Ways to say it
| Romanian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bună | [ˈbunə] (narrow) | |
| salut | /saˈlut/ | |
| noroc | [noˈrok] (narrow) | informal |
| bună ziua | [ˌbu.nə ˈzi.wa] (narrow) | formal |
| servus | /ˈser.vus/ /ˈse.rus/ |
These terms are all used to greet people. Bună is a casual greeting meaning Hi or Hello. Salut is a friendly informal greeting. Noroc is an informal greeting, and bună ziua is a common formal greeting meaning Good day. Servus is another way to say hello.
What does it mean word for word?
The formal phrase bună ziua literally means.
Which one should you use?
While bună ziua is a formal way to say hello, bună is a much more casual, shortened version used with friends or peers. Salut is a standard friendly informal option, whereas salutare can be used as a slightly more enthusiastic or pluralized way to say.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Bună ziua is the appropriate greeting to use with strangers, elders or in professional settings. In contrast, bună, salut and noroc are informal. Noroc is specifically tagged as informal and literally means.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Transylvania, it is common to use Ziua bună to say hello.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word salut can function both as a noun meaning.
When do people say it?
When greeting someone informally, you might also hear the phrase Ce faci?, which means.
Did you know?
- The term noroc has an unexpected Slavic origin. It evolved from the Old Church Slavonic word for 'sentence' or 'fate', which eventually shifted to mean 'luck'.
- The greeting servus is a Latin-derived term that is still used today, particularly in certain regions of Romania. It functions similarly to a friendly 'hello' or 'hi'.
Examples in context
- Am vrut să o salut.I wanted to say hello to her.This sentence shows the use of the verb form of salut.Tatoeba #9020182 by elenacristina260, translation #3907332 by CH
- Tom l-a salutat pe vecinul său.Tom said hello to his neighbor.This sentence demonstrates the use of the verb form of salut in the third person.Tatoeba #12773076 by ridisegnandone, translation #8769999 by Hybrid
- Salutare tuturor! Cum vă merge vouă?Hello everyone! How's it going with you?This sentence uses the enthusiastic form salutare to greet a group.Tatoeba #13930987 by Ioan_Cristian, translation #13930985 by Ioan_Cristian
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maria and Andrei meet on the street in the morning.
- MariaBună, Andrei!Hello, Andrei!
- AndreiBună, Maria. Ce mai faci?Hello, Maria. How are you?
- MariaSunt bine, mulțumesc.I am well, thank you.
- AndreiMă bucur să te aud.I am glad to hear that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries bună, salut, 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.
