नमस्ते
namaste/nə.məs.t̪eː/
Hello in Hindi can be expressed in several ways, most commonly as नमस्ते (namaste). It is also spelled हलो (halo). Wiktionary also lists नमस्कार (namaskār) and सलाम (salām).
Meaning: greeting (intj)
Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| नमस्ते | namaste | /nə.məs.t̪eː/ (Hindi, Standard) | |
| नमस्कार | namaskār | /nə.məs.kɑːɾ/ (Hindi, Standard) /nə.məʃ.kɑːɾ/ |
|
| सलाम | salām | /sə.lɑːm/ (Hindi, Standard) | |
| हेलो | helo | /ɦeː.loː/ (Hindi, Standard) | |
| हलो | halo | /ɦə.loː/ (Hindi, Standard) | alternative form |
| आदाब | ādāb | /ɑː.d̪ɑːb/ (Hindi, Standard) | |
| सत श्री अकाल | sat śrī akāl | /sət̪ ʃɾiː ə.kɑːl/ (Hindi, Standard) | Sikh |
What does it mean word for word?
The word नमस्ते is a combination of nama (bow/salutation) and te (to you).
Which one should you use?
नमस्ते is the standard, neutral greeting used in most social situations, whereas नमस्कार is slightly more formal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
सत श्री अकाल is the traditional greeting used by Sikhs.
How do you pronounce it?
namaste (3 syllables)
When do people say it?
To show additional respect, you can fold your hands in a prayer-like gesture while saying नमस्ते or नमस्कार. The greeting सलाम is commonly used within Muslim communities in India. आदाब is often accompanied by a slight gesture of the hand toward the forehead.
Did you know?
- The Sikh greeting सत श्री अकाल literally translates to 'Truth is the Timeless One', shifting the focus of the 'hello' from the person being greeted to a divine attribute.
- The greeting सलाम is actually a linguistic relative of the Hebrew word 'shalom', as both trace back to the same ancient root meaning 'peace'.
- The greeting आदाब is a hallmark of 'Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb', a cultural synthesis of Hindu and Muslim traditions found particularly in the cities of Lucknow and Delhi.
Examples in context
- सलाम, टॉम।Hello, Tom.This sentence uses the form सलाम to greet someone.Tatoeba #6829775 by aboi, translation #54604 by Zifre
- फिर से, नमस्ते।Again, hello.This sentence uses the form नमस्ते to say hello again.Tatoeba #8876374 by simranbansal, translation #2095633 by gleki
- नमस्ते, आप कैसे हैं?Hello and how are you?This sentence uses the form नमस्ते to greet someone and ask how they are.Tatoeba #2336256 by RadiumCat, translation #1674421 by garydale
- मैं ठीक हूं, धन्यवाद!I'm fine, thank you!
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rahul meets Pooja at a cafe.
- विकास Vikasनमस्ते, पूजा।Namaste, Pooja.Hello, Pooja.
- प्रिया Priyaनमस्ते, राहुल।Namaste, Rahul.Hello, Rahul.
- विकास Vikasआप कैसी हैं?Aap kaisi hain?How are you?
- प्रिया Priyaमैं ठीक हूँ।Main theek hoon.I am fine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries नमस्ते, नमस्कार, सलाम, हेलो, हलो, आदाब, सत श्री अकाल, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries अकाल, नमस्कार, नमस्ते, श्री, सत, सत श्री अकाल, सलाम, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
