Which one should you use?
While नमस्ते is a standard polite greeting, Namaskar is specifically used on more formal occasions or when addressing a respected person. In casual settings among friends, one might use the informal question K cha? to ask "How are you?" instead.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
नमस्ते is a polite and respectful greeting suitable for both formal and casual situations. For more formal occasions or when addressing a respected person, Namaskar is the preferred choice. For informal interactions with friends, K cha? is common.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Maithili-speaking communities of Eastern Nepal, you may hear the greeting Juhar, which is used as a sign of respect.
How do you pronounce it?
namaste
When do people say it?
When saying नमस्ते, it is customary to join your palms together at chest level in a prayer-like gesture.
Did you know?
- In some traditional contexts, a person may say नमस्ते while touching the feet of an elder, combining the verbal greeting with a physical act of extreme reverence.
- When saying नमस्ते, the accompanying palm-joining gesture is not just for greeting but also serves as a sign of humility and a way to recognize the divine spark in the other person.
- The phrase नमस्ते is actually a combination of two Sanskrit words: 'nama' meaning 'bow' and 'te' meaning 'to you'.
Examples in context
- नमस्ते, तपाईंलाई कस्तो छ?namaste, tapāī̃lāī kastō cha?Hello, how are you?
- नमस्ते, अब म जान्छु।namaste, aba ma jānchu.Hello (Goodbye), I am leaving now.
- सबैलाई नमस्ते!sabaīlāī namaste!Hello to everyone!
Example conversation
Dipesh and Pratiksha meet on the street and briefly greet each other.
- प्रतिक्षा Pratikshaनमस्ते, दिपेश!namaste, dipesh!Hello, Dipesh!
- दिपेश Dipeshनमस्ते, प्रतिक्षा! कस्तो छ?namaste, pratikshā! kastō cha?Hello, Pratiksha! How are you?
- प्रतिक्षा Pratikshaम ठिक छु, धन्यवाद।ma ṭhika chu, dhanyabād.I am fine, thank you.
- दिपेश Dipeshहुन्छ, नमस्ते।huncha, namaste.Okay, goodbye.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry नमस्ते, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries नमस्ते, CC BY-SA 4.0.
