Hello in Different Languages: 100 Ways to Say Hello

Did you know that more than 7,000 languages are spoken worldwide? Although we won’t go through all 7,000, this blog post will teach you how to say hello in 100 of the most widely spoken languages.

No matter what language you speak, your race, or your country, one of the most common ways of starting a conversation is with a simple greeting: “hello.” It is also often the first word anyone learns when learning a new language. The list of greetings we’ve prepared below will help you learn as many ways to say hello as you need.

Table of Contents

• A–F: Afrikaans to Filipino
• F–K: Finnish to Kurdish
• L–S: Lao to Scottish
• S–W: Serbian to Wu
• Y–Z: Yiddish to Zulu
• The importance of saying hello in-language
• Beyond words: things to consider when greeting someone
• Various ways to greet someone across the globe

‘Hello’ in 100 Different Languages

Now, let’s explore the many ways to say hello in different languages. We’ll start with some of the more common greetings and then explore some of the different ways people greet each other across the globe.

A–F (Afrikaans – Filipino)

F–K (Finnish – Kurdish)

L–S (Lao – Scottish)

S–W (Serbian – Wu)

Y–Z (Yiddish – Zulu)

The Importance of Saying Hello in Every Language

Many people are unaware of how important “hello” is in every language. In fact, a “Hello Day” is celebrated every 21st of November each year — and for good reason.

Let’s explore some of the reasons why it’s important to learn greetings in different languages.

Make new friends

Greeting someone with a “hello” in their first language is a great way to break the ice and potentially make a new friend. The power of a single word shows you respect their culture and always precedes a meaningful conversation.

Cross-cultural communication

Knowing how to say hello in different languages can help break down language barriers and facilitate communication with people from diverse cultures. It shows that you respect and appreciate their culture and can help build bridges between people of different backgrounds.

Cultural awareness

Greetings are an important aspect of many cultures and can reveal a lot about a society’s values and customs. Learning how to say hello in different languages can help you better understand and appreciate the cultural differences that make our world so diverse.

Personal growth

Learning a new language — or simply expanding your vocabulary — can be a fun and rewarding experience. Knowing how to say hello in different languages can be a great first step toward that goal.

The icebreaker

If you find it daunting to talk to people, then a simple hello is all you need to utter — and let the conversation flow from there. The best part is it works for every language. All you need to know is how to say hello to your new acquaintance in their own language.

Polite greeting

It can be considered rude or intimidating to approach someone unknown and just start talking. Beginning with a hello shows you respect the person’s time and culture and reflects your intention to build rapport.

Travel

Travelling can be fun — visiting new countries, learning about new cultures and hearing the sounds of foreign language conversations is always a rich experience. When you don’t understand the country’s native speakers, and they don’t understand you, things can get tricky. Starting with a “hello” in their native language can initiate a response that gives you assistance, a genuine local experience and any other help you might need while travelling.

For instance, if you’re an Australian visiting China on a business trip, saying hello in Chinese can be a good conversation starter. All you need to do is say “nǐ hǎo” (你好), which means hello in Chinese.

Cultural Considerations When Greeting Someone

Social hierarchy or age

In some countries such as Japan, it’s important to greet people in the correct order of organisational hierarchy. It is also customary to initiate the greeting with older people as a sign of respect. Other countries require that you greet those older than you in a different way than you would a peer or a younger person.

Time

Some cultures greet differently depending on the time of day. For example, there will be a different greeting for the morning, afternoon, evening and night.

Gender

Depending on the gender of the person, a greeting or hello can be altered or be completely different.

Relationship

Did you just meet this person? Are they long-time friends? Is it a business meeting? The status of the relationship is an important factor in how you choose to greet someone correctly across the world. A formal greeting may be more suited to a business context, while a more informal greeting might work better with someone you’ve become friends with.

Various Ways to Greet Across the Globe

You don’t literally have to utter “H-E-L-L-O” to greet a person. Different cultures have different ways of performing greetings.

Australia

Greeting someone with a “how are you” or “g’day” (good day) is the most common way to say hello. These phrases sometimes carry more social meaning than literal meaning. For instance, “how are you” is not an actual inquiry into your health or financial state but is simply extending a hello as a greeting to start a conversation.

United States

Greeting someone with a “how are you” should typically solicit a response (this is in contrast to Australia), and a simple hello or handshake is always a common greeting.

Hawaii

Aloha is a Hawaiian word that means love, affection, peace, compassion and mercy. It’s a common greeting in Hawaii and can also be used to say goodbye.

Thailand

Greeting each other with a “wai” in formal Thai business situations is expected. This consists of a bow with your hands clasped together. The depth of the bow and other factors should be taken into consideration. Sawadee khrap/ka is a standard greeting that can be used in various situations. Khrap is used by men, while ka is used by women.

Certain European countries and Brazil

Air kisses to either cheek are shared among friends and family. In Brazil, one kiss is common in São Paulo, two in Rio.

India

In Hindi — the third most spoken language in the world — Namaste means “I bow to you.” This greeting is commonly used in India and is a sign of respect for the other person’s divine spirit.

Middle East

Greetings can vary between countries and genders. Long handshakes between men are common and a sign of welcome in Arabic-speaking cultures, and it is not uncommon to shake someone’s hand and touch your chest or heart with your left hand.

New Zealand

Kia ora is a Māori greeting that means “be well” or “good health.” It’s often used as a general greeting or farewell.

Japan

Handshakes are acceptable, along with bows. The order in which you greet people is also essential in Japanese culture.

South Africa

In the Zulu language of South Africa, Sawubona means “I see you.” The response, Ngikhona, means “I am here.” These greetings acknowledge the other person’s presence and show respect for their being.

As with all cultures, it’s wise to research the forms of greetings and how greetings should be conducted before visiting a country. As you will have learned, not all greetings are created equal.

Getting to know people from different cultures by saying hello in their language can be a fun and rewarding experience. By showing respect and appreciation for other cultures through greetings, we can break down language barriers and build bridges between people of diverse backgrounds. Try saying hello to someone from a different culture the next time you meet them — and watch their face light up.