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 terms are used to greet others.
Which one should you use?
The form bună is a shorter, more casual version of bună ziua. While bună ziua literally means 'good day', bună is used primarily in informal settings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Bună ziua is a formal way to say hello, literally meaning 'good day' and is appropriate for professional or polite social settings during daylight hours. Salut is a common, informal way to say hello among friends or peers. Bună is also informal. Noroc is an informal greeting that also means 'luck' or is used to say 'cheers' when drinking.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Servus is a greeting used specifically in certain regions of Romania, particularly in Transylvania, influenced by Central European traditions.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun salut (hello) is derived from the verb a saluta, which means to greet or to say hello to someone.
How do you pronounce it?
/saˈlut/
Did you know?
- The word salut is a doublet in Romanian, meaning it entered the language twice through different paths: once via French and once directly from Latin.
- While bună ziua is a standard polite greeting, it can feel strangely out of place if used after the sun has gone down.
- Using noroc as a greeting implies a wish of 'good luck' for the person you are meeting, rather than just a recognition of their presence.
Examples in context
- Am vrut să o salut.I wanted to say hello to her.This sentence shows the use of the verb related to the form 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 demonstrates a greeting using the form salutare.Tatoeba #13930987 by Ioan_Cristian, translation #13930985 by Ioan_Cristian
- Bună, Maria! Ce mai faci?Hello, Maria! How are you doing?
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Stefan and Ioana meet in a park.
- StefanSalut, Ioana!Hello, Ioana!
- IoanaSalut, Stefan! Ce mai faci?Hello, Stefan! How are you?
- StefanSunt bine, mulțumesc.I am well, thank you.
- IoanaMă bucur să te văd.I am glad to see you.
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.
