नमस्ते
namasteformal, neutral
The greeting नमस्ते (namaste) is the same for a girl as for anyone. When you ask how she is, the word changes to कैसी (kaisi), as in हेलो, कैसी हो? (helo, kaisi ho?). It is also called नमस्ते, आप कैसी हैं? (namaste, aap kaisi hain?).
Meaning: greeting (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| नमस्ते | namaste | formal, neutral |
| हेलो, कैसी हो? | helo, kaisi ho? | informal, to a girl |
| नमस्ते, आप कैसी हैं? | namaste, aap kaisi hain? | polite, to a woman |
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
With a girl your own age, तुम (tum) forms such as कैसी हो? (kaisi ho?) are fine. With an older woman or a stranger, use आप कैसी हैं? (aap kaisi hain?).
How does it change in a sentence?
Hindi adjectives and some questions change with the gender of the person you ask. To a boy you say कैसे हो? (kaise ho?) and to a girl कैसी हो? (kaisi ho?). The greeting itself does not change.
When do people say it?
Younger people may call a girl दीदी (didi) if she is a little older, which is a friendly and respectful way of addressing her.
Did you know?
- The reply मैं ठीक हूँ (main theek hoon) means "I am fine" and is the standard answer for both men and women.
Examples in context
- नमस्ते, कैसी हो?namaste, kaisi ho?Hello, how are you? (to a girl)
- हेलो प्रिया, कैसी हो?helo Priya, kaisi ho?Hello Priya, how are you?
- नमस्ते दीदी, आप कैसी हैं?namaste didi, aap kaisi hain?Hello didi, how are you?
Example conversation
Rahul meets his classmate Kavya at the bus stop.
- Rahulहेलो काव्या, कैसी हो?helo Kavya, kaisi ho?Hello Kavya, how are you?
- Kavyaमैं ठीक हूँ, तुम कैसे हो?main theek hoon, tum kaise ho?I am fine, how are you?
- Rahulमैं भी ठीक हूँ।main bhi theek hoon.I am fine too.
