How to Say Hello in 100 Languages

“Hello” is often the very first vocabulary word uttered in any language course, podcast, textbook or YouTube instructional video. It’s the word that starts it all: A friendly conversation between two strangers. A business meeting with clients. A beginning to a romantic encounter.

So it’s only a boon to learn as many ways as possible to say this lovely little word. Let’s go over 100 of them.

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“Hello” in 15 Important Languages

1. Chinese (Mandarin)

Formal: 您好 (nín hǎo)

Informal: 你好 (nǐ hǎo)

The Chinese greeting is 你好, pronounced as nǐ hǎo.

你 means “you” and 好 means “good.”

您好 is more formal and should be used when greeting a person more senior than you. Otherwise, you’d come off as haughty and disrespectful. Chinese is big on respect, and not just for persons of authority, but most especially for elders.

2. Japanese

Formal: こんにちは (Konnichiwa)

Informal: やあ (Yā)

Konnichiwa is the general, widely-used term to say “hello” in Japanese. You can use it at any time during the day or night, and it would be appropriate for both formal and informal settings. However, if you want to say the equivalent of “hi” or “yo” or “hey” in English to greet a close friend, you can use やあ. 

But if you want to be time-specific, you can use “お早うございます” (ohayō gozaimasu) in the morning, “今日は” (konnichiwa) in the afternoon and “今晩は” (konbanwa) in the evening.

When meeting a person for the first time, you want to say “初めまして” (hajimemashite), which roughly translates as “nice to meet you.”

3. Korean

Formal: 안녕하세요 (Anyeonghaseyo)

Informal: 안녕 (Annyeong)

안녕하세요 (anyeonghaseyo) is the standard Korean greeting for practically any occasion and any time of the day—morning, afternoon or night. 안녕 (Annyeong) is a casual greeting you can use with friends, family and those younger than you. 

4. French 

Formal: Bonjour

Informal: Salut

Bon means “good”—as in bon appétit (good appetite) and bon voyage (good journey).

Jour means “day”—as in soupe du jour (soup of the day)—and so bonjour literally means “good day.” The term is flexible and can be used both for formal and informal settings.

5. Spanish

Both Formal and Informal: Hola

But not to worry, saying “hello!” in Spanish is simple enough. We almost all know to say “hola.“ Just remember that the letter h is silent in this case, just like it is in the English word “heir.”

To be time-specific, you can use buenos dias (good morning), buenas tardes (good afternoon) and buenas noches (good night). But, of course, you can use hola in both formal and informal settings, at any time of day or night.

6. German

Formal: Hallo

Informal: Hi

Hallo is suitable for just about every situation, but you can also say Hi or Hey when greeting people in informal settings. 

7. Italian

Formal: Salve

Informal: Ciao

Saying Salve is a safe option when you don’t know what setting you’re in and falls more into the formal side. Ciao is probably the most recognized Italian greeting. It’s an informal interjection and can mean both “hello” and “goodbye”.

8. Hindi

Formal: नमस्ते (Namaste)

If you’re in the Indian subcontinent, you can get away with greeting everybody with just one word: Namaste.

Hindi greetings are not time-specific, so you can use this one any time of the day or night. You use it to begin and end interactions with both friends and strangers, young and old. The expression is paired with a slight bow of the head. Place both palms in front of the chest in a prayer-like position. As you say “namaste,” bow your head slightly. This gesture is called the pranamasana gesture.

9. Greek

Formal: Χαίρετε (Herete)

Informal: Γεια σου (Ya Sou)

Χαίρετε is not that widely used and mostly in formal settings when talking to politicians, teachers etc. Γεια σου is a very common form of greeting in Greece. 

10. Russian 

Formal: Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte)

Informal: Привет (Privet)

While Здравствуйте is mostly used in formal situations, Привет is suitable for greeting a friend or your peer. 

11. Portuguese

Formal: Olá 

Informal: Oi

If you want to say “hello” to someone you don’t know in Portuguese, saying olá is the safest option. A casual, informal way to say “hi” is Oi. 

12. Arabic 

Formal: مرحباً  (Marhabaan)

Informal: مرحبا (Marhaba)

The most commonly used word for “hello” in Arabic is Marhaba while Marhaban is a little bit more formal. 

13. Latin

Formal: Salve

Informal: Heus 

Latin was the dominant language of the Roman Empire from 6^th century BC to 600 AD.

When the Roman Empire collapsed, Latin evolved in the former constituent nations into the various languages that we know today. Romance languages like French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Romanian consider Latin as their parent tongue.

That being said, would you like to know what it would be like to greet someone during Roman times? You’d say, “salve.”

That’s hello when talking to one person. If you were talking to several people, you’d say, “salvete.”

14. Inuktitut

Both Formal and Informal: ᐊᐃᓐᖓᐃ (Ainngai)

Inuktitut is an Eskimo-Aleut language spoken in Arctic territories and the topmost span of North America including Alaska and Northern Canada.

The nearest equivalent to hello in the language is ainngai, which can be used to signify both “hello” and “goodbye.”

15. Tsalagi (Cherokee)

Both Formal and Informal: ᎣᏏᏲ (Osiyo)

The Cherokee are a Native American tribe indigenous to Southeastern states like Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Osiyo is how the Cherokee say “hello.”

Hello in 95 More Languages Around the World

Want more? Here’s a long list of ways to say hello in many different languages:

Language	Formal Hello	English Reading	Informal Hello	English Reading
Afrikaans	Goeie dag	Goo-uh dey	Hallo	Hah-lo
Albanian	Tungjatjeta	Toon-jat-yeh-ta	Tung	Toong
Amharic	Selam	Se-lam
Arabic	Salam aleikoum	Ass-suh-lah-muh alay-kum	Marhaba	Mar-ha-ba
Armenian	Barev	Bah-rev	Pari yegak	Pah-ree yeh-gak
Azerbaijani	Salam	Sah-lam
Basque	Kaixo	Kie-sho	Egun on	Eh-gun on
Belarusian	Добры дзень	Doh-bri dzin	Прывітанне	Pri-vee-tan-nye
Bengali	নমস্কার	No-mo-shkar
Bosnian	Zdravo	Zdrah-vo	Ćao	Chao
Bulgarian	Здравейте	Zdra-vei-te	Здрасти	Zdra-sti
Burmese	မင်္ဂလာပါ	Min-ga-la-bar	ဟယ်လို	Hai-lo
Catalan	Hola	O-la
Cebuano	Kumusta	Koo-moos-tah	Hi	Hi
Chinese (Simplified)	你好	Nee how	嗨
Croatian	Dobar dan	Do-bar dan	Bok	Bok
Czech	Dobrý den	Dob-ree den	Ahoj	Ah-hoy
Danish	Goddag	Goh-dahg	Hej	Hey
Dutch	Goedemiddag	Goo-duh-mih-dahg	Hallo	Hah-lo
Estonian	Tere	Teh-reh
Filipino	Kamusta	Kah-moo-stah	Hi	Hi
Finnish	Hyvää päivää	Hoo-vaa pie-vaa	Hei	Hey
French	Bonjour	Bon-zhoor	Salut	Sa-loo
Galician	Ola	Oh-la
Georgian	გამარჯობა	Gah-mar-joh-ba
German	Guten Tag	Goo-ten tahg	Hallo	Hah-lo
Greek	Γεια σας	Yah sas
Gujarati	નમસ્તે	Nah-mahs-tay
Haitian Creole	Bonjou	Bon-joo	Salut	Sa-loo
Hausa	Sannu	San-nu	Salama	Sa-la-ma
Hebrew	שלום	Sha-lom	היי	Hi
Hindi	नमस्ते	Nah-mas-tay
Hungarian	Jó napot	Yo nah-pot	Szia	See-ya
Icelandic	Góðan dag	Goh-than dahg	Halló	Hal-lo
Igbo	Ndewo	N-deh-woh	Kedu	Keh-doo
Indonesian	Selamat siang	Se-lah-mat see-yang	Hai	Hi
Irish	Dia duit	Dee-ah gwit	Haigh	Hay
Italian	Buongiorno	Bwon-jor-no	Ciao	Chow
Japanese	こんにちは	Kon-nee-chee-wah	どうも	Doh-moh
Kannada	ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ	Nam-as-kara	ಹಾಯ್	Haay
Kazakh	Сәлеметсіз бе	Sah-leh-met-siz be	Сәлем	Sah-lem
Khmer	សួស្តី	Soo-aste
Korean	안녕하세요	Ahn-nyeong-hah-se-yo	안녕	Ahn-nyeong
Kurdish	Silav	See-lav	Selam	Se-lam
Kyrgyz	Ассаламу алейкум	As-sa-la-mu ah-lay-kum	Салам	Sah-lam
Lao	ສະບາຍດີ	Sa-bai dee
Latin	Salve	Sal-vay
Latvian	Labdien	Lab-dee-en	Sveiki	Swey-kee
Lithuanian	Labas	Lah-bahs	Sveiki	Svey-ki
Luxembourgish	Moien	Moy-en	Salut	Sa-loo
Macedonian	Здраво	Zdra-vo	Чао	Chao
Malagasy	Manao ahoana	Mah-now ah-wah-nah	Salama	Sa-la-ma
Malay	Selamat tengahari	Se-lah-mat ten-gah ha-ri	Hai	Hi
Malayalam	നമസ്കാരം	Nah-mas-kah-ram
Maltese	Bongu	Bong-goo
Maori	Kia ora	Kee-ah or-ah
Marathi	नमस्ते	Nah-muh-skar
Mongolian	Сайн байна уу	Sain bai-na uu
Nepali	नमस्कार	Nam-as-tay
Norwegian	God dag	Goh dag	Hei	Hey
Pashto	ଶୁଣିବେ	Sa-lam
Polish	Dzień dobry	Dzyen dob-ri	Cześć	Chesht
Portuguese	Bom dia	Oh-la	Oi	Oi
Punjabi	ਸਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ	Sut sree a-kal	ਹੈਲੋ	Hello
Romanian	Bună ziua	Boo-nah zee-wah	Salut	Sa-loot
Russian	Здравствуйте	Zdra-stvooy-tye	Привет	Pree-vyet
Samoan	Talofa	Tah-lo-fah
Serbian	Здраво	Zdra-vo	Ćao	Chao (Chao)
Sesotho	Dumela	Loo-meh-lah
Shona	Mhoro	Mho-ro
Sindhi	سلام	Sa-lam
Sinhala	ආයුබෝවන්	Hay-lo
Slovak	Dobrý deň	Dob-ree den	Ahoj	Ah-hoy
Slovenian	Dober dan	Doh-ber dahn	Živjo	Zhee-vyo
Somali	Maalin wanaagsan	Is-kah war-an	Sida wadanka	See-da wuh-dank-a
Spanish	Buenos días	Bway-nos dee-as	Hola	O-la
Swahili	Wilujeng enjing	Ha-ba-ree	Hujambo	Hoo-jam-bo
Swedish	God dag	Gohd dahg	Hej	Hey
Tajik	Салом	Sa-lom
Tamil	வணக்கம்	Vah-nak-kam	ஹாய்	Hi
Telugu	నమస్కారం	Na-mas-tey	హాయ్	Hi
Thai	สวัสดี	Sa-wat-dee
Turkish	Merhaba	Mer-ha-ba	Selam	Se-lam
Turkmen	Добрий день	Sah-lem
Ukrainian	Вітаю	Vi-ta-yu	Привіт	Pri-vit
Urdu	سلام	Sa-lam	ہیلو	Hello
Uzbek	Salom	Sa-lom
Vietnamese	Xin chào	Sin chow	Chào	Chow
Welsh	Bore da	He-lo	Sut mae	Sit my
Xhosa	Molo	Mo-lo
Yiddish	העלא	Ha-lo
Yoruba	Báwo ni	Bah-woh
Zulu	Sawubona	Sa-woo-boh-nah

Hello in Fantasy Languages

From Middle Earth to Westeros, check out how to say hello in some fun fantasy languages:

Language	Formal Hello	English Reading	Informal Hello	English Reading	Origin
Elvish (Sindarin)	Suilad	Soo-lad	Mae govannen	My go-van-nen	J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth
Elvish (Quenya)	Auta i lome	Ow-ta ee lo-may	Malallo le	Ma-la-lo lay	J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth
Elven Runes	ᛋᚢᛁᛚᚨᛞ	Soolad	ᛗᚨᛖ ᚷᚩᚡᚨᚾᚾᛖᚾ	May go-van-nen	J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth
Dwarvish	Khazâd ai-mênu	Kha-zad eye-may-noo	Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd aimênu!	Ba-ruk Kha-zad! Kha-zad eye-may-noo!	J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth
Dwarf Runes	ᚺᛖᚱᚨ	Haira	ᛖᛖᛈ! ᚺᚨᛋᚱᛖᛞᛏᚨ!	Ay-ya! Har-ed-da!	J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth
Dragon Tongue	Lok dovahkiin	Lok do-vah-keen	Zu'u fen fahliil do naan	Zoo fen fah-leel do nan	The Elder Scrolls series
Klingon	nuqneH	Nook-neh	Qapla'	Kup-lah	Star Trek
Valyrian	Pryjat	Pri-yat	Rytsas	Rit-sas	Game of Thrones
Dothraki	M'athchomaroon	Mahth-cho-ma-roon	Hash yer dothrae	Hash yer doth-ray	Game of Thrones
High Valyrian	Aōha ēngos	Ah-oh-ha eng-os	Valar morghulis	Va-lar mor-ghoo-lis	Game of Thrones
Na'vi	Kaltxì	Kal-tsee	Eywa ngahu	Ay-wa ngah-hoo	Avatar
Fae	Dia duit	Dee-ah gwit	Haigh	Hay	Folklore
Gnomish	Gnufrotz	Gnoo-frotz	Hellosir	Hel-lo-sir	Fantasy literature
Orcish	Lok'tar	Lok-tar	Dabu	Da-boo	Warcraft
Trollish	Gurubashi	Goo-roo-bah-shee	Vodoo! Voodoo!	Voo-doo! Voo-doo!	Warcraft
Goblin	Lok'tar ogar	Lok-tar oh-gar	Snikt! Snikt!	Snikt! Snikt!	Warcraft
Draconic	ᛚᛟᚲ ᛞᛟᚹᚨᚺᚲᛁᛃᛁᚾ	Lok do-wah-keen	ᛉᚢ'ᚠᚾ ᚠᛖᚾ ᚠᚨᚺᛚᛁᛚ	Zoo fen fah-leel	Fantasy literature

 

Now you have a list of how to say “hello” in over 100 different languages! If you’re just starting your language learning journey, knowing how to greet people in their native language is a great start. 

You can learn any language faster if you try to fully immerse yourself. You can do some of your own research on the culture and learn about the social expectations. Try some of the unique culinary dishes.

The easiest way to achieve full immersion is to watch videos made by real native speakers.

However, native media like TV shows, series and movies aren’t necessarily tailored to be language learner-friendly. So, if you want to watch your favorite TV shows in the language you want to learn, you can try a program like FluentU that can craft an educational experience from the content.

So now you’ve got more than 100 diverse ways to say a hearty “hello.” Don’t stop there—feel free to get out there and learn even more about these languages. Also, check out our post on the coolest foreign names from around the world. 

Ciao!

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