Which one should you use?
While आउनुहोस् is the standard polite form, other variations exist depending on the level of respect you wish to show. आइनुस् is specifically used when politely inviting someone to come or enter a place, whereas आउनुस् is a slightly less formal but still respectful version.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Nepali uses different levels of formality for the command 'come'. आउनुहोस् is the polite or honorific imperative form. आउनुस् and आइनुस् are used for respectful or semi-formal speech. For informal situations, you may use आऊ with close friends or younger people or the most common informal form आ. The lowest level, used with very close friends, children or sometimes in a derogatory manner, is आउ.
How does it change in a sentence?
The imperative form changes based on the social hierarchy and relationship between the speaker and the listener. For example, आऊ is the informal imperative used with close friends or younger people, while आउ represents the lowest level of imperative.
How do you pronounce it?
aawonuhos
Did you know?
- Nepali has a distinct 'high honorific' register that allows you to use a version of आउनुहोस् that treats the guest as a deity or a royal figure.
- The root verb आउनु is related to the Sanskrit word आगच्छति, reflecting the deep historical influence of ancient Indian languages on Nepali.
- The word आउनुहोस् can be used figuratively to describe a thought or a feeling that 'comes' to mind, similar to how English speakers say an idea 'came to me'.
Examples in context
- सक्नुहुन्छ भने मंगलबार आउनुहोस्।Come on Tuesday, if it's possible.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of आउनुहोस् in a conditional context.Tatoeba #12180887 by taro, translation #705439 by papabear
- कृपया फेरि आउनुहोस्।Please come again.This sentence is useful for practicing a polite request using आउनुहोस्.Tatoeba #12068187 by taro, translation #32558 by CK
- कृपया आइनुस्।Please come.
- नमस्ते, आउनुस्।Hello, come in.
- भोलि बिहान चाँडै आउनुहोस्।bholi bihāna chāḍai āunuhos.Please come early tomorrow morning.
Example conversation
Anita invites Sumit into her office.
- अनीता Anitaनमस्ते सुमित जी, कृपया भित्र आउनुहोस्।Namaste Sumit ji, kripaya bhitra aaunuhos.Hello Sumit, please come inside.
- सुमित Sumitधन्यवाद अनीता जी।Dhanyabaad Anita ji.Thank you, Anita.
- अनीता Anitaयहाँ बस्नुहोस्।Yahan basnuhos.Please sit here.
- सुमित Sumitहस्, म बस्छु।Has, ma baschu.Okay, I will sit.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
