Nepalese

American  

[nep-uh-leez, -lees] / ˌnɛp əˈliz, -ˈlis /

adjective

1. of or relating to Nepal, its inhabitants, or their language.

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noun

plural

Nepalese

1. a native or inhabitant of Nepal.

2. Nepali.

Nepalese British  

/ ˌnɛpəˈliːz /

adjective

1. of or relating to Nepal or its inhabitants

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Nepal

Usage

Nepalese is used as a plural noun (a candidate favored by the Nepalese ), but it's relatively rare as a singular noun (the candidate who is a Nepalese ).

Etymology

Origin of Nepalese

First recorded in 1810–20; Nepal + -ese

Example Sentences

Many Nepalese say that Balen, a civil engineer, could extend the success he had as mayor of Kathmandu to the rest of the country.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

A social-media campaign last year that focused on so-called nepo babies contrasted the lifestyles of elite families with the hardships of ordinary Nepalese.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

Last August, Gen Z activists began to share terms on social media such as "nepo baby", to describe the privileged children of the Nepalese elite.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

While browsing the library, you might stumble on a book from a cuisine you’ve never explored: Nepalese, Swedish, Kenyan, Cuban.

From Salon • Dec. 20, 2025

Additionally, the government decreed that no more than four expeditions would be allowed on the Nepalese flanks each season.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer