Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| やあ | yā | [ja̠ː] (narrow) |
| どうも | dōmo | [do̞ːmo̞] (narrow) |
| よう | yō | [jo̞ː] (narrow) |
The term やあ is a casual, friendly greeting used when approaching someone you already know. It is not typically used as a first-time greeting when meeting a stranger. While やあ serves as a friendly greeting, note that konnichiwa is a separate expression that can be used throughout the day from morning until early evening.
Which one should you use?
While やあ is a very casual and friendly greeting used between close friends or people of similar social status, よう is a more masculine and even more casual version, similar to saying 'yo' or 'hey' in English. Additionally, どうも is a versatile, multi-purpose word that can function as a casual 'hi' or even a quick 'thanks' depending on the context.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The greeting やあ is casual and intended for people of similar social status or close friends. よう is even more informal and carries a slang-like quality, often used by men in very casual settings.
How do you pronounce it?
yā
Did you know?
- While どうも can mean 'hi', its literal historical meaning is 'no matter how' or 'in all cases'.
Examples in context
- やあ！元気？Hi! How are you?This sentence shows how to use やあ to ask how someone is.Tatoeba #193152 by bunbuku, translation #30316 by Zifre
- やあ、みんな！Hi, everybody!This sentence shows how to use やあ to greet a group.Tatoeba #10625672 by small_snow, translation #466652 by Alkrasnov
- やあ、調子はどう。Hi! What's new?This sentence shows how to use やあ to ask what is new.Tatoeba #193143 by small_snow, translation #30308 by CM
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends bump into each other at a park.
- 健太 Kentaやあ、結衣！久しぶりだね。Ya, Yui! Hisashiburi dane.Hi, Yui! It's been a long time.
- 結衣 Yui健太！びっくりしたよ。Kenta! Bikkuri shita yo.Kenta! You surprised me.
- 健太 Kenta今、どこに行くところ？Ima, doko ni iku tokoro?Where are you heading now?
- 結衣 Yui近くのカフェに行こうと思ってたの。Chikaku no kafe ni ikou to omotteta no.I was thinking of going to a nearby cafe.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hi” translations and entries やあ, どうも, よう, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries どうも, よう, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
