No matter what language you’re learning or country you’re visiting, there’s one word you absolutely need to know: hello! A polite greeting goes a long way in a new language, and the sooner you learn to say it correctly, the sooner you’ll make new friends and explore new destinations.
But when should you use a more formal greeting, and when is an informal greeting appropriate? Learn how to say “hello” in different languages, and discover when to say the correct greeting in each culture.
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How to say ‘hello’ in different languages
Whether you’re greeting someone in the store, saying “hello” to a server in a restaurant, or speaking in a more formal or professional setting, you can use these greetings. They are the most common polite greeting in each language and you can use them at any time in the day.
| Language | “Hello” | Pronunciation |
| Arabic | مرحبًا (Marhaban) | MAHR-hah-ban |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 你好 (Nǐ hǎo) | NEE how |
| Dutch | Hallo | HAH-low |
| English | Hello | heh-LOW |
| Farsi (Persian) | سلام (Salaam) | sah-LAHM |
| French | Bonjour | bohn-ZHOOR |
| German | Guten tag | GOO-tehn tahk |
| Greek | Γεια σας (Ya sas) | YAH-sahs |
| Hebrew | שלום (Shalom) | shuh-LOHM |
| Hindi | नमस्ते (Namaste) | nah-mah-STAY |
| Irish | Dia duit | dee-ah GWIT |
| Italian | Salve | SAHL-vey |
| Japanese | こんにちは (Konnichiwa) | koh-NEE-chee-wah |
| Korean | 안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo) | ahn-NYOHNG-hah-sey-yoh |
| Latin | Salvē | SAHL-vey |
| Polish | Dzień dobry | jayn DOH-breh |
| Portuguese | Olá | oh-LAH |
| Russian | Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte) | zah-DRAH-stvooy-tee |
| Spanish | Hola | OH-lah |
| Swedish | Hej | hey |
| Tagalog | Kumusta | koo-moo-STAH |
| Turkish | Merhaba | MAHR-hah-bah |
| Vietnamese | Xin chào | sihn JOW |
Casually saying ‘hi’ in different languages
Not every occasion is a formal one! If you’re meeting up with friends who speak another language or you’re living in a country and getting more comfortable with your new language, you can move away from formal greetings and learn a more casual way to say “hi.”
| Language | “Hi” | Pronunciation |
| Arabic | أهلاً (Ahlan) | AH-he-lahn |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 嗨 (Hāi) | hai |
| Dutch | Hoi | hoy |
| English | Hi | hai |
| Farsi (Persian) | چتوری (Chetori) | CHE-tohr-ee |
| French | Salut | sah-LOO |
| German | Hallo | HAH-low |
| Greek | Γεια (Ya) | yah |
| Hebrew | היי (Hai) | hai |
| Hindi | हेलो (Halo) | HEY-low |
| Irish | Haigh | hai |
| Italian | Ciao | chou |
| Japanese | やあ (Yā) | yah |
| Korean | 안녕 (Annyeong) | AHN-yohng |
| Latin | Heus | EY-oos |
| Polish | Cześć | CHEH-sh-ch |
| Portuguese | Oi | oy |
| Russian | привет (Privet) | PREE-vyet |
| Spanish | Que pasa | kay PAH-sah |
| Swedish | Hej hej | hey hey |
| Tagolog | Kamusta | kah-moo-STAH |
| Turkish | Selam | seh-LAHM |
| Vietnamese | Chào | jow |
‘Hello’ in English: Hello
For English speakers, saying “hello” in English seems like second nature. But if you stop to think about it, hello doesn’t look like any other English word (except for yellow, minus the “w”). So where did it come from, and how does that relate to similar-sounding ways to say “hello” in different languages?
The origin of hello dates back to the late 14th century, when “Hallo!” was a common way to get someone’s attention. It became more popular in the 19th-century American West, and solidified its status as the most common English greeting with the 1880 invention of the telephone. (The word yellow, on the other hand, dates all the way back to Old English.)
Other variations of hello, including hi and hey, are more casual versions of the greeting they’re based on. Today, English speakers use these greetings along with the slang phrases What’s up? and yo to greet their friends.
‘Hello’ in French: Bonjour
When learning how to say “hello” in French, students must master a few key French sounds (such as the “zh” sound for “j,” and the very soft “r” sound at the end of the word). While these sounds may be a little tricky for a beginning word like bonjour, the good news is that mastering these sounds will help French students as they continue to learn.
For a more informal “hello” in French, try greeting others with Salut! It’s a casual way for friends or people who see each other often to say “hi” while still remaining polite in social situations. And for friends and family, try the greeting Coucou!
‘Hello’ in Italian: Salve
For an everyday “hello” in Italian, say salve to the people you see. This common, semi-formal greeting works for people working in shops, others walking on the street, or your coworkers while you’re working in the office. Use it when you arrive somewhere, or when your tone needs to be more respectful (such as with elders).
Otherwise, Ciao! is a popular way to greet friends and family. If you’re feeling especially upbeat and friendly, try Ciao, ciao! And best of all, ciao also means “goodbye,” so once you’ve mastered it, you won’t need to learn a brand new word.
‘Hello’ in German: Guten Tag
Guten tag means “good day” in German, making it an appropriate all-day greeting in more formal settings. You can change it to guten morgen (good morning) or guten abend (good evening) if you’re looking for a more time-specific greeting.
And there’s good news for those learning how to say “hello” in German: The casual greeting, hallo, is pronounced almost the same way as the English “hello.” (That shouldn’t be surprising, considering both English and German are Germanic languages!)
‘Hello’ in Japanese: Konnichiwa
Saying “hello” in Japanese is one of the more important steps in learning the language, as it can help students master Japanese’s honorifics and polite tone. Konnichiwa (こんにちは) is one of the more common Japanese greetings, as it applies to all times of the day and works in more formal settings.
However, if you want to say “hi” in Japanese, the answer is as easy as the word Yā (やあ)! Use this casual greeting with friends and loved ones, or opt for Yo (よー) or Oi (おーい) to say “Hey!” to the people you hang out with.
‘Hello’ in Spanish: Hola
If you’re an English speaker learning how to say “hello” in Spanish, you may notice that hola and “hello” look pretty similar. These words may possibly have shared origins in Latin or German, or hola may even come from Arabic roots in the Spanish language.
Either way, hola is the most common way to say “Hello!” in Spanish, especially to people you’ve just met or if you’re interacting in a more formal or professional context. For friends and family, use ¿Qué pasa? to ask “what’s up,” or try bueno in an informal conversation (or when you answer the phone in a Spanish-speaking country).
Discover friendly greetings wherever you go
Learning to say “hello” in different languages can help open the world to you. Whether you’re just starting a new language or stepping off the plane into a country that speaks another language, friendly greetings can take you a long way—and may even bring you into new friendships.
To start your language journey, discover how Rosetta Stone works and decide which learning method is best for your style. And once you’re learned “hello” in different languages, you can work on the next step in the conversation (all the way down to “goodbye” in different languages).
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