नमस्ते
namaste/nɐ.mɐs.tɐi̯/
namaste is the Sanskrit word for a greeting.
नमस्ते is used as a respectful greeting or salutation to acknowledge the divinity or presence in another person. It is related to the Sanskrit root word Namah, which means to bow or to greet.
Meaning: a greeting (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /nɐ.mɐs.tɐi̯/. It has 3 syllables.
When do people say it?
When saying नमस्ते, it is important to bring your palms together close to your chest with your fingers pointing upwards and bow slightly as a sign of respect and acknowledgment.
Did you know?
- While namaste is a universal greeting in India, using it in certain formal or royal contexts might be replaced by pranām, which implies a deeper level of submission or reverence.
- The hand gesture used with namaste is known as the añjali mudrā, representing the union of the left and right sides of the self.
- In modern Hindi, namaste is often used not only to say 'hello' but also as a polite way to say 'goodbye' when leaving a conversation.
Examples in context
- नमस्ते।namaste.Namaste.
- सर्वेभ्यः नमस्ते।sarvebhyaḥ namaste.Namaste to everyone.
Example conversation
Two friends meet in a park.
- काव्या Kavyaनमस्ते, आर्यन!namaste, āryan!Hello, Aryan!
- आर्यन Aryanनमस्ते, काव्या!namaste, kāvyā!Hello, Kavya!
- काव्या Kavyaकथं अस्ति भवान्?kathaṃ asti bhavān?How are you?
- आर्यन Aryanअहं कुशली अस्मि।ahaṃ kuśalī asmi.I am well.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “namaste” translations and entries नमस्ते, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
