वा / कि

Choosing Between Two Things

Level 1Sounds Like vā ra ki

Two words for or: वा in a statement and कि in a question.

How It Works

Nepali has two common words for or.

WordUseExample
वाstatement, requestचिया वा कफी दिनुहोस्।
किquestionतपाईं चिया पिउनुहुन्छ कि कफी?

In a question, put the first choice with the verb, then कि, then the second choice. तिमी बजार जान्छौ कि घर? means do you go to the market or home?

वा gives a choice in a statement, such as आज वा भोलि म आउँछु (I will come today or tomorrow).

Both words are separate from the words around them.

Later you will meet कि with other meanings, such as that. At Level 1 learn it only as or in a question.

Examples (5)

  1. तपाईं चिया पिउनुहुन्छ कि कफी?

    Do you drink tea or coffee?

    कि joins the two choices of the question.

  2. चिया वा कफी दिनुहोस्।

    Please give me tea or coffee.

    वा gives two options in a request.

  3. तिमी बजार जान्छौ कि घर?

    Do you go to the market or home?

    The same pattern with तिमी.

  4. तपाईं नेपाली बोल्नुहुन्छ कि अंग्रेजी?

    Do you speak Nepali or English?

    कि fits a question about two languages.

  5. आज वा भोलि म आउँछु।

    I will come today or tomorrow.

    वा joins two day words in a statement.

How It Connects

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

वा / किLevel 1Choosing Between Two Things

Learn This First

वा and कि offer a choice and build on र.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.