Ways to say it
| Romanian | IPA |
|---|---|
| salut | /saˈlut/ |
| bună | [ˈbunə] (narrow) |
Both salut and bună are used as friendly, informal greetings.
What does it mean word for word?
The word bună is the feminine form of the adjective bun, which means 'good'.
Which one should you use?
Salut is an informal greeting typically used among friends and peers. Bună is a versatile and common way to say hi informally.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Salut and bună are informal. If you are in a formal situation, such as entering a shop or addressing a stranger, you should use the more polite Bună ziua (good day) instead. Similarly, Bună dimineața is the formal way to say good morning.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because bună is a feminine adjective, it is the most common form used for a casual 'hi' when addressing a female or as a general standalone greeting.
How do you pronounce it?
/saˈlut/
When do people say it?
In Romanian culture, it is common to greet someone with a firm handshake in formal settings.
Did you know?
- In Romania, salut is often used not only to say 'hi' when arriving but also as a casual way to say 'bye' when leaving.
- The word salut entered the Romanian language as a borrowing from French around 1832.
- When using salut with close friends, Romanians may accompany the word with a light kiss on both cheeks, though this is more common among women or between men and women.
Examples in context
- Bună!Hi.This sentence shows the use of bună as a standalone greeting.Tatoeba #3703722 by radubradu, translation #538123 by CM
- Salut tuturor!Hi, everybody!This sentence demonstrates how to use salut to greet a group.Tatoeba #2317656 by Wenceslaus, translation #466652 by Alkrasnov
- Bună, prietene!Hi, my friend!This sentence shows bună being used to greet a friend.Tatoeba #8829127 by elenacristina260, translation #3270741 by Ricardo14
- Bună! Ce mai faci?Hi! How are you doing?
- Hey! Ce mai faci?Hey! How are you?
- Bună ziua, doamna Popescu. Cum vă simțiți astăzi?Hello, Mrs. Popescu. How are you feeling today?
- Bună dimineața, copii! Ați dormit bine?Good morning, kids! Did you sleep well?
- Bună, Andrei! Ce planuri ai pentru weekend?Hi, Andrei! What are your plans for the weekend?
- Salut, Maria! Ai auzit noutățile de la școală?Hi, Maria! Have you heard the news from school?
- Hey, Vlad! Care este melodia ta preferată în acest moment?Hey, Vlad! What's your current favorite song?
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Andreea and Andrei meet on the street.
- AndreeaSalut, Andrei!Hi, Andrei!
- AndreiSalut, Andreea! Ce faci?Hi, Andreea! How are you?
- AndreeaBine, mulțumesc.Fine, thank you.
- AndreiMă bucur să te văd.I'm glad to see you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hi” translations and entries salut, bună, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bună, salut, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
