ठूला-ठूला

Repeating Words

Level 4Sounds Like ṭhūlā-ṭhūlā

A word said twice spreads over many things or many times.

How It Works

Nepali repeats words to show many, each or bit by bit. The repeated word is joined with a hyphen.

Kind of wordExampleMeaning
adjectiveठूला-ठूला घरmany big houses
adverbबिस्तारै-बिस्तारैslowly, little by little
nounघर-घरमाin every house
amountथोरै-थोरैa little at a time

A repeated adjective that ends in -ो takes the plural -ा ending: ठूलो becomes ठूला-ठूला and सानो becomes साना-साना. Other adjectives, such as नयाँ, do not change: नयाँ-नयाँ. A marker goes after the second word: घर-घरमा.

Repetition is common in speech and keeps its warm, friendly feeling. In formal writing, repeating a word to stress it is less common; a stronger word often reads better.

Examples (5)

  1. काठमाडौंमा ठूला-ठूला घर बनेका छन्।

    Many big houses have been built in Kathmandu.

    ठूला-ठूला is plural: many big ones.

  2. बच्चा बिस्तारै-बिस्तारै हिँड्यो।

    The child walked slowly, bit by bit.

    बिस्तारै-बिस्तारै spreads the action over time.

  3. घर-घरमा चिया पाइन्छ।

    Tea is found in every house.

    घर-घरमा means house after house.

  4. साना-साना केटाकेटी मैदानमा खेल्दै थिए।

    Many small children were playing in the field.

    साना-साना is the plural of सानो.

  5. मैले कपमा थोरै-थोरै चिया हालेँ।

    I poured a little tea into the cups, a little at a time.

    थोरै-थोरै shows a little each time.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the marker after the first word.

    घरमा-घर चिया पाइन्छ।
    घर-घरमा चिया पाइन्छ।

    The marker goes after the second word, so the pair is घर-घरमा.

How It Connects

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

ठूला-ठूलाLevel 4Repeating Words

Learn This First

Repeating words changes meaning.