तिमी हौ?
timi hau?
The English phrase "are you?" is translated into Nepali as तिमी हौ? (timi hau?)
This phrase is a question used to ask if someone is a particular person or possesses a certain quality.
How do you pronounce it?
timi hau?
When do people say it?
Note that the phrase तिमीलाई कस्तो छ? can be used to mean "How are you?" or "How are things?" in informal settings.
Did you know?
- Beyond the polite तपाईँ and the informal तिमी, Nepali has an even more intimate or low-status 'you' called तँ. Using तँ in a question like 'are you?' is reserved for very close friends, children, or can be used as a severe insult.
- When asking 'Are you…?' regarding a health condition or feeling, Nepali speakers often shift from the verb 'to be' to a structure meaning 'to have' or 'to feel'. For example, they would not use हौ to ask if someone is cold, but instead use a phrase meaning 'cold is felt'.
- When asking if someone is a person (e.g., 'Are you a doctor?'), the verb 'hau' is used, but if you are asking about their location, you would use a completely different verb entirely.
