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Unit 3 · Beginner
Point at the world and name it: yo (this), tyo (that), and the difference between the two verbs of being, ho and chha.
This and that — yo, tyo, demonstratives (lesson 3)
Public-domain audio — FSI Nepali Basic Course (via Live Lingua).
Tourist
यो के हो?
Yo ke ho?
What is this?
Shopkeeper
यो ढाका टोपी हो।
Yo dhaka topi ho.
This is a dhaka topi (Nepali cap).
Tourist
त्यो पनि टोपी हो?
Tyo pani topi ho?
Is that a cap too?
Shopkeeper
होइन, त्यो पछ्यौरा हो।
Hoina, tyo pachhyauraa ho.
No, that is a shawl.
Tourist
पसलमा अरू पनि छ?
Pasalmaa aru pani chha?
Is there anything else in the shop?
yo means "this" (near you), tyo means "that" (further away). They sit at the front of the sentence and the verb stays at the end: Yo kitaab ho = "This is a book."
To ask "what is this?" simply slot in ke (what): Yo ke ho? Answer by replacing ke with the noun: Yo topi ho.
Nepali splits English "is" into two verbs. Use ho to say what something IS (identity): Yo topi ho. Use chha for where something is or what state it's in (existence/location): Pasalmaa topi chha = "There is a cap in the shop."
A useful rule of thumb: if you could replace "is" with "equals", use ho; if you could replace it with "exists / is located / is (feeling)", use chha. Their negatives are hoina and chhaina.
You can turn most statements into a yes/no question just by raising your tone at the end — no extra words needed: Tyo topi ho? ("Is that a cap?"). The answer is the bare verb: ho (yes, it is) or hoina (no, it isn't).
1. Ask "What is this?"
यो के हो? (Yo ke ho?)
2. Say "That is a book."
त्यो किताब हो। (Tyo kitaab ho.)
3. Choose ho or chha: "There is a shop here." — Yahaa pasal ___.
छ (chha) — it states location/existence.
4. Answer "no" to "Yo topi ho?"
होइन। (Hoina.)