Directions

1. [ठाउँ] कहाँ छ?

   [thau] ka-haa chha?

   Where is [place]?

   Usage

   Basic phrase for finding a location in Kathmandu or other Nepali cities. Replace [thau] with your destination

   Grammar Note

   Questions in Nepali are formed by rising intonation or the question mark. "Kahaan" is the location question word.

2. सिधा जानुहोस्

   Si-dhaa jaa-nu-hos

   Go straight

   Usage

   Basic direction phrase. Also used to instruct taxi or rickshaw drivers

   Grammar Note

   "Jaanuhos" is the polite imperative of "to go." Casual form: "jau." Kathmandu's narrow lanes make directional phrases essential.

3. बायाँ फर्कनुहोस्

   Baa-yaan phar-ka-nu-hos

   Please turn left

   Usage

   Polite instruction for turning left. Useful when directing taxi or tempo drivers

   Grammar Note

   "Bayaan" (left) and "daayaan" (right) are the core direction words. "Phariknu" means to turn or return.

4. दायाँ फर्कनुहोस्

   Daa-yaan phar-ka-nu-hos

   Please turn right

   Usage

   Polite instruction for turning right. Also useful on Nepali trekking trails when indicating direction

   Grammar Note

   "Daayaan" uses the nasal vowel ending "-yaan" typical of directional words in Nepali. Same pattern as "bayaan" (left).

5. हिँडेर जान सकिन्छ?

   Hin-de-ra jaan sa-kin-chha?

   Can I walk there?

   Usage

   Used to check if a destination is walkable. Handy between Kathmandu's major sightseeing spots

   Grammar Note

   "Sakinchha" is the passive potential form of "saknu" (can). "Hindera" is the conjunctive participle of "to walk."

6. म हराएँ

   Ma ha-raa-en

   I am lost

   Usage

   Used when lost. Helpful in Kathmandu's old city or on mountain trekking routes

   Grammar Note

   "Haraen" is the 1st-person perfect of "haraunu" (to get lost). The "-en" ending marks first-person perfect in Nepali.

7. नक्शामा देखाइदिनुस्

   Nak-sha-maa de-khaa-i-di-nus

   Please show me on the map

   Usage

   Used to ask someone to point out a location on a map, physical or on a smartphone

   Grammar Note

   "Dekhaaidiinus" is a compound verb: "dekhaaunu" (to show) + "dinu" (to give). It expresses doing something for someone's benefit.

8. यो स्तूपा कहाँ छ?

   Yo stu-paa ka-haa chha?

   Where is this stupa?

   Usage

   Used to locate stupas like Boudhanath or Swayambhunath — Kathmandu's iconic Buddhist monuments

   Grammar Note

   "Stupa" is from Sanskrit, meaning a Buddhist dome structure. Kathmandu Valley has several UNESCO-listed stupas including Boudhanath (the world's largest).

9. अगाडि जानुहोस्, पछाडि होइन

   A-gaa-di jaa-nu-hos, pa-chhaa-di ho-i-na

   Go forward, not backward

   Usage

   Used to clarify direction when there is confusion. Also useful for guiding porters or trekking companions

   Grammar Note

   "Hoina" is the negative of "ho" (to be), meaning "is not." In Nepali, negation typically comes at the end of the sentence.

10. यहाँ रोक्नुहोस्

    Ya-haan rok-nu-hos

    Please stop here

    Usage

    Used to instruct a driver to stop. Essential when nearing a destination in Kathmandu

    Grammar Note

    "Roknuhos" is the polite imperative of "roknu" (to stop). Casual form: "rok." Nepal taxis often lack meters — agree on the fare beforehand.

11. दायाँ

    Daayaan

    Right

    Usage

    One-word direction; a driver can read it at a glance without taking their eyes off the road

12. बायाँ

    Baayaan

    Left

    Usage

    One-word direction; a driver can read it at a glance without taking their eyes off the road

13. सिधा

    Sidhaa

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Keep going without turning; used to direct a driver or a person on foot

14. फर्कनुहोस्

    Pharkanuhos

    Please go back

    Usage

    Ask the driver to turn around and go back the way you came, for when you have overshot

15. रोक्नुहोस्

    Roknuhos

    Please stop

    Usage

    A one-word stop request, quicker to show in the moment than the full yahaan roknuhos

16. उत्तर

    Uttar

    North

    Usage

    Compass direction; in Nepal north is the Himalayan side and south is the Indian side

17. दक्षिण

    Dakshin

    South

    Usage

    Compass direction, used on maps and address boards

18. पूर्व

    Purba

    East

    Usage

    Compass direction, used on maps and address boards

19. पश्चिम

    Pashchim

    West

    Usage

    Compass direction, used on maps and address boards

20. होटल

    Hotal

    Hotel

    Usage

    Show it as a destination. Note that eateries in Nepal also put hotal on their signs, so add the name of your lodge to be sure

21. विमानस्थल

    Bimansthal

    Airport

    Usage

    Show it as a destination. Kathmandu is Tribhuvan Airport, where the domestic and international terminals are separate buildings

22. बस स्टप

    Bas stap

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Show it as a destination. Nepali bus stops are often unmarked, so expect to ask a person where it is

23. दूतावास

    Dutabas

    Embassy

    Usage

    Show it as a destination when a passport is lost or after an accident; most embassies are in Kathmandu

24. एटिएम

    Etiem

    ATM

    Usage

    Show it as a destination. On trekking routes there is almost nothing past Pokhara or Namche, so draw cash beforehand

25. पैसा साट्ने पसल

    Paisa saatne pasal

    Money exchange

    Usage

    Show it as a destination. They cluster in Thamel and Pokhara, and their signboards almost always read MONEY EXCHANGE in English

26. लुगा धुने पसल

    Lugaa dhune pasal

    Laundry shop

    Usage

    Show it as a destination. Coin laundromats barely exist in Nepal; you hand washing over by weight at a laundry shop, and trekking lodges take it too

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