धेरै / थोरै

A Lot and a Little

Level 1Sounds Like dhērai ra thōrai

Two words for amount, with धेरै for more and थोरै for less.

How It Works

धेरै and थोरै tell you how much or how many.

WordMeaningExample
धेरैa lot, manyमसँग धेरै साथी छन्।
थोरैa little, fewम थोरै नेपाली बोल्छु।
अलिकतिa tiny bitअलिकति चिनी दिनुहोस्।

With a verb, they say how much: ऊ धेरै खान्छ (he eats a lot) and ऊ धेरै चिया पिउँछ (he drinks a lot of tea).

Before an adjective, धेरै means very: धेरै राम्रो (very good).

The noun after these words usually stays singular in form, and the verb agrees with the thing counted: धेरै साथी छन्.

थोरै चिनी दिनुहोस् means please give me only a little sugar.

Examples (5)

  1. मसँग धेरै साथी छन्।

    I have many friends.

    धेरै stands before the noun.

  2. म थोरै नेपाली बोल्छु।

    I speak a little Nepali.

    थोरै stands before नेपाली.

  3. यहाँ धेरै मान्छे छन्।

    There are many people here.

    The verb छन् agrees with the people.

  4. मलाई थोरै चिनी चाहिन्छ।

    I need a little sugar.

    थोरै shows how much.

  5. ऊ धेरै चिया पिउँछ।

    He drinks a lot of tea.

    धेरै before the object shows the amount.

How It Connects

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धेरै / थोरैLevel 1A Lot and a Little

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