The short answer
The two share Devanagari script and many roots, but grammar and common words differ. Nepali uses "chha" where Hindi uses "hai", Nepali places the verb at the end with endings like "-chhu" and "-ncha", and everyday words differ: Nepali "dhanyabad" and Hindi "shukriya", Nepali "tapai" and Hindi "aap", Nepali "kasto" and Hindi "kaisa", Nepali "kati" and Hindi "kitna".
Some words that look the same may have different shades. When in doubt, speak slowly and use simple words, and people will meet you halfway.
Key facts
- Is / are
- Chha vs hai
- You (polite)
- Tapai vs aap
- How
- Kasto vs kaisa
- How much
- Kati vs kitna
How it works
- Learn the verb "to be"Chha vs hai.
- Use tapaiNot timi or ta.
- Know a few shared wordsPani, ghar, khana.
- Ask politelyKripaya.
- Repeat slowlyClear speech helps.
Insider tip
Speak slowly; many Nepalis understand Hindi very well.
Avoid this
Do not assume a Hindi word works in every Nepali context.
Related questions
Can a Hindi speaker learn Nepali quickly?
Basics come fast because of shared roots.
Do Nepalis understand Hindi?
Most do.
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