Nepali Lesson 4 - Prepositions and Directions

Lessons Nepali Lessons

Linguistic Nepali Vocabulary

Culture Nepali Phrases

Structure Nepali Grammar

This first lesson teaches many important aspect of Nepali like prepositions, vocabulary list about directions and finally common phrases about how to introduce yourself. I will try to give examples using both vocabulary and grammar. That way it will be easy for you to see the words when they are separate and when they are in a sentence. Going through the whole page should take about 30 min. Make sure to read the pronunciation and hear the audio as well. If you have any question about this course, please email me directly at Nepali Classes.

Prepositions

Prepositions are used in almost every sentence. They can be a great tool to link words with each other. For example by simply knowing how to use "to", "with", "from", "after" you can expand your conversation scope. In short, a preposition describes a relationship between words in a sentence, for example: I agree with you.

Below is a list of 27 prepositions that you might come across or use very often. The table contains 3 columns (English, Nepali, and Audio). Make sure you repeat each word after hearing it by either clicking on the audio button or by reading the pronunciation. That should help with memorization as well as improving your pronunciation.

Prepositions List in Nepali

Prepositions	Nepali	Audio
In front of	त्यसको अगाडि Tyasakō agāḍi
Behind	पछाडि pachāḍi
Before	पहिला pahilā
After	पछि pachi
Inside	भित्र bhitra
With	सँग sam̐ga
Without	बिना binā
Outside	बाहिरपट्टी bāhirapaṭṭī
On top of	माथि māthi
Under	तल tala
About (in regards to)	करिब kariba
Against	विरूद्घ virūdgha
And	र ra
As (similar to)	जस्तो कि jastō ki
Between	बिचमा bicamā
But	तर tara
For	लागि lāgi
From	बाट bāṭa
In	मा mā
Instead of	त्यसको बदला tyasakō badalā
Near	नजिक najika
Of	को kō
Or	अथवा athavā
Since	देखि dēkhi
So	तेसो भए। tēsō bha'ē.
Tip (money for the waiter)	िटप ̔Iṭapa
Until	तब सम्म taba sam'ma

Now we will try to implement some of the prepositions above into full Nepali sentences. That way you will be able to use the word not only by itself but embedded in a structure.

Nepali Prepositions in a Sentence

English	Nepali	Audio
Can I practice Italian with you?	के म ितमीसँग इटालियन भाषा िसक्ने प्रयास गर्न सक्छु। kē ma ̔itamīsam̐ga iṭāliyana bhāṣā ̔isaknē prayāsa garna sakchu.
I speak French but with an accent	म कहिले काही फ्रेन्च बोल्छु। Ma kahilē kāhī phrēnca bōlchu.
I was born in Miami	म िमयामीमा जन्मिएको हो Ma ̔imayāmīmā janmi'ēkō hō
I'm from Japan	म जापान बाट हो। ma jāpāna bāṭa hō.
The letter is inside the book	चिठी िकताब भित्त छ। Ciṭhī ̔ikatāba bhitta cha.
The pen is under the desk	कलम टेबुल मुनी छ। Kalama ṭēbula munī cha.
Directions
Can I help you?	म मद्दत गरू? Ma maddata garū?

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact me using the Nepali contact form on the header above.

Vocabulary List about Directions

Below is a list of 28 words and sentences related to directions that you might need when lost or asking for help. If you can memorize them by heart, you will be able to travel from point A to point B by following directions.

Giving Directions in Nepali

Directions	Nepali	Audio
Can you help me?	मलाई मद्दत गर्न सक्छौ? Malā'ī maddata garna sakchau?
Can you show me?	मलाई देखाऊ। Malā'ī dēkhā'ū.
Come with me!	म सँग अाऊ। Ma sam̐ga a̔ā'ū.
Downtown (city center)	शहर Śahara
Excuse me! (to ask someone)	सुन्नुस् त! sunnus ta!
Go straight	सिधा जानुहोस Sidhā jānuhōsa
How can I get to the museum?	यँहाबाट संग्रहालय कसरी जान्ने हो? yam̐hābāṭa saṅgrahālaya kasarī jānnē hō?
How long does it take to get there?	त्यहाँ पुग्न कति समय लाग्छ? Tyahām̐ pugna kati samaya lāgcha?
I'm lost	म हराएँ Ma harā'ēm̐
I'm not from here	म यँहाको होईन। ma yam̐hākō hō'īna.
It's far from here	यँहाबाट टाडा छ Yam̐hābāṭa ṭāḍā cha
It's near here	यँहाबाट नजिक छ yam̐hābāṭa najika cha
One moment please!	एक िछन् ल! ēka ̔ichan la!
Turn left	बाया मोड Bāyā mōḍa
Turn right	ढाया मोड ḍhāyā mōḍa
Far	टाडा ṭāḍā
Here	यहाँ yahām̐
Left	बाया bāyā
Right	दाया dāyā
Near	नजिक najika
Straight	िसधा ̔isadhā
There	त्यहाँ tyahām̐
To drive	तिर tira
To turn	बाल्नु bālnu
To walk	हिड्नु hiḍnu
Traffic light	ट्रफ्रिक बत्ति ṭraphrika batti
Transportation	यातायात yātāyāta

Daily Conversation in Nepali

Finally, a couple sentences to help you know how to introduce yourself in Nepali. For a complete list of commonly used sentences, please visit our Nepali Phrases page. Enjoy!

Common Expressions in Nepali

English	Nepali	Audio
Do you speak English?	के तिमीले अग्रेजी बोल्न जान्छौ? kē timīlē agrējī bōlna jānchau?
Just a little	अलिकती मात्र Alikatī mātra
What's your name?	ितमो नाम के हो? ̔itamō nāma kē hō?
My name is (John Doe)	मेरो नाम ( सकिता ) हो। Mērō nāma (sakitā) hō.
Mr.../ Mrs. .../ Miss...	श्रीमान/श्रीमती/सुस्री Śrīmāna/śrīmatī/susrī
Nice to meet you!	भेटेर खुशी लाग्यो। bhēṭēra khuśī lāgyō.
You're very kind!	ितमी दयालु छौ। ̔Itamī dayālu chau.

Fun Facts

Language Quote: The language of a society changes slowly but steadily with the result that an educated person will not be able to read or understand words in his language written 500 years ago. Do you feel like you can't talk to your parents? Maybe it's because you belong to the Niger-Congo family. More than 1,400 languages are spoken by different members of this family from Africa..

Congratulations! You finished your 4th lesson in Nepali about prepositions, and directions. Are you ready for the next lesson? We recommend Nepali Lesson 5. You can also simply click on one of the links below or go back to our Learn Nepali homepage.

Lessons Nepali Lessons

Linguistic Nepali Vocabulary

Culture Nepali Phrases

Structure Nepali Grammar