Course
Loading lessons…
Course
Unit 18 · Intermediate
Move through Nepali life respectfully — temple and home etiquette, the idea of jutho, and the gestures that quietly matter.
Religious and ceremonial vocabulary (lessons 25-26)
Public-domain audio — FSI Nepali Basic Course (via Live Lingua).
Visitor
भित्र जान हुन्छ?
Bhitra jaana hunchha?
Is it okay to go inside?
Local
हुन्छ, तर जुत्ता खोल्नुहोस्।
Hunchha, tara juttaa kholnuhos.
Yes, but take off your shoes.
Visitor
फोटो खिच्न मिल्छ?
Photo khichna milchha?
May I take photos?
Local
यहाँ मिल्दैन।
Yahaa mildaina.
Not here.
Visitor
ल, धन्यवाद।
La, dhanyabaad.
Okay, thank you.
Two handy verbs. ...hunchha? = "is it okay to...?" (Bhitra jaana hunchha? — "okay to go in?") and ...milchha? = "is it allowed / does it work?" (Photo khichna milchha? — "may I photograph?").
Negative answers are hudaina ("not okay") and mildaina ("not allowed").
jutho means ritually impure — especially food or a vessel touched by someone's mouth or saliva. Don't offer food you've already bitten, pour water into your mouth without touching the bottle to your lips, and don't dip used cutlery into shared dishes. It's the etiquette rule travellers trip over most.
Remove juttaa (shoes) before entering temples and homes. Don't point your feet at people or shrines, or step over someone seated. Give and receive things with the right hand, or both hands. When in doubt, a small namaste covers it.
1. Ask "Is it okay to go inside?"
भित्र जान हुन्छ? (Bhitra jaana hunchha?)
2. Ask "May I take a photo?"
फोटो खिच्न मिल्छ? (Photo khichna milchha?)
3. What is the word for "shoes"?
जुत्ता (juttaa).
4. What does jutho mean?
Ritually impure — food or drink touched by the mouth.