शुभ संध्या
śubh sandhyā/ʃʊbʱ sən.d̪ʱjɑː/
Good evening in Hindi is expressed as शुभ संध्या (śubh sandhyā). Wiktionary also lists नमस्ते (namaste).
Meaning: greeting said in the evening (intj)
Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| शुभ संध्या | śubh sandhyā | /ʃʊbʱ sən.d̪ʱjɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) |
| नमस्ते | namaste | /nə.məs.t̪eː/ (Hindi, Standard) |
शुभ संध्या is used specifically during the twilight or evening hours to greet someone.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase शुभ संध्या is composed of शुभ (śubh) meaning 'good' or 'auspicious' and संध्या (sandhyā) meaning 'evening'.
Which one should you use?
While शुभ संध्या is a literal translation of 'good evening', the term नमस्ते is a much more common and versatile greeting used at any time of day.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
शुभ संध्या is a formal greeting and is less frequently used in casual, everyday conversation than नमस्ते.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is śubh sandhyā. The syllables are 2. The IPA is /ʃʊbʱ sən.d̪ʱjɑː/.
Did you know?
- नमस्ते originates from the Sanskrit words for 'bowing' and 'you', effectively meaning 'I bow to the divine spark within you'.
- The greeting नमस्ते is often accompanied by the 'Anjali Mudra' gesture, where palms are pressed together at the chest and the head bows slightly.
- While शुभ संध्या is a formal greeting, the word शुभ specifically describes something as 'auspicious', suggesting that the evening is not just 'good' but spiritually favorable.
Examples in context
- सभी को शुभ संध्या।sabhi ko shubh sandhya.Good evening to everyone.
Example conversation
Anjali and Amit meet at a formal evening event.
- अंजलि Anjaliशुभ संध्या, अमित!Shubh sandhya, Amit!Good evening, Amit!
- अमित Amitशुभ संध्या, अंजलि। आप कैसी हैं?Shubh sandhya, Anjali. Aap kaisi hain?Good evening, Anjali. How are you?
- अंजलि Anjaliमैं ठीक हूँ, धन्यवाद।Main theek hoon, dhanyavaad.I am fine, thank you.
- अमित Amitयह जानकर अच्छा लगा।Yeh jaankar achha laga.It is good to know that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good evening” translations and entries शुभ संध्या, नमस्ते, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries नमस्ते, शुभ, शुभ संध्या, संध्या, CC BY-SA 4.0.
