Nepal Peoples and Languages Languages in Nepal K - N

KAGATE
800 to 1,000
Janakpur Zone, Ramechhap District, on one of the ridges of Likhu Khola
Alternate names: SHUBA, SHYUBA, SYUBA, KAGATE BHOTE. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Central.

KAIKE
2,000
Karnali Zone, Dolpa District; Daulagiri Zone
Alternate names: TARALI KHAM. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Kanauri.

KAYORT
Koshi Zone, Morang District, Dakuwa Danga, near Rajbangsi language. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone, Bengali-Assamese.

KHALING
15,000 to 20,000
Population total both countries 15,000 to 20,000.
Alternate names: KHALINGE RAI, KHAEL BRA, KHAEL BAAT. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Western.

KHAM, GAMALE
10,000
Gam Khola, western hills, Rukum and Rolpa districts, Rapti Zone
Alternate names: GAMALE
Dialects: TAMALI, GHUSBANGGI. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kham-Magar-Chepang-Sunwari, Kham.

KHAM, MAIKOTI
2,500
Western hills, Rukum and Rolpa districts, Rapti Zone
Alternate names: MAIKOTI. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kham-Magar-Chepang-Sunwari, Kham.

KHAM, NISI
3,000
Western hills, Rukum and Rolpa districts, Rapti Zone
Alternate names: NISI, NISEL, NISHEL KHAM, EASTERN PARBATE
Dialects: BHUJEL KHAM. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kham-Magar-Chepang-Sunwari, Kham.

KHAM, SHESHI
7,500
Western hills, Rukum and Rolpa districts, Rapti Zone
Alternate names: SHESHI
Dialects: TAPNANGGI, JANGKOTI. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kham-Magar-Chepang-Sunwari, Kham.

KHAM, TAKALE
40,000 to 50,000
Rapti Zone, Rukum, Rolpa districts, west central Nepal. Taka-Shera is the center. Some in Dhaulagiri Zone, Baglung District
Alternate names: KHAM-MAGAR, TAKALE, WESTERN PARBATE
Dialects: TAKALE, LUKUMEL, WALE, THABANGGI. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kham-Magar-Chepang-Sunwari, Kham.

KOI
200 to 300
Sagarmatha Zone, south Khotang District, Sungdel Panchayat near the headwaters of the Rawakhola
Alternate names: KOYU, KOHI, KOYI, KOI BO'O, KOYU BO'
Dialects: SUNGDEL, BEHERE. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Western.

KULUNG
15,000 to 70,000. Population total both countries 15,000 to 70,000.
Alternate names: KHULUNGE RAI, KULU RING, KHULUNG, KHOLUNG
Dialects: SOTANG (SOTARING, SOTTARING), MAHAKULUNG, TAMACHHANG, PIDISOI, CHHAPKOA, PELMUNG, NAMLUNG, KHAMBU. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Eastern.

KUMAUNI
Mahakali zone
Alternate names: KUMAON. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northern zone, Central Pahari.

KUMHALI [KRA]
1,413 (1991 census)
Nawalpur, Gorkha District, Gandaki Zone
Alternate names: KUMHALE, KUMBALE, KUMKALE. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, .

URUX, NEPALI
Eastern Terai, Janakpur Zone, Dhanusha District
Alternate names: DHANGAR, JHANGER, JANGHARD, JANGAD, URAON, ORAU, ORAON. Classification: Dravidian, Northern.

KYERUNG
Rasuwa District, Bagmati Zone, Langtang region, Rasua Garbi, Birdim, Thangjet, Syabru, and Syabrubensi villages; and large concentrations in Kathmandu. Also spoken in China
Alternate names: KYIRONG, GYIRONG. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Central.

LAMBICHHONG
500
Eastern bank of the Arun River, in a strip between Mugakhola and Sinuwakhola; Muga and Pakhribas panchayats, Dhankuta District
Alternate names: LAMBICHONG, LAMBICCHONG, LAMBITSHONG. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Eastern.

LEPCHA
1,272 in Nepal (1961 census)
Ilam District, Mechi Zone
Alternate names: RONG, RONGKE, LAPCHE, RONGPA, NúNPA
Dialects: ILAMMU, TAMSANGMU, RENGJONGMU. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Lepcha.

LHOMI
4,000 in Nepal
Population total all countries 6,000.
Alternate names: LHOKET, SHING SAAPA, KATH BHOTE, KAR BHOTE. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Central.

LIMBU
238,088 in Nepal, 1.37% of the population (1991 census).
There are 16,000 Chattare (1998). Population total all countries 266,000 or more.
Alternate names: YAKTHUNG PAN
Dialects: TAPLEJUNGE (TAMORKHOLE, TAPLEJUNG), PANTHARE (PANTHAREY, PANCHTHARE, PANCHTHAR, PANTHARE-YANGGROKKE-CHAUBISE-CHARKHOLE), PHEDAPPE, CHATTARE (CHHATTARE, CHHATHAR, CHATTHARE, CHATTHARE YAKTHUNGBA PAN, YAKTHUNG PAN). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Eastern.

LINGKHIM
Ilam District, Sumbek Panchayat Yokpi. Original homeland was apparently near the lower Dudhkosi River
Alternate names: LIMKHIM, LINKHIM, LINGKHIM RAI. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Western. Nearly extinct.

LOPA
26,000
Dhawalagiri Zone, Dolpa, Mustang districts, north central
Alternate names: LOYU, LOBA, MUSTANG, LO MONTANG
Dialects: LO, SEKE. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Central.

LORUNG, NORTHERN
7,000 to 10,000
Between the middle Arun Valley and the Sabhakhola, middle Sankhuwasawa District, Koshi Zone
Alternate names: LOHORONG, LOHRUNG, LOHRUNG KHANAWA
Dialects: BIKSIT (BIKSHI). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Eastern.

LORUNG, SOUTHERN
3,000 to 5,000
Dhankuta District, in a small strip south of the Tamorkhola, between the Jaruwakhola in the east and the Raghuwkhola in the west, Bodhe, Maunabuduke, and Rajarani panchayats
Alternate names: LOHORONG, LOHRUNG, LOHRUNG KHAP, LOHRUNG KHATE, YAKKHABA LORUNG
Dialects: GESS. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Eastern.

LUMBA-YAKKHA
1,000
North Dhankuta District, Arkhaule Jitpur and Marek Katahare panchayats, around Lakhshmikhola
Alternate names: YAKKHABA CEA. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Eastern.

MAGAR, EASTERN
288,383 in Nepal
Population total all countries 290,000.
Alternate names: MAGARI, MANGGAR. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kham-Magar-Chepang-Sunwari, Magar.

MAGAR, WESTERN
210,000
West of Pokhara, Tansen highway, Surkhet, Banke, and Dialekh districts, Bheri Zone; Pokhara and Syangja districts, Morang and Dhankuta districts, Koshi Zone, Nawalparasi District, Lumbini Zone. The center is Surkhet District
Alternate names: MAGAR, MAGARI, MANGGAR, MAGAR NUWAKOT. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kham-Magar-Chepang-Sunwari, Magar.

MAITHILI
2,191,900 (1998 census), 11.85% of the population
Rautahat District, Narayani Zone; Sarlahi, Mahottari, Dhanusha districts, Janakpur Zone; Sirha , Saptari districts, Sagarmatha Zone; Sunsari District, Koshi Zone
Alternate names: APBHRAMSA, BIHARI, MAITLI, MAITILI, METHLI, TIRAHUTIA, TIRHUTI, TIRHUTIA
Dialects: BANTAR, BAREI, BARMELI, KAWAR, KISAN, KYABRAT, MAKRANA, MUSAR, SADRI, TATI, DEHATI. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone, Bihari.

MAJHI
11,322 in Nepal, 0.06% of the population (1991 census)
Population total both countries 11,322 or more.
Alternate names: MANJHI. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone, Bihari.

MANANGBA
3,736
Gandaki Zone, Manang District, Nyeshang area, 7 villages, Marsyangdi River
Alternate names: MANANG, MANANGI, NYESHANG, NYISHANG, NORTHERN GURUNG, MANANGBOLT, MANANGBHOT
Dialects: PRAKAA. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tamangic.

MARWARI
16,514 in Nepal, 0.09% of the population (1991 census).
Mechi Zone, Jhapa District; Koshi Zone, Morang and Sunsari districts; Narayani Zone, Parsa District, some in Kathmandu
Alternate names: MARWADI. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Rajasthani, Marwari.

MEOHANG, EASTERN
Sankhuwasawa District, Koshi Zone, upper Arun Valley east of the river, eastern Nepal. One dialect is in Sunsari District, Bhaludhunga, Bishnupaduka Panchayat; Dibum (Dibung) in Mangtewa Panchayat, Mulgaon-Wangtang in Yaphu Panchayat
Alternate names: NEWANG, NEWAHANG, NEWANGE RAI, NEWAHANG JIMI, MEWAHANG
Dialects: SUNSARI, DIBUM, MULGAON-WANGTANG. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Eastern.

MEOHANG, WESTERN
2,000 to 5,000
Sankhuwasawa District, Koshi Zone, upper Arun Valley west of the river, eastern Nepal. Bala is in Bala village, Sankhuwasawa Panchayat; Bumdemba in Sishuwakhola Panchayat. 2 villages
Alternate names: NEWANG, NEWAHANG, NEWANGE RAI, NEWAHANG JIMI, MEWAHANG
Dialects: BALA (BALALI), BUMDEMBA. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Eastern.

MUGU
3,557
Karnali Zone, Mugu, Humla, Jumla, Dolpa, Surket, Baihang, Bajura districts
Alternate names: MUGALI
Dialects: MUGALI KHAM. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Central.

MUNDARI
5,700 in Nepal
Alternate names: MUNDA, MANDARI, MONDARI, MUNARI, HORO
Dialects: HASADA, LATAR, NAGURI, KERA. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Munda, North Munda, Kherwari, Mundari.

MUSASA
Sindhuli Garhi District, Morang District, Koshi Zone, Dolakha District, Janakpur Zone
Alternate names: MUSAHAR. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone, Bihari.

NAAPA
500
Sankhuwasawa District, Koshi Zone. Their own villages are interspersed among the Lhomi
Alternate names: NAWA SHERPA, NABA, NAAPAA. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, .

NACHERING
2,000
Upper northeastern Khotang District near the Rawakhola Valley, on the slopes around the Lidim Khola River from the headwaters and its tributaries down to Aiselukharke to the south
Alternate names: NACERING RA, MATHSERENG, NACCHHERING, NASRING, BANGDALE, BANGDEL T*õM, BANGDILE
Dialects: DIMALI, PARALI, HEDANGPA (SANGPANG), BANGDALE (HACHERO, ACHERO, HANGKULA), KHARLALI, RAKHELI. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Eastern.

NAR PHU
533
Gandaki Zone, Manang District, Nar Valley north of Manang Valley, Nar (Nargaon) and Phu (Phugaon) villages
Alternate names: NAR-PHU
Dialects: NAR ( LOWER NAR), PHU ( UPPER NAR). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tamangic.

NEPALI
9,900,000 in Nepal, 58.3% of the population (1985).
Population total all countries 16,056,000.
Alternate names: NEPALESE, GORKHALI, GURKHALI, KHASKURA, PARBATIYA, EASTERN PAHARI
Dialects: BAITADI, BAJHANGI, BAJURALI (BAJURA), DOTELI, SORADI, AchhamI, JUMLELI (JUMLA, SINGJA, SIJALI), DARJULA. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northern zone, Eastern Pahari.

NEWARI
690,000 in Nepal, 3.73% of the population (1991 census).
Population total both countries 690,000 or more.
Alternate names: NEPAL BHASA, NEWAR
Dialects: DOLKHALI (DOLAKHA), SINDHUPALCHOK PAHRI (PAHRI, PAHARI), TOTALI, CITLANG, KATHMANDU-PATHAN-KIRTIPUR, BAKTAPUR, BAGLUNG. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Newari.

NUBRI
3,200
Gandaki Zone, North Gorkha District, along the upper reaches of the Buri Gandaki River, west of and including Prok village, between Himal Chuli and Manaslu Himal on the west and Ganesh Himal on the east. The local people view Sama as regional center
Alternate names: KUTANG BHOTIA, LARKYE
Dialects: SAMA, LHO, NAMRUNG, PROK. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Central.