Nepal Bhasa

"Newari" redirects here. For other uses, see Newari (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Nepali language.

Nepal Bhasa
नेपाल भाषा
Spoken in	Nepal
Region	South Asia
Ethnicity	Newa people
Native speakers	840,000  (date missing)
Language family	Sino-Tibetan (Tibeto-Burman) Nepal Bhasa
Dialects	Dolakhae Sindhupalchok Pahri
Writing system	Devanagari, Kutakshari script, Ranjana script, Prachalit script, Brahmi script, Gupta script, Bhujimol script, Golmol script
Official status
Official language in	Nepal India (in Sikkim)
Regulated by	Nepal Bhasa Academy Nepal Bhasa Parishad
Language codes
ISO 639-2	new
ISO 639-3	new

Nepal Bhasa (नेपाल भाषा, Nēpāl bhāṣā, also known as Newah Bhaye and Newari) is one of the major languages of Nepal. It is the mother tongue of about 3% of the people in Nepal (see the list of languages of Nepal). It is spoken mainly by the Newars, the indigenous inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley. Although Nepal Bhasa is classified as a Sino-Tibetan language, it has been greatly influenced by Indo-Aryan languages.

Outside Nepal, Nepal Bhasa is also spoken in India, particularly in Sikkim where it is one of the 11 official languages.

The name

A stone inscription in Nepal Bhasa at Bhaktapur Durbar Square.

Copper plate inscription at Swayambhu dated Nepal Sambat 1072 (1952 AD).

The earliest occurrences of the name Nepal Bhasa can be found in the manuscripts Narad Sanhita, dated 1380 AD, and Amarkosh, dated 1389 AD. Since then, the name has been used widely on inscriptions, manuscripts, documents and books.

In the 1920s, the name of the language known as Khaskura, Gorkhali or Parbatiya was changed to Nepali, and Nepal Bhasa began to be officially referred to as Newari while the Newars continued using the original term.

On 8 September 1995, following years of lobbying to use the standard name, the then His Majesty's Government decided that the name Nepal Bhasa should be used instead of Newari. However, the decision was not implemented, and on 13 November 1998, the Minister of Information and Communication directed all public mass media to use the name Nepal Bhasa instead of Newari language.

Geographic distribution

Nepal Bhasa is spoken by around a million people in Nepal according to the 2001 census.

• In Nepal: Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City, Bhaktapur Municipality, Kirtipur Municipality, Madhyapur Thimi Municipality), Dolakha, Banepa, Dhulikhel, Bhimphedi (Makwanpur), Panauti, Palpa, Trishuli, Nuwakot, Bhojpur, Biratnagar, Baglung, Bandipur, Birgunj, Hetauda and other chief cities.
• In India: Sikkim, West Bengal
• In Tibet: Khasa

With an increase in emigration, various bodies and societies of Nepal Bhasa-speaking people have emerged in countries like the US, the UK, Australia and Japan.

History and development

Nepal Bhasa words appeared in Sanskrit inscriptions in the Kathmandu Valley for the first time in the fifth century. The words are names of places, taxes and merchandise indicating that Nepal Bhasa already existed as a spoken language during the Licchavi period.

Inscriptions in Nepal Bhasa emerged from the 12th century, the palm-leaf manuscript from Uku Bahah being the first example. By the 14th century, Nepal Bhasa had become an administrative language as shown by the official proclamations and public notices written in it. The first books, manuals, histories and dictionaries also appeared during this time. The Gopalarajavamsavali, a history of Nepal, appeared in 1389 AD.

Nepal Bhasa developed from the 14th to the late 18th centuries as the court and state language. It was used universally in stone and copper inscriptions, sacred manuscripts, official documents, journals, title deeds, correspondence and creative writing. Records of the life-cycle ceremonies of Malla royalty and the materials used were written in Nepal Bhasa.

The period 1505-1847 AD was a golden age for Nepal Bhasa literature. Poetry, stories, epics and dramas were produced in great numbers during this time which is known as the Classical Period.

Outside Kathmandu

Inscriptions written in Nepal Bhasa occur across Nepal Mandala and outside. In Tibet, they have been found in Lhasa.

In Gorkha, the Bhairav Temple at Pokharithok Bazaar contains an inscription dated Nepal Sambat 704 (1584 AD). The Palanchowk Bhagawati Temple situated to the east of Kathmandu contains an inscription recording a land donation dated Nepal Sambat 861 (1741 AD).

In Bhojpur in east Nepal, an inscription at the Bidyadhari Ajima Temple dated Nepal Sambat 1011 (1891 AD) records the donation of a door and tympanum. The Bindhyabasini Temple in Bandipur in west Nepal contains an inscription dated Nepal Sambat 950 (1830 AD) about the donation of a tympanum.

In Tibet, official documents and inscriptions written in Nepal Bhasa recording votive offerings made by Newar traders have been found in Lhasa. A copper plate dated Nepal Sambat 781 (1661 AD) recording the donation of a tympanum is installed at the shrine of Chhwaskamini Ajima (Tibetan: Palden Lhamo) in the Jokhang Temple.

Ancient era

Nepal Bhasa can be classified into the old era and new era. Although there is no specific demarcation between the two, the mid-Rana regime of Nepal, i.e., 966 to 1061 N.S. is taken as the period of demarcation between the two.

An example of the language of the period is provided by the following line from the palm-leaf manuscript from Uku Bahah which dates from 1114 AD which is a general discussion of business transactions.

छीन ढाको तृसंघष परिभोग। छु पुलेंग कीत्य बिपार वस्त्र बिवु मिखा तिवु मदुगुन छु सात दुगुनव ल्है

chīna ḍhākō tr̥saṃghaṣa paribhōga, chu pulēṃga kītya bipāra vastra bivu mikhā tivu maduguna chu sāta dugunava lhai

Medieval era

The language continued growing in the medieval period, and enjoyed royal patronage. Noted royal writers include Mahindra Malla, Siddhi Narsingh Malla and Jagat Prakash Malla. An example of the language used during that period is provided by the following lines from Mooldevshashidev written by Jagat Prakash Malla.

धु छेगुकि पाछाव वाहान

dhu chēguki pāchāva vāhāna

तिलहित बिया हिङ लाहाति थाय थायस

tilahita biyā hiŋa lāhāti thāya thāyasa

The verse is a description of Shiva and the use of a tiger skin as his seat.

Dark age

Nepal Bhasa began to be sidelined after the Gorkha conquest of Nepal and the ouster of the Malla dynasty by the Shah dynasty in the late 18th century. The Gorkha language, which was subsequently renamed Nepali, became the court language, and Nepal Bhasa was replaced as the language of administration.

However, Nepal Bhasa continued to remain in official use for a time as shown by the 1775 treaty with Tibet which was written in it. A few of the new rulers cultivated the language. Kings Prithvi Narayan Shah, Rana Bahadur and Rajendra Bikram Shah composed poetry and wrote plays in Nepal Bhasa.

The language suffered heavily under the repressive policy of the Rana dynasty (1846–1951 AD). In 1906, legal documents written in Nepal Bhasa were declared unenforceable, and any evidence in the language was declared null and void. The rulers forbade literature in Nepal Bhasa, and writers were sent to jail. It was illegal to speak on the telephone in Nepal Bhasa.

Renaissance era

'Aesop's Fables' in Nepal Bhasa by Jagat Sundar Malla, first published in 1915.

Shukraraj Shastri's 'Nepal Bhasa Grammar', published in 1928.

Main article: Nepal Bhasa renaissance

The period between 1909 to 1941 is considered as the renaissance era of Nepal Bhasa. During this period, authors like Nisthananda Bajracharya, Siddhidas Mahaju, Jagat Sundar Malla, Yogbir Singh Kansakar, Shukraraj Shastri, Dharmaditya Dharmacharya started writing, translating, educating and restructuring the language.

In 1909, Bajracharya published the first printed book using movable type. Shastri wrote a grammar of the language entitled Nepal Bhasa Vyakaran, the first one in modern times. It was published from Kolkata in 1928. His other works include Nepal Bhasa Reader, Books 1 and 2 (1933) and an alphabet book Nepali Varnamala (1933).

Mahaju's Ramayan and books on morals and ethics, Malla's endeavors to impart education in the mother tongue and other literary activities marked the renaissance. Dharmacharya published the first magazine in Nepal Bhasa from Kolkata in 1925. Also, the renaissance marked the beginning of the movement to get official recognition for the name "Nepal Bhasa" in place of the Khas imposed term "Newari".

Some of the lines of Mahaju read as follows:

सज्जन मनुष्या संगतनं मूर्ख नापं भिना वै

sajjana manuṣyā saṃgatanaṃ mūrkha nāpaṃ bhinā vai

पलेला लपते ल वंसा म्वति थें ल सना वै

palēlā lapatē la vaṃsā mvati thēṃ la sanā vai

The verse states that even a moron can improve with the company of good people just like a drop of water appears like a pearl when it descends upon the leaves of a lotus plant.

Modern Nepal Bhasa

'Malakha' (Dragon), a collection of poems by RRN 'Syasya', published in 1955.

In the 1950s following the overthrow of the Rana dynasty and the advent of democracy, restrictions on publication in Nepal Bhasa were removed. Books, magazines and newspapers appeared. In 1952, Pushpa Ratna Sagar published a Nepal Bhasa grammar entitled Subodh Nepal Bhasa Vyakaran, the first major work since Shukraraj Shastri's grammar published in 1928.

Many writers and thinkers have contributed to the modern form of Nepal Bhasa. They include Chittadhar "Hridaya" and Durga Lal Shrestha.

Second dark age

Nepal Bhasa and other languages of Nepal entered a second dark age with the dissolution of parliament and the end of democracy in 1960. Under the policy of "one nation, one language" of the Panchayat era, they were not permitted to be broadcast on Radio Nepal or other government media.

This policy made the Nepali language the only state language, and the other languages, including Nepal Bhasa, were put in the shadow as "ethnic" or "local" languages. They began to stagnate as the population could not use them for official, educational or legal purposes.

The New Education System Plan brought out in 1971 eased out Nepal's other languages from the schools in a bid to diminish the country's multi-lingual traditions.

Also, the term Newari was used to address the language instead of Nepal Bhasa, which met fierce criticism and resistance. This marked the beginning of the Nepal Bhasa movement. As the language was banned from the mass media, people started producing audio cassettes. In 1985, the first Nepal Bhasa movie Silu was released.

Some lines by the famous poet Durga Lal Shrestha of this era are as follows:

घाः जुयाः जक ख्वइगु खः झी

स्याःगुलिं सः तइगु खः

झी मसीनि ! झी मसीनि !

धइगु चिं जक ब्वैगु खः

We are crying because we are wounded

We are shouting because of the pain

All in all, we are demonstrating

That we are not dead yet.

Post-1990 People's Movement

After the 1990 People's Movement that brought the Panchayat system to an end, the languages of Nepal enjoyed greater freedom. The 1990 constitution recognized Nepal as a multiethnic and multilingual country. The Nepali language in the Devanagari script was declared the language of the nation and the official language. Meanwhile, all the languages spoken as mother tongues in Nepal were named national languages.

The restoration of democracy marked the privatization of the media. Various concerned people and organizations are working for the development of Nepal Bhasa by themselves. Nepal Bhasa has several newspapers, a primary level curriculum, several schools, several FM stations (selected time for Nepal Bhasa programs), regular TV programs and News (on Image TV Channel), Nepal Bhasa Music Award (a part of Image Award), several websites (including Nepal Bhasa wikipedia) etc.

Post-2006 People's Movement

Another People's Movement in 2006 ousted the Shah dynasty and Nepal became a republic which gave the people greater linguistic freedom. The 2007 Interim Constitution stated that the use of one's mother tongue in a local body or office shall not be barred.

Dialects

The main dialects are :-

Dolkhali (Dolakha)

Main article: Dolakhae dialect

This is the most preserved form of the language and resembles the old Nepal Bhasa.

Sindhupalchowk Pahri (Pahri, Pahari)

This dialect has similar vocabulary as the Yala subdialect of Yen-Yala-Kyepu dialect. However, the language is spoken with a Tamang language tone.

now-a-days,in this district tamang cast lives than other cast's people. in new Nepal's constitution assembly the largest party of Nepal proposed in tamsaling rajya for this district in their federation module..

Chitlang

This dialect is used in Chitlang, a place south of Kathmandu valley in Makawanpur district.this is one of the biggest newari basti at chitlang. Balami cast is stay in there. Recently a new committee named "Balami Samaaj" has been established to give a new identity rather than Newar but as the government has categorized balami in newar, this attempt fails.

Kathmandu–Patan–Kirtipur

Also known as ञ-यल-क्येपु भाय् Ña-Yala-Kyēpu Bhāy, this is the most dominant form of language and very close to the standard form of language used in academics and media. It is also the most widely used dialect. Variations are seen in the use of the words, specially nouns, amongst the Buddhists and Hindus. The pronunciation also differ from place to place. E.g.: the people in Kathmandu pronounce ल "water" as la while the people in Bhaktapur say na, which means "muddy water" for the people of Kathmandu.

Bhaktapur

Also known as Khvapa Bhāy ख्वप: भाय्, this dialect is more archaic than the standard. Variations exist in the use of this form of language in Bhaktapur, Banepa, Panauti and Dhulikhel.

Other dialects

In addition to these dialects, there are a few sub-dialects spoken in Kathmandu valley and other parts of Nepal. These are spoken in surrounding villages of Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur, Lubhu, Chitlang and Dolakha. The dialect spoken in Bandipur is the oldest form of Khwapa Bhaaye. The dialect spoken in Chainpur, Bhojpur, Terathum, Palpa is related to Kathmandu and Patan. The dialect spoken in Ridi, Baglung, Arughat (Gorkha) is closer to Bhaktapur. (Bhaktapur is also known as Bhadgaon.)

Sounds

The sounds are traditionally listed in the order vowels (monophthongs and diphthongs), anusvara and visarga, stops (plosives and nasals) (starting in the back of the mouth and moving forward), and finally the liquids and fricatives, written in IAST as follows (see the tables below for details):

a ā i ī u ū ṛ ṝ ḷ ḹ ; e ai o au

ṃ ḥ

k kh g gh ṅ; c ch j jh ñ; ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh ṇ; t th d dh n; p ph b bh m

y r l v; ś ṣ s h

Writing systems

Main article: Nepal alphabets

Detail of King Pratap Malla's inscription at Kathmandu Durbar Square of 1654 AD written in Nepal Lipi.

Nepal Bhasa is now written in the Devanagari script. The script originally used for writing it, Nepal Lipi, or Nepalese script, fell into disuse at the beginning of the 20th century when writing in the language and the script was banned.

Nepal Lipi, also known as Nepal Akha, emerged in the 10th century. Over the centuries, a number of variants of Nepali Lipi have appeared.

Nepal Bhasa has been written in a variety of abugida scripts. The scripts which have been used to write this language are:

• Brahmi script
• Gupta script
• Prachalit script
• Ranjana script
• Bhujinmol script
• Devanagari script

The many scripts used to write Nepal Bhasa are descended from the Brahmi script. They all proceed from left to right, and include two separate sets of characters – a vowel set and a consonant set. Devanagari script is the most widely-used script at present, as it is common in Nepal and India. Ranjana script was the most widely-used script to write Nepal Bhasa in ancient times. It is experiencing a sort of a revival due to recent cultural awareness. The Prachalit script is also in use. The Brahmi and Golmol scripts are rarely used at present.

In overall writing system of Nepal Bhasa, there are four form of alphabets:

• Vowels called Ma Akha
• Consonants called Ba Akha
• Complex consonants called China Akha
• Numericals called Lyaa Akha

Vowels

The vowels, called MaAkha (माआखः) used in Nepal Bhasa are

Orthography	अ	आ	इ	ई	उ	ऊ	ए	ऐ	ओ	औ	अं	अः	ऋ	ॠ	ऌ	ॡ
Roman	a	aa	i	ii	u	uu	e	ai	o	au	am	aha	ru	Ru	lru	lRuu
IPA	/ə/	/ɑː/	/i/	/iː/	/u/	/uː/	/eː/	/əi/	/oː/	/əu/	/əⁿ/	/əʰ/	/ru/	/ruː/	/lru/	/lruː/

Even though ऋ, ॠ, ऌ, ॡ are present in Nepal Bhasa, they are rarely used. Instead, some of the experts are suggesting to include अय्(aya)and आय्(aaya) in the list of vowels.

Consonants

The consonants, called BaAkha(बाआखः), used in Nepal Bhasa are:

क	ख	ग	घ	ङ
k /k/	kh /kʰ/	g /ɡ/	gh /ɡʱ/	ng /ŋ/
च	छ	ज	झ	ञ
ch /cɕ/ or /ts/	chh /cɕʰ/	j or z /ɟʝ/ or /dz/	jh or zh /ɟʝʱ/ or /dzʱ/	ny /ɲ/
ट	ठ	ड	ढ	ण
t /ʈ/	th /ʈʰ/	d /ɖ/	dh /ɖʱ/	n /ɳ/
त	थ	द	ध	न
t /t̪/	th /t̪ʰ/	d /d̪/	dh /d̪ʱ/	n /n̪/
प	फ	ब	भ	म
p /p/	ph or f /pʰ/ or /f/	b /b/	bh /bʱ/	m /m/
य	र	ल	व
y /j/	r /ɾ/	l /l/	v or w /v/ or /w/
श	ष	स	ह
s /ɕ/	sh /ʃ/	s /s/	h /h/
क्ष	त्र	ज्ञ
ksh /kʃ/	tr /t̪ɾ/	gny /ɡɲ/

The use of ङ and ञ was very common in the old form of language. However, in the new form, specially in written, the use of these characters has diminished. The use of ण, त, थ, द, ध, न, श, ष, क्ष, त्र, ज्ञ (in darker color above) are limited by the new Grammar books to the loan words only.

Complex/compound consonants

Besides the consonants mentioned above, some complex consonants called China Akha (चिना आखः) are also used. These China Akha represent the Sino-Tibetan characteristics of the language. The most used of these complex consonants, which by some are considered individual letters, are :

• न्ह
• म्ह
• ल्ह
• ह्र

Numericals

The numericals used in Nepal Bhasa have ten digits from 0-9. The numericals used in Ranjana script are as follows (from 0 to 9)

The same numericals in Devnagari are:

In Devanāgarī

०	१	२	३	४	५	६	७	८	९
0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9

Literature

Books in Nepal Bhasa

Main article: Nepal Bhasa literature

Nepal Bhasa literature has a long history. It has the fourth-oldest literature of the Sino-Tibetan languages (the first, second and third being Chinese, Tibetan and Burmese respectively).

Drama

Dramas are traditionally performed in open Dabu (stage). Most of the traditional dramas are related to deities and demons. Masked characters are central to such dramas. Music forms an important part of drama. Most of them are narrated with the help of songs sang at intervals. The drama as such resembles dance in many cases. The theme of most of the drama is to create a social wellbeing with morals illustrating the rise, turbulence and fall of evil. There are fixed dates in the Nepal Sambat (Nepal Era) calendar for performance of specific drama. Most of the dramas are carried out by specific Guthis.

Poetry

Poetry writing constituted a pompous part of medieval Malla aristrocracy. Many of the kings were well renowned poets. Siddhidas Mahaju and Chittadhar Hridaya are two great poets in the language.

Prose fiction

This is a relatively new field of literature compared to other fields. Most of the fiction were written in poetry form till the medieval era. So, almost all of prose fiction belong to the modern Nepal Bhasa. Collective short stories in Nepal Bhasa are more popular than novels.

Story

The art of verbal story telling is very old in Nepal Bhasa. There are a variety of mythical and social stories that have aided in establishing the norm of Kathmandu valley. Stories ranging from the origin of Kathmandu valley to the temples of the valley and the important monuments have been passed down verbally in Nepal Bhasa and very few are present in written form. However, with an increase in literacy rate and an awareness amongst the people, those stories have been penned down. Stories on other topics have also taken root.

Nepal Bhasa and Newar community

A wall slogan of Maoists using Nepal Bhasa

Nepal Bhasa is the mother tongue of Newars. Newars form a very diverse community with people from the Mongolian, Aryan and—according to some—even Dravidian races. Newars follow Hinduism and Buddhism, and are subdivided into 64 castes. The language therefore plays a central unifying role in the existence and perpetuation of Newar community. The poet Siddhidas Mahaju concluded that the Newar community and its rich culture can only survive if Nepal Bhasa survives (भाषा म्वासा जाति म्वाइ).

Relative to many other languages of Nepal, Nepal Bhasa enjoyed promotions in various areas since Kathmandu become the capital of the country, as the Newar community rose in ranks throughout the government, royal courts and businesses.

Nepal Bhasa faced a decline during the Shah era when this language was replaced by Khas Kura (later renamed Nepali) as the national language and after the introduction of the "One nation, one language" policy of King Mahendra. The then Royal Nepalese Government spent a lot for Sanskrit education and a Sanskrit University was approved during those times—although Sanskrit is virtually not spoken by anyone in Nepal—because Khas Kura's roots lie in Sanskrit. There were very few resources available then for even primary-level education in Nepal Bhasa. There were no programs broadcast in Nepal Bhasa in the state radio, Radio Nepal. Even after programs in Nepal Bhasa began to be broadcast, the language was referred to as "Newari", a term considered derogatory by Newars. Even today, there are no programs in Nepal Bhasa in the state television, Nepal Television, although it broadcasts a Bollywood Hindi movie every Saturday (although it is used as lingua franca in Terai, Hindi is mother tongue of less than 1% population in Nepal) and often Pakistani serials (in Urdu) as well. The Supreme Court of Nepal has also banned any use of Nepal Bhasa even for trivial matters in official purposes of any part of Nepal. These factors have led to a resentment among Newar community and a feeling of "second class" citizen in one's own state.

This fact has been used for political advantages by many parties of Nepal. Many slogans are translated into Nepal Bhasa, although very few important documents of political parties are ever translated into Nepal Bhasa.

Grammar

Sentence structure

Statement sentence-
This language is a SOV (subject–object–verb) language. For instance, "My name is Bilat (Birat)" is "Jigu Na'aa Bilat Khaa'a " which word by word translation becomes, "My (Jigu) Name (Na'aa) Bilat is (Khaa'a)".

Interrogative sentence-
Wh-question:
In case of Newari language, Wh-questions are rather "G-questions" with "when/which" being replaced by "Gublay/Gugu" respectively. There is an additional "Guli" which is used for "How much/How many". A S-word "Soo" is used for "who". "Chhoo/Schoo (with a silent 's')" is used for "What", and "Gathey" is used for "How".

2. Affixes

i. Suffix- "Chaa" and "Ju" are two popular suffixes. "Chaa" is added to signify "junior" or "lesser". But when added to a name, it is used derogatorily. For example, kya'ah-chaa means nephew where "chaa" is being added to kya'ah(son). When added to name like Birat for "Birat-chaa", it is being used derogatorily. The suffix "ju" is added to show respect. For example, "Baa-ju" means "father-in-law" where "ju" is added to "Baa(father)". Unlike "chaa", "ju" is not added to a first/last name directly. Instead, honorific terms like "Bhaaju" is added for males and "Mayju" for females. Example, "Birat bhaaju" for a male name (Birat) and "Suja Mayju" for a female name (Suja).

ii. Prefix – "Tap'ah" is added to denote "remote" or "distant" relative ('distance' in relationship irrespective of spatial extent). A distant (younger) brother (kija) becomes "tap'ah-kija". "Tuh" is added to denote "higher". Father (baa)'s senior brother is referred to as "Tuh-baa".

Some common phrases and terms in Nepal Bhasa and Nepali

English	Nepal Bhasa Devanagari	Nepal Bhasa Roman script	Khas Bhasa (Nepali)
Hello	ज्वजलपा	Jvajalapā!	Namaste
What is your name?	छिगु नां: छु खः ?	Chigu nāṁḥ chu khaḥ?	Tapa'ee'ko naam k' ho?
My name is ___	जिगु नां: ___ ख:	Jigu nāṁ: ___ khaḥ.	Mero naam ___ ho
New Year greetings	न्हूदँया भिंतुना	Nhūdaṁyā bhintunā	Na'ya barsh'a ko'o shubkamana
Thank you	शुभाय्	Śubhāy	Dhanyabad
Welcome	लसकुस	Lasakusa!	Swagat chha
Yes	खः	Khaḥ	Ho
No	मखु	Makhu	Ho'eena
Okay	ज्यु	Jyu	Thik chha
Not Okay	मज्यु	Majyu	Thik chha'ee'na
Friend	पासा	Pāsā	Saathi
Organization	गुथि	Guthi	Sansthan
House	छें	Chēṁ	Ghar
Human	मनु	Manu	Manaw
Medicine	वास:	Vāsaḥ	Owkhati/ Owsadhi
News	बुखं	Bukhaṁ	Samachar
Dance	प्याखं	Pyākhaṁ	Naach
Man	मि:जं	Miḥjaṁ	Manchhe
Woman	मि:शा	Miḥśā	Aa'ee'maa'ee
Gentleman	भाजु	Bhāju	Mahodaya
Madam	म्येजु	Myēju	Mahodaya
Young Man	ल्याम:	Lyāmaḥ	Yuwa'a
Young Lady	ल्यासी	Lyāsī	Yuwa'ati
Song	म्ये	Myē	Geet
Stage	दबली, दबू:	Dabalī, dabūḥ	munch
Palace	लाय्‌कू	Lāy‌kū	Durbar
Office	ज्यास:	Jyāsaḥ	Karyalaya
Shop	पस:	Pasah	Pasal
Courtyard	चूक	Cūka	Chowk
Brain	न्ह्यपु	Nhyapu	Dimag
Heart	नुगः	Nugaḥ	Mutu
Water	लः, ना	Laḥ, Nā	Pani
Rain	वा	Vā	Warsha'aa
Wife's parents place		Suhsuh	Suhsurali
I don't understand Nepal Bhasa	जित: नेपाल भाषा मवः	Jitaḥ Nēpāl bhāṣā mavaḥ	Ma'laee Nepal Bhasa aa'un'da'een'a
Earthquake		Bho'khabo	Bhukampa

Relationship

English	Devanagari	Roman script	Khas Bhasa (Nepali)
Mother	मां	Māṁ	Aa'maa
Father	अबु	Abu	Ba'aa
Grandmother	अजी	Ajī	Ba'jya'ee
Grandfather	अजा	Ajā	Baaj'ey
Brother (Elder)	दाजु	Dāju	Dai
Brother (younger)	किजा	Kijā	Bhai
Sister (elder)	तता	Tatā	Didi
Sister (younger)	कें	Kēṁ	Bahini
Uncle (Mother's brother)	पाजु	Pāju	Mama
Uncle (Father's brother)	त: बा / क: का	Taḥbā (elder brother), Kaḥkā (younger brother)	Thool-buwa (elder brother) / Kaka (younger brother)
Uncle (Father's sister's husband)	पाजु	Pāju	Phoophajyu
Aunty (Father's sister)	निनी	Ninī	Phoophoo
Aunty (Mother's sister)	त:मा	Taḥmā	Thool-ama (elder sister)/Kanchhi amaa (younger sister)
Aunty (Father's elder brother's wife)	त: मा	Taḥmā	Thooli-ama
Aunty (Father's younger brother's wife)	मामा	Mama	Kaki
Aunty (Mother's brother's wife)	मल्जु	Malju	Maijyu
Son	काय:	Kāyaḥ	Chhora
Daughter	मयाह:	Mayāhaḥ	Chhori
Nephew (Brother's son)	कय:चा	Kayaḥcā	Bhatija
Niece (Brother's daughter)	मयाह: चा	Mayāhahcā	Bhatiji
Nephew (Sister's son)	भिन्चा	Bhincā	Bhanja
Niece (Sister's daughter)	भिन्चा	Bhincā	Bhanji
Grandchild	छ्ये	Chyē	Nati/Natini (male/female)
Daughter-in-law	ब्हऔ	Bḥa'au	Buhari
Son-in-law	जीलाजं	Jīlājaṁ	Jwaeen (nasalised 'n')
Wife's parents	ससः बा	Sasaḥ bā (Father) / Suh'suhmaa (Mother)	Suhsurobaa (Father) / Saasoo (Mother)
Husband's parents	ससः मा	Sasaḥma (Mother)	Suhsura (Father) / Saasoo (Mother)

Cuisine

Common

Meaning	Devanagari	Roman
Cooked Rice	जा:	Jāh
Rice	जाकि	Jāki
Poha (Beaten Rice)	वजी	Vajī
Meat (Buff / Chicken / Lamb / Pork)	ला: (मेइ ला / खाई ला / दुकुचिउ ला / फाई ला)	Lāh (mei lah / khai lah/ dukuchiu lah / fai lah)
Dry Meat (Jerky)	सुकुला:	Sukulāh
Yogurt	धौ	Dhau

Special

Devanagari	Roman	Ingredient
य: मरी	Yah Marī	Rice Flour, Meat, Chaku (sweet) or Maa(pulses) or Muu(pulses)
चट्टाँ मरी	chatanmari	Rice Flour
त: खा	Tah Khā	Terrin of Buffalo meat
स:न्या: खूना	Sahnyāh khūnā	Terrin of buffalo meat and tiny fresh water fish
से ला:	Sēlāh	Buffalo lungs
छोय् ला:	Chōy lāh	Meat (mainly Buffalo, Duck), chiles, onion, oil
वारा	Vārā	Maa (pulses) or Muu (pulses)
सम:य बजी	Samah ya bajī	Bāra, (bolied) Egg*, fresh water fish, pulses, Beaten Rice, Fried Beaten Rice, Ginger etc.
थ्व:	Tvah	type of alcohol
एला:	Ēlāh	Strong alcohol

• Duck egg for special occasion (rituals, sagun/sagā, birthday)

Animal names

English	Devanagari	Roman script	Khas Bhasa (Nepali)
Ant	ईमू	Īmū	Kamila
Buffalo		Mehn (nasalised "n")	Rang'o/Bhaise
Bull		Dohn (nasalised "n")	Goru
Cat	भैचा	Bhaicā	Biralo
Cockroach		Bili	Sāngla
Cow		Sahn (silent "n")	Gai
Crow	को	Kō	Kag
Dog	खिचा	Khicā	Kukur
Duck	हें	Hēṁ	Hahns (slightly nasalised 'n')
Eagle		Emaa	Cheel
Earthworm		Dumbi	Gadeaula
Snakes		Ta:ha	Sarpa
Elephant		Kisi	Hatti
Fish	न्याँ	Nyām̐	Machha
Hen/Chicken	खा:	Khāh	Kukhura
Horse	सल:	salah	ghoda
Kite		Bhutimali	Changaa
Monkey	माक:	Mākah	Badar
Mouse	छू:	Chūh	Musa
Owl		Bhulukha	Latokosero
Pigeon	वखूँचा	Vakhūm̐cā	Parewa
Pig	फा	Phā	Sungur
Sparrow	चखू:	Cakhūh	Bhangero (nasalised 'n')
Toad/Frog	बय्याँ	Bayyām̐	Bhyaguta

Color

English	Devanagari	Roman script	Khas Bhasa (Nepali)
White	तूयु	Tuyu	Seto
Black	हाकू	Haku	Kalo
Red	ह्याँगू	Hyau'n (nasalised 'n')	Rato
Green		Wau'n (nasalised 'n')	Hariyo
Blue		Wo'chu'n (nasalised 'n')	Nilo
Yellow		Mhasu'n (nasalised 'n')	Pahelo
Brown		Siyugu (nasalised 'n')	Khairo

Few words--origin--meaning

(From the review article on "Dictionary of classical Newari compiled from manuscript sources." With the huge financial support of Toyota foundation, Japan, Nepal Bhasa Dictionary Committee. Cwasā Pāsā. Kathmandu: Modern Printing Press, Jamal 2000, pp. XXXV, 530. ISBN 99933-31-60-0")

Words	Origin (orig. word)	Meaning
La:h (ल:)	Pali (Jala:h)	Water
Kaa:sa	Pali	Bronze
Kaji	Arabic	leader
Khaapaa (खापा)	Pali	Door (Original meaning in Pali was "door panel")
Kimi (कीमी)	Sanskrit (Krmi)	Hookworm
Adha:vata	Persian	Malice
Ka:h	Pali (Kana)	Blind (Original meaning in Pali was "one-eyed")
Dya:h	Pali (Dev)	Deity
Nhya:h	Pali (Na:sika)	Nose
Mhu:tu	Pali (Mukhena)	Mouth
Khicha: (खिचा)	Pali (Kukkura)	Dog

See also

• Languages of Nepal
• Nepal Bhasa journalism
• Nepal Bhasa movement
• Nepal Bhasa renaissance

External links

• Ethnologue
• Michael Noonan, Recent Language Contact in the Nepal Himalaya (PDF).
• Newari/Ranjana script page on Omniglot
• Online Nepal Bhasa dictionary
• Collection of Nepal Bhasa Idioms & Phrases
• type in Nepali Unicode and Nepal bhasha