तपाईंको नाम के हो?
tapāī̃ko nām ke ho?
The English phrase "what is your name?" is translated into Nepali as तपाईंको नाम के हो? (tapāī̃ko nām ke ho?)
The phrase is a question used to ask someone for their name.
What does it mean word for word?
The literal breakdown of तपाईंको नाम के हो? is 'your (tapāī̃ko) name (nām) what (ke) is (ho)?'
Which one should you use?
तपाईंको नाम के हो? is the polite version, whereas तिम्रो नाम के हो? is the informal version used with friends or children.
How does it change in a sentence?
तपाईंको नाम के हो? uses the polite second-person pronoun 'तपाईं' (tapāī̃), which makes it appropriate for speaking to strangers or elders.
How do you pronounce it?
tapāī̃ko nām ke ho?
Did you know?
- In many traditional Nepali contexts, people may avoid using a person's actual name directly even after learning it, often replacing it with a title like 'Dai' (elder brother) or 'Didi' (elder sister).
- Beyond the polite तपाईं, there is a supreme level of respect called हजुर (hajur). Using हजुरको नाम के हो? is the gold standard for addressing high-ranking officials or deeply revered elders.
- In Nepali culture, instead of asking तपाईंको नाम के हो?, it is often more polite to ask someone about their family or clan affiliation to establish their social identity.
Example conversation
Srijana and Roshan meet for the first time at a gathering.
- सृजना Srijanaनमस्ते! तपाईंको नाम के हो?Namaste! Tapaiko naam ke ho?Hello! What is your name?
- रोशन Roshanनमस्ते, मेरो नाम रोशन हो।Namaste, mero naam Roshan ho.Hello, my name is Roshan.
- सृजना Srijanaम सृजना हुँ।Ma Srijana hun.I am Srijana.
- रोशन Roshanतपाईंलाई भेटेर खुसी लाग्यो, सृजना।Tapailai bheter khusi lagyo, Srijana.Nice to meet you, Srijana.
