Learn to read Nepali
A short, active path into reading Nepali: learn how a Devanagari letter carries its own vowel, decode ten real words before the full alphabet, follow the verb to the end of the sentence, and read a small story before opening your first book.
Reading
3 sectionsFirst reading with help: two animals meet on the road
- Read the Nepali line first, then use the pronunciation and the English beside it.
- Every sentence ends in its verb, and a quotation is closed with भनेरbhanera whenever the line names who spoke.
- The two animals speak to each other as equals, so they use तिमीtimī.
- The last line has two doers, so its verb takes the -ए ending.
- Re-read it once without looking at the English.
One shape to have ready before the story
On the road
एक दिन मुसा बाटोमा थियो।
ek din musā bāṭomā thiyo
One day the mouse was on the road.
त्यहाँ एउटा स्याल आयो।
tyahā̃ euṭā syāl āyo
A jackal came there.
“नमस्ते,” भनेर स्यालले भन्यो।
“namaste,” bhanera syālle bhanyo
“Hello,” said the jackal.
“तिमी कहाँ जान्छौ?” भनेर उसले सोध्यो।
“timī kahā̃ jānchau?” bhanera usle sodhyo
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“म खोलामा जान्छु,” भनेर मुसाले भन्यो।
“ma kholāmā jānchu,” bhanera musāle bhanyo
“I am going to the stream,” said the mouse.
“त्यहाँ पानी छ। त्यो राम्रो छ।”
“tyahā̃ pānī cha. tyo rāmro cha.”
“There is water there. That is good.”
“म पनि जान्छु,” भनेर स्यालले भन्यो।
“ma pani jānchu,” bhanera syālle bhanyo
“I am going too,” said the jackal.
अनि मुसा र स्याल खोलामा गए।
ani musā ra syāl kholāmā gae
And then the mouse and the jackal went to the stream.
Three delayed recalls before the new story
These first appeared several sections ago. No hints this time.
- रूख
Show answer +Hide answer −
रूखrūkh“tree” - घर
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घरghar“house, home” - ठूलो
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ठूलोṭhūlo“big”