Health & Hospital

1. मलाई टाउको दुख्छ

   Ma-lai taa-u-ko dukh-chha

   I have a headache

   Usage

   Used to describe a headache to a doctor or pharmacist. Also relevant for altitude sickness symptoms on Himalayan treks

   Grammar Note

   Nepali pain expressions use the dative structure "malai X dukhchha" (X hurts me). The subject takes the dative case (-lai), unlike English.

2. मलाई अस्पताल जानु छ

   Ma-lai as-po-tal jaa-nu chha

   I need to go to the hospital

   Usage

   Used in emergencies or when ill to express the need to get to a hospital

   Grammar Note

   "Janu chha" expresses necessity/obligation. In such constructions, the logical subject takes the dative case "malai."

3. यो औषधि छ?

   Yo au-sha-dhi chha?

   Do you have this medicine?

   Usage

   Used at a pharmacy to ask for medicine. Effective when showing the medicine name on paper

   Grammar Note

   "Chha" is the copula (to be/have). Questions are formed by rising intonation or by adding "ki."

4. मलाई एलर्जी छ

   Ma-lai e-lar-ji chha

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Used to inform about allergies. Essential at teahouses and restaurants on trekking routes

   Grammar Note

   "Malai X chha" means "I have X." To specify the allergen: "X-ma allerji chha" (I'm allergic to X).

5. मलाई ज्वरो छ

   Ma-lai jwa-ro chha

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Used to tell a doctor about a fever. Important during Nepali treks when illness can escalate at altitude

   Grammar Note

   "Jwaro" (fever) is from Sanskrit. Add an adjective: "uchchha jwaro" (high fever) for more detail.

6. उचाइको बिरामी भएँ

   U-chai-ko bi-raa-mi bha-en

   I have altitude sickness

   Usage

   One of the most critical health phrases for Himalayan trekkers — used to report acute mountain sickness (AMS)

   Grammar Note

   "Bhaen" is the 1st-person simple past of "to become." Always report AMS symptoms (headache, nausea, dizziness) before they progress to HACE/HAPE.

7. वाक्वाकी लागेको छ

   Waak-waa-ki laa-ge-ko chha

   I feel nauseous

   Usage

   Used to describe nausea to a doctor or companion. Also an early symptom of altitude sickness

   Grammar Note

   "Lageko chha" is the present perfect of "lagnu" (to feel/seem). Senses and emotions often use dative subjects in Nepali.

8. अंग्रेजी बोल्ने डाक्टर छ?

   Ang-re-ji bol-ne daak-tar chha?

   Is there an English-speaking doctor?

   Usage

   Used at Nepali hospitals to ask for an English-speaking doctor. Many doctors in Kathmandu speak English

   Grammar Note

   Nepali relative clauses precede the noun. "Bolne" is the present participle of "bolnu" (to speak), forming a pre-nominal modifier.

9. मलाई पेट दुखेको छ

   Ma-lai pet du-khe-ko chha

   I have a stomachache

   Usage

   Used to describe a stomachache. Relevant for food poisoning or digestive issues during Nepal travel

   Grammar Note

   "Dukheko chha" (present perfect) implies ongoing pain. Slightly more emphatic than the simple present "dukhchha."

10. प्रिस्क्रिप्सन दिनुहोस्

    Pris-krip-shon di-nu-hos

    Please give me a prescription

    Usage

    Politely requests a prescription from a doctor after a medical examination

    Grammar Note

    "Dinuhos" is the polite imperative of "to give." Many pharmacies in Nepal sell medicines without a prescription, but having one ensures appropriate treatment.

11. गर्भवती

    Garbhavati

    Pregnant

    Usage

    The single most important word to show at a clinic or pharmacy — it changes what medicine, X-rays, and altitude gain are safe

12. अस्थमा

    Asthma

    Asthma

    Usage

    Tell a doctor about this pre-existing condition; the colloquial word is dam. Attacks are more likely at altitude, so declare it before a trek

13. मधुमेह

    Madhumeha

    Diabetes

    Usage

    Word for the condition; in everyday speech Nepalis also say chini rog (sugar disease)

14. उच्च रक्तचाप

    Uchcha raktachaap

    High blood pressure

    Usage

    Word for the condition; clinics also understand the English-derived haai presar

15. मुटुको रोग

    Mutuko rog

    Heart disease

    Usage

    Word for a heart condition. Nepali for heart is mutu, not the Hindi dil. It directly affects whether you should go to altitude

16. छारे रोग

    Chhaare rog

    Epilepsy

    Usage

    The everyday Nepali word for the condition; medical staff also use mirgi

17. बीमा

    Bima

    Insurance

    Usage

    Word for how treatment will be paid; on treks, whether your travel insurance covers helicopter rescue decides how you get evacuated

18. हाड भाँचियो

    Haad bhaanchiyo

    Broken bone

    Usage

    States that a bone is broken; point at the limb while showing it

19. सास फेर्न गाह्रो

    Saas ferna gaahro

    Hard to breathe

    Usage

    The key altitude phrase. Shown to a guide or at a teahouse above 3,000 m it is read as suspected altitude sickness (AMS/HAPE) and triggers descent or oxygen. Breathlessness at rest means descend now

20. रिँगटा लाग्यो

    Ringata laagyo

    I feel dizzy

    Usage

    Show this to a guide, porter, or teahouse owner as an early altitude-sickness sign; combined with headache and nausea it is grounds for not going higher

21. रगत बग्यो

    Ragat bagyo

    It is bleeding

    Usage

    States that something is bleeding; point at the wound while showing it

22. पोलेको घाउ

    Poleko ghau

    Burn

    Usage

    A burn from hot water, fire, or an exhaust pipe — common from teahouse stoves and motorbike mufflers

23. घाउ

    Ghau

    Wound / cut

    Usage

    Any cut or graze on the skin; show it at a pharmacy when asking for antiseptic or a plaster

24. कान

    Kaan

    Ear

    Usage

    Body part for pointing out where it hurts, including ear pain from pressure changes on flights and helicopter rides

25. गर्दन

    Gardan

    Neck

    Usage

    The outside of the neck. Nepali ghaanti covers both throat and neck, so use gardan when you mean the neck itself

26. काँध

    Kaandh

    Shoulder

    Usage

    Body part for pointing out where it hurts, including shoulder pain from a heavy trekking pack

27. घुँडा

    Ghunda

    Knee

    Usage

    Body part for pointing out where it hurts — the joint most often injured on long descents while trekking

28. हातको औंला

    Haatko aunla

    Finger

    Usage

    Finger. Nepali aunla alone means finger or toe, so haatko (of the hand) pins it down; a toe is khuttako aunla

29. छाला

    Chhaala

    Skin

    Usage

    Point at your own skin while showing this — the same word also means leather or animal hide

30. पाखुरा

    Paakhura

    Arm

    Usage

    The arm from shoulder to wrist. Nepali haat usually means the hand, so paakhura is the word that separates arm from hand

31. नाक

    Naak

    Nose

    Usage

    Body part for pointing out where it hurts; also used to explain nosebleeds, which are common in dry high-altitude air

32. खोकी

    Khoki

    Cough

    Usage

    The symptom. A persistent dry cough at altitude can be an early sign of HAPE, so always report it

33. चिलाउँछ

    Chilaauchha

    It itches

    Usage

    States that something itches; point at the spot while showing it

34. छालामा दाना

    Chhaalaama daana

    Rash

    Usage

    Red bumps on the skin; show it with the affected area visible when asking a pharmacy for a cream

35. कब्जियत

    Kabjiyat

    Constipation

    Usage

    The symptom; show it at a pharmacy when asking for a laxative

36. महिनावारी

    Mahinaawari

    Period (menstruation)

    Usage

    The word actually used across Nepal; the formal term is rajaswalaa and younger speakers also say the English piriyad

37. रक्त समूह

    Rakta samuha

    Blood type

    Usage

    Asked before any transfusion or surgery; write your own group in Latin letters (O, A, B, AB) to be safe

38. अस्पताल भर्ना

    Aspataal bharnaa

    Hospital admission

    Usage

    Staying in hospital for treatment; also show it when checking whether your insurer has to be notified

39. रुघा

    Rughaa

    A cold

    Usage

    Covers a runny nose and sore throat; when a cough comes with it people usually say rughaakhoki

40. म बिरामी भएँ

    Ma bi-raa-mi bha-en

    I feel sick

    Usage

    The shortest way to tell a doctor or hotel staff that you are unwell; enough on its own when you cannot name the symptom

    Grammar Note

    Uses the same "बिरामी भएँ" frame as ("I got altitude sickness"), with the modifier dropped so that it says only "I have fallen ill". The subject म is as in ("म हराएँ").

41. मैले धेरै पटक बान्ता गरेको छु

    Mai-le dhe-rai pa-tak baan-taa ga-re-ko chhu

    I have vomited several times

    Usage

    Tells a doctor how often you have vomited; for nausea alone use ("वाक्वाकी लागेको छ")

    Grammar Note

    बान्ता means vomiting or vomit; the compound verb बान्ता गर्नु means to vomit. The ergative मैले and first-person present perfect गरेको छु are the same forms as in "मैले बुकिङ गरेको छु" (I have booked).

42. के मलाई आराम चाहिन्छ?

    Ke ma-laai aa-raam chaa-hin-chha?

    Do I need to rest?

    Usage

    Ask the doctor after an examination whether you may carry on as usual

    Grammar Note

    The same "के … चाहिन्छ?" question frame as ("do I need a prescription?"), filled with "मलाई आराम" from ("मलाई आरामको आवश्यकता छ", I need rest).

43. पखाला

    Pakhaalaa

    Diarrhea

    Usage

    The symptom; show it to a doctor or pharmacist. "पखाला लाग्नु" means to have diarrhea

44. दिसा

    Disaa

    Poop

    Usage

    The ordinary Nepali word for stool, usable with a child or a doctor. It is not an insult. "दिसा गर्नु" means to pass stool

45. पिसाब

    Pisaab

    Pee

    Usage

    The ordinary Nepali word for urine. The older spelling is "पिसाप्", a polite word. "पिसाब गर्नु" means to urinate. The same-meaning verb "मुत्नु" is vulgar, so avoid it

46. मलाई पखाला लागेको छ

    Ma-laai pa-khaa-laa laa-ge-ko chha

    I have diarrhea

    Usage

    Used to tell a doctor or pharmacist that you have diarrhea

    Grammar Note

    "Pakhala laagnu" literally means diarrhea "attaches"; the verb laagnu is used in health texts for this. "Laageko chha" says the condition is in effect now

47. मलाई कब्जियत छ

    Ma-laai kab-ji-yat chha

    I'm constipated

    Usage

    Used to tell a doctor or pharmacist that you are constipated. Same "मलाई + symptom + छ" pattern as "मलाई ज्वरो छ"

    Grammar Note

    A sentence built on "कब्जियत". Nepali says "to me there is constipation", not "I am constipated"

48. मलाई पिसाब लाग्यो

    Ma-laai pi-saab laag-yo

    I need to pee

    Usage

    Tell a companion or a child that you need to pee. A plain phrasing, neither stiff nor rude. "पिसाब लागेको" expresses the urge to urinate

    Grammar Note

    "Pisaab laagnu" literally means the urge "attaches" to you. It uses the same verb laagnu as "pakhala laagnu"

49. मलाई दिसा लाग्यो

    Ma-laai di-saa laag-yo

    I need to poop

    Usage

    Tell a companion or a child that you need to poop. A plain phrasing, neither stiff nor rude. The form "दिसा पिसाब लागेको बेलामा" (when you feel the urge to defecate or urinate) appears in health articles

    Grammar Note

    The same pattern as पिसाब लागेको with "पिसाब" replaced by "दिसा". "दिसा गर्नु" (to pass stool) is a separate way to name the act itself

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