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• Sherpa
  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
  sherpa

  noun

  an official who makes preparations for or assists a government representative or important delegate at a summit meeting or conference

Sherpa

American  

[shur-puh] / ˈʃɜr pə /

noun

plural

Sherpas,

plural

Sherpa

1. a member of a people of Tibetan descent living in the Nepalese Himalayas, who often serve as porters on mountain-climbing expeditions.

2. a Tibetic language spoken by the Sherpa.

3. Sometimes sherpa an expert chosen by a chief executive to assist in preparations for a summit meeting.

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Sherpa ¹ British  

/ ˈʃɜːpə /

noun

1. a member of a people of Mongolian origin living on the southern slopes of the Himalayas in Nepal, noted as mountaineers

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sherpa ² British  

/ ˈʃɜːpə /

noun

1. an official who makes preparations for or assists a government representative or important delegate at a summit meeting or conference

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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

Lakpa Sherpa, an expedition operator and veteran climber, said airlift technology was used to support rope-fixing teams by delivering ropes, ladders, snow bars and food during critical phases.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

He and his Sherpa emerged from their tent into 50-mile-an-hour winds, a blizzard so fierce that Whittaker couldn’t see his feet.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Everest, reaching the highest point on Earth on May 1, 1963, with Sherpa Nawang Gombu.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

"From higher camps, people tend to bring back oxygen bottles only," said Tshering Sherpa, chief executive officer of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, which runs an Everest checkpoint.

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025

“I can last another night here if you send up a couple of boys with some Sherpa tea, first thing in the morning, no later than nine-thirty or ten,” Rob answered.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer