पहिले / पछि

Before and After

Level 2Sounds Like pahilē ra pachi

पहिले is first or earlier. पछि is later or after.

How It Works

Both words are time words. They stand alone in a sentence: पहिले जानुहोस् (please go first), पछि भेटौँला (see you later).

UseExampleMeaning
Firstम पहिले चिया पिउँछु।I drink tea first.
Laterपछि भेटौँला।See you later.
After a timeदुई दिनपछिin two days
After a day or eventदशैंपछिafter Dashain

After a time word, पछि joins it. दुई दिनपछि means in two days from now, or two days after something.

पहिले also means before, in the past: पहिले म पोखरामा थिएँ. Learn the pattern with पछि first, because it comes up more in everyday plans.

With a clock time it is just as short: म दस बजेपछि आउँछु (I come after ten).

Examples (5)

  1. म पहिले चिया पिउँछु।

    I drink tea first.

    पहिले stands alone and means first.

  2. म दुई दिनपछि आउँछु।

    I will come in two days.

    पछि joins the time word.

  3. दशैंपछि हामी गाउँ जान्छौँ।

    After Dashain we go to the village.

    पछि joins a festival name.

  4. ऊ पाँच बजेपछि घर आउँछ।

    He comes home after five o'clock.

    पछि joins बजे.

  5. पछि भेटौँला।

    See you later.

    पछि stands alone and means later.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing पछि as a separate word after a time word.

    म दुई दिन पछि आउँछु।
    म दुई दिनपछि आउँछु।

    After a time word, पछि joins it.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

पहिले / पछिLevel 2Before and After

Learn This First

पहिले and पछि say before and after.