What Language Do They Speak in Nepal?

Official language of Nepal Nepali

Facts last checked 9 October 2026.

The official language of Nepal is Nepali.

Learn some Nepali before you go

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Languages of Nepal at a glance

Official language	Nepali
Number of official languages	1
Countries on this site where Nepali is official	1
People (demonym)	Nepalese
Capital	Kathmandu
Internet domain	.np

Languages of neighbouring countries

China	Chinese
India	Hindi, English, Tamil

Nepal in context

Nepal covers 147,181 km², making it the 93rd largest of the 196 countries on this site.
Its population density of about 203 people per km² ranks 51st of 196 (1st = most crowded).
It shares a land border with 2 countries: China, India.
Nepal is landlocked, with no direct coastline.
With 29,911,840 people, Nepal holds about 1.5% of the population of Southern Asia.
Traffic drives on the left, and calendars start the week on Sunday.
Nepal is a member state of the United Nations.

Compare Nepal

Nepal vs Bhutan

Useful phrases for visitors to Nepal

Everyday Nepali phrases you will hear and use in Nepal:

English	Nepali
Hello	नमस्ते (namaste)
Thank you	धन्यवाद (dhanyabad)
Please	कृपया (kripaya)
Yes	हो (ho)
No	होइन (hoina)

Spellings can vary by region, and some languages use different forms for formal or informal speech. Even a simple greeting in the local language is usually appreciated.

Languages in Nepal — FAQ