Hindi · Greetings & Essentials
"Hello" in Hindi: नमस्ते
नमस्तेnamaste
The most common way to say hello in Hindi is नमस्ते (namaste). It works with anyone, at any time of day, and it doubles as goodbye when you leave. Add ji, as in namaste ji, to sound warmer and more respectful.
Meeting a friend's parents
नमस्ते आंटी, नमस्ते अंकल! आप कैसे हैं?namaste aunty, namaste uncle! aap kaise hain?
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How to pronounce नमस्ते
Say it
nuh-MUS-tay
/nə.məs.t̪eː/
Say nuh-MUS-tay, with three even, light syllables. The त is a soft dental t: put your tongue against the back of your top teeth, not on the ridge behind them like an English t. End on a pure "ay", without sliding into "ee".
"Hello" in Hindi: quick reference
| Hindi | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| नमस्तेnamaste | hello The default greeting for everyone: neighbors, shopkeepers, teachers, and strangers. | The default greeting for everyone: neighbors, shopkeepers, teachers, and strangers. |
| नमस्ते जीnamaste ji | hello (warm and respectful) With older people, your friends' parents, or anyone you want to show extra respect. | With older people, your friends' parents, or anyone you want to show extra respect. |
| नमस्कारnamaskaar | hello (formal) Speeches, TV news, and formal events. It means the same as namaste but sounds more official. | Speeches, TV news, and formal events. It means the same as namaste but sounds more official. |
| हैलोhailo | hello The English word, used by almost everyone to answer the phone, and by young people with friends. | The English word, used by almost everyone to answer the phone, and by young people with friends. |
| प्रणामpranaam | respectful greeting A deeply respectful hello to elders, often said while touching their feet. | A deeply respectful hello to elders, often said while touching their feet. |
How to use नमस्ते in real life
- 1Meeting a friend's parents
नमस्ते आंटी, नमस्ते अंकल! आप कैसे हैं?
namaste aunty, namaste uncle! aap kaise hain?
Hello auntie, hello uncle! How are you?
Indians call a friend's parents, and many older neighbors, aunty and uncle, even with no family tie.
- 2Answering the phone
हैलो? हाँ जी, नमस्ते! मैं राहुल बोल रहा हूँ।
hailo? haan ji, namaste! main Raahul bol raha hoon.
Hello? Yes, hello! This is Rahul speaking.
Phone calls usually open with the English hello, and namaste follows once you know who is calling.
- 3Opening a formal event
नमस्ते, आप सभी का यहाँ स्वागत है।
namaste, aap sabhi ka yahaan svaagat hai.
Hello, and welcome, everyone.
Namaste works for a room or group as well as one-to-one.
Mistakes English speakers make with नमस्ते
Incorrect: Suprabhaat! (to a neighbor in the morning)
Correct: Namaste! / Good morning!
Suprabhaat is the dictionary word for "good morning", but in daily life it sounds bookish. People say namaste, or the English "good morning".
Incorrect: Namaste, aap kaisa hai?
Correct: Namaste, aap kaise hain?
Aap always takes plural forms, even for one person: kaise hain. To a woman, say aap kaisi hain?
Good to know
Namaste is usually said with the palms pressed together at chest level and a small nod, a gesture that works even without words. It comes from Sanskrit and means roughly "I bow to you". In many families, younger people greet elders by bending to touch their feet, and the elder answers with a blessing. In offices, men often shake hands, but namaste is always a safe choice, especially with women and older people.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Meeting a new neighbor in Jaipur
ChatPal
नमस्ते! आप नए पड़ोसी हैं ना?
namaste! aap naye padosi hain na?
Hello! You're the new neighbor, right?
You
जी, नमस्ते! मेरा नाम सैम है।
ji, namaste! mera naam Sam hai.
Yes, hello! My name is Sam.
ChatPal
आपसे मिलकर ख़ुशी हुई, सैम। मैं मीरा हूँ।
aapse milkar khushi hui, Sam. main Meera hoon.
Nice to meet you, Sam. I'm Meera.
You
मुझे भी, मीरा जी। अच्छा, फिर मिलते हैं, नमस्ते!
mujhe bhi, Meera ji. achha, phir milte hain, namaste!
Me too, Meera ji. Okay, see you again, bye!
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Hello" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Hello" in Hindi
Can I say namaste to anyone?
Yes. It is polite with strangers, elders, and shop staff, and friendly with people your age. Close friends often switch to hi or kya haal hai? (how's it going?), but namaste is never wrong.
Does namaste also mean goodbye?
Yes. You can say namaste when you arrive and again when you leave. For a casual goodbye, people also say phir milenge (see you again) or just bye.
What is the difference between namaste and namaskaar?
They mean the same thing. Namaskaar sounds a little more formal, so you hear it from TV presenters and at official events. In everyday conversation, namaste is more common.
Why do people add ji after namaste?
Ji is a small word of respect. Namaste ji sounds warmer and more polite, and it is a good habit with anyone older than you. You can also add ji after a name, like Meera ji.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
