Languages · Profile
डोटेली
Doteli
The language of the far west, home of deuda songs and dances and narrative ballads of the high hills, closely related to Nepali and to Kumaoni across the border.
494,864
mother tongue speakers in Nepal (2021 census)
1.70%
of Nepal's population
Indo-Aryan
language family
Devanagari
script
In Nepal
Where it is spoken
Voice of the far west
Sudurpashchim Province, especially Doti, Dadeldhura and the hill areas of Kailali, alongside related varieties such as Baitadeli, Achhami and Bajhangi.
Sudurpashchim
Beyond Nepal
Who else speaks it
- India: Closely related to Kumaoni in Uttarakhand
The Dehat
Our work in Doteli
A dedicated Far West programme with local editorial staff.
Speak Doteli, or know someone who does? We want to hear your stories.
ContributeSources: National Population and Housing Census 2021, Nepal (mother tongue); Census of India 2011. Figures for small and endangered languages are estimates.