Climbing & Trekking
Baatotrail
Bhanjyangpass
Bhattitea stalls found along the trekking trails
Chautaararock walls built as resting places for porters and Sherpa. These walls can usually be found near a banyan tree.
Chomolungma Sherpa name for Mt. Everest.
Chomolungma's resident goddess is Miyo Lungsangma. She is the mother goddess of the earth. According to a religious story, father Lhola Tebu and mother Menthang had five daughters: Tashi Tseringma, the main one who resides on Gauri Shanker, gives long life; Miyo Lungsangma gives food; Tekar Dosangma gives good fortune; Chopen Dinsangma gives wealth and Thingi Shelsangma gives telepathic powers.
Col (or la)high mountain pass
Crevassedeep fissure in snow or ice usually found in glaciers. Climbers rope-up together and walk far apart in case one drops into a hidden crevasse, others on the rope may be able to stop the fall.
Cwm (koom)welsh term for a cirque. The high, glaciated, southwest valley encircled by Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse was named the Western Cwm by George Mallory on a 1920 British Expedition.
Dandaridge
Deuralipass on a ridge
Dharmsalapilgrim's rest house
Drangkastream
Dzo male crossbreed between a yak and a cow
GPSGlobal Positioning System; a device that calculates opposition and elevation by reading and decoding signals from satellites
Himalsnow mountain
Kaanian arch over a trail, usually decorated with paintings
Kangmountain
Khola (or kosi)river
Khumburegion near Mount Everest. The Khumbu glacier runs down and below the southwest side of Everest.
Kundholy lake
Lekhhill, or foothill ridge
Lhosouth
Maati baatoupper trail
Nakfemale yak
Nupwest
Parbatmountain
Phediliterally "the place at the foot of the hill"
Pokhari (or tal)lake
Ripeak
SagarmathaNepalese name for Everest, meaning "churning stick in the sea of existence." Tibetan, Nepalese and Sherpa mythologies believe this mountain was the first land mass to rise from the sea.
Shareast
Sherpa"People from the East." Both a tribal group and a job description for porter, climber or trek leader. Sherpas have been crucial to the success of most Western expeditions to Everest. (Click here to learn more about Sherpas and their culture.)
Sherpanifemale Sherpa.
In 1993, Pasang Lhamu Sherpa was the first Sherpani to ever summit Everest. Through her, fame and pride shone on the Sherpa people.
Sirdarman in charge of trek crew
Ukaalosteep uphill
Yakanimals used to help carry loads in high altitude regions. On an Everest expedition, each yak carries 140 pound of supplies.
Yetithe abominable snowman living amidst
the Himalayas. .
Daily Life
Baayaanleft (direction)
Baksheeshmoney or goods used as a donation, gift, or bribe
Banthantithe place in the forest
Charpilatrine
Daahineright (direction)
Dokan (or pasal)shop
Dokoporter's conical load-carrying basket
Ghar (or khangba)house
Jaatcaste or ethnic group
Namastecommon greeting. Literally, "I salute the god in you."
Paisa1/100 of one Rupee
Rupee unit of currency in Nepal. Roughly 55 Rupees to the US dollar
Sidhastraight ahead (direction)
Sonamgood luck (Tibetan)
Tashi Delekanother common greeting
Tempothree-wheeled taxi similar to a rickshaw found throughout the streets in Kathmandu
Tongatwo-wheeled, horse-drawn cart
Religion
Brahmina term used to indicate the priest class
Buddhismone of the principal religions of eastern and central Asia which stems from the teachings of Gautama Buddha. Its tenets hold that suffering is inherent to life and only through purification of the self can one hope to diminish the degree of life's suffering.
Dharmagood karma or actions used to generate good karma
Gompaa Buddhist temple. Gompas are found all over the Nepal countryside.
Guru Rinpochefounder of Tibetan Buddhism 1250 years ago.
Juthoritual pollution. Once you have eaten food from a plate it is jutho and no one may eat the remaining food. A dead body is considered to contain jutho and may not be touched by a Sherpa.
Karmaspiritual force generated by a person's actions
Katawhite scarf presented as a sign of honor. These may be blessed and become sacred relics.
LamaTibetan Buddhist teacher or priest
Mani Rimdu One of the holiest festivals for the Sherpa, Mani Rimdu celebrates the completion of 10 days of prayers for the benefit of all beings dedicated to Pawa Cherenzig, the god of compassion. Marked by dances from all over the region, the festival dancers wear various masks which depict different gods. The Sherpa believe that for each god, there are different forms of worship, chants or movements that help bring that god closer to the dancer and eventually become a part of him which is considered to benefit all people. Some believe that prayers, deep thinking, or meditation can be done to achieve the same harmony and make people more peaceful.
Mani wallstone wall carved with Buddhist mantras
Mantrareligious incantation
Miyo Lungsangmagoddess of humans residing on Mt. Everest
Prayer Flaglong strips of colored cloth printed with prayers that are "said" whenever the flag flaps in the wind. Prayer flags are located along the trekking and climbing routes and are used by the Sherpa to decorate and bless their homes, school, gompas, etc.
Puja (pooja)prayers offered. It is also the act of praying or chanting and offering gifts to the gods. Before any climb of Mt. Everest a large puja is performed asking the gods for protection and permission to climb within their heights. The puja will last several hours and each member will smear a little tso on their face in respect.
Rinpochereincarnate lama. Title for high lamas and reincarnates, "precious one."
Stupaa Buddhist shrine
Tankaembroidered or painted, elaborately colored wall hanging. Usually tankas depict scenes from the life of the deities. They are magnificently ornate and rich with symbolism.
Trisultrident symbol of follower's of Shiva
Tsoofferings made of cooked rice. May be smeared across the forehead and on the face and neck as a symbol of respect and homage to the gods.
Food & Drink
Chappatiflat bread made of flour. Another staple sometimes used in place of rice.
Changhome-brewed rice or more traditionally barley beer. Chang is traditionally drunk by the participants during the puja before the climb of Everest.
Chinisugar
Chiso paanicold water
Chiyaatea
Dal Bhaatlentil soup with rice. This is a staple of the Nepalese diet.
Dhaiyogurt
Dudhmilk
Khaanafood
Maasumeat
Momo steamed or fried pork dumplings
Nunsalt
Paani water
Phulegg
Rakshia spirit distilled from rice, potato or grain
Rotibread
Satuflour
Suntalaorange (fruit)
Taato paanihot water
Thukpanoodles, often served in soup
Tsampaparched barley flour, a staple food of Tibetans
Umaleko paaniboiled water