This is a Swadesh list of words in Nepali, compared with definitions in English.
American linguist Morris Swadesh believed that languages changed at measurable rates and that these could be determined even for languages without written precursors. Using vocabulary lists, he sought to understand not only change over time but also the relationships of extant languages. To be able to compare languages from different cultures, he based his lists on meanings he presumed would be available in as many cultures as possible. He then used the fraction of agreeing cognates between any two related languages to compute their divergence time by some (still debated) algorithms. Starting in 1950 with 165 meanings, his list grew to 215 in 1952, which was so expansive that many languages lacked native vocabulary for some terms. Subsequently, it was reduced to 207, and reduced much further to 100 meanings in 1955. A reformulated list was published posthumously in 1971.
| № | English | Nepali नेपाली (nepālī) edit (207) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | I (1sg) | म (ma) |
| 2 | you (2sg) | तँ (tã), तिमी (timī), तपाईं (tapāī), हजुर (hajur), मौसुफ (mausuph) |
| 3 | he, she, it (3sg) | त्यो (tyo), ऊ (ū), उनी (unī), उहाँ (uhā̃) |
| 4 | we (1pl) | हामी (hāmī), हामीहरू (hāmīharū) |
| 5 | you (2pl) | तिमीहरू (timīharū), तपाईंहरू (tapāīṃharū), हजुरहरू (hajurharū), मौसुफहरू (mausuphharū) |
| 6 | they (3pl) | यिनीहरु (yinīharu), तिनीहरु (tinīharu), उनीहरू (unīharū), यहाँहरू (yahā̃harū), वहाँहरू (wahā̃harū) |
| 7 | this | यो (yo) |
| 8 | that | त्यो (tyo) |
| 9 | here | यहाँ (yahā̃), येता (yetā) |
| 10 | there | त्यहाँ (tyahā̃), त्येता (tyetā) |
| 11 | who | को (ko) |
| 12 | what | के (ke) |
| 13 | where | कहाँ (kahā̃), कता (katā) |
| 14 | when | कहिले (kahile) |
| 15 | how | कसरी (kasarī), कस्तो (kasto) |
| 16 | not | होइन (hoina), नाइँ (nāĩ), न (na) |
| 17 | all | सबै (sabai), जम्मै (jammai), पुरै (purai) |
| 18 | many | धेरै (dherai), अनेक (anek), एकदमै (ekdamai), अति (ati) |
| 19 | some | केही (kehī), कोही (kohī), कुनै (kunai) |
| 20 | few | थोरै (thorai), अलिकति (alikati) |
| 21 | other | अर्को (arko), अरू (arū) |
| 22 | one | एक (ek) |
| 23 | two | दुई (duī) |
| 24 | three | तीन (tīn) |
| 25 | four | चार (cār) |
| 26 | five | पाँच (pā̃c) |
| 27 | big | ठूलो (ṭhūlo) |
| 28 | long | लामो (lāmo) |
| 29 | wide | फराकिलो (pharākilo), चौडा (cauḍā), चाक्लो (cāklo) |
| 30 | thick | मोटो (moṭo), बाक्लो (bāklo) |
| 31 | heavy | गह्रुँगो (gahruṇgo), गह्रौं (gahra͠u), भारी (bhārī) |
| 32 | small | सानो (sāno), मसिनो (masino) |
| 33 | short | छोटो (choṭo), पुड्को (puḍko), होचो (hoco) |
| 34 | narrow | साँघुरो (sā̃ghuro) |
| 35 | thin | पातलो (pātlo), मसिनो (masino), दुब्लो (dublo) |
| 36 | woman | आइमाई (āimāī), महिला (mahilā), स्त्री (strī), स्वास्नीमान्छे (svāsnīmānche) |
| 37 | man (adult male) | पुरुष (puruṣ), लोग्नेमान्छे (lognemānche) |
| 38 | man (human being) | मान्छे (mānche), मानिस (mānis) |
| 39 | child | बच्चा (baccā), बालक (bālak) |
| 40 | wife | स्वास्नी (svāsnī), श्रीमती (śrīmatī), स्त्री (strī), पत्नी (patnī), बुढी (buḍhī) |
| 41 | husband | लोग्ने (logne), श्रीमान् (śrīmān), पोइ (poi), पति (pati), बुढो (buḍho) |
| 42 | mother | आमा (āmā) |
| 43 | father | बाबा (bābā), बाबु (bābu), बुबा (bubā) |
| 44 | animal | जन्तु (jantu), जनावर (janāwar), पशु (paśu) |
| 45 | fish | माछा (māchā) |
| 46 | bird | चरा (carā), चराचुरुङ्गी (carācuruṅgī), पन्छी (panchī), पक्षी (pakṣī) |
| 47 | dog | कुकुर (kukur) |
| 48 | louse | जुम्रा (jumrā), खिचा (khicā) |
| 49 | snake | सर्प (sarpa), साँप (sā̃p) |
| 50 | worm | गँड्यौला (gā̃ḍyaulā) |
| 51 | tree | रूख (rūkh) |
| 52 | forest | वन (van), जङ्गल (jaṅgal) |
| 53 | stick | लट्ठी (laṭṭhī), छडी (chaḍī), लौरो (lauro) |
| 54 | fruit | फल (phal), फलफूल (phalaphūl) |
| 55 | seed | बीउ (bīu), बिजन (bijan) |
| 56 | leaf | पात (pāt) |
| 57 | root | जरा (jarā) |
| 58 | bark (of a tree) | (रूखको) बोक्रा ((rūkhko) bokrā) |
| 59 | flower | फूल (phūl) |
| 60 | grass | घाँस (ghā̃s) |
| 61 | rope | डोरी (ḍorī), धागो (dhāgo) |
| 62 | skin | छाला (chālā) |
| 63 | meat | मासु (māsu) |
| 64 | blood | रगत (ragat) |
| 65 | bone | हाड (hāḍ), हड्डी (haḍḍī) |
| 66 | fat (noun) | चिल्लो (cillo), बोसो (boso) |
| 67 | egg | फुल (phul), अण्डा (aṇḍā) |
| 68 | horn | सिङ (siṅ), खाग (khāg) |
| 69 | tail | पुच्छर (pucchar), पुछार (puchār) |
| 70 | feather | प्वाँख (pwā̃kh) |
| 71 | hair | कपाल (kapāl), केश (keś), रौँ (raũ) |
| 72 | head | टाउको (ṭāuko), शिर (śir) |
| 73 | ear | कान (kān) |
| 74 | eye | आँखा (ā̃khā) |
| 75 | nose | नाक (nāk) |
| 76 | mouth | मुख (mukh) |
| 77 | tooth | दाँत (dā̃t) |
| 78 | tongue (organ) | जिब्रो (jibro) |
| 79 | fingernail | नङ (naṅ) |
| 80 | foot | खुट्टा (khuṭṭā), पाउ (pāu) |
| 81 | leg | गोडा (goḍā), खुट्टा (khuṭṭā) |
| 82 | knee | घुँडा (ghũḍā) |
| 83 | hand | हात (hāt) |
| 84 | wing | पखेटा (pakheṭā) |
| 85 | belly | पेट (peṭ), भुँडी (bhũḍī) |
| 86 | guts | आन्द्रा (ānadrā), भुँडी (bhũḍī) |
| 87 | neck | घाँटी (ghāṭī), गर्दन (gardan), घिच्रो (ghicro) |
| 88 | back | ढाड (ḍhāḍ), आङ (āṅ) |
| 89 | breast | छाती (chātī), दूध (dūdh), स्तन (stan) |
| 90 | heart | मुटु (muṭu), दिल (dil), मन (man), हृदय (hr̥daya) |
| 91 | liver | कलेजो (kalejo) |
| 92 | to drink | पिउनु (piunu), खानु (khānu) |
| 93 | to eat | खानु (khānu) |
| 94 | to bite | टोक्नु (ṭoknu) |
| 95 | to suck | चुस्नु (cusnu) |
| 96 | to spit | थुक्नु (thuknu) |
| 97 | to vomit | वान्ता गर्नु (vāntā garnu), वाक्नु (wāknu) |
| 98 | to blow | फुक्नु (phuknu), बजाउनु (bajāunu) |
| 99 | to breathe | सास फेर्नु (sās phernu), सास लिनु (sās linu) |
| 100 | to laugh | हाँस्नु (hā̃snu) |
| 101 | to see | हेर्नु (hernu), देख्नु (dekhnu) |
| 102 | to hear | सुन्नु (sunnu) |
| 103 | to know | चिन्नु (cinnu), जान्नु (jānnu), थाहा पाउनु (thāhā pāunu) |
| 104 | to think | सोच्नु (socnu), विचार गर्नु (vicār garnu) |
| 105 | to smell | सुँघ्नु (sũghnu) |
| 106 | to fear | डराउनु (ḍarāunu), तर्सनु (tarsanu) |
| 107 | to sleep | सुत्नु (sutnu), निदाउनु (nidāunu) |
| 108 | to live | बाँच्नु (bā̃cnu), जिउनु (jiunu) |
| 109 | to die | मर्नु (marnu) |
| 110 | to kill | मार्नु (mārnu) |
| 111 | to fight | लड्नु (laḍnu) |
| 112 | to hunt | सिकार गर्नु (sikār garnu) |
| 113 | to hit | हान्नु (hānnu) |
| 114 | to cut | काट्नु (kāṭnu) |
| 115 | to split | बाँड्नु (bā̃ḍnu), छुट्टाउनु (chuṭṭāunu), भाग लगाउनु (bhāg lagāunu) |
| 116 | to stab | घोप्नु (ghopnu) |
| 117 | to scratch | कोतर्नु (kotarnu), कोर्नु (kornu) |
| 118 | to dig | खन्नु (khannu) |
| 119 | to swim | पौडिनु (pauḍinu) |
| 120 | to fly | उड्नु (uḍnu) |
| 121 | to walk | हिँड्नु (hĩḍnu) |
| 122 | to come | आउनु (āunu) |
| 123 | to lie (as in a bed) | तेर्सिनु (tersinu), पल्टिनु (palṭinu) |
| 124 | to sit | बस्नु (basnu) |
| 125 | to stand | उठ्नु (uṭhnu), उभिनु (ubhinu) |
| 126 | to turn (intransitive) | मोड्नु (moḍnu) |
| 127 | to fall | खस्नु (khasnu) |
| 128 | to give | दिनु (dinu) |
| 129 | to hold | लिनु (linu), समात्नु (samātnu) |
| 130 | to squeeze | निचोर्नु (nicornu), दबाउनु (dabāunu) |
| 131 | to rub | घोट्नु (ghoṭnu) |
| 132 | to wash | धुनु (dhunu), पखाल्नु (pakhālnu) |
| 133 | to wipe | पुछ्नु (puchnu) |
| 134 | to pull | तान्नु (tānnu) |
| 135 | to push | धकेल्नु (dhakelnu) |
| 136 | to throw | फाल्नु (phālnu) |
| 137 | to tie | बाँध्नु (bā̃dhnu), बान्नु (bānnu) |
| 138 | to sew | सिउनु (siunu), सिलाउनु (silāunu) |
| 139 | to count | गन्नु (gannu) |
| 140 | to say | भन्नु (bhannu), बोल्नु (bolnu) |
| 141 | to sing | गाउनु (gāunu) |
| 142 | to play | खेल्नु (khelnu) |
| 143 | to float | तैरिनु (tairinu) |
| 144 | to flow | बग्नु (bagnu) |
| 145 | to freeze | जम्नु (jamnu) |
| 146 | to swell | सुन्निनु (sunninu) |
| 147 | sun | घाम (ghām), सूर्य (sūrya) |
| 148 | moon | जुन (jun), चन्द्रमा (candramā) |
| 149 | star | तारा (tārā) |
| 150 | water | पानी (pānī) |
| 151 | rain | बर्खा (barkhā), वर्षा (varṣā), पानी पर्नु (pānī parnu), झरी (jharī) |
| 152 | river | नदी (nadī), खोला (kholā) |
| 153 | lake | ताल (tāl), पोखरी (pokharī) |
| 154 | sea | समुन्द्र (samundra) |
| 155 | salt | नुन (nun) |
| 156 | stone | ढुङ्गा (ḍhuṅgā), पत्थर (patthar) |
| 157 | sand | बालुवा (bāluwā) |
| 158 | dust | धुलो (dhulo) |
| 159 | earth | धर्ती (dhartī), पृथ्वी (pr̥thvī) |
| 160 | cloud | बादल (bādal) |
| 161 | fog | कुइरो (kuiro), हुस्सु (hussu) |
| 162 | sky | आकाश (ākāś) |
| 163 | wind | हावा (hāwā) |
| 164 | snow | हिउँ (hiũ) |
| 165 | ice | बरफ (baraph) |
| 166 | smoke | धुवाँ (dhuwā̃) |
| 167 | fire | आगो (āgo) |
| 168 | ash | खरानी (kharānī) |
| 169 | to burn | जल्नु (jalnu), पोल्नु (polnu), डढ्नु (ḍaḍhnu) |
| 170 | road | बाटो (bāṭo), सडक (saḍak) |
| 171 | mountain | पहाड (pahāḍ) |
| 172 | red | रातो (rāto) |
| 173 | green | हरियो (hariyo) |
| 174 | yellow | पहेँलो (pahẽlo) |
| 175 | white | सेतो (seto) |
| 176 | black | कालो (kālo) |
| 177 | night | रात (rāt), राति (rāti) |
| 178 | day | दिन (dina) |
| 179 | year | वर्ष (varṣa) |
| 180 | warm | न्यानो (nyāno), मनतातो (mantāto) |
| 181 | cold | जाडो (jāḍo), चिसो (ciso) |
| 182 | full | भरी (bharī), पुरै (purai) |
| 183 | new | नयाँ (nayā̃) |
| 184 | old | पुरानो (purāno) |
| 185 | good | राम्रो (rāmro) |
| 186 | bad | नराम्रो (narāmro) |
| 187 | rotten | कुइएको (kuieko) |
| 188 | dirty | मैलो (mailo), फोहोर (phohor) |
| 189 | straight | सीधा (sīdhā) |
| 190 | round | गोलो (golo) |
| 191 | sharp (as a knife) | तिखो (tikho) |
| 192 | dull (as a knife) | बोधो (bodho) |
| 193 | smooth | सम्म (samma), सलल (salala) |
| 194 | wet | गीलो (gīlo), भिजेको (bhijeko) |
| 195 | dry | सुक्खा (sukkhā) |
| 196 | correct | सही (sahī), ठीक (ṭhīk) |
| 197 | near | नजिकै (najikai) |
| 198 | far | टाढा (ṭāḍhā) |
| 199 | right | दाहिने (dāhine), दायाँ (dāyā̃) |
| 200 | left | बाहिने (bāhine), देब्रे (debre), बायाँ (bāyā̃) |
| 201 | at | मा (mā) |
| 202 | in | मा (mā), भित्र (bhitra) |
| 203 | with | सँग (saṅga), सित (sita) |
| 204 | and | र (ra) |
| 205 | if | यदि (yadi) |
| 206 | because | किनभने (kinabhane), किनकि (kinaki) |
| 207 | name | नाम (nām), नाउँ (nāũ) |