Animals

1. कुकुर

   Kukur

   Dog

   Usage

   Street dogs are everywhere, in town and on the trails. During Tihar there is a day for garlanding and honouring them

2. बिरालो

   Biraalo

   Cat

   Usage

   Common at guesthouses and eateries — an easy small-talk opener with animal lovers

3. चरा

   Charaa

   Bird

   Usage

   The general word for birds. Nepal is a birding destination — Chitwan and Koshi Tappu run tours

4. माछा

   Maachhaa

   Fish

   Usage

   Both the animal and the food — fish is the specialty by Phewa Lake in Pokhara. Also show it to declare a fish allergy

5. गाई

   Gaai

   Cow

   Usage

   Nepal's national animal and sacred — they lie in the middle of city roads. Beef is essentially unavailable and slaughter is illegal, so tread carefully when food comes up

6. भैंसी

   Bhainsi

   Water buffalo

   Usage

   In Nepal "meat" usually means buffalo ("buff") — the standard momo filling, and so the animal name you meet most at the table

7. याक

   Yaak

   Yak

   Usage

   The pack animal above 3,000m. When a yak train comes down the trail, always step to the uphill side and wait

8. सुँगुर

   Sungur

   Pig

   Usage

   Plenty of people here do not eat pork, so it matters when stating food preferences

9. कुखुरा

   Kukhuraa

   Chicken

   Usage

   In every village. On menus it appears as "kukhuraako maasu" (chicken meat)

10. हाँस

    Haans

    Duck

    Usage

    Seen around water in the Terai plains, and offered at some festivals

11. बाख्रा

    Baakhraa

    Goat

    Usage

    A constant sight on hillsides. Goat trading peaks across the country during Dashain

12. भेडा

    Bhedaa

    Sheep

    Usage

    Grazed on high pastures — the word also comes up when buying wool goods

13. घोडा

    Ghodaa

    Horse

    Usage

    Still transport in Mustang and around Annapurna — and something you can hire if you can no longer walk

14. हात्ती

    Haatti

    Elephant

    Usage

    Found around Chitwan National Park. Walking safaris and sanctuary visits have largely replaced elephant rides

15. गैंडा

    Gaindaa

    Rhinoceros

    Usage

    The one-horned rhino of Chitwan — the wildlife highlight of a Nepal trip. If you meet one, never approach; get behind a tree

16. बाँदर

    Baandar

    Monkey

    Usage

    Swarming Swayambhunath (the "monkey temple") and Pashupatinath — show it to warn about snatched food and glasses

17. बाघ

    Baagh

    Tiger

    Usage

    Bengal tigers live in Chitwan and Bardia. Sightings are rare, but guides will show you the pugmarks

18. चितुवा

    Chituwaa

    Leopard

    Usage

    They come close to hill villages. If locals tell you not to walk alone after dark, this is usually the reason

19. हिउँ चितुवा

    Hiun chituwaa

    Snow leopard

    Usage

    "Hiun" (snow) + "chituwaa" (leopard) — the rare cat of the high country in Dolpo and Mustang, and a favourite topic with local guides

20. सर्प

    Sarpa

    Snake

    Usage

    Common in the Terai. "Sarpale tokyo" (a snake bit me) is the emergency phrase

21. गोही

    Gohi

    Crocodile

    Usage

    Gharial and mugger crocodiles live in Chitwan's Rapti river — the word you hear most on a canoe trip

22. कछुवा

    Kachhuwaa

    Turtle

    Usage

    The turtle — seen in temple ponds

23. भ्यागुतो

    Bhyaaguto

    Frog

    Usage

    They chorus all night through the monsoon — the sound that announces rice-planting season

24. छेपारो

    Chhepaaro

    Lizard

    Usage

    The general word for outdoor lizards. Harmless — use it to ask what that thing is

25. माउसुली

    Maausuli

    House gecko

    Usage

    The small gecko on guesthouse walls. It eats insects, so people leave it alone

26. मुसा

    Musaa

    Rat / mouse

    Usage

    The rat — show it at reception to report one in your room

27. खरायो

    Kharaayo

    Rabbit

    Usage

    The rabbit — seen at forest edges and in fields

28. चमेरो

    Chamero

    Bat

    Usage

    Flying foxes roost in Kathmandu's street trees — point at the dusk sky as you show it

29. लामखुट्टे

    Laamkhutte

    Mosquito

    Usage

    Literally "long legs". In the Terai it carries dengue and malaria — show it when asking for a net

30. साङ्लो

    Saanglo

    Cockroach

    Usage

    Show it at reception to report one in the room — just showing it usually gets action

31. कमिला

    Kamilaa

    Ant

    Usage

    The ant — leave food out and they arrive fast

32. मौरी

    Mauri

    Bee

    Usage

    The bee — honey is "maha". In the mid-hills there is a tradition of harvesting cliff nests of the Himalayan giant bee

33. माकुरा

    Maakuraa

    Spider

    Usage

    The spider — nearly all harmless, but show it if one turns up in your room

34. कनखजुरा

    Kankhajuraa

    Centipede

    Usage

    Its bite swells badly and it hides in shoes and bags — an important word to show a doctor

35. जुका

    Jukaa

    Leech

    Usage

    The scourge of forest trails in the monsoon (June–September) — they get in through your socks. Carry salt to make them let go

36. पुतली

    Putali

    Butterfly

    Usage

    The butterfly — it is also used as a girl's name

37. झिँगा

    Jhingaa

    Fly

    Usage

    The fly — useful when asking a street stall to keep food covered

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