English of odd Nepali words

Image: Ishkush (Chayote Squash)


Since English is not our mother tongue, we may be sometimes left puzzled when we try to express some of the words in English. Yes, the main region that we, Nepalese, feel like quenching the thirst from inside out while speaking Nepali language after a hiatus of English speaking is that we don’t know English of all the words. Here are some collection of odd Nepali words, basically stuffs or things, and their English.

For example, you may have heard ‘black-eyed peas’ a lot of times. This is the great music band, but, do you know what it means in Nepali? Follow the read to know.

Taamaa= तामा  = Bamboo shoots

Baabari = बाबरी  = common mint (basil is common name for both Tulsi and Babari)

Niyuro = निउरो = Fern shoots

Raayo saag = रायो साग = mustard greens

Bhungro = भुङ्ग्रो = embers

Gol = गोल  = charcoal

Alkatraa = अल्कत्रा  = asphalt

Makal = मकल = scuttle

Kasaikhaanaa = वधशाला = abattoir / slaughterhouse

Raithaane = रैथाने = aborigines

Paatro = पात्रो = almanac

Madhyasthakarta = मध्यस्तकर्ता = arbitrator

masyauraa = मस्यौरा = lentil nuggets

Langur burjaa = लङ्गुर बुर्जा = crown and anchor

Yuddabiraam = युद्दबिराम =armistice / truce

Hastarekha herne jyotish = हस्तबिज्ञ  = palmist

Naastik = नास्तिक = atheist

Rahar ko dal = रहर को दाल = pigeon peas

Giti katha = गिती कथा = ballet

keti chhinne kaam = केटी छिन्ने काम (टिकाटाला) = betrothal

koklyaato = कोक्ल्याटो  = bigot

Paakhe = पाखे = bumpkin

Dulo = दुलो  = burrow

Chana = चना = brown chickpeas

Gaushaalaa = गौशाला = byre

Lohori  = लोहोरी (सुत्ने बेलामा भनिने कथा वा गीत) = lullaby

Bodi = बोडी = black eyed peas

Kumari = कुमारी = maiden

Putla = पुत्ला = effigy

Chuche karela = बरेला वा चुचे करेला= Balsam apple

कपडा पसलमा राखिने मानव आक्रिती   = mannequin

Kubindo = कुबिण्डो  = ash gourd

Bhatti = भट्टी  = tavern

Dadhelo = डढेलो = conflagration

Ishkush = इश्कुश = chayote squash

Bishwabyaapi = विश्वब्यापी = ubiquitous

Joitingre = जोइटिङ्ग्रे = uxorious

Bidur = बिदुर = widower

Baagh chaal = बाघचाल = tigers and goats

Naag pasaa = नागपासा = sankes and ladders

खल्याङ्गखुट्टी  = hopscotch

बोकेदारी = goatee  

छुसे दारी = soul patch (hair between lips and chin)

डकार =  belch 

हाइ गर्नु = yawn 

लप्सी = hog plum 

जन्मकुण्डली = Birth chart 

घांडो  = onus 

दाम्लो = tether 

दाती = eaves (the area beneath the roof edge)
भित्तेलेखन =graffiti
एेजेरु   = mistletoe
बुखियाचा = scarecrow