Ways to say it
| Gujarati | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| નમસ્તે | namaste | /ˈnə.məs.t̪eː/ (Gujarati, Standard) |
| નમસ્કાર | namaskār | /ˈnə.məs.kɑɾ/ (Gujarati, Standard) |
નમસ્તે is a versatile greeting that can be used both when arriving and when departing. Depending on the level of familiarity, you might also use the formal greeting કેમ છો? (Kem chho?), which translates to "How are you?" or the informal કેમ? (Kem?), an abbreviation meaning "What's up?" For a very casual setting, the borrowed English word હલો (Halo) is also used.
What does it mean word for word?
The word નમસ્તે is a combination of namas (bow or obeisance) and te (to you).
Which one should you use?
While both નમસ્તે and નમસ્કાર mean hello, નમસ્કાર carries a more respectful tone and is considered slightly more formal than નમસ્તે.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈnə.məs.t̪eː/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
When do people say it?
When saying નમસ્તે, it is customary to place your palms together in front of your chest in a prayer-like gesture.
Did you know?
- In many Gujarati social circles, you will hear the phrase જય શ્રી કૃષ્ણ used as a standard 'hello'. It is used by many as a cultural identifier rather than a purely religious declaration.
- In many Gujarati households, a traditional greeting is not just spoken but accompanied by charan sparsh, the act of touching an elder's feet to show respect.
- The words નમસ્તે and નમસ્કાર are borrowed from Sanskrit, the ancient liturgical language of India.
Examples in context
- નમસ્તે, તમે કેમ છો?namaste, tame kem cho?Hello, how are you?
- નમસ્તે, તમારું નામ શું છે?namaste, tamaru naam shu che?Hello, what is your name?
- બધાને નમસ્તે.badhane namaste.Hello to everyone.
Example conversation
Aryan meets Priya at a local cafe.
- આર્યન Aryanનમસ્તે, પ્રિયા!namaste, priya!Hello, Priya!
- પ્રિયા Priyaનમસ્તે, આર્યન. તમે કેમ છો?namaste, aryan. tame kem cho?Hello, Aryan. How are you?
- આર્યન Aryanહું મજામાં છું, આભાર.hu majama chu, aabhar.I am fine, thank you.
- પ્રિયા Priyaખૂબ સરસ.khub saras.Very good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries નમસ્તે, નમસ્કાર, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries નમસ્કાર, નમસ્તે, CC BY-SA 4.0.
