अनि तपाईँ?
ani tapāī̃?
The phrase 'and you?' in Nepali is translated as अनि तपाईँ? (ani tapāī̃?)
This phrase is used as a question to ask the same question back to the person who has just addressed you.
What does it mean word for word?
अनि (ani) means 'and' and तपाईँ (tapāī̃) means 'you' (polite).
Which one should you use?
While English uses 'and you?' for all social levels, Nepali requires you to choose the pronoun based on the social hierarchy of the person you are addressing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are several ways to say 'and you?' depending on the level of respect: अनि तपाईँ? is polite and appropriate for speaking to elders, strangers or in formal settings. अनि तिमी? uses a medium-honorific pronoun and is commonly used between peers or towards younger people in a friendly way. अनि तँ? uses a low-honorific pronoun and is used only with very close friends or children.
How do you pronounce it?
ani tapāī̃?
Did you know?
- In many Nepali households, a child using the polite version अनि तपाईँ? toward a parent might actually be seen as creating a strange, artificial distance.
- In very formal Nepali, there is an even higher level of respect than तपाईँ, using the pronoun हजुर, which would change the phrase to अनि हजुर?
- The word अनि is a direct descendant of the Sanskrit word अन्य, which originally meant 'other' or 'different'.
Examples in context
- र तपाईं?And you?
- मलाई कफी मनपर्छ, अनि तपाईँ?malai kafi manparcha, ani tapai?I like coffee, and you?
- म नेपाली हुँ, अनि तपाईँ?ma nepali hu, ani tapai?I am Nepali, and you?
Example conversation
Pratika and Avinash are meeting at a cafe.
- प्रतिक्षा Pratikshaतपाईँलाई कस्तो छ?tapailai kasto cha?How are you?
- अविनाश Avinashमलाई सन्चै छ, अनि तपाईँ?malai sanchai cha, ani tapai?I am fine, and you?
- प्रतिक्षा Pratikshaम पनि सन्चै छु।ma pani sanchai chu.I am also fine.
- अविनाश Avinashखुसी लाग्यो।khusi lagyo.I am glad.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries अनि, CC BY-SA 4.0.
