Preserving Nepali wisdom onlineहाम्रो बारेमा
Ukhan tukka are Nepal's proverbs: compressed lessons passed down by ear for generations. This site puts them somewhere they can be searched, saved and shared.
अगुल्टोले हानेको कुकुर बिजुलीदेखि तर्सन्छ
Agulto le haaneko kukur bijuli dekhi tarsanchha.
If a person makes a mistake, he will be scared of it happening again in the future
Try it: reveal the reading and the meaning, or tap the original to open its page.
Why it matters
A proverb is the shortest form a culture’s memory can take.
Nepali ukhan tukka carry advice about work, family, envy, patience and luck in a line or two, but they travel by conversation, and conversations move online.
Putting them on the web means they can be found by someone who half-remembers a phrase their grandmother used, read by a learner who needs the romanized form, and understood by anyone through the English meaning.
What you’ll find here
- The original Devanagari
- Every proverb in its own script, the way it is actually said.
- A romanized reading
- So you can pronounce it even without reading the script.
- An English meaning
- Wherever one has been written. The collection grows as more are added.
- Themes and first letters
- Browse by subject, or by how a proverb begins when that is all you remember.
Ukhan and tukka
उखान
ukhan
A complete saying that carries a lesson and stands on its own.
टुक्का
tukka
An idiomatic phrase that only finishes its meaning inside a sentence.
In everyday Nepali the two are said as one phrase, so the site uses “ukhan tukka” for the whole tradition and “proverb” as the English word. The full story is in Ukhan vs tukka: what’s the difference?
How the collection is built
Proverbs are anonymous oral heritage. This site collects and explains them; it does not claim to have written them. Each entry is a Devanagari original with a romanized reading and, where one has been written, an English meaning. Where a proverb has no meaning yet, the page leaves it out rather than guessing.
The collection is maintained by Sangam Adhikari, who also builds the Android app that carries the same proverbs.
Help fill the gaps
Many proverbs still have no English explanation, and only a fraction is tagged by theme. If you know the meaning behind an ukhan, or spot one we’ve got wrong, a short email is enough. Include:
- The proverb’s page address.
- The meaning, or what looks wrong.
- Where it is used or who said it to you, if you remember.
Common questions
What does ukhan tukka mean?
Ukhan tukka (उखान टुक्का) is the Nepali term for proverbs and idioms. An ukhan is a complete saying that carries a lesson; a tukka is an idiomatic phrase that completes its meaning inside a sentence. In everyday speech the two are said as one phrase.
Did you write these proverbs?
No. Proverbs are anonymous oral heritage, passed down by ear. This site collects them and explains them; it does not claim to have written them.
Is Ukhan Tukka free?
Yes. The website is free to use with no account, and the Android app is free on Google Play.
Why do some proverbs have no English meaning?
Meanings are written one at a time, so many entries do not have one yet. The page leaves the meaning out rather than guessing. If you know one, you can send it in.
How do I report a mistake or add a meaning?
Email info@sangamadhikari.com with the proverb's page address and what you know. Corrections are very welcome.
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