मतलब
To pester or annoy someone excessively.
सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि
In Nepal, directness is often avoided with elders, but with peers, idioms like this are used to show closeness. Telling a friend 'Tauko nakhau' can actually be a sign that you are very comfortable with them. This idiom is a 'calque' or shared concept across India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. It reflects a shared cultural understanding of 'mental space' being something that can be consumed by noise. On Nepali TikTok and Facebook, 'Tauko Khayo' is a common caption for videos of annoying siblings or funny, persistent characters. While the phrase is Nepali (Khas Kura), many other ethnic groups in Nepal have translated this literally into their own languages because the concept is so universal in the region.
Use with 'na'
Most often you will use this in the negative: 'Tauko nakha' (Don't eat my head).
Avoid with Bosses
Even if your boss is annoying, never use this phrase with them unless you want to get fired!
मतलब
To pester or annoy someone excessively.
Use with 'na'
Most often you will use this in the negative: 'Tauko nakha' (Don't eat my head).
Avoid with Bosses
Even if your boss is annoying, never use this phrase with them unless you want to get fired!
The 'Yaar' Addition
Adding 'yaar' (friend/man) at the end makes it sound more natural: 'Tauko nakhau na yaar!'
Body Language
Often accompanied by a hand gesture to the forehead or a slight eye roll.
खुद को परखो
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'Tauko Khanu'.
धेरै नबोल, मेरो _______ नखाऊ।
The idiom is 'Tauko Khanu' (to eat the head).
Which situation is best for using 'Tauko Khanu'?
When would you say 'Usale mero tauko khayo'?
The idiom is used for pestering or annoying behavior.
Complete the dialogue.
A: मलाई नयाँ जुत्ता किनिदिनु न! B: अहिल्यै? बिहानदेखि _______ खाइसक्यौ!
The parent is complaining that the child has been pestering them all morning.
Match the phrase to the correct register.
Match 'Tauko nakhau' with its register.
This idiom is casual and should only be used with friends or family.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स
अभ्यास बैंक
4 अभ्यासधेरै नबोल, मेरो _______ नखाऊ।
The idiom is 'Tauko Khanu' (to eat the head).
When would you say 'Usale mero tauko khayo'?
The idiom is used for pestering or annoying behavior.
A: मलाई नयाँ जुत्ता किनिदिनु न! B: अहिल्यै? बिहानदेखि _______ खाइसक्यौ!
The parent is complaining that the child has been pestering them all morning.
Match 'Tauko nakhau' with its register.
This idiom is casual and should only be used with friends or family.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
10 सवालIt's blunt, but among friends, it's common and not considered a 'curse word.'
Yes! 'Yo serial le tauko khayo' (This serial is so annoying/boring).
They are 99% the same. 'Dimag' (brain) sounds slightly more modern.
Usale mero tauko khairaheko cha.
No, it is considered disrespectful to say this to your parents.
Use 'Malai jhyau lagyo' (I'm bored/annoyed) or 'Dherai kachkach भयो' (Too much nagging).
Yes, but 'Tauko Khanu' also includes pestering for things, not just talking.
Absolutely not. Use 'asuvidha' (inconvenience) instead.
Tauko khayo (ate the head).
Yes, many folk and pop songs use it to describe a nagging lover.
संबंधित मुहावरे
दिमाग खानु
synonymTo eat the brain
हैरान पार्नु
similarTo exhaust/harass
कचकच गर्नु
builds onTo nag
टाउको दुखाउनु
contrastTo cause a headache
