The Nepali language is the official language of Nepal and the shared language most Nepalis use with each other. It is written in Devanagari, the same script used for Hindi, and it is also spoken in parts of India and Bhutan.
Planning a trek in the Himalayas or a first visit to Kathmandu? This guide covers where Nepali is spoken, how it is written and the first phrases to use, and the Ling app can help you practice them in short daily lessons.
Learning Nepali is more than memorizing words
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What Is The Nepali Language?
Nepali is an Indo-Aryan language, part of the same branch of the Indo-European family as Hindi, Bengali and Punjabi. It grew out of the speech of the Khas people of western Nepal.
- Family: Indo-Aryan, so it shares many words with Hindi and Sanskrit.
- Script: Devanagari, written from left to right.
- Word order: subject, object, verb, so “I tea drink” instead of “I drink tea”.
- Older names: Khas Kura (the Khas language) and Gorkhali.
- Dialects: three broad groups, western, central and eastern.
Is It Nepali Or Nepalese?
Both words point to the same language, but Nepali is the name speakers themselves use. Nepalese is an older English form, still common in travel guides and search boxes.
- Nepali: the language, and the usual word for a person from Nepal.
- Nepalese: fine in English for food, art or culture from Nepal, as in Nepalese tea.
Where Is The Nepali Language Spoken?
Nepali is spoken first of all in Nepal, where Article 7 of Nepal’s constitution makes Nepali in Devanagari script the language of official business. The same constitution calls every mother tongue spoken in Nepal a national language, and provinces may add their own official languages.
- Nepal: the language of government, schools, news and conversation between people with different mother tongues.
- India: Nepali is one of the 22 languages in the Eighth Schedule of India’s constitution, and it is widely spoken in Sikkim and West Bengal.
- Bhutan and Myanmar: long-settled Nepali-speaking communities keep the language at home.
- Abroad: Nepali families and workers carry it to the Gulf states, Brunei and Australia.
How Many People In Nepal Speak Nepali?
About 44.9% of people in Nepal speak Nepali as their mother tongue, down from 58.3 percent in 1981, according to a 2025 Janajyoti Journal study of the 2021 census. The same census recorded 124 mother tongues, which is why so many Nepalis use Nepali as a second language.
| Where | Role | What a visitor notices |
|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu and Pokhara | Everyday shared language | Nepali on shop signs, buses and menus |
| Trekking regions | Language between communities | Guides and lodge owners switch from their own languages to Nepali |
| Sikkim and West Bengal | Recognized Indian language | Nepali beside Hindi and English |
| Nepali families abroad | Heritage language | Nepali at festivals, family dinners and temples |
In short, Nepali is the language that connects Nepal’s many communities, even where it is not the language spoken at home.
How Is Nepali Written?
Nepali is written in Devanagari, a script where each letter stands for a syllable and a line runs along the top of each word. If you can read Hindi, you can already read Nepali, though the spelling and many words differ.
- Direction: left to right, like English.
- Sentence end: a short vertical line (।) instead of a period.
- Spelling: words are mostly written the way they sound, which helps beginners.
Our guide to the Nepali script and its writing systems goes further, and the Ling app’s Writing lessons let you trace each Devanagari letter on your phone.
How Do You Say Hello In Nepali?
You say hello in Nepali with namaste (नमस्ते), which works at any time of day and with anyone. Add hajur (हजुर) when you greet an elder to sound extra polite.
Here is a short exchange from the Introduction unit of the Nepali course in the Ling app, recorded with native speaker audio. Two people say hello, check a name and introduce themselves.
The rest of the conversation, and the rest of the unit, are in the lessons. For more greetings, see our guide to ways to say hello in Nepali.
11 Nepali Phrases For Your First Conversations
These cover a first chat with a guide or a lodge owner, and each uses the polite tapai form.
| English | Nepali | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | नमस्ते | namaste |
| How are you? | तपाईलाई कस्तो छ? | tapailai kasto chha? |
| I am fine | म सन्चै छु | ma sanchai chhu |
| What is your name? | तपाईको नाम के हो? | tapaiko naam ke ho? |
| Nice to meet you | तपाईलाई भेटेर राम्रो लाग्यो | tapailai bhetera ramro lagyo |
| Thank you | धन्यवाद | dhanyabaad |
| Thank you very much | धेरै धन्यवाद | dherai dhanyabaad |
| Excuse me / I am sorry | मलाई माफ गर्नुहोस् | malai maaf garnuhos |
| Yes (polite) | हजुर | hajur |
| No | होइन | hoina |
| No problem | कुनै समस्या छैन | kunai samasya chhaina |
If you learn only two, make them namaste and dhanyabaad.
Common Mistakes To Avoid With The Nepali Language
Most beginner slips come from treating Nepali like a language you already know.
- Using Hindi words in Nepali. The two share a script and many roots, but everyday words often differ, so a Hindi word can sound out of place in Kathmandu. Our look at how hard Nepali is to learn covers how much a Hindi background helps.
- Talking to elders like friends. Nepali has several levels of “you”. Use tapai with elders and strangers, and keep timi for friends your own age or younger.
- Assuming Nepali is everyone’s first language. With 124 mother tongues in Nepal, your guide may speak Sherpa, Tamang or Newar at home.
Tips For Using Nepali On A Trek Or With Family
A few well-placed Nepali words change how people greet you on the trail and at the table.
- Open every exchange with namaste. Say it to the lodge owner and to your porter.
- Answer with hajur. When an elder calls your name or asks a question, hajur is a respectful “yes”.
- Rehearse whole exchanges out loud. Dialog in the Ling app walks you through both sides of a short conversation, so the words come out when you need them.
- Pick a tool that actually teaches Nepali. Some big apps skip it, as our guide to why Duolingo has no Nepali course explains, and our roundup of the best apps to learn Nepali compares the options.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Nepali Language
What Language Is Spoken In Nepal?
Nepali is the official language of Nepal and the language most Nepalis share, written in Devanagari script. Nepal is also home to 124 mother tongues, including Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tamang and Newar, so many people speak Nepali as a second language.
Is It Called Nepali Or Nepalese?
Both names refer to the same language. Nepali is the name speakers use and the more accurate choice for the language, while Nepalese is an older English form that still appears in travel writing and searches.
Is Nepali The Same As Hindi?
No. Nepali and Hindi are separate Indo-Aryan languages that share the Devanagari script and many related words. Grammar, everyday vocabulary and pronunciation differ, so a Hindi speaker can follow some Nepali but not all of it.
Where Else Is The Nepali Language Spoken?
Outside Nepal, the Nepali language is widely spoken in the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal, and it is one of the 22 languages listed in India’s constitution. Nepali-speaking communities also live in Bhutan, Myanmar and across the Nepali diaspora.
How Many People In Nepal Speak Nepali As A First Language?
About 44.9 percent of Nepal’s population speaks Nepali as a mother tongue, based on the 2021 census. Many more use it as a second language, because it is the common language of government, schools and media.
What Script Does Nepali Use?
Nepali uses Devanagari, a left-to-right script where letters hang from a line along the top of each word. It is the same script used for Hindi, Marathi and Sanskrit, and sentences end with a short vertical line instead of a period.
What Should You Remember About The Nepali Language?
Nepali is an Indo-Aryan language written in Devanagari, the official language of Nepal and a recognized language in India. Fewer than half of Nepal’s people grew up speaking it, yet it is the language they share with each other.
Start with namaste, tapailai kasto chha? and dhanyabaad, use tapai with anyone older, and you have a polite opening from a Kathmandu tea shop to a mountain lodge.
Ready To Say Namaste On Your Trip To Nepal?
Whether you are heading for the Annapurna trails or meeting a Nepali family for the first time, a few words in their language make every welcome warmer.
With flashcards, native speaker audio you can slow down and Dialog for real conversation practice, Ling keeps learning simple and fun. Start learning Nepali today and greet your first host with a confident namaste!
