Nepal information
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Languages in Nepal A - J
Nepal's languages
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ATHPARIYA
439,312 all Rai languages (1991 census).
Kosi Zone, Dhankuta District, north of the Tamur, between the Dhankutakhola in the west and the Tangkhuwa in the east; Dhankuta and Bhirgaon panchayats
Alternate names: ATHAPRE, ATHPARE, ARTHARE, ARTHARE-KHESANG. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Eastern.

AWADHI
374,638 in Nepal, 2.03% of the population (1991 census).
Lumbini Zone, Kapilbastu District; Bheri Zone, Banke and Bardiya districts
Alternate names: ABADI, ABADHI, ABOHI, AMBODHI, AVADHI, BAISWARI, KOJALI, KOSALI
Dialects: BAGHELI, GANGAPARI, MIRZAPURI, PARDESI, THARU, UTTARI. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, East Central zone.

BAGHELI
Morang District, Koshi Zone
Alternate names: BAGELKHANDI, BHUGELKHUD, MANNADI, RIWAI, GANGGAI, MANDAL, KEWOT, KEWAT, KAWATHI, KENAT, KEVAT BOLI, KEVATI, KEWANI, KEWATI, NAGPURI MARATHI
Dialects: MARARI, OJHI, POWARI, BANAPARI, GAHORE, TIRHARI, GODWANI (MANDLAHA), SONPARI. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, East Central zone.

BAHING
7,000 to 10,000
Sagarmatha Zone, Okhaldunga District, south of the Solu River in the Nachedanda ranges, east of the Melung River to the Thatan River and its tributaries in the west
Alternate names: RUMDALI, BAINGE RAI, BAING, BAYING, BAYUNG, BAHING LO, BAYUNG LO
Dialects: NAMBER SACHA, ROKHUNG, KHALING, BANENGE, DOBO LO, PROCA LO. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kham-Magar-Chepang-Sunwari, Sunwari.

BANTAWA
35,000 or more, 50,700 to 70,000 including second language users .
'Intermediate Bantawa' represents most groups.
Morang, Dhankuta, Bhojpur districts, Koshi Zone, and western Dhankuta District, Khotang District. Amchoke is in Limbuwan, especially in Ilam District; Udaipur District, Sagarmatha Zone; Japa District, Mechi Zone. Many villages
Alternate names: BANTAWA RAI, BANTABA, BONTAWA, BANTAWA Y*úNG, BANTAWA YONG, BANTAWA DUM
Dialects: NORTHERN BANTAWA (DILPALI), SOUTHERN BANTAWA (HANGKHIM), EASTERN BANTAWA (DHANKUTA), WESTERN BANTAWA, CHHINTANG, DUNGMALI (DUNMALI), WALING (WALUNG, WAL*úNG), RUNGCHENBUNG, AMCHOKE (AMCHAUKE), YANGMA. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Eastern.

BARAAMU
2,000 out of 6,580 in the ethnic group
Gandaki Zone, North Gorkha District, Takhu village up the Doraundi Khola on the east side above Chorgate, near Kumhali, about 7 villages. They may be in Dhading District
Alternate names: BARHAMU, BRAHMU, BHRAMU, BRAMU, BARAM. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Western Himalayish, Eastern.

BARAGAUNLE
1,600 to 2,200 or more, including 650 in Kagbeni, 530 to 1,140 in Jharkot, 400 in Purang (1990). Dhaulagiri Zone, Mustang District, 18 villages in the Kali Gandaki Valley and on the hillsides north of Jomosom up to Kagbeni, and east to Muktinath; on the plains and along the river
Alternate names: BARAGAUN, BARAGAON, BHOTI GURUNG
Dialects: JHARKOT, KAGBENI. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Central.

BELHARIYA
500 to 2,000
Kosi Zone, Dhankuta District, Belhara village and hill west of Dhankuta Bajar
Alternate names: BELHARE, ATHPARIYA, ATHPAHARIYA, ATHPARE, ATHPAGARI. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Eastern.

BENGALI
27,712 in Nepal, 0.15% of the population (1991 census).
Mechi Zone, Jhapa District; Koshi Zone, Morang and Sunsari districts; Sagarmatha Zone, Saptari District
Alternate names: BANGALA, BANGLA, BANGLA-BHASA
Dialects: BARIK, BHATIARI, CHIRMAR, KACHARI-BENGALI, LOHARI-MALPAHARIA, MUSSELMANI, RAJSHAHI, SAMARIA, SARAKI, SIRIPURIA. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone, Bengali-Assamese.

BHOJPURI
1,379,717 in Nepal, 7.46% of population (1991 census)
Main concentration in Narayani Zone, Rautahat, Para, and Parsa districts. And near the India border in Lumbini Zone, Nawalparasi District; Janakpur Zone, Sarlahi District; Koshi Zone, Morang District; Mechi Zone, Jhapa District
Alternate names: BHOJAPURI, BHOZPURI, BAJPURI
Dialects: BHOJPURI THARU, TELI. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone, Bihari.

BODO
938 in Nepal (1961 census)
Mechi Zone, Jhapa District
Alternate names: BORO, BODI, BARA, BORONI, MECHE, MECHI, MECI, MECH, MACHE. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Jingpho-Konyak-Bodo, Konyak-Bodo-Garo, Bodo-Garo, Bodo.

BOTE-MAJHI
11,000 (1991 census).
Mainly Chitawan District, Narayani Zone, near Kumhali
Alternate names: KUSHAR. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone, .

BUJHYAL
5,000
Gandaki Zone, East Tanahun, south side of Chimkesori Peak, behind Yangchok, near the Magar. Separated from the Chepang by the Trisuli (Narayani) River
Alternate names: GHARTI, BUJHEL, BUJAL, WESTERN CHEPANG. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kham-Magar-Chepang-Sunwari, Chepang.

BYANGSI
1,314 in Nepal or 0.01% of the population (1991 census)
Mahakali Zone, Darchula District
Alternate names: BYANSHI, BYANSI, BYANGKHO LWO. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Western Himalayish, Almora.

CAMLING
10,000 or fewer
Rawa Valley, Khotang District, Sagarmatha Zone
Alternate names: CHAMLING, CHAMLINGE RAI. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Eastern.

CHANTYAL
2,000 speakers out of 10,000 in the ethnic group
Dhaulagiri Zone, Myagdi District, Kali Gandaki River valley. Ethnic Chantel also in Baglung District
Alternate names: CHENTEL, CHANTEL. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tamangic.

CHAUDANGSI
Mahakali Zone, far western
Alternate names: TSAUDANGSI, BANGBA LWO. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Western Himalayish, Almora.

CHEPANG
34,000 or 0.14% of the population
Inner Terai; Narayani Zone, Makwanpur, Chitwan, and South Dhading districts; Gandaki Zone, South Gorkha District
Alternate names: TSEPANG
Dialects: EASTERN CHEPANG, WESTERN CHEPANG. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kham-Magar-Chepang-Sunwari, Chepang.

CHHINTANG
100 or fewer
Lower Arun region, Dhankuta District, Chhintang panchayat, Sambhung and Pokhare, and Ankhisalla panchayat, Dandagaon
Alternate names: CHHINTANGE, TELI, CHINTANG. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Eastern. Nearly extinct.

CHHULUNG
1,000 or fewer
Ankhisalla Panchayat, Dhankuta District, end of Chhintang Panchayat
Alternate names: CHULUNG,CHHOLUNG, CHHILLING. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Eastern.

CHOURASE
5,000 or more
Sagarmatha Zone, Udayapur and Okhaldhunga districts
Alternate names: TSAURASYA, CHAURASIA, CHAURASYA, CHOURASIA, UMBULE, AMBULE, OMBULE
Dialects: BONU, UBU. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Western.

CHUKWA
100 or fewer
Kulung Panchayat, Bhojpur District
Alternate names: CUKWA RING, POHING, POHING KHA. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Eastern. Nearly extinct.

DARAI
7,000 (1991 census)
Inner Terai, Narayani Zone, Chitawan District. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, .

DHANWAR
16,000
Eastern hills and plain, inner Terai and Terai south of Kathmandu, Sindhuli Garhi, Makwanpur District, Narayani Zone
Alternate names: DHANVAR, DANUWAR RAI, DANUWAR, DENWAR. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan

DHIMAL
15,014 or 0.08% of the population (1991 census)
Mechi Zone, Jhapa District; Koshi Zone, Morang District.
Dialects: EASTERN DHIMAL, WESTERN DHIMAL. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Dhimal.

DOLPO
5,000 to 10,000 (1998)
Dolpa, northern, Karnali Zone, villages of Goomatara, Kola, Tachel, Kani, Bajebara, Laun, Chilpara, Bantari, Byas, above Dolpa up to Tibet. It is beyond the mountains west of the upper Kali Gandaki River valley. Confined by the Dhaulagire Himal on the south and Tibet on the north. Includes the headwaters of the Karnali River. About 24 small villages scattered over 500 square miles in Namgang, Panzgang, Tarap, and Chharbung subdistricts
Alternate names: PHOKE DOLPA, DOLPA TIBETAN. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Central.

DUMI
1,000 to 2,000
Northern Khotang District, hills near the middle of the Rawakhola Valley
Alternate names: DUMI BO'O, DUMI BRO, RO'DO BO', LSI RAI, SOTMALI
Dialects: BRASMI, KHARBARI, LAMDIJA, MAKPA. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Western.

DUNGMALI
3,000 to 5,000
East of central Bhojpur District, northeast of the Singtang lekh, bend of the Arun River between its confluence with the Piukhuwa and the first confluence with the Piluwa River
Alternate names: DUNGMALI-BANTAWA, ARTHARE, ARTHARE-KHESANG
Dialects: KHESANG (KHESANGE). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Eastern.

DZONGKHA
Some in Kathmandu.
Alternate names: JONKHA, BHOTIA OF BHUTAN, ZONGKHAR, DRUKKE, DRUKHA, BHUTANESE. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Southern.

GHALE, KUTANG
1,300 (1992)
Gandaki Zone, Northern Gorkha District, Buri Gandaki Valley from Nyak, up to and including Prok
Alternate names: BHOTTE
Dialects: BIHI, CHAK, RANA. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tamangic.

GHALE, NORTHERN
2,500
Gandaki Zone, Gorkha District, Buri Gandaki Valley.
Dialects: KHORLA, UIYA, JAGAT, PHILIM, NYAK. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tamangic.

GHALE, SOUTHERN
12,000
Gandaki Zone, Gorkha District, hills south of Macha Khola
Alternate names: GALLE GURUNG
Dialects: BARPAK, KYAURA, LAPRAK. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tamangic.

GURUNG, EASTERN
105,000 or more, 1.23% of the population (1991 census)
227,918 all Gurung languages in Nepal (1991 census)
Western Dev. Region, Gandaki Zone, mainly Lamjung, Tanahu, and western Gorkha districts. Possibly some in Manang District.
Dialects: LAMJUNG GURUNG, GORKHA GURUNG, TAMU KYI. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tamangic.

GURUNG, WESTERN
72,000 in Nepal (1991 census). Northwestern dialect is the largest
227,918 all Gurung languages in Nepal
1.23% of the population (1991 census).
Population total all countries 72,000 or more.
Alternate names: GURUNG, TAMU KYI.

Dialects: SOUTHERN GURUNG (SYANGJA GURUNG), NORTHWESTERN GURUNG (KASKI GURUNG). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tamangic.

HELAMBU SHERPA
5,000 to 10,000
Nuwakot and Sindhupalchok districts, Bagmati Zone, Helambu area
Alternate names: YOHLMU TAM
Dialects: EASTERN HELAMBU SHERPA, WESTERN HELAMBU SHERPA. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Central.

HINDI
170,997 in Nepal, or 0.92% of the population (1991 census)
Southern strip of low country. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Western Hindi, Hindustani.

HUMLA BHOTIA
Bajura District, Seti Zone; Humla District, Karnali Zone
Alternate names: DANGALI, PHOKE. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Central.

JERUNG
1,000 to 2,000
Around and above the mouth of the Melungkhola River
Alternate names: JERO, JERUM, JERUNGE, JHERUNG, JERO MALA, ZERO, ZERUM, ZERO MALA
Dialects: MADHAVPUR, BALKHU-SISNERI, RATNAWATI (SINDHULI). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Western.

JIREL
8,000 to 10,000 (1998)
Janakpur Zone, Dolakha District, Jiri and Sikri valleys, eastern hills. Jiri is the main area. Others include Chhyatrapa; Lumbini and Nawalparasi districts
Alternate names: ZIRAL, JIRI, JIRIAL. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Southern

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