Sanskrit-Based and Everyday Words
Nepali has two kinds of words for many things: the Sanskrit-based नेत्र and the everyday आँखा both mean eye.
How It Works
Nepali took many words from Sanskrit. Some stayed the same (तत्सम). Others changed in speech into shorter everyday words (तद्भव).
| Sanskrit-based | Everyday | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| नेत्र | आँखा | eye |
| हस्त | हात | hand |
| कर्ण | कान | ear |
| ग्राम | गाउँ | village |
| अग्नि | आगो | fire |
The pairs share a meaning, but they are not equal in tone. Speech picks the everyday word. Poems, news and formal speeches choose the Sanskrit-based word. Some Sanskrit-based words, such as समय and सुन्दर, are ordinary in speech too.
The Sanskrit-based word also lives on inside longer words. You say हात in talk, yet the formal word हस्तलिखित keeps हस्त. The same happens with ग्रामीण, which comes from ग्राम.
When you read a new word, notice whether it looks long and formal. It probably comes from Sanskrit, and an everyday partner may exist.
Examples (5)
- नेत्र पनि आँखा हो, तर कविताले नेत्र रुचाउँछ।
The everyday word for eye is आँखा, but poems prefer नेत्र.
नेत्र is the Sanskrit-based word and आँखा is the everyday word.
- बोल्दा हात भनिन्छ, तर हस्तलिखित शब्दमा हस्त आउँछ।
In speech we say हात, but हस्त stays in the word हस्तलिखित (handwritten).
हस्त is the Sanskrit-based partner of हात.
- ग्रामीण क्षेत्रका मानिस गाउँमा बस्छन्।
People in rural areas live in villages.
ग्रामीण comes from ग्राम, while गाउँ is the everyday word.
- बाजे आगो ताप्दै हुनुहुन्छ, तर कवितामा अग्नि आउँछ।
Grandfather is warming himself at the fire, but poems use अग्नि.
अग्नि is the Sanskrit-based partner of आगो.
- कान दुख्यो भन्ने ठाउँमा कर्ण भनिँदैन।
Where you say your ear hurts, you do not use कर्ण.
कर्ण is the Sanskrit-based partner of कान.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Sanskrit-based words form the formal vocabulary.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
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