નમસ્તે, તમે કેમ છો?
namaste, tame kem chho?
The English phrase "hi, how are you?" is translated into Gujarati as નમસ્તે, તમે કેમ છો? (namaste, tame kem chho?)
This phrase is a common greeting used to say hello and inquire about someone's well-being. You may also encounter Shu Chhe?, which literally translates to "What is happening?" but is used to ask how someone is doing.
What does it mean word for word?
The part તમે કેમ છો? breaks down into તમે meaning "you", કેમ meaning "how" and છો meaning "are".
How do you pronounce it?
namaste, tame kem chho?
Did you know?
- While નમસ્તે is widely understood, many Gujaratis prefer to use જય શ્રી કૃષ્ણ as a greeting, reflecting the deep influence of the Vaishnava tradition in the region.
- The word તમે is the plural form of 'you', but it is also used as a formal way to show respect to a single person, such as a teacher or an elder.
- The word નમસ્તે shares its roots with many other Indian languages because it comes from the ancient Sanskrit word 'namas', meaning 'bow' or 'salutation'.
Examples in context
- નમસ્તે, તમે કેમ છો? બધું બરાબર છે?namaste, tame kem cho? badhu barabar che?Hi, how are you? Is everything okay?
- નમસ્તે, તમે કેમ છો? લાંબા સમય પછી મળ્યા!namaste, tame kem cho? laamba samay pachhi malya!Hi, how are you? It's been a long time!
Example conversation
Aryan and Drishti meet at a park.
- આર્યન Aryanનમસ્તે, તમે કેમ છો?Namaste, tame kem cho?Hi, how are you?
- દ્રષ્ટિ Drishtiહું મજામાં છું, અને તમે?Hu majama chu, ane tame?I am fine, and you?
- આર્યન Aryanહું પણ મજામાં છું.Hu pan majama chu.I am also fine.
- દ્રષ્ટિ Drishtiતમને મળીને આનંદ થયો.Tamne maline anand thayo.It was nice meeting you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries છો, તમે, નમસ્તે, CC BY-SA 4.0.
