السلام علیکم
assalāmu ʿalaikumeveryday, Pakistan
نمستے (namaste) is a Hindu greeting, and Muslim Pakistanis usually greet with السلام علیکم (assalāmu ʿalaikum) instead. The Urdu spelling of the Hindu greeting is نمستے (namaste).
Meaning: respectful greeting with folded hands (interjection)
Ways to say it
| Pakistan | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| السلام علیکم | assalāmu ʿalaikum | everyday, Pakistan |
| نمستے | namaste | Hindu greeting |
Most Pakistanis are Muslim, so they say السلام علیکم (assalāmu ʿalaikum) and the reply is وعلیکم السلام (wa ʿalaikum assalām). نمستے (namaste) is understood from Indian films and is used by Pakistani Hindus.
When do people say it?
Greeting a Hindu in Pakistan with نمستے (namaste) can be a polite gesture. Between Muslims, السلام علیکم (assalāmu ʿalaikum) is the standard.
Did you know?
- نمستے (namaste) comes from Sanskrit and means roughly "I bow to you".
Examples in context
- السلام علیکم، آپ کیسے ہیں؟assalāmu ʿalaikum, āp kaise haiñ?Hello, how are you?
- نمستے، آپ کیسے ہیں؟namaste, āp kaise haiñ?Namaste, how are you?
Example conversation
A tourist, Mira, greets a shopkeeper named Mr. Hakim at a market in Karachi.
- Miraالسلام علیکم!assalāmu ʿalaikum!Hello!
- Mr. Hakimوعلیکم السلام، آئیے۔wa ʿalaikum assalām, āʾiye.Hello, please come in.
- Miraشکریہ۔shukriya.Thank you.
