Basic Nouns

1. पानि

   Paa-ni

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; understood in any eatery or shop.

   Grammar Note

   Dictionary headword "पानि" (water). Written "पानि", not Hindi "पानी".

2. भोजन

   Bho-jan

   Food

   Usage

   The general word for food and meals; a way into asking where to eat.

   Grammar Note

   Dictionary: "भोजन" (diet, victuals); "खाना" (food, meals) is also listed.

3. टाका

   Taa-kaa

   Money

   Usage

   The base word for anything about paying or changing currency.

   Grammar Note

   Dictionary: "टाका" (rupee); used for Indian and Nepali rupees and for "money". "पैसा" is the small coin (paisa).

4. शौचालय

   Shau-chaa-lay

   Toilet

   Usage

   Essential when asking directions; the word alone usually does the job.

   Grammar Note

   Dictionary: "शौचालय" (toilet). A polite, neutral word.

5. दवाइ

   Da-vaa-i

   Medicine

   Usage

   Use it at a pharmacy while miming your symptom.

   Grammar Note

   Dictionary: "दवाइ" (see "दवा"; medicine, drugs).

6. सामान

   Saa-maan

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking, carrying or collecting bags; common at airports and hotels.

   Grammar Note

   Dictionary: "सामान" (goods, materials).

7. चाभी

   Chaa-bhi

   Key

   Usage

   For room keys and locker keys.

   Grammar Note

   Dictionary: "चाभी" (key). "कुञ्जी" is also listed, but "चाभी" is the everyday word.

8. टिकट

   Ti-kat

   Ticket

   Usage

   Transport or entry tickets; combine with a number at the counter.

   Grammar Note

   Dictionary: "टिकट" (ticket, stamp); an English loan.

9. पासपोर्ट

   Paas-port

   Passport

   Usage

   Requested at check-in and currency exchange; the word you need if it goes missing.

   Grammar Note

   Dictionary: "पासपोर्ट"; an English loan.

10. फोन

    Phon

    Phone

    Usage

    Usually covers both the device and the act of calling.

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary: "फोन"; an English loan.

11. स्टेशन

    Ste-shan

    Station

    Usage

    A landmark word when asking for directions.

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary: "स्टेसन"/"स्टेशन" (station); an English loan.

12. अस्पताल

    As-pa-taal

    Hospital

    Usage

    For when you fall ill; works as a taxi destination.

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary: "अस्पताल" (hospital).

13. पुलिस

    Pu-lis

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; even the bare word conveys urgency.

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary: "पुलिस" (police).

14. दोकान

    Do-kaan

    Shop

    Usage

    The base word when asking where to buy something.

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary headword "दोकान" (shop, store); Maithili "दोकान", not Hindi "दुकान".

15. कमरा

    Kam-raa

    Room

    Usage

    For accommodation: checking vacancies or explaining a room number.

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary: "कमरा" (room, apartment); "कोठरी" (room) is also listed.

16. सड़क

    Sa-rak

    Road

    Usage

    For asking the way, ideally while pointing at a map.

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary: "सड़क" (road, street). "Way, path" can also be "बाट".

17. परिवार

    Pa-ri-vaar

    Family

    Usage

    A guaranteed small-talk topic; add a number and the conversation keeps going.

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary: "परिवार" (family, household).

18. नाम

    Naam

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself.

    Grammar Note

    Used as in "हमर नाम" ("my name"); attested in Tatoeba.

19. माथ

    Maath

    Head

    Usage

    Body part, for pointing at where it hurts.

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary: "माथ" (head; top part of the body).

20. आँखि

    Aan-khi

    Eye

    Usage

    Point at it when describing an eye problem.

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary headword "आँखि" (eye); Maithili "आँखि", not Hindi "आँख".

21. दाँत

    Daant

    Tooth

    Usage

    Point at it at a dentist to indicate a tooth problem.

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary: "दाँत" (tooth).

22. घाँटी

    Ghaan-ti

    Throat

    Usage

    The inside of the throat.

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary: "घाँटी" (larynx, throat). The outside of the neck is "गरदनि" (neck).

23. पेट

    Pet

    Stomach / belly

    Usage

    The whole abdomen; used for stomach ache or diarrhoea.

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary: "पेट" (belly, stomach).

24. पीठ

    Pith

    Back

    Usage

    The back (body part).

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary: "पीठ" (back). A separate entry with the same spelling means "pilgrimage seat"; here it is the body part.

25. डाँड़

    Daanr

    Waist / lower back

    Usage

    The waist and lower back; used for back pain or trouser sizing.

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary: "डाँड़" (waist). Hindi-origin "कमर" is also listed, but this app uses "डाँड़".

26. पएर

    Pa-er

    Foot / leg

    Usage

    Can mean the whole leg, so point at the exact spot on your own body.

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary: "पएर" (leg); "पैर" (foot) is also listed, but this app uses "पएर".

27. हाथ

    Haath

    Hand

    Usage

    The hand from palm to fingers; it can loosely include the arm.

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary: "हाथ" (hand, arm).

28. छाती

    Chhaa-ti

    Chest

    Usage

    For reporting chest pain or breathlessness.

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary: "छाती" (chest, heart).

29. दमकल

    Dam-kal

    Fire engine

    Usage

    For a fire: the fire engine or fire brigade.

    Grammar Note

    Dictionary (Maithili-English): "दमकल" (an air-pressure water pump); the Maithili-Nepali-English dictionary also gives "fire extinguisher". The fire-engine sense is the everyday usage; native check advised.

30. वाणिज्य दूतावास

    Vaa-nijy du-taa-vaas

    Consulate

    Usage

    The office of a consul, kept in major cities separately from the embassy.

    Grammar Note

    "वाणिज्य" (commerce) and "दूतावास" (embassy) are both dictionary-verified. An official term built from the two; rarely heard in daily speech.

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