Sherpa
noun
a member of a people of Tibetan descent living in the Nepalese Himalayas, who often serve as porters on mountain-climbing expeditions.
Sherpa
American
[shur-puh]
/ ˈʃɜr pə /
noun
-
Sherpas,
plural
-
Sherpa
plural
-
a member of a people of Tibetan descent living in the Nepalese Himalayas, who often serve as porters on mountain-climbing expeditions.
-
a Tibetic language spoken by the Sherpa.
-
Sometimes sherpa an expert chosen by a chief executive to assist in preparations for a summit meeting.
Sherpa
1
British
/ ˈʃɜːpə /
noun
sherpa
2
British
/ ˈʃɜːpə /
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of Sherpa
First recorded in 1840–50; from Sherpa sharpa, equiavalent to shar “east” + pa “people” (referring to the origin of this people in eastern Tibet)
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“All of a sudden you had an added soap opera narrative of leaving climbers behind to die; people putting Sherpa climbers in danger.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
Instead, her work has focused on the Sherpa people, an ethnic group from the surrounding Himalayan regions, who often work as guides and porters for foreign mountaineers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
Mingma G came from the Sherpa community and built his reputation as a mountain guide over 20 years.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
Nepali glaciologist Tenzing Chogyal Sherpa said wealthy industrialised countries driving global emissions should accept their role.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
The eager young Sherpa wasn’t chosen that year, but he remained in India and was hired by Shipton for the 1935 British Everest expedition.
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
Before serving as Mr. Blanche’s chief of staff, I served as his sherpa during his confirmation process for deputy attorney general.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
They have been, in some ways, a sherpa for us, to guide us through the evolution of humanity.
From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2024
“I’m just the lowly governor today. I’m the sherpa, as I like to say.”
From New York Times ● Jan. 22, 2024
Made with a flannel fleece outer lining and sherpa fleece on the inside, the Foozie not only feels fluffy on your feet and ankles thanks to its design, they’ll also keep you warm.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2023
The sherpa, named as Mohammed Hassan, had fallen off a ledge on Pakistan's K2 - the world's second-highest mountain.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2023
“The Sherpas are patient, kind and they take life in the moment.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026
"We reached it on 10 April. The crevasse below is melting," he said, adding that Sherpas after him said it had melted further and was close to collapsing.
From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026
Appeared in the January 26, 2026, print edition as 'Ro and Our New Health Sherpas'.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 25, 2026
Nima says he hopes his successes will make people more aware of how important Sherpas are to climbing.
From NewsForKids.net ● Oct. 24, 2024
Sherpas aren’t supposed to get altitude illness, especially those from Rolwaling, a region famous for its powerful climbers.
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
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