How Do You Say Hello in Different Languages

I still remember the moment like it was yesterday.

I was twenty-two, standing nervously outside a tiny family-run restaurant in Seoul, clutching a crumpled Korean phrasebook. My host mom opened the door, smiled warmly, and said 안�yeong하세요? (annyeonghaseyo?).

In that single word—soft, respectful, curious—I felt instantly welcomed, like the whole country had just wrapped me in a hug. One little greeting, and suddenly I wasn’t a stranger anymore.

Today, we’re going on a world tour—not with passports and planes, but with words. We’ll discover how humanity says hello in over 70 languages, peek into the stories behind those greetings, and remind ourselves that beneath every accent and alphabet beats the same hopeful heart.

Quick Reference Table:

Language	Hello (Romanized)	Script	Quick Cultural Note
Korean	Annyeonghaseyo (formal)	안녕하세요	Bow slightly; the deeper the bow, the more respect
French	Bonjour	Bonjour	Literally “good day”—used until evening, then switch to bonsoir
Spanish	Hola	Hola	Super casual; add “¿Qué tal?” to make it warmer
Italian	Ciao (informal) / Buongiorno	Ciao / Buongiorno	Ciao works for both hello and goodbye—pure Italian efficiency!
German	Hallo / Guten Tag	Hallo / Guten Tag	Guten Tag is more formal; in Bavaria you might hear a cheerful “Grüß Gott”
Mandarin Chinese	Nǐ hǎo	你好	Literally “you good?”—tone matters!
Japanese	Konnichiwa	こんにちは	Time-specific; ohayō gozaimasu (morning) and konbanwa (evening) are also common
Hindi	Namaste	नमस्ते	Palms pressed together + slight bow; means “I bow to the divine in you”
Arabic	Marhaban / As-salaamu ‘alaikum	مرحباً / السلام عليكم	The Islamic greeting means “Peace be upon you”
Swahili	Jambo / Habari	Jambo / Habari	Jambo is tourist Swahili; locals prefer Habari? (“How’s the news?”)
Portuguese	Olá / Bom dia	Olá / Bom dia	Brazilians often add “tudo bem?” (“everything good?”)
Russian	Privet / Zdravstvuyte	Привет / Здравствуйте	Privet is for friends; formal version is a tongue-twister!
Hawaiian	Aloha	Aloha	Means love, compassion, hello, goodbye—basically the Swiss Army knife of words
Māori	Kia ora	Kia ora	Literally “be well/healthy”; often accompanied by a hongi (pressing noses)
Hebrew	Shalom	שָׁלוֹם	Means peace, hello, and goodbye—multitasking since ancient times

European Languages:

Europeans love rules for greetings almost as much as they love coffee.

• French – Bonjour: You don’t just say it once—you say it to every single person when you walk into a shop. Skip it and you’ve basically declared war.
• Spanish – Hola: In Spain it’s quick and friendly; in Latin America it often explodes into a hug and double-cheek kiss.
• Italian – Ciao/Buongiorno: Italians greet with their whole body—open arms, loud voice, sometimes three kisses alternating cheeks.
• German – Hallo/Guten Tag: Direct and efficient, but in southern Germany and Austria you’ll hear the beautiful “Grüß Gott” (“Greet God”) or the mountain-fresh “Servus.”
• Dutch – Hallo/Dag: “Dag” works for hello and goodbye. The Dutch are masters of practicality.

Asian Languages:

Asia’s greetings are often layered with hierarchy and respect.

• Korean – Annyeonghaseyo (안녕하세요): The formal version you heard in my Seoul story. Drop the “seyo” to speak casually with friends (annyeong!).
• Japanese – Konnichiwa, Ohayō gozaimasu, Konbanwa: Time of day matters, and bowing depth shows respect level.
• Mandarin – Nǐ hǎo (你好): Simple, but in practice people often say “Nǐ hǎo ma?” (“How are you?”) right away.
• Hindi/Urdu – Namaste / Adaab / Sat Sri Akaal: India is a greeting rainbow. Namaste is spiritual, Adaab is Muslim courtesy, Sat Sri Akaal is Sikh pride.
• Thai – Sawasdee (สวัสดี) + wai (palms together): Same word for hello/goodbye/thank you—accompanied by that graceful wai bow.
• Vietnamese – Xin chào: Literally “respectful greeting”—the “xin” shows politeness.

(And yes, Arabic’s “As-salaamu ‘alaikum” is used across 22+ countries from Morocco to Indonesia—the most geographically widespread hello on Earth.)

African Languages:

In many African cultures, greeting isn’t a formality—it’s a moral duty.

• Swahili (East Africa) – Jambo / Habari gani: You’ll be asked “Habari za asubuhi?” (Morning news?), “Habari za familia?” (Family news?)—greeting is storytelling.
• Yoruba (Nigeria) – Ẹ n lẹ / Bawo ni: Often followed by prostration (especially younger to elders)—respect is physical.
• Zulu/Xhosa (South Africa) – Sawubona / Molo: “Sawubona” literally means “I see you”—and the reply “Shiboka” or “Yebo” means “I am here.” Profound.
• Amharic (Ethiopia) – Selam: Same root as Arabic/Hebrew “shalom/salaam”—peace.
• Wolof (Senegal) – Asalaam aleekum / Na nga def: The Islamic greeting mixed with pure Wolof warmth.

Across the continent, skipping a proper greeting can be seen as wishing someone harm. Greeting = recognizing someone’s humanity.

Indigenous & Island Languages:

• Hawaiian – Aloha: Not just hello—it’s love, mercy, compassion. You can feel the spirit of aloha in the air.
• Māori – Kia ora / Tēnā koe: Often followed by a hongi (pressing noses and foreheads)—sharing the breath of life.
• Inuit (various dialects) – Aluu / Ai / Ullakkut: In harsh Arctic environments, greeting someone meant “I’m glad you’re alive.”
• Cherokee – Osiyo: Simple, melodic, and often accompanied by a warm smile.
• Samoan – Talofa: Literally “love be with you.”
• Navajo – Yá’át’ééh: Means “It is good”—a blessing as much as a greeting.

Cultural Insights & History:

The oldest known greeting? Probably the Sumerian phrase “silim-ma” around 4000 years ago—meaning “health to you.”

Ancient Greeks said “Chaire” (“rejoice!”). Romans shouted “Ave!” or “Salve!” (“be well”).

Hebrew’s “Shalom,” Arabic’s “Salaam,” and Assyrian “Shlam” all come from the same Semitic root for peace.

In medieval Europe, knights greeted with “God be with you” → “Good day.”

In West Africa, many greetings still ask about your family, your health, your cows—because community survival depended on knowing everyone was okay.

Proverbs & Sayings About Greeting

• Korea: “Start with a bow, end with a smile.”
• Japan: “One kind word can warm three winter months.”
• Zulu: “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu” – A person is a person because of other people. (Greeting acknowledges that.)
• Hawaii: “Aloha is given freely, never taken.”
• Russia: “A smile is half a greeting.”

FAQs :

Why do so many languages use “sa-/sha-/sala-” sounds?

Because the ancient Semitic root š-l-m meaning “peace/wholeness” spread through religion and trade across three continents.

What’s the oldest recorded hello?

Sumerian tablets from ~2000 BCE: “Silim-ma-he” – “Are you well?”

Why do some cultures touch noses?

The Māori hongi and some Inuit greetings exchange ha—the breath of life. You literally share spirit.

Can saying hello wrong offend someone?

Absolutely. In Korea, using casual “annyeong!” to an elder can be rude. In Arab countries, not returning “Wa ‘alaikum as-salaam” is cold.

Conclusion:

Every language on Earth has a way to say, “I see you. You matter. Let’s connect.”

Whether it’s a deep bow in Seoul, three kisses in Italy, a hongi in New Zealand, or a simple “Sawubona” in Zulu—the message is identical:

You are not alone.

So here’s my challenge to you today:

Say hello to someone in their language. Write it in the comments. Teach me yours. Record yourself saying it. Tag a friend from another country.

Because every time we greet each other across borders, we make the world a little smaller, warmer, and more human.

What’s YOUR hello? Drop it below—I can’t wait to learn it. ❤️

(And if you’re curious about that very first Korean greeting that changed my life… it’s still 안녕하세요. Try saying it out loud right now. Feels good, doesn’t it?)

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