Ways to say it
| Romanian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| salut | /saˈlut/ | |
| bună | [ˈbunə] (narrow) | |
| noroc | [noˈrok] (narrow) | informal |
| bună ziua | [ˌbu.nə ˈzi.wa] (narrow) | formal |
| servus | /ˈser.vus/ /ˈse.rus/ |
These expressions are used as interjections to greet people. While salut is a general greeting that is more commonly used in informal interactions, bună ziua is the standard polite way to greet someone during daylight hours in professional or formal settings.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase bună ziua literally means 'good day'.
Which one should you use?
Bună is a more casual, shortened version of bună ziua used among friends or peers. Noroc is used as an informal greeting similar to 'cheers' or 'hello'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Salut and bună are common in informal settings. Noroc is also an informal greeting. For formal situations, use bună ziua. In a formal setting, the most common way to say 'good morning' is Bună dimineața.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Transylvania region, servus is a common greeting. In some regions, the phrase Bună ziua bine vă găsesc is used when entering shops or establishments. The variation salutare is typically used in more rural areas or smaller towns.
How does it change in a sentence?
While salut is a noun or an interjection for 'hello', the verb a saluta is used to mean the action of greeting someone.
How do you pronounce it?
/saˈlut/
Did you know?
- The word salut is a doublet of săruta, which means 'to kiss'.
- When using the phrase Bună ziua bine vă găsesc, the speaker is literally saying 'Good day, I find you well'.
- The informal greeting noroc literally translates to 'luck' in English. While it functions as a way to say 'hello' or 'cheers' among friends, its primary meaning remains 'good fortune'.
Examples in context
- Am vrut să o salut.I wanted to say hello to her.This sentence shows the use of the verb form of salut.Tatoeba #9020182 by elenacristina260, translation #3907332 by CH
- Tom l-a salutat pe vecinul său.Tom said hello to his neighbor.Tatoeba #12773076 by ridisegnandone, translation #8769999 by Hybrid
- Salutare tuturor! Cum vă merge vouă?Hello everyone! How's it going with you?This sentence shows the use of the interjection salutare.Tatoeba #13930987 by Ioan_Cristian, translation #13930985 by Ioan_Cristian
- Bună dimineața, domnule/profesoruleGood morning, sir/teacher
- Salutări! Sper că aveți o zi minunată.Greetings! I hope you have a wonderful day.
- Bună! Ce mai faci?Hello! How are you?
- Bună, Ana!Hi, Ana!
- Ciao! Ce faci?Hey! How are you?
- Salutare, draga mea! Ce faci?Hey, my dear! How are you?
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alexandru sees Maria at a cafe.
- AlexandruSalut, Maria!Hello, Maria!
- MariaBună, Alexandru! Ce faci?Hi, Alexandru! How are you?
- AlexandruBine, mersi. Tu ce faci?Good, thanks. How about you?
- MariaȘi eu sunt bine.I am also doing well.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries salut, bună, noroc, bună ziua, servus, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bună, bună ziua, noroc, salut, ziua, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
