हाय
hāycasual, English loan
A casual "hi" is हाय (hāy) or हैलो (hailo), both borrowed from English. The traditional polite greeting is नमस्ते (namaste).
Meaning: informal greeting (interjection)
Ways to say it
| Indian | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| हाय | hāy | casual, English loan |
| नमस्ते | namaste | polite |
| हैलो | hailo | phone |
Young people and friends often use हाय (hāy), also in messages. With elders and in formal places, नमस्ते (namaste) is safer.
Which one should you use?
In Hindi हाय (hāy) can also be a sigh of pain or longing, as in हाय राम!, so the meaning depends on tone.
Did you know?
- हाय (hāy) existed in Hindi as an exclamation of sorrow long before it became a casual greeting.
Examples in context
- हाय, कैसे हो?hāy, kaise ho?Hi, how are you?
- हाय, सब ठीक?hāy, sab ṭhīk?Hi, all okay?
Example conversation
Zoya greets her college friend in the corridor.
- Zoyaहाय, आरव!hāy, ārav!Hi, Arav!
- Aravहाय, ज़ोया। क्लास कैसी थी?hāy, zoyā. klās kaisī thī?Hi, Zoya. How was class?
- Zoyaठीक थी।ṭhīk thī.It was fine.
