Greetings

1. प्रणाम

   Pra-naam

   Hello / Greetings

   Usage

   A respectful all-day greeting in Mithila. Said with palms joined, especially to elders.

   Grammar Note

   Tatoeba pairs it with "Hello"; the Maithili-Nepali-English dictionary glosses it as a highly respectful greeting.

2. नमस्कार

   Na-mas-kaar

   Greetings (more formal)

   Usage

   An all-day greeting, like "प्रणाम"; a little more formal, good for first meetings and officials.

   Grammar Note

   Listed in the Maithili-Nepali-English dictionary as "greeting" and also found in Tatoeba.

3. शुभ रात्रि

   Shubh raa-tri

   Good night

   Usage

   Said when parting at night or before going to sleep.

   Grammar Note

   Both words are verified in the dictionaries; "रात्रि" is the written form of everyday "राति". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

4. अहाँ कोना छी?

   A-haan ko-naa chhi?

   How are you?

   Usage

   The standard polite "How are you?" for anyone. Answer: "हम ठीक छी".

   Grammar Note

   Tatoeba has the variant order "केना छी अहाँ।" ("केना" = variant of "कोना"). "अहाँ" is polite; "तोँ" is for close friends only. The verb does not change by gender. Word order composed; native check advised.

5. हम ठीक छी, धन्यवाद।

   Ham thik chhi, dhan-ya-vaad.

   I'm fine, thank you

   Usage

   The standard reply to "How are you?".

   Grammar Note

   The exact sentence is in Tatoeba. "हम" is singular "I" in Maithili ("we" is "हम सभ").

6. विदा लैत छी।

   Vi-daa lait chhi.

   Goodbye

   Usage

   A polite farewell when you leave.

   Grammar Note

   "विदा" (departure, leave) and "लेब" (to take) are dictionary-verified; the idiom is "I take leave". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

7. फेर भेट होएत।

   Pher bhet ho-et.

   See you again / We'll meet again

   Usage

   Said to friends and acquaintances when parting.

   Grammar Note

   "होएत" is the 3rd-person future of "होएब"; literally "a meeting will happen again". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

8. धन्यवाद

   Dhan-ya-vaad

   Thank you

   Usage

   General thanks, for any situation.

   Grammar Note

   Tatoeba "धन्यवाद!" = Thank you. A Sanskrit loan, spelled the same as in Hindi.

9. क्षमा करू।

   Ksha-maa ka-ru.

   Excuse me / Sorry

   Usage

   For apologising, after bumping into someone, or to get attention politely.

   Grammar Note

   The honorific imperative is stem + "-ू"/"-उ" ("करू", "कहू", "आउ"), not Hindi "कीजिए". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

10. कृपया

    Kri-pa-yaa

    Please

    Usage

    Add before or after a request to be polite.

    Grammar Note

    The Maithili-Nepali-English dictionary lists it as "adv. please".

11. अहाँसँ भेट भए खुशी भेल।

    A-haan-san bhet bha-e khu-shi bhel.

    Nice to meet you

    Usage

    Said when meeting someone for the first time.

    Grammar Note

    "-सँ" is a postposition ("with/from") written attached to the noun. Literally "from meeting you, gladness arose". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

12. शौचालय कतए अछि?

    Shau-chaa-lay ka-te a-chhi?

    Where is the toilet/bathroom?

    Usage

    One of the most useful questions on a trip: shops, stations, hotels.

    Grammar Note

    "कतए" corresponds to Hindi "कहाँ". The dictionary headword is "कतऽ"; this app writes "कतए". "अछि" states location or existence.

13. हम मैथिली नहि बाजि सकैत छी।

    Ham mai-thi-li na-hi baa-ji sa-kait chhi.

    I can't speak Maithili

    Usage

    Tells people you cannot speak Maithili, so they slow down or switch language.

    Grammar Note

    "नहि" stands before the verb. "बाजि सकैत छी" = "am able to speak"; no gender change on the verb. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

14. हम फेर आएब।

    Ham pher aa-eb.

    I'll come again

    Usage

    Said when leaving a shop or guesthouse.

    Grammar Note

    The future uses the "-ब" form ("आएब"); no gender change. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

15. बड़ मजा भेल।

    Bar ma-jaa bhel.

    I had a great time

    Usage

    Said when parting to say you enjoyed yourself.

    Grammar Note

    "बड़" before a noun or adjective means "very" (Hindi "बहुत" is not used). Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

16. धन्यवाद, फेर भेट होएत।

    Dhan-ya-vaad, pher bhet ho-et.

    Thanks, see you

    Usage

    A casual way to say goodbye.

    Grammar Note

    Joins "thank you" with "we will meet again". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

17. हम निकलि रहल छी।

    Ham nik-li ra-hal chhi.

    I'm heading out

    Usage

    Said when leaving the guesthouse.

    Grammar Note

    Progressive = conjunctive + "रहल" + "छी"; no masculine/feminine split. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

18. हम घुरि आएलहुँ।

    Ham ghu-ri aa-el-hun.

    I'm back

    Usage

    Said when coming back to the guesthouse.

    Grammar Note

    Past 1st person ends in "-लहुँ"; "आएलहुँ" appears in dictionary prose. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

19. हम पहिने जाइत छी।

    Ham pa-hi-ne jaa-it chhi.

    I'll be going now

    Usage

    Said when you leave before the others, e.g. at a meal.

    Grammar Note

    "पहिने" = "before/first". The present form can express an imminent action. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

20. कोनो बात नहि।

    Ko-no baat na-hi.

    You're welcome

    Usage

    The reply when someone thanks you.

    Grammar Note

    Literally "no matter at all". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

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