Lessons
Advanced grammar
If…then in Nepali (यदि…भने)
Conditional sentences are one of the most-used patterns in everyday Nepali — every weather plan, every landlord conversation, every doctor visit hangs on one. The structure is consistent and easy once you spot the marker.
The pattern
A Nepali conditional is built around the postposition भने (bhane) attached to the condition clause. Optionally start with यदि (yadi) — “if” — but most conversational Nepali drops it.
Shape
[यदि] Clause 1 भने, Clause 2
condition + bhane → result
Nepali keeps condition before result. English allows both orders (“come tomorrow if you have time”), but the Nepali equivalent always frames the if-clause first.
Ten worked examples
Each example shows the Nepali sentence, a literal English gloss, and a natural translation. Tap the speaker to hear the Nepali read aloud.
01 · Weather-and-plan negotiation, common before a day trip.
यदि पानी पर्यो भने, हामी नागरकोट जाँदैनौं।
Yadi paani paryo bhane, haami Nagarkot jaadainau~.
Free: If it rains, we won't go to Nagarkot.
Literal: If water-fell bhane, we Nagarkot do-not-go.
02 · Polite invitation — leaves the listener an out, expected register.
तपाईंलाई समय छ भने, भोलि आउनुहोस्।
Tapaai~laai samay chha bhane, bholi aaunuhos.
Free: If you have time, please come tomorrow.
Literal: To-you time is bhane, tomorrow please-come.
03 · Conversational dial-down of spice at a teahouse.
दाल पिरो छ भने, अलिकति पानी हालिदिनुस्।
Daal piro chha bhane, alikati paani haalidinus.
Free: If the dal is spicy, please add water.
Literal: Daal spicy is bhane, a-little water please-add.
04 · Landlord-to-tenant or tenant-to-landlord maintenance follow-up.
फेरि पाइप चुहियो भने, मलाई फोन गर्नुहोस्।
Pheri paaip chuhiyo bhane, malaai phone garnuhos.
Free: If the pipe leaks again, call me.
Literal: Again pipe leaked bhane, to-me phone please-do.
05 · Common health advice from a host or pharmacist.
पेट दुख्छ भने, डाक्टरलाई देखाउनुहोस्।
Pet dukhchha bhane, ḍaakṭarlaai dekhaaunuhos.
Free: If your stomach hurts, see a doctor.
Literal: Stomach hurts bhane, to-doctor please-show.
06 · Teacher / guide phrasing, often offered to language learners.
बुझ्नुभएन भने, फेरि सोध्नुहोस्।
Bujhnubhaena bhane, pheri sodhnuhos.
Free: If you don't understand, please ask again.
Literal: Did-not-understand bhane, again please-ask.
07 · Landlord reassurance, useful in shared-wall buildings.
छिमेकीले हल्ला गर्यो भने, मलाई भन्नुहोस्।
Chhimekii-le hallaa garyo bhane, malaai bhannuhos.
Free: If the neighbor makes noise, tell me.
Literal: Neighbor-by noise did bhane, to-me please-tell.
08 · Polite bargaining at Asan Bazaar or a thanka shop.
मोल घटाउनु भयो भने, मैले दुई किन्छु।
Mol ghaṭaaunu bhayo bhane, maile dui kinchhu.
Free: If you can lower the price, I'll buy two.
Literal: Price lowered bhane, I two buy.
09 · Travel tip exchange, classic backpacker register.
पोखरा जानु भयो भने, रातको बस चढ्नुहोस्।
Pokharaa jaanu bhayo bhane, raat-ko bus chaḍhnuhos.
Free: If you go to Pokhara, ride the bus by night.
Literal: Pokhara went bhane, of-night bus please-ride.
10 · Office reimbursement — the bureaucratic close-out.
रसिद छ भने, मलाई पैसा फिर्ता आउँछ।
Rasid chha bhane, malaai paisaa phirtaa aaunchha.
Free: If you have a receipt, I'll get reimbursed.
Literal: Receipt is bhane, to-me money back comes.
Where this pattern shows up daily
- Neighbour noise: “If the upstairs flat is loud, tell me” — standard apartment-building social contract.
- Landlord requests: “If the pipe leaks again, call me” — you'll hear and say this often.
- Doctor visits: “If the pain returns, come back” — the stock close of every consultation.
- Markets: “If you give a discount, I'll buy two” — polite bargaining.
Variant: omitting “yadi”
In spoken Nepali, यदि is usually dropped — the भने alone does the work. Use यदि in writing or when the speaker wants to mark the condition emphatically.
Four fill-in-the-blank conditionals
1. पानी पर्यो ___ , ___ बाहिर नजानुहोस्।
2. तपाईंलाई ___ ___ आउनुहोस्।
3. बुझ्नु___ भने, ___ फेरि सोध्नुहोस्।
4. मोल घटायौ ___ , ___ किन्छु।