сәлем
sälem[sæˈlæm]
The English phrase "hi" can be translated into Kazakh as сәлем (sälem). Wiktionary also lists салам (salam).
Meaning: friendly, informal greeting (intj)
Ways to say it
| Kazakh | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| сәлем | sälem | [sæˈlæm] (narrow) |
| салам | salam |
The words provided are used as friendly, informal greetings.
Which one should you use?
сәлем is the standard informal greeting used with friends, while салам is a more colloquial or slangy variation. For a formal situation, such as addressing elders or strangers, you should use сәлеметсіз бе instead.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
сәлем is the standard informal way to say hi. салам is considered slang. If you need to be formal and polite, use сәлеметсіз бе or Salemetsiz be?, which can mean both "Hello" and "How are you?"
How do you pronounce it?
sälem
Did you know?
- The word сәлем shares a root with the word 'Islam', as both are derived from the Arabic root for 'peace'.
- In many Kazakh social circles, a greeting is often accompanied by a slight nod or a hand placed over the heart to show sincerity.
- In traditional Kazakh culture, the younger person is always expected to initiate the greeting first to show respect to the elder.
Examples in context
- Сәлем, қалайсың?Sälem, qalaısıñ?Hi, how are you?
- Сәлем, достар!Sälem, dostar!Hi, friends!
- Сәлем, ертең көрейік.Sälem, erteñ köreik.Hi, see you tomorrow.
Example conversation
Two friends meet at a park.
- Динара DinaraСәлем, Берик!Sälem, Berik!Hi, Berik!
- Берик BerikСәлем, Динара. Қалайсың?Sälem, Dinara. Qalaısıñ?Hi, Dinara. How are you?
- Динара DinaraЖақсы, рақмет.Jaqsı, raqmet.Good, thanks.
- Берик BerikМен де жақсымын.Men de jaqsımın.I am good too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hi” translations and entries сәлем, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries сәлем, CC BY-SA 4.0.
