Nepali Verbs

Welcome to the 10th lesson about verbs in Nepali. We will first learn about the present tense, followed by the past tense, and future tense. We will also analyze some grammar rules, and finally practice how to ask for direction in Nepali.

Verbs are used to express an action (I swim) or a state of being (I am). The present tense in Nepali conveys a situation or event in the present time. Here are some examples:

Present Tense - Nepali - Pronunciation
I speak English म अंग्रेजी बोल्छु [ma aṅgrējī bōlchu]
you speak French तिमी फ्रेन्च बोल्छौ [timī phrēnca bōlchau]
he speaks German उ जर्मन बोल्छ [u jarmana bōlcha]
she speaks Italian उनी इटालियन बोल्छिन् [unī iṭāliyana bōlchin]
we speak Arabic हामी अरेबिक बोल्छौं [hāmī arēbika bōlchauṁ]
they speak Chinese तिनीहरु चाइनिज बोल्छन् [tinīharu cā'inija bōlchan]

The past tense in Nepali conveys a situation or event in the past time. Here are some examples:

Past Tense - Nepali - Pronunciation
I visited France म फ्रान्स घुमेँ [ma phrānsa ghumēm̐]
you visited Italy तपाईं इटाली घुम्नु भयो [tapā'īṁ iṭālī ghumnu bhayō]
he visited Morocco उ मोरोक्को घुम्यो [u mōrōkkō ghumyō]
she visited China उनी चाइना घुमिन् [unī cā'inā ghumin]
we visited Mexico हामी मेक्सिको घुम्यौँ [hāmī mēksikō ghumyaum̐]
they visited Kenya उनीहरु केन्या घुमे [unīharu kēn'yā ghumē]

The future tense in Nepali conveys a situation or event which is anticipated to happen in the future. Here are some examples:

Future Tense - Nepali - Pronunciation
I will drink milk म दुध पिउँनेछु [ma dudha pi'um̐nēchu]
you will drink coffee तपाईं दुध पिउनुहुनेछ [tapā'īṁ dudha pi'unuhunēcha]
he will drink tea उसले दुध पिउनेछ [usalē dudha pi'unēcha]
she will drink water उनले पानी पिउनेछिन् [unalē pānī pi'unēchin]
we will drink apple juice हामी स्याउको जुस पिउनेछौं [hāmī syā'ukō jusa pi'unēchauṁ]
they will drink tea उनीहरु चिया पिउनेछन् [unīharu ciyā pi'unēchan]

Now let's take a break and refresh our vocabulary by learning the body parts.

ear कान [kāna]

eye आँखा [ām̐khā]

mouth मुख [mukha]

nose नाक [nāka]

hair कपाल [kapāla]

face अनुहार [anuhāra]

head टाउको [ṭā'ukō]

heart मुटु [muṭu]

hand हात [hāta]

fingers औलाहरू [aulāharū]

leg खुट्टा [khuṭṭā]

feet पैताला [paitālā]

Travel Phrases in Nepali

Imagine yourself in some Nepali speaking country. The following travel phrases are highly important and can help you avoid misunderstanding. Try to memorize them and practice!

English - Nepali - Pronunciation
Can you help me? के तपाईं मलाई सहयोग गर्नु सक्नुहुन्छ ? [kē tapā'īṁ malā'ī sahayōga garnu saknuhuncha?]
Can I help you? के म तपाईंलाई सहयोग गर्नसक्छु ? [kē ma tapā'īnlā'ī sahayōga garnasakchu?]
Where is the airport? विमानस्थल कहाँ छ ? [vimānasthala kahām̐ cha?]
Go straight सिधा अघाडी जानुहोस् [sidhā aghāḍī jānuhōs]
Then त्यसपछि [tyasapachi]
Turn left देब्रे मोड्नुहोस् [dēbrē mōḍnuhōs]
Turn right दाहिने मोद्नुहोस [dāhinē mōdnuhōsa]

I hope this lesson about the verbs in Nepali was not hard for you. Please check out our main menu here for more lessons: homepage. To see the full menu, you can also click on the "Menu" icon on the left side.