नेपाली
Nepali
The shared tongue of a nation. Nepali began as the Khas language of the western hills and grew into the language of state, media and everyday exchange across every province, while still carrying the idioms, songs and proverbs of the hill villages where it was born.
Where it is spoken
National and official language of Nepal
Spoken as a mother tongue by nearly half of Nepal, strongest in the hill and mountain districts of Gandaki, Karnali, Sudurpashchim, Bagmati and Koshi. As a second language it is understood almost everywhere in the country.
Who else speaks it
- India: 2,926,168 speakers (2011 census), mainly in Sikkim, Darjeeling, Assam and Uttarakhand; one of India's 22 scheduled languages
- Bhutan: Spoken by the Lhotshampa community of southern Bhutan
- Myanmar: Long-settled Gorkha communities
- Diaspora: The Gulf, Malaysia, the UK, the US, Australia, Japan and across Europe
Our work in Nepali
Nepali is the primary language of The Dehat newsroom and all of its programmes.
Speak Nepali, 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.