ନମସ୍ତେ
namaste
ନମସ୍ତେ (namaste) is the Odia word for the English greeting "namaste".
ନମସ୍ତେ is used as a respectful greeting or salutation when meeting or parting from someone.
Meaning: a greeting (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a combination of nama (bow/salutation) and te (to you).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ନମସ୍ତେ is considered a formal and respectful way to greet others compared to more casual Odia greetings.
How do you pronounce it?
namaste
Did you know?
- While ନମସ୍ତେ is used for respect, Odia speakers often use ଜୟ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ('Jai Jagannath') as a culturally specific greeting to invoke the presiding deity of Odisha.
- In many parts of Odisha, a person might supplement ନମସ୍ତେ by touching the ground or the feet of an elder as a sign of profound respect.
- While ନମସ୍ତେ is understood in Odisha, many Odia speakers prefer the local greeting ନମସ୍କାର (namaskar) for daily social interactions.
Examples in context
- ଶୁଭ ସକାଳ, ନମସ୍ତେ।Shubha sakala, namaste.Good morning, namaste.
Example conversation
Sumit meets Ananya in a park.
- ସୁମିତ Sumitନମସ୍ତେ, ଅନନ୍ୟା!Namaste, Ananya!Namaste, Ananya!
- ଅନନ୍ୟା Ananyaନମସ୍ତେ, ସୁମିତ!Namaste, Sumit!Namaste, Sumit!
- ସୁମିତ Sumitତୁମେ କେମିତି ଅଛ?Tume kemiti acha?How are you?
- ଅନନ୍ୟା Ananyaମୁଁ ଭଲ ଅଛି।Mu bhala achi.I am fine.
