At ECS, we make sure all our trekking students are comfortable with Nepali numbers and directional vocabulary before they set foot on a trail. Master these first and everything else — teahouse conversations, route planning, market negotiations — becomes significantly easier.
Nepali Numbers 1–100
| Devanagari | Romanized | Number |
|---|---|---|
| एक | Ek | 1 |
| दुई | Dui | 2 |
| तीन | Teen | 3 |
| चार | Chaar | 4 |
| पाँच | Paach | 5 |
| छ | Chha | 6 |
| सात | Saat | 7 |
| आठ | Aath | 8 |
| नौ | Nau | 9 |
| दस | Das | 10 |
| एघार | Eghaar | 11 |
| बाह्र | Baahra | 12 |
| तेह्र | Tehrha | 13 |
| चौध | Chaudha | 14 |
| पन्ध्र | Pandhra | 15 |
| सोह्र | Sohra | 16 |
| सत्र | Satra | 17 |
| अठार | Athaar | 18 |
| उन्नाइस | Unnaais | 19 |
| बीस | Bees | 20 |
| तीस | Tees | 30 |
| चालीस | Chaalis | 40 |
| पचास | Pachaas | 50 |
| साठी | Saathee | 60 |
| सत्तरी | Sattari | 70 |
| अस्सी | Assi | 80 |
| नब्बे | Nabbe | 90 |
| एक सय | Ek say | 100 |
For numbers 21–99, Nepali combines the tens and units with no separator. For example, 21 = ekkaais, 35 = paittees. The patterns are slightly irregular but quickly become familiar with practice.
Asking About Distance and Time
On the trail you will constantly need to ask about distance and time. The key pattern for understanding answers: number + ghanta (hours) + laagcha (takes). If someone says Teen ghanta laagcha — it means "It takes three hours."
| Devanagari | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कति किलोमिटर छ? | Kati kilometer cha? | How many kilometres is it? |
| कति घण्टा लाग्छ? | Kati ghanta laagcha? | How many hours will it take? |
| कति मिनेट लाग्छ? | Kati minute laagcha? | How many minutes? |
| अब कति टाढा छ? | Aba kati taadha cha? | How much further is it now? |
Directions Vocabulary
A useful sentence pattern to remember: "Sidhaa gaye pachhi, baayin mornus" — "After going straight, turn left."
| Devanagari | Romanized | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| सिधा | Sidhaa | Straight ahead |
| बायाँ | Baayaa | Left |
| दायाँ | Daayaa | Right |
| माथि | Maathi | Up / Uphill |
| तल | Tala | Down / Downhill |
| अगाडि | Agaadi | In front / Ahead |
| पछाडि | Pacchaadi | Behind |
| नजिक | Najik | Near / Nearby |
| टाढा | Taadha | Far |
| पूर्व | Purba | East |
| पश्चिम | Pashchim | West |
| उत्तर | Uttar | North |
| दक्षिण | Dakshin | South |
Reading Nepali Trail Signs
Trail signs in Nepal are often bilingual (Nepali and English), but on remote routes you will encounter Nepali only. Knowing these words lets you navigate independently without relying entirely on a guide for sign-reading.
| Devanagari | Romanized | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| बाटो | Baato | Path / Trail |
| प्रवेश | Pravesh | Entrance |
| निकास | Nikaas | Exit |
| निषेध | Nisheddha | Prohibited |
| सावधान | Saawadhaan | Caution |
| खतरा | Khataraa | Danger |
| पानी | Paani | Water |
| शौचालय | Shauchaalay | Toilet |
| आराम | Aaram | Rest area |
| अस्पताल | Aspataal | Hospital |
| प्रहरी | Prahari | Police |
Telling Time in Nepali
Nepali uses the 12-hour clock in daily speech. The structure is: number + baje for o'clock.
| Devanagari | Romanized | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| एक बजे | Ek baje | 1 o'clock |
| दुई बजे | Dui baje | 2 o'clock |
| साढे तीन बजे | SaaRhe teen baje | 3:30 |
| पौने चार बजे | Paune chaar baje | 3:45 (quarter to four) |
| सवा पाँच बजे | Sawaa paach baje | 5:15 (quarter past five) |
| बिहान | Bihaan | Morning |
| दिउँसो | Diunso | Afternoon |
| साँझ | Saajh | Evening |
| राति | Raati | Night |
Learn Nepali Before Your Trek
ECS's beginner Nepali trekking course covers all these fundamentals in practical trail context — with native teachers and flexible online scheduling.
Your Trail Toolkit Is Ready
Numbers, directions and signs are the practical backbone of trekking communication in Nepal. Master these first and everything else — teahouse conversations, route planning, negotiations — becomes significantly easier.
At ECS, these fundamentals are covered in our beginner Nepali trekking course, always with practical trail context so the vocabulary sticks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are trail signs in Nepal written in Nepali or English?
Most signs on popular trekking routes are bilingual (Nepali and English). On remote trails, Nepali only is more common.
How do you say 'how far' in Nepali?
Kati taadha cha? (कति टाढा छ?) — How far is it? This is one of the most useful phrases on the trail.
What are Nepali numbers based on?
Nepali numbers derive from Sanskrit, sharing roots with Hindi and other Indo-Aryan languages. If you know Hindi numbers, Nepali will be very familiar.
Do Nepali teahouses use Nepali or Arabic numerals for prices?
Most teahouses use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3...) for prices, though Devanagari numerals (१, २, ३...) also appear on some menus and signs.