Skip to main content
Nepali language

Nepali language

4.9
The main language spoken in Nepal and parts of northern India
  • noun
  • /nɛˈpɑːli ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/
translation icon : idioma nepalí
  • Many people in northern India can also speak the Nepali language.

Examples

  • She is fluent in both Hindi and Nepali language.

  • The Nepali language is spoken by millions of people.

  • The constitution of Nepal recognizes the Nepali language as the official language.

  • She is learning the Nepali language to communicate better.

  • The Nepali language is spoken by millions of people in Nepal and around the world.

  • In school, we learn to write and speak in the Nepali language.

  • Understanding the Nepali language helps tourists navigate the culture of Nepal.

Synonyms

Nepali
vsNepali language
6.6

The official language of Nepal

has identical meaning but uses the longer formal noun phrase

Surface Forms

Morphology

Nepali + language

The meaning 'the language of Nepal' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'Nepali' (pertaining to Nepal or its people/language) with 'language' (a system of speech). This is a straightforward compositional noun phrase following common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

Nepali language comes from the country Nepal: Nepali simply means 'from Nepal' and was the way people in the hills and valley spoke. So it became the main, or 'official language', of the country.