Understanding How to say hello in different languages is not just a cool party trick; it's a tool for building bridges between people from different corners of the world. It's a small effort with a big impact, breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of unity. In our diverse and interconnected world, being able to greet someone in their native language isn't just polite; it's a gesture of genuine interest and respect.
Saying Hello Around the World
French: Bonjour
Pronunciation: bon-zhoor
Example: "Bonjour, comment ça va?" (Buenos días qué tal)
German: Hallo
Pronunciation: hah-loh
Example: "Hallo, wie geht es dir?" (¿Hola, cómo estás?)
Italian: Ciao
Pronunciation: chow
Example: "Ciao, come stai?" (¿Hola, cómo estás?)
Portuguese: Olá
Pronunciation: oh-lah
Example: "Olá, tudo bem?" (¿Hola todo bien?)
Spanish: Hola
Pronunciation: oh-la
Example: "¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás?" (Hello, How are you?)
Chinese: 你好 (Nǐ hǎo)
Pronunciation: nee how
Example: "你好, 请问您贵姓？" (Hello, may I ask for your name?)
Japanese: こんにちは (Konnichiwa)
Pronunciation: kon-nee-chee-wah
Example: "こんにちは、元気ですか？" (Hello, how are you?)
Korean: 안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo)
Pronunciation: ahn-nyeong-ha-se-yo
Example: "안녕하세요, 만나서 반갑습니다." (Hello, nice to meet you.)
Russian: Привет (Privet)
Pronunciation: pree-vyet
Example: "Привет, как дела?" (Hello, how are you?)
Arabic: السلام عليكم (As-salamu alaykum)
Pronunciation: ass-sa-lam-mu ah-lay-kum
Example: "السلام عليكم, كيف حالك؟" (Hello, how are you?)
Hindi: नमस्ते (Namaste)
Pronunciation: nah-mas-tay
Example: "नमस्ते, आप कैसे हैं?" (Hello, how are you?)
Swahili: Jambo
Pronunciation: jahm-boh
Example: "Jambo, habari yako?" (Hello, how are you?)
Greek: Γεια σας (Gia sas)
Pronunciation: yah sas
Example: "Γεια σας, τι κάνετε;" (Hello, how are you?)
Turkish: Merhaba
Pronunciation: mehr-hah-bah
Example: "Merhaba, nasılsınız?" (Hello, how are you?)
Dutch: Hallo
Pronunciation: hah-loh
Example: "Hallo, hoe gaat het met je?" (Hello, how are you?)
Swedish: Hej
Pronunciation: hey
Example: "Hej, hur mår du?" (Hello, how are you?)
Polish: Cześć
Pronunciation: cheshch
Example: "Cześć, jak się masz?" (Hello, how are you?)
Hebrew: שלום (Shalom)
Pronunciation: sha-lom
Example: "שלום, איך אתה?" (Hello, how are you?)
Thai: สวัสดี (Sawasdee)
Pronunciation: sah-was-dee
Example: "สวัสดี, คุณเป็นอย่างไร?" (Hello, how are you?)
Vietnamese: Xin chào
Pronunciation: sin chow
Example: "Xin chào, bạn khỏe không?" (Hello, how are you?)
Finnish: Hei
Pronunciation: hey
Example: "Hei, mitä kuuluu?" (Hello, how are you?)
Indonesian: Halo
Pronunciation: hah-loh
Example: "Halo, apa kabar?" (Hello, how are you?)
Romanian: Salut
Pronunciation: sah-loot
Example: "Salut, ce mai faci?" (Hello, how are you?)
Czech: Ahoj
Pronunciation: ah-hoy
Example: "Ahoj, jak se máš?" (Hello, how are you?)
Malay: Selamat sejahtera
Pronunciation: seh-la-mat say-jah-ter-ah
Example: "Selamat sejahtera, apa khabar?" (Hello, how are you?)
Bengali: নমস্কার (Nomoskar)
Pronunciation: no-mo-skar
Example: "নমস্কার, আপনি কেমন আছেন?" (Hello, how are you?)
Filipino: Kumusta
Pronunciation: koo-mus-ta
Example: "Kumusta, kamusta ka?" (Hello, how are you?)
Icelandic: Halló
Pronunciation: hah-loh
Example: "Halló, hvernig hefur þú það?" (Hello, how are you?)
Lithuanian: Labas
Pronunciation: lah-bahs
Example: "Labas, kaip tu?" (Hello, how are you?)
Latvian: Sveiki
Pronunciation: svei-ki
Example: "Sveiki, kā jums iet?" (Hello, how are you?)
Slovak: Ahoj
Pronunciation: ah-hoy
Example: "Ahoj, ako sa máš?" (Hello, how are you?)
Albanian: Përshëndetje
Pronunciation: per-shen-de-tye
Example: "Përshëndetje, si jeni?" (Hello, how are you?)
Bulgarian: Здравейте (Zdraveyte)
Pronunciation: zdra-vei-te
Example: "Здравейте, как сте?" (Hello, how are you?)
Mongolian: Сайн байна уу? (Sain baina uu?)
Pronunciation: sah-in by-na oo
Example: "Сайн байна уу, юу байна?" (Hello, how are you?)
Hausa: Sannu
Pronunciation: sah-noo
Example: "Sannu, yaya kake?" (Hello, how are you?)
Georgian: გამარჯობა (Gamardjoba)
Pronunciation: ga-mar-joh-ba
Example: "გამარჯობა, როგორ ხარ?" (Hello, how are you?)
Yoruba: Bawo ni
Pronunciation: bah-woh nee
Example: "Bawo ni, se dada ni?" (Hello, are you well?)
Lao: ສະບາຍດີ (Sabaidi)
Pronunciation: sah-bai-dee
Example: "ສະບາຍດີ, ທ່ານໄດ້ສາລະບາດບໍ?" (Hello, have you had a good day?)
Kurdish: سڵاو (Slaw)
Pronunciation: sla-ow
Example: "سڵاو, چۆنیت؟" (Hello, how are you?)
Maltese: Bongu
Pronunciation: bon-goo
Example: "Bongu, kif int?" (Hello, how are you?)
Burmese: မင်္ဂလာပါ (Mingalabar)
Pronunciation: min-ga-la-ba
Example: "မင်္ဂလာပါ, သင်္ဘောသာလား?" (Hello, how are you?)
Tamil: வணக்கம் (Vaṇakkam)
Pronunciation: va-na-kam
Example: "வணக்கம், நீங்கள் எப்படி இருக்கின்றீர்கள்?" (Hello, how are you?)
Nepali: नमस्ते (Namaste)
Pronunciation: na-mas-te
Example: "नमस्ते, तिमीलाई कस्तो छ?" (Hello, how are you?)
Khmer: ជំរាបសួរ (Chum reap suor)
Pronunciation: chum ree-up sue-ah
Example: "ជំរាបសួរ, តើអ្នកដូចម្តេចទេ?" (Hello, how are you?)
Slovenian: Zdravo
Pronunciation: zdra-vo
Example: "Zdravo, kako ste?" (Hello, how are you?)
Esperanto: Saluton
Pronunciation: sa-loo-ton
Example: "Saluton, kiel vi fartas?" (Hello, how are you?)
Pashto: سلام (Salaam)
Pronunciation: sa-lam
Example: "سلام, څنګه یی؟" (Hello, how are you?)
Kannada: ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ (Namaskāra)
Pronunciation: na-mas-kaa-ra
Example: "ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ, ನೀವು ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ?" (Hello, how are you?)
Uyghur: ياخشىمۇسىز (Yaxşimusiz)
Pronunciation: yahkh-shi-moo-seez
Example: "ياخشىمۇسىز, قالايمىسىز؟" (Hello, how are you?)
Mandarin (Wu): 吴语 (Ngu)
Pronunciation: ngoo
Example: "吴语, 你好吗?" (how are you?)
Ukrainian: Привіт (Pryvit)
Pronunciation: prih-vit
Example: "Привіт, як справи?" (Hello, how are you?)
Igbo: Kedu
Pronunciation: kay-doo
Example: "Kedu, kedu ka ị mere?" (Hello, how are you?)
Bosnian: Zdravo
Pronunciation: zdrah-vo
Example: "Zdravo, kako ste?"
Nahuatl: ¿Niltze? (informal)
Pronunciation: neel-tseh
Example: "¿Niltze, tlanextia?" (Hello, how are you?)
Kikuyu: Wawerũ
Pronunciation: wah-weh-roo
Example: "Wawerũ, ũno ndũ?" (Hello, how are you?)
Armenian: Բարեւ (Barev)
Pronunciation: bah-rev
Example: "Բարեւ, ինչպես ես?" (Hello, how are you?)
Kyrgyz: Саламатсыздарга (Salamatsyzdarga)
Pronunciation: sa-la-mat-syz-dar-ga
Example: "Саламатсыздарга, кандайсыздар?" (Hello, how are you?)
Kannada: ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ (Namaskāra)
Pronunciation: na-mas-kara
Example: "ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ, ನೀವು ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ?" (Hello, how are you?)
Somali: Salaam
Pronunciation: sah-lahm
Example: "Salaam, sidee tahay?"
Hawaiian: Aloha
Pronunciation: ah-lo-ha
Example: "Aloha, pehea ʻoe?" (Hello, how are you?)
Chichewa: Moni
Pronunciation: moh-nee
Example: "Moni, muli bwanji?" (Hello, how are you?)
Telugu: హలో (Halo)
Pronunciation: ha-lo
Example: "హలో, మీరు ఎలా ఉన్నారు?" (Hello, how are you?)
Fijian: Bula
Pronunciation: boo-lah
Example: "Bula, se sega ni macala?" (Hello, is everything okay?)
Tajik: Салом (Salom)
Pronunciation: sah-lom
Example: "Салом, шумо чӣ хел доред?" (Hello, how are you?)
Twi: Maakyè
Pronunciation: mah-chay
Example: "Maakyè, wo ho te sɛn?" (Hello, how are you?)
Tigrinya: ሰላም (Selam)
Pronunciation: se-lam
Example: "ሰላም, እንደምን አደራችሁ?" (Hello, how are you?)
Bislama: Halo
Pronunciation: ha-lo
Example: "Halo, yu stap gut?" (Hello, are you well?)
Bambara: I ni ce
Pronunciation: ee nee chay
Example: "I ni ce, ka tiga la?" (Hello, how are you?)
Oromo: Akkam
Pronunciation: ak-kam
Example: "Akkam, maaloo?" (Hello, how are you?)
Tsonga: Avuxeni
Pronunciation: ah-voo-shay-nee
Example: "Avuxeni, u njhani?" (Hello, how are you?)
Luxembourgish: Moien
Pronunciation: mwah-en
Example: "Moien, wéi geet et dir?"
Bamileke: Mbote
Pronunciation: m-boh-te
Example: "Mbote, o sane?"
Gujarati: હેલો (Helo)
Pronunciation: heh-lo
Example: "હેલો, તમે કેમ છો?" (Hello, how are you?)
Corsican: Bonghjornu
Pronunciation: bon-jor-noo
Example: "Bonghjornu, cumu stai?"
Assamese: নমস্কাৰ (Nomoskar)
Pronunciation: no-mo-skar
Example: "নমস্কাৰ, আপুনি কেমন আছো?" (Hello, how are you?)
Frisian: Hallo
Pronunciation: hah-loh
Example: "Hallo, hoe giet it mei dy?"
Kinyarwanda: Muraho
Pronunciation: moo-rah-ho
Example: "Muraho, amakuru yawe?"
Nauruan: Ia Orana
Pronunciation: ee-ah o-ra-na
Example: "Ia Orana, e a haere mai?" (Hello, are you well?)
Sesotho: Lumela
Pronunciation: loo-meh-la
Example: "Lumela, o kae
Haitian Creole: Alo
Pronunciation: ah-lo
Example: "Alo, kijan ou ye?" (Hello, how are you?)
How to say hello in different languages: Final thoughts
It's clear that knowing how to say hello in different languages is more than just a linguistic skill—it's a key to unlocking doors of understanding and building connections. Learning these simple yet powerful words in various tongues is like having a passport to the hearts of people from around the globe.
Saying hello in someone's native language is a genuine sign of respect. It shows that you acknowledge and appreciate their culture, creating an immediate bridge of understanding. This shared gesture helps break down barriers, making conversations more comfortable and relationships more authentic.
FAQ
Why should I learn how to say hello in different languages?
Learning how to say hello in different languages is a simple yet powerful way to connect with people from diverse backgrounds. It fosters cultural understanding, breaks down communication barriers, and enriches your social interactions. Plus, it's a fun and accessible entry point into the world of language learning.
How can I remember greetings in so many languages?
Start small and gradually expand your repertoire. Focus on a few languages at a time, practice regularly, and use mnemonic devices or repetition to reinforce your memory. Language learning apps and flashcards can also be helpful tools to make the process more manageable.
Is it really necessary to learn how to say hello in different languages, or can I just rely on English?
While English is widely spoken, making the effort to greet someone in their native language shows respect and interest in their culture. It enhances your ability to connect on a personal level, making conversations more enjoyable and meaningful.
I'm not good at languages. Can I still learn how to say hello in different languages?
Absolutely! Learning greetings doesn't require fluency. Start with phonetic pronunciations, practice gradually, and focus on the joy of cultural exploration. Language apps, online resources, and language exchange opportunities can provide support and encouragement.
How can saying hello in different languages benefit me personally and professionally?
Personally, it broadens your perspective, introduces you to new cultures, and enhances your ability to communicate while traveling or meeting people from diverse backgrounds. Professionally, it can be a valuable skill in a globalized world, fostering positive relationships in international business or multicultural work environments.
Paula is an accomplished content strategist, communicator, and journalist with over 7 years of experience creating materials for language learners.
Having worked on language curriculums and learning platforms in Colombia, Spain, and Australia, Paula offers an international perspective on second language acquisition.
Her background in journalism and brand messaging allows her to develop content that informs and engages language learners across diverse platforms and learning styles.
