Signs

1. प्रवेश

   Pravesh

   Entrance

   Usage

   Displayed at the entrances of government offices, temples, and tourist sites, usually alongside English ENTRANCE; sometimes written pravesh dwar

2. निकास

   Nikas

   Exit

   Usage

   Displayed at exits of airports, government buildings, and facilities, usually alongside English EXIT

3. आपतकालीन निकास

   Aapatkalin nikas

   Emergency Exit

   Usage

   A green sign paired with a pictogram; in Nepal it is often labelled only in English as EMERGENCY EXIT

4. OPEN

   Open

   Open (door sign)

   Usage

   Shop-door flip signs in Nepal are almost always English; the Nepali equivalent is khula

5. CLOSED

   Closed

   Closed (door sign)

   Usage

   Shop-door flip signs are almost always English; the Nepali word is banda, which is also the term for a strike shutdown

6. खुला छ

   Khula chha

   Open for business

   Usage

   Written on shop boards and notices to state the place is currently open — more explanatory than the English OPEN flip sign

7. अहिलेलाई बन्द

   Ahilelai banda

   Closed for now

   Usage

   Nepal has no fixed equivalent of the Japanese junbichuu placard; this is the wording used on hand-written notices for a temporary closure

8. पुरुष

   Purush

   Men

   Usage

   Marks the men’s toilet; the English half of the sign usually reads GENTS or MEN

9. महिला

   Mahila

   Women

   Usage

   Marks the women’s toilet; the English half of the sign usually reads LADIES or WOMEN

10. प्रवेश निषेध

    Pravesh nishedh

    No Entry

    Usage

    Posted on restricted doors and areas, and also at temples where non-Hindus are not allowed in

11. धूम्रपान निषेध

    Dhumrapan nishedh

    No Smoking

    Usage

    Posted at airports, government offices, and restaurants; smoking in enclosed public places is banned by law in Nepal

12. SMOKING ZONE

    Smoking Zone

    Smoking Area

    Usage

    Marks a designated smoking area at airports and hotels; the sign is written in English only (Nepali would be dhumrapan kshetra)

13. सिँढी

    Sirhi

    Stairs

    Usage

    Directional sign for stairs inside a building. Spoken Nepali normally uses bharyang, but signs tend to use sirhi or the English STAIRS

14. PUSH

    Push

    Push

    Usage

    Door push/pull stickers in Nepal are almost always English only; the Nepali would be dhakelnuhos, which is rarely seen

15. PULL

    Pull

    Pull

    Usage

    Door push/pull stickers in Nepal are almost always English only; the Nepali would be tannuhos, which is rarely seen

16. निर्माण कार्य जारी छ

    Nirman karya jari chha

    Under Construction

    Usage

    Posted at construction sites and blocked roads, often with English WORK IN PROGRESS or ROAD UNDER CONSTRUCTION

17. OUT OF ORDER

    Out of Order

    Out of Order

    Usage

    Posted on lifts, ATMs, and toilets; the English wording is standard, sometimes with a hand-written bigreko chha

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