salut
/saˈlut/
salut is the Romanian phrase for "hello".
salut is a versatile informal greeting used with friends or peers that can mean both "hello" and "goodbye".
Which one should you use?
While salut is used for informal situations, Bună ziua is the standard formal way to say hello during the day.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
salut is an informal greeting used with friends, peers or people you know well.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain parts of Transylvania, the greeting servus is commonly used as a casual greeting.
How do you pronounce it?
/saˈlut/
Did you know?
- The word salut is a doublet of săruta, which means 'to kiss'. Both words share the same distant ancestor in the Latin word for 'health' and 'greeting'.
- When saying salut to a close friend, Romanians often accompany the word with a light touch on the shoulder or a brief hug, regardless of gender.
- The term salut is essentially a French import that was polished by Romanian intellectuals to replace older, more rustic forms.
Examples in context
- Salut, Ana! Ce mai faci?Hello, Ana! How are you?
- Noroc, prieteni dragi din Moldova!Hello, dear friends from Moldova!
- Salut, ce mai faci?Hi, how are you doing?
- Salut tuturor, bine ați venit!Hello everyone, welcome!
- Salut, ne vedem mâine.Bye, see you tomorrow.
Example conversation
Two friends meeting at a coffee shop.
- ElenaSalut, Stefan!Hi, Stefan!
- StefanSalut, Elena! Ce mai faci?Hi, Elena! How are you?
- ElenaSunt bine, mulțumesc.I am well, thank you.
- StefanMă bucur să te văd.I am happy to see you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry salut, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries salut, CC BY-SA 4.0.
