aaja |
today |
aajinomoTo (also TesTi pauDar) |
monosodium glutamate (MSG) |
aamaa |
mother |
achaar |
a pickled relish |
ba (or buwaa) |
father |
baasaa |
language |
baaTo |
road or path |
bAAyaa |
right (direction) |
bahini |
younger sister |
bandh |
closed (in general) or a strike/shutdown enforced by protestors, with businesses and roads not likely to be open from mid-morning to sundown |
beyul |
hidden valley |
bhaai |
younger brother |
bhaat |
cooked rice |
bharal |
blue sheep |
bhaTmaas |
soybeans |
bhaTTi |
traditional Nepali inn |
bhikaari |
beggar |
bholi |
tomorrow |
BhoTiya |
Buddhist highlander of Nepal |
bihaana |
morning |
chaahanu |
to want |
chaarpi |
latrine |
chang |
locally brewed beer |
chataamari |
Newar-style pizza |
chAUmri (or zopkio) |
a cross between a yak and a cow |
chautaaraa |
rectangular resting platform on a trail |
chhiTo |
fast |
chilim |
clay pipe for smoking |
chiso |
cold (adj.) or jaaDo for climate |
chiyaa |
tea |
chorten |
Buddhist religious cubical/conical structure |
DAADaa |
ridge |
daal |
lentil soup poured over rice |
daal bhaat tarakaari |
a typical Nepali meal of lentil soup, rice, and vegetables |
daaju (or daai) |
elder brother |
dAAyaa |
left (direction) |
dahi |
yogurt |
dakshiRn |
south |
daru (or rakshi) |
a Thakali distilled spirit |
dharma |
religion (Buddhists will extend this definition to the teachings of Buddha, practice, duty, the spiritual path in general, and more) |
dharmsala |
rest house |
Dhilo |
slow |
didi |
elder sister |
dudh |
milk |
du-kha |
suffering |
Doko |
conical basket for carrying loads |
drokpa |
Tibetan nomad |
gaahro |
difficult |
gahrAU |
heavy (weight) |
gAU |
village |
ghiu |
clarified butter (ghee in India) |
gomba |
Tibetan Buddhist temple |
goTh |
shelter used by shepherds |
halukaa |
light (weight) |
hijo |
yesterday |
himaal |
mountain |
jAAnkri |
shaman |
jAAR |
locally brewed beer |
jaDibuTi |
medicinal herbs |
jharanaa |
waterfall |
jholaa |
bag |
jukaa |
leech |
juTho |
socially unacceptable, or polluting |
kaani |
traditional BhoTiya gateway |
kahAA? |
where? |
kata |
ceremonial scarf |
kharka |
pasture |
khola (also kosi or nadi) |
river |
kiraa |
insect |
koThaa |
room |
la |
pass (also bhanjyaang or deuraali) |
laaligurAAs |
rhododendron |
lauro |
walking stick |
lekh |
hill |
lokta |
bark of daphne plant used for making “rice” paper |
loTaa |
vessel for carrying water while answering nature’s call |
maanaa |
volume measure (20 oz, 2½ cups, or 0.7 l) |
maani |
prayer |
maayaa (or prem) |
love |
maTTitel |
kerosene |
naamlo |
tumpline |
namaskaar |
traditional greeting (very polite and formal) |
namaste |
traditional greeting (less formal) |
nayAA |
new |
paani |
water |
pairo |
landslide |
paisaa |
money |
paschim |
west |
pau |
200 grams (250 grams in India) |
phal |
fruit |
pokhari |
pond |
pul |
bridge |
puraano |
old |
puraano bas paark |
Old Bus Park (Kathmandu) |
purba |
east |
raamro |
good |
rakshi |
distilled spirits |
roTi |
tortilla (unleavened bread) |
rukh |
tree |
rupiyAA |
smallest unit of money (about 1.4 US cents, at mid-2010 rates) |
sAAjha |
evening |
saakaahaari |
vegetarian |
sAAp (or sarpa) |
snake |
saphaa |
clean |
shaanti |
peace |
shaligram |
ammonite fossil |
Sirdar |
chief guide or manager of an expedition |
solja |
Tibetan salt and butter tea |
stupa |
a large chorten (see above) |
taato |
hot (or garmi for climate) |
tal |
lake |
Tarai |
the low-elevation, southernmost strip of Nepal that borders
India and is an extension of the Gangetic Plain |
tarakaari |
vegetable dish |
thangka |
Buddhist scroll painting |
ThAU |
place |
Thik |
okay |
Tikaa |
a mark of religious or decorative significance on the forehead of Hindus |
Topi |
traditional men’s hat of Nepal |
tsampa |
roasted barley flour, usually consumed by BhoTiya |
Tundikhel |
parade ground |
tumbaa |
fermented mash of millet |
uttar |
north |
yaatraa |
journey |
yersa |
a cluster of goTh in Khumbu, but also applies to other northern regions |
yomori |
Newar sweet pastry |
zopkio |
a cross between a yak and a cow (or chAUmri) |
