നമസ്കാരം
namaskāraṁ/n̪ɐmɐskaːɾɐm/
The English phrase 'hello' can be translated into Malayalam as നമസ്കാരം (namaskāraṁ). Wiktionary also lists ഹലോ (halō) and നമസ്തേ (namastē).
Meaning: greeting (intj)
Ways to say it
| Malayalam | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| നമസ്കാരം | namaskāraṁ | /n̪ɐmɐskaːɾɐm/ |
| ഹലോ | halō | /häloː/ |
| നമസ്തേ | namastē | /n̪ɐmɐst̪eː/ |
While നമസ്കാരം is the standard polite greeting, the transliterated word ഹലോ is very common when answering the telephone or in casual situations.
Which one should you use?
നമസ്കാരം is a culturally rooted greeting, whereas ഹലോ is an English loanword. ഹലോ is used most frequently when answering the phone.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
നമസ്കാരം is the standard, polite and formal way to greet someone. ഹലോ is considered informal and is used in casual settings or over the phone.
How do you pronounce it?
namaskāraṁ (IPA: /n̪ɐmɐskaːɾɐm/)
Did you know?
- The greeting നമസ്കാരം is used across different religions in Kerala, serving as a secular social bridge between Hindu, Christian and Muslim communities.
- When saying നമസ്കാരം, people often join their palms together in a gesture called 'Anjali Mudra', which symbolizes the meeting of two souls.
- If you are greeting an elder, it is more respectful to use their title, such as ചേട്ടാ (brother) or അമ്മച്ചി (mother), alongside a greeting than to just use a generic 'hello'.
Examples in context
- നമസ്കാരം.Hello.This sentence demonstrates a simple greeting using നമസ്കാരം.Tatoeba #651913 by jjrodz, translation #1858850 by LanguageExpert
- എല്ലാവർക്കും നമസ്കാരം.ellavarkkum namaskāram.Hello to everyone.
- അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് നമസ്കാരം പറയുക.adhēhatinn namaskāram parayuka.Give him my greetings.
Example conversation
Anjali and Vishnu meet at a park.
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuനമസ്കാരം, അഞ്ജലി!Namaskāram, Anjali!Hello, Anjali!
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliനമസ്കാരം, വിഷ്ണു. എങ്ങനെയുണ്ട്?Namaskāram, Vishnu. Enganeyund?Hello, Vishnu. How are things?
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuഎനിക്ക് സുഖമാണ്.Enikku sukhamāṇu.I am doing well.
- അഞ്ജലി Anjaliഅത് കേട്ടതിൽ സന്തോഷം.Athu kēṭṭathil santhōsham.I am glad to hear that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries നമസ്കാരം, ഹലോ, നമസ്തേ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
