Levels of Respect
Nepali has several ways to say you, he and she, and the verb changes with the one you choose.
How It Works
Nepali marks respect in the pronoun and again in the verb. For you there are three levels, and तपाईं is the safe default with a stranger, a teacher, an older person or a customer.
| Pronoun | Level | Verb for “go” |
|---|---|---|
| तपाईं | polite | जानुहुन्छ |
| तिमी | friendly | जान्छौ |
| तँ | very close or rude | जान्छस् |
For he and she there are also three levels: उहाँ (high respect), उनी (middle) and ऊ (plain). Use उहाँ for a teacher or an elder and उनी for most people. Use ऊ for a child or a close friend.
तँ is only for very close people and children, and it sounds rude toward anyone else, so leave it for later. Never mix levels in one sentence: तपाईं goes with a polite ending, and तिमी goes with its own ending.
Examples (5)
- तिमी कहाँ जान्छौ?
Where do you go?
तिमी is the friendly you, with the ending -छौ.
- तपाईं कहाँ जानुहुन्छ?
Where do you go?
तपाईं is the polite you, with the ending -नुहुन्छ.
- उहाँ शिक्षक हुनुहुन्छ।
She or he is a teacher.
उहाँ shows high respect and takes हुनुहुन्छ.
- उनी घरमा छन्।
She or he is at home.
उनी is the middle level, with the verb छन्.
- ऊ विद्यार्थी हो।
She or he is a student.
ऊ is the plain level, with the verb हो.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- तिमी / तपाईंAddressing Someone
Choosing between the two ways to say you.
Level 1 - ऊ / उनी / उहाँHe and She at Three Levels
The three levels of he and she.
Level 1 - हजुरSaying Yes and Pardon Politely
A very respectful word for you and for yes.
Level 1 - -नुहुन्छPolite Present with तपाईं
The polite verb ending.
Level 1 - How Verbs Agree
How the verb follows the doer.
Foundations
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Levels of Respect in Bubblegum
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