ए / हे / ओइ

These three small words come first in a sentence. After the call, a comma usually follows (ए दाइ,). ए and ओइ call a person, and हे opens an exclamation.

ए is the everyday call. Put it before a family word such as दाइ (older brother), दिदी (older sister) or a name: ए दिदी, एक कप चिया दिनुहोस् (excuse me, sister, please give me a cup of tea). Shopkeepers, drivers and waiters are called दाइ or दिदी in Nepal, which is warm and polite. ए itself is casual, so with an elder or someone you treat formally, start with the family word or the name alone: दिदी, एक कप चिया दिनुहोस्.

हे opens an exclamation: हे भगवान! (oh my goodness!).

ओइ is blunt. People use it with close friends, younger people and children: ओइ, कहाँ जान्छौ? (hey, where are you going?). Do not use it with a stranger or an elder. It can sound rude.

The verb after the call still follows the respect level of the person you talk to. After ए दिदी, use the polite form दिनुहोस्. After ओइ with a friend, use the तिमी form. With a child or a very close friend, the rougher तँ form is also heard.