Numbers 1 to 100 in Nepali
Numbers are the second language of travel — every taxi fare, momo order, and bargain in Asan Bazaar runs on them. Learn the patterns once, use them everywhere.
The first ten: ek to das
The first ten Nepali numbers are the bedrock — you'll hear them dozens of times a day at tea stalls and bus stations. Ek (1), dui (2), tin (3), char (4), paanch (5), chha (6), saat (7), aath (8), nau (9), das (10). They sound close to Hindi, so any prior exposure to Bollywood will give you a head start.
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एक, दुई, तीन, चार, पाँच, छ, सात, आठ, नौ, दश
Numbers 1 to 10
Ek, dui, tin, char, paanch, chha, saat, aath, nau, das
Eleven to twenty — the irregular teens
Unlike English, where 13-19 all share a tidy '-teen' suffix, Nepali numbers 11-20 are largely irregular. Eghaar (11), baahra (12), tehra (13), chaudha (14), pandhra (15), sohra (16), satra (17), athaara (18), unnais (19), bis (20). Drill these — they show up constantly in prices.
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एघार, बाह्र, तेह्र, चौध, पन्ध्र, सोह्र, सत्र, अठार, उन्नाइस, बीस
Numbers 11 to 20
Eghaar, baahra, tehra, chaudha, pandhra, sohra, satra, athaara, unnais, bis
Tens, hundreds, and beyond
Bis (20), tis (30), chaalis (40), pachaas (50), saathi (60), sattari (70), assi (80), nabbe (90), saya (100). For prices over 100, Nepalis often just speak in hundreds: 'paanch saya' (500 rupees), 'das saya' (1000 rupees). For larger sums, you'll hear 'hajaar' (1,000) and 'lakh' (100,000) — the latter is borrowed from the South Asian numbering system.
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यो कति हो?
How much does it cost?
Yo kati ho?
Numbers in real situations
When bargaining in Thamel, prices are usually quoted in round hundreds — 'das saya' for 1,000 rupees. A momo plate is often 'ek saya bis' (120). A taxi from Thamel to Boudha runs around 'paanch saya' to 'saat saya' (500-700). The point isn't to memorize every number 1-100 in one sitting — it's to recognize the patterns fast enough to nod or bargain back.
Photo: Unsplash
यो धेरै महँगो छ
That's too expensive
Yo dherai mahango chha
Photo: Unsplash
छुट दिनुहोस्
Can you give a discount?
Chhut dinuhos
Frequently asked questions
Do Nepalis use Devanagari numerals or Arabic numerals?
Both. Government documents and traditional shops sometimes use Devanagari numerals (०, १, २, ३...), but prices, menus, and digital displays use Arabic numerals (0, 1, 2, 3). You can survive Nepal knowing only Arabic numerals.
What's a 'lakh' and why does it matter?
A lakh (लाख) is 100,000 — used across South Asia. Hotel staff might say 'ek lakh' meaning 100,000 rupees. Ten lakhs make 'das lakh' (1,000,000). Above that comes 'crore' (10 million).
How do I say 'half' or 'quarter' in Nepali?
'Aadha' (आधा) means half — 'aadha kilo' is half a kilo. 'Char bhaag ek' (एक चौथाई) is technically one-quarter, but most Nepalis just say 'thorai' (a little).
Can I just point at a calculator when bargaining?
Absolutely — and most shopkeepers in Thamel hand you a calculator without being asked. But understanding the spoken number adds speed and credibility.
Next lesson
Ordering Food in Nepali
From smoky teahouses on the Everest trail to dimly-lit dal bhat joints in Patan, food is where Nepal opens up to you. A few phrases turn a transaction into a connection.
Continue to Ordering Food in Nepali