How to pronounce Nepali
Say it like nuh-PAW-lee. Nepali has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PAW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Nepali. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- nuh
- PAW
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nepali pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- PAWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of Nepali
American and British speakers say Nepali in essentially the same way: /nəˈpɔli/ in the US and /nəˈpɔːli/ in the UK.
British respelling: nuh-PAW-lee.
What does Nepali mean?
- a native or inhabitant of Nepal
- the official state language of Nepal
- of or pertaining to or characteristic of Nepal or its people or language or culture“Nepalese troops massed at the border”“Nepali mountains are among the highest in the world”
Words that rhyme with Nepali
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Nepali.
Questions about saying Nepali
How do you pronounce Nepali?
Say nuh-PAW-lee. The American pronunciation is /nəˈpɔli/. In British English it is /nəˈpɔːli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Nepali?
Nepali has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PAW). Broken into parts: nuh · PAW · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say Nepali the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /nəˈpɔli/ and the British form is /nəˈpɔːli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.