Filling, nutritious, and available everywhere.
Chiya diinus (CHI-ya di-NUS) Please give me tea.
Dudh chiya (DUDH chi-YA) Milk tea.
Kaalo chiya (KAA-lo chi-YA) Black tea.
Masu chaina (MA-su CHAI-na) No meat / I don't eat meat. Essential for vegetarians.
Mitho chha (MI-tho chha) It's delicious.
Pugyo (PUG-yo) I'm full / That's enough.
Bill diinus (BILL di-NUS) Please bring the bill.
Dhanyabad (dhan-ya-BAAD) Thank you. Use this constantly. You cannot overuse it.
Part 4: Health and Safety — Phrases You Hope Not to Need
Altitude sickness is a serious risk on Nepal's higher trekking routes. Knowing how to communicate about your health — even imperfectly — can be critical.
Thakyo (thak-YO) I'm tired.
Bimaari chha (bi-MAA-ri chha) I'm sick.
Tauko dukhyo (TAU-ko dukh-YO) I have a headache.
Pet dukhyo (PET dukh-YO) I have a stomachache.
Taato cha (TAA-to chha) I have a fever. (Literally "it is hot")
Madat garidinus (ma-DAT ga-ri-di-NUS) Please help me.
Doctor kaha chha? (DOC-tor ka-HA chha?) Where is a doctor?
Hospital kaha chha? (hos-PIT-al ka-HA chha?) Where is a hospital?
Tala jaanu paryo (ta-LA jaa-NU par-YO) I need to go down. Critical phrase for communicating altitude sickness emergency.
Helicopter chaahiyo (he-li-COP-ter chaa-HI-yo) I need a helicopter. Used only in genuine emergencies, but worth knowing.
Part 5: Social and Cultural Phrases — Going Beyond Transactions
These phrases take you from polite tourist to genuine human connection. They are not strictly necessary, but they are where the real magic of the trail happens.
Ramro chha (RAM-ro chha) It's beautiful.
Himaal ramro chha (hi-MAAL RAM-ro chha) The mountain is beautiful.
Yo ke ho? (YO ke HO?) What is this?
Nepaal ramro desh ho (ne-PAAL RAM-ro desh HO) Nepal is a beautiful country.
Nepali khana mitho chha (ne-PAA-li KHA-na MI-tho chha) Nepali food is delicious.
Maaf garnus (MAAF gar-NUS) Excuse me / I'm sorry / Please forgive me. An all-purpose polite apology.
Kripaya (KRIP-aa-ya) Please.
Hajur (ha-JUR) Yes / Respectful acknowledgement. A versatile affirmative.
Haina (HAIN-a) No / That's not right.
Part 6: Numbers — Essential for Bargaining and Distances
You will need numbers when paying bills, negotiating porter rates, and understanding distances.
- 1 — Ek (EK)
- 2 — Dui (DU-i)
- 3 — Teen (TEEN)
- 4 — Chaar (CHAAR)
- 5 — Paanch (PAANCH)
- 6 — Chha (CHHA)
- 7 — Saat (SAAT)
- 8 — Aath (AATH)
- 9 — Nau (NAU)
- 10 — Das (DAS)
- 20 — Bees (BEES)
- 50 — Pachaas (pa-CHAAS)
- 100 — Say (SAI)
- 1000 — Ek hajaar (EK ha-JAAR)
How to Use These Phrases Effectively
Practise before you go. Do not try to learn all of these on the plane. Begin two to four weeks before your trek, spending fifteen minutes a day with BolNepali's trekking vocabulary module. Spaced repetition is far more effective than cramming.
Do not worry about perfection. Locals appreciate effort infinitely more than accuracy. A mispronounced Namaste delivered with warmth is worth far more than a perfectly pronounced phrase delivered with hesitation.
Write down your favourites. Keep a small notebook with ten to fifteen phrases you want to use actively. Refer to it in the evenings and practise them the next day.
Ask your guide for corrections. A good trekking guide will be delighted to correct your Nepali pronunciation and teach you additional phrases. Turn your guide into an informal teacher — they will enjoy it, and you will learn faster.
Listen actively. Some of the best learning happens when you stop trying to produce language and simply listen. Pay attention to how locals speak to each other, how your guide talks on the phone, how tea house owners call across the lodge. Your ear is learning even when your mouth is resting.
Learn More at BolNepali
The 60 phrases in this guide are a starting point. BolNepali's trekking vocabulary module includes audio recorded by native Nepali speakers for every phrase, structured practice exercises, and cultural notes that help you understand not just what to say but when and why to say it.
If you are planning a trek to Annapurna, Everest Base Camp, Langtang, Manaslu, or anywhere else in Nepal, invest two weeks of light study before you leave. The return on that investment is extraordinary.
Start your free trial at bolnepali.com.
BolNepali provides structured Nepali language learning for Australian trekkers, travellers, and the Nepali diaspora community.