Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| नमस्ते | namaste | /nə.məs.t̪eː/ (Hindi, Standard) |
| सलाम | salām | /sə.lɑːm/ (Hindi, Standard) |
| हाइ | hāi |
These words are used to greet others. While नमस्ते is a widely used formal greeting throughout India, हाइ is a modern, casual way to say hi and सलाम is another available greeting.
What does it mean word for word?
The word नमस्ते is a combination of nama (bow) and te (to you), literally meaning "I bow to you".
Which one should you use?
The forms differ mainly in their level of formality and setting. नमस्ते is a standard formal greeting, while हाइ is a transliterated version of the English word used in very casual, modern settings among younger people.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
नमस्ते is a formal greeting used throughout India. In contrast, हाइ is strictly informal and used by younger people in modern contexts. Other formal options for different social contexts include सलाम and Aadaab, which is used in some parts of North India, particularly in Urdu-speaking communities.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Maharashtra, you can greet locals with Namaskar. In certain areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan, the term Pranaam is used to express respect when greeting others formally.
How do you pronounce it?
namaste (/nə.məs.t̪eː/), 3 syllables
When do people say it?
When saying नमस्ते, it is customary to place your palms together at chest level in a prayer-like gesture.
Did you know?
- The greeting सलाम is a doublet of the Hebrew word 'shalom'. Both descend from a root meaning 'peace' in the Afroasiatic language family.
- The greeting नमस्ते is used not only to say 'hi' but also as a way to say 'goodbye' in many social contexts.
- In Rajasthan and Gujarat, people use Pranaam when greeting elders to show a higher level of respect than नमस्ते provides.
Examples in context
- नमस्ते!Hi!This example shows how to use the form नमस्ते for a greeting.Tatoeba #8879539 by simranbansal, translation #2742244 by MTC
- नमस्ते, आप कैसे हैं?namaste, aap kaise hain?Hello, how are you?
- नमस्ते, क्या हाल है?namaste, kya haal hai?Hi, how is it going?
Example conversation
Vikas meets Neha at a local cafe.
- विकास Vikasनमस्ते, नेहा!namaste, Neha!Hi, Neha!
- नेहा Nehaनमस्ते, विकास! कैसे हो?namaste, Vikas! kaise ho?Hi, Vikas! How are you?
- विकास Vikasमैं ठीक हूँ, शुक्रिया।main theek hoon, shukriya.I am fine, thanks.
- नेहा Nehaबहुत अच्छा लगा मिलकर।bahut achha laga milkar.It was great to see you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hi” translations and entries नमस्ते, सलाम, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries नमस्ते, सलाम, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
