Food & Drinks

1. दाल भात दिनुहोस्

   Daal bhaat di-nu-hos

   Please give me dal bhat (lentil soup and rice)

   Usage

   Nepal's national dish: lentil soup, rice, and side dishes. Traditionally eaten twice a day. Available at every teahouse on trekking routes.

   Grammar Note

   "दिनुहोस्" is the polite imperative of "दिनु" (to give). Standard verb for ordering food.

2. मोमो खान पाइन्छ?

   Mo-mo khaan paain-chha?

   Can I eat momos (dumplings)?

   Usage

   Momos are Nepal's most popular snack — steamed or fried dumplings. Found on every street corner in Kathmandu.

   Grammar Note

   "पाइन्छ" expresses general possibility or permission. "के मोमो छ?" (Do you have momos?) is also common.

3. पानी दिनुहोस्

   Paa-ni di-nu-hos

   Please give me water

   Usage

   On treks, always request safe drinking water. "उमालेको पानी" (boiled water) for extra safety.

   Grammar Note

   "पानी" is the same as in Hindi. Mineral water = "मिनरल वाटर," hot tea = "तातो चिया."

4. यो के हो?

   Yo ke ho?

   What is this?

   Usage

   Point at a menu item or dish to ask. Great for confirming unfamiliar Nepali dishes before ordering.

   Grammar Note

   "यो" (this, near), "त्यो" (that, far). "यो के हो?" is a versatile basic question.

5. पिरो नहालिदिनुहोस्

   Pi-ro na-haa-li-di-nu-hos

   Please make it not spicy

   Usage

   Nepali food can be quite spicy. Add "अलिकति मात्र" (just a little) for a lighter spice level.

   Grammar Note

   "नहालिदिनुहोस्" is the polite negative imperative of "हालिदिनु" (to put in for someone): "please don't put it in". "पिरो" is the word for chili heat.

6. बिल ल्याउनुहोस्

   Bil lyaa-u-nu-hos

   Please bring the bill

   Usage

   Used at restaurants and teahouses. On a trek, "कति भयो?" (How much does it come to?) is also fine.

   Grammar Note

   "ल्याउनुहोस्" is the polite imperative of "ल्याउनु" (to bring). "बिल" is an English loanword widely understood.

7. यो धेरै मिठो छ

   Yo dhe-rai mi-tho chha

   This is very delicious

   Usage

   Expressing appreciation for food. Local cooks and hosts will be delighted to hear this.

   Grammar Note

   "छ" is the Nepali copula for existence and state. "धेरै" (very/much) precedes adjectives for emphasis.

8. चिया एक कप दिनुहोस्

   Chi-ya ek kap di-nu-hos

   Please give me one cup of tea

   Usage

   Nepali spiced milk tea (chai) is superb. Essential for warming up at teahouses on trekking routes.

   Grammar Note

   Nepali numbers precede nouns. "दुई कप" (two cups), "तीन कप" (three cups).

9. शाकाहारी खाना छ?

   Shaa-kaa-haa-ri khaa-naa chha?

   Is there vegetarian food?

   Usage

   Nepal has a large Hindu population so vegetarian options are plentiful. Always available at trekking teahouses.

   Grammar Note

   Nepali questions can be formed by raising intonation. "छ" means "there is" in statements and "is there?" in questions.

10. थप दिनुहोस्

    Tha-pa di-nu-hos

    Please give me more (seconds)

    Usage

    Dal bhat traditionally comes with free refills. Say this and more will be served. Great after a long trekking day.

    Grammar Note

    "थप" works as both adverb and adjective. "थप खाना" (more food), "थप पानी" (more water).

11. म मासु खाँदिन

    Ma maa-su khaan-di-na

    I do not eat meat

    Usage

    For vegetarians, vegans, or religious dietary restrictions. Note: "गाईको मासु" (beef) is avoided by Hindus.

    Grammar Note

    Negative present is formed with "दिन/दिनँ." "खान्छु" (I eat) → "खाँदिन" (I do not eat).

12. डेढ सय रुपैयाँ भयो

    Dedh sa-ya ru-pai-yaan bha-yo

    That comes to 150 rupees

    Usage

    Commonly heard when paying for a meal. Useful to recognize Nepali rupee amounts.

    Grammar Note

    "डेढ" means "one and a half," unique to Nepali arithmetic. "भयो" is the past of "हुनु" (to become), used commonly in billing.

13. भात

    Bhaat

    Cooked rice

    Usage

    Cooked rice; uncooked rice is a different word, chamal. It is the staple half of the national dal bhat

14. पाउरोटी

    Pauroti

    Bread

    Usage

    Leavened loaf bread. Roti is the unleavened flatbread and is a separate thing

15. चाउचाउ

    Chauchau

    Noodles (instant)

    Usage

    In Nepal chauchau means instant noodles first of all; fried noodles are chaumin and noodle soup is thukpa

16. पिरो

    Piro

    Spicy hot

    Usage

    Chili heat, for checking how hot a dish is when ordering. Nepali uses piro, not the Hindi tikha

17. गुलियो

    Guliyo

    Sweet

    Usage

    Sugar sweetness. Nepali mitho means tasty rather than sweet, so use guliyo when you mean sugar

18. काँचो

    Kaancho

    Raw / uncooked

    Usage

    Not cooked through. Point at it to avoid salads and raw garnishes; the same word also means unripe when used of fruit

19. सुप

    Sup

    Soup

    Usage

    Soup as a dish. The gravy or broth of dal and curry is jhol, a different word, so use sup when ordering soup

20. फलफूल

    Phalphul

    Fruit

    Usage

    Fruit in general; point at it when asking for fruit at a market or eatery

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