Namaste
/namasˈteː/neuter
Namaste is a German noun used as a greeting.
Namaste functions as a greeting. In German, you can say Hallo to greet someone informally, whereas Servus is commonly used in Southern Germany and Austria and Moin is used in Northern Germany, particularly in Hamburg and other coastal regions.
Meaning: a greeting (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
Servus is commonly used in Southern Germany and Austria and Moin is frequently used in Northern Germany, such as in Hamburg and coastal regions.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun Namaste is neuter.
How do you pronounce it?
/namasˈteː/
Did you know?
- German speakers often use Namaste ironically or as a joke to signal a 'zen' or overly relaxed mood during a stressful situation.
- Even though 'Namaste' is used in Germany, it is categorized as an 'Anglizismus'-style loanword in some linguistic contexts because it arrived via the globalized wellness culture.
- If a German person says Namaste to a stranger on the street, it is often perceived as a joke or a social cue that the speaker is 'playing' a character.
Examples in context
- „Namaste“, ein Zusammenschluss zweier Sankskritwörter, lässt sich mit „Verbeugung zu dir“ übersetzen."Namaste," a combination of two Sanskrit words, translates into "bowing to you".This sentence explains the Sanskrit origins and the translation of Namaste.Tatoeba #9082878 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #8612902 by Hybrid
- Ein kurzes Namaste zum Start der Yoga-Stunde.A short Namaste to start the yoga class.
Example conversation
Hannah and Maximilian are finishing a yoga session in a studio.
- HannahNamaste, Maximilian.Namaste, Maximilian.
- MaximilianNamaste, Hannah. Das war eine gute Übung.Namaste, Hannah. That was a good exercise.
- HannahJa, ich fühle mich sehr entspannt.Yes, I feel very relaxed.
- MaximilianDas freut mich zu hören.I am happy to hear that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “namaste” translations and entries Namaste, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
