Learning a new language is like opening a door to a new world. The culture, traditions, and daily life of a place are embedded in its language. One fascinating aspect of any language is how it describes the weather. Weather is a universal topic, and it’s often one of the first things people talk about when they meet. In this article, we will explore expressions for describing weather in Nepali, an Indo-Aryan language spoken primarily in Nepal. Whether you are planning a trip to Nepal, interested in the language, or simply a language enthusiast, this guide will enrich your vocabulary and cultural understanding.
Basic Weather Vocabulary
Before diving into expressions, let’s cover some basic weather vocabulary in Nepali. These words will serve as the foundation for understanding more complex phrases and sentences.
– Weather – मौसम (Mausam)
– Rain – पानी (Paani)
– Sun – घाम (Ghaam)
– Cloud – बादल (Baadal)
– Wind – हावा (Haawa)
– Snow – हिउँ (Hiu)
– Temperature – तापक्रम (Taapakram)
– Hot – तातो (Taato)
– Cold – चिसो (Chiso)
– Storm – आँधी (Aandhi)
Common Weather Expressions
Now that we have covered the basics, let’s move on to some common expressions used to describe the weather in Nepali.
Sunny Weather
Sunny weather is often associated with happiness and good times. Here are some expressions you can use to describe sunny weather in Nepali:
– आज घाम लागेको छ। (Aaja ghaam laagyo chha.) – It’s sunny today.
– आज मौसम सफा छ। (Aaja mausam safaa chha.) – The weather is clear today.
– आज तातो घाम छ। (Aaja taato ghaam chha.) – It’s hot and sunny today.
Rainy Weather
Rain is a common occurrence in Nepal, especially during the monsoon season. Here are some ways to talk about rainy weather:
– आज पानी परिरहेको छ। (Aaja paani pariraheko chha.) – It’s raining today.
– आज ठूलो पानी परेको छ। (Aaja thulo paani pareko chha.) – It’s raining heavily today.
– आज मौसम धमिलो छ। (Aaja mausam dhamilo chha.) – The weather is gloomy today.
Cloudy Weather
Cloudy weather can either precede rain or simply indicate an overcast day. Here are some expressions for cloudy weather:
– आज बादल लागेको छ। (Aaja baadal laagyo chha.) – It’s cloudy today.
– आज बादलले ढाकेको छ। (Aaja baadal le dhaakeko chha.) – The sky is covered with clouds today.
– आज घामले बादल काटेको छ। (Aaja ghaam le baadal kaateko chha.) – The sun is breaking through the clouds today.
Windy Weather
Wind can be a gentle breeze or a strong gust. Here are some expressions to describe windy weather:
– आज हावा चलेको छ। (Aaja haawa chaleko chha.) – It’s windy today.
– आज ठूलो हावा चलेको छ। (Aaja thulo haawa chaleko chha.) – It’s very windy today.
– आज हावाले सबै कुरा उडाएको छ। (Aaja haawa le sabai kura udaayeko chha.) – The wind has blown everything away today.
Snowy Weather
Snow is common in the higher altitudes of Nepal. Here are some expressions for snowy weather:
– आज हिउँ परेको छ। (Aaja hiu pareko chha.) – It’s snowing today.
– आज धेरै हिउँ परेको छ। (Aaja dherai hiu pareko chha.) – It’s snowing heavily today.
– आज सेतो हिउँले ढाकेको छ। (Aaja seto hiu le dhaakeko chha.) – Everything is covered in white snow today.
Seasonal Weather Expressions
Nepal experiences a variety of weather conditions throughout the year, influenced by its diverse geography. Here are some seasonal weather expressions:
Spring (Basant Ritu)
Spring in Nepal is characterized by moderate temperatures and blossoming flowers.
– बसन्त ऋतुमा मौसम राम्रो छ। (Basant ritu ma mausam ramro chha.) – The weather is nice in spring.
– बसन्त ऋतुमा फूल फुल्छ। (Basant ritu ma phool fulchha.) – Flowers bloom in spring.
– बसन्त ऋतुमा हावा चल्छ। (Basant ritu ma haawa chalchha.) – It’s breezy in spring.
Summer (Grishma Ritu)
Summer is hot and often comes with heavy monsoon rains.
– गर्मीको मौसममा धेरै तातो हुन्छ। (Garmi ko mausam ma dherai taato hunchha.) – It’s very hot in the summer.
– गर्मीको मौसममा ठूलो पानी पर्छ। (Garmi ko mausam ma thulo paani parchha.) – It rains heavily in the summer.
– गर्मीको मौसममा हावा चल्छ। (Garmi ko mausam ma haawa chalchha.) – It’s windy in the summer.
Autumn (Sharad Ritu)
Autumn is often considered the best time to visit Nepal due to its clear skies and mild temperatures.
– शरद ऋतुमा मौसम सफा हुन्छ। (Sharad ritu ma mausam safaa hunchha.) – The weather is clear in autumn.
– शरद ऋतुमा थोरै चिसो हुन्छ। (Sharad ritu ma thorai chiso hunchha.) – It’s slightly cold in autumn.
– शरद ऋतुमा घाम लाग्छ। (Sharad ritu ma ghaam laagchha.) – It’s sunny in autumn.
Winter (Hemanta Ritu)
Winter in Nepal can be quite cold, especially in the mountainous regions.
– जाडोको मौसममा धेरै चिसो हुन्छ। (Jaado ko mausam ma dherai chiso hunchha.) – It’s very cold in the winter.
– जाडोको मौसममा हिउँ पर्छ। (Jaado ko mausam ma hiu parchha.) – It snows in the winter.
– जाडोको मौसममा तातो कपडा लगाउनु पर्छ। (Jaado ko mausam ma taato kapada lagaunu parchha.) – You need to wear warm clothes in winter.
Describing Severe Weather
Nepal also experiences severe weather conditions such as thunderstorms, hail, and even occasional cyclones. Here are some expressions for describing severe weather:
Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms can be quite dramatic and are common during the monsoon season.
– आज चट्याङ परेको छ। (Aaja chatyang pareko chha.) – There is a thunderstorm today.
– आज ठूलो चट्याङ परेको छ। (Aaja thulo chatyang pareko chha.) – There is a severe thunderstorm today.
– आज चट्याङले सबैतिर उज्यालो भएको छ। (Aaja chatyang le sabaitir ujyalo bhaeko chha.) – The thunderstorm has lit up everywhere.
Hailstorms
Hailstorms, though less frequent, can occur, especially in the higher altitudes.
– आज असिना परेको छ। (Aaja asina pareko chha.) – It’s hailing today.
– आज ठूलो असिना परेको छ। (Aaja thulo asina pareko chha.) – It’s hailing heavily today.
– आज असिनाले बारीको बाली बिग्रिएको छ। (Aaja asina le baari ko baali bigrieko chha.) – The hail has damaged the crops in the field today.
Cyclones
Cyclones are rare but can be devastating when they occur.
– आज आँधी आएको छ। (Aaja aandhi aayeko chha.) – There is a cyclone today.
– आज ठूलो आँधी आएको छ। (Aaja thulo aandhi aayeko chha.) – There is a severe cyclone today.
– आँधीले धेरै क्षति पुर्याएको छ। (Aandhi le dherai kshati puryaayeko chha.) – The cyclone has caused a lot of damage.
Weather-Related Activities
Weather often influences the activities people engage in. Here are some expressions that link weather conditions with activities:
Sunny Days
Sunny days are perfect for outdoor activities.
– घाम लागेको दिनमा हामी पार्क जान्छौं। (Ghaam laagyo din ma haami park jaanchhau.) – We go to the park on sunny days.
– घाम लागेको दिनमा हामी पिकनिक गर्छौं। (Ghaam laagyo din ma haami picnic garchhau.) – We have a picnic on sunny days.
– घाम लागेको दिनमा हामी खेल खेल्छौं। (Ghaam laagyo din ma haami khel khelchhau.) – We play games on sunny days.
Rainy Days
Rainy days often mean staying indoors.
– पानी परेको दिनमा हामी घरमै बस्छौं। (Paani pareko din ma haami ghar mai baschhau.) – We stay at home on rainy days.
– पानी परेको दिनमा हामी किताब पढ्छौं। (Paani pareko din ma haami kitab padhchhau.) – We read books on rainy days.
– पानी परेको दिनमा हामी चिया पिउँछौं। (Paani pareko din ma haami chiya piunchhau.) – We drink tea on rainy days.
Snowy Days
Snowy days can be fun and adventurous.
– हिउँ परेको दिनमा हामी स्की जान्छौं। (Hiu pareko din ma haami ski jaanchhau.) – We go skiing on snowy days.
– हिउँ परेको दिनमा हामी हिउँ खेल्छौं। (Hiu pareko din ma haami hiu khelchhau.) – We play in the snow on snowy days.
– हिउँ परेको दिनमा हामी स्नोम्यान बनाउँछौं। (Hiu pareko din ma haami snowman banaunchhau.) – We make a snowman on snowy days.
Weather Idioms and Proverbs
Every language has its own set of idioms and proverbs related to weather, and Nepali is no exception. These phrases offer cultural insights and add richness to the language.
– घाम लागेको बेला छाता ओढ्नु। (Ghaam laagyo bela chhaata odhnu.) – To carry an umbrella when it’s sunny. (This idiom is used to describe unnecessary precautions.)
– पानी पर्दा ओड्ने लुगो फाल्नु। (Paani parda odhne lugo faalnu.) – To throw away your raincoat when it rains. (This idiom is used to describe acting against one’s own interest.)
– बादल र घाम जस्तै। (Baadal ra ghaam jastai.) – Like clouds and sunshine. (This idiom is used to describe something that is unpredictable.)
Conclusion
Understanding how to describe the weather in Nepali can enhance your communication skills and deepen your connection with the culture. From basic vocabulary to idiomatic expressions, this guide provides a comprehensive look at weather-related language in Nepali. Whether you are discussing the sunny days of spring, the heavy rains of summer, the clear skies of autumn, or the cold winters, these expressions will help you navigate conversations about the weather with ease. So the next time you find yourself in a conversation about the weather in Nepali, you’ll be well-prepared to participate and impress.
