Lessons
Numbers, rural register
Counting in twenties & half-prices
Nepali has two layered counting systems. The decimal (1, 2, … 100) is on /numbers. In rural markets, when bargaining for goats, grain sacks, or chiraita medicinal bundles, you'll hear the older vigesimal (base-20) system — plus the daily-use modifiers saaḍhe, sawaa, paune for half- and quarter-prices.
Pricing modifiers (universal)
You will hear these every single day, in every market, in every teahouse. They modify prices, times, and counts alike — “saaḍhe paanch” means 5:30 if it's a time and 5.50 if it's rupees.
सवा
sawaa
and a quarter (+0.25)
sawaa paanch = 5.25 (or 5:15 for time)
साढे
saaḍhe
and a half (+0.5)
saaḍhe paanch = 5.50 (or 5:30 for time)
पौने
paune
less a quarter (−0.25)
paune chha = 5.75 (or 5:45 for time)
साढे साढे
saaḍhe-saaḍhe
around half — used colloquially for haggling
imprecise on purpose: 'just call it half'
Vigesimal (base-20) counts
You'll mostly hear these in livestock markets (goat counting), Terai farming villages, and from older speakers. Tourist usage is rare, but recognising them prevents the “wait did he say 20 or 80?” problem.
एक बिस
ek bis
one score (20)
'bis' literally means 20; used for counting animals + at rural markets
दुई बिस
dui bis
two score (40)
तीन बिस
tin bis
three score (60)
चार बिस
chaar bis
four score (80)
पाँच बिस
paanch bis
five score (100)
बिसौनी
bisauni
a 20-count; a bundle of 20
used for goats, sheep, sacks of grain in Terai markets
कुरी
kuri
a 20-count (variant)
Eastern hills dialect
When you'll need this
Most modern transactions (Thamel, Pokhara restaurants, hotels) use decimal. The vigesimal system shows up in rural Terai villages, weekend haat-bazaars, and when older porters or village shopkeepers count inventory. The saaḍhe / sawaa / paune modifiers, by contrast, are everywhere — recognise them as “+0.5 / +0.25 / −0.25” and prices fall into place.