7 Simple Ways to Say Hello in Different Languages: A Global Greeting Guide

1. Spanish

Spanish is one of the most common languages in the world and is spoken by a massive portion of the global population. So, when you are learning ways to say hello in different languages, Spanish should be one of the first you consider. In Spanish, you say "Hola" when you want to say hello. The "h" is silent and the word is pronounced o-la.

2. Chinese

It is also important to learn how to say hello in Chinese. However, in this case, you need to know whether the person you are speaking to speaks Mandarin or Cantonese. In Mandarin, you say hello by saying "Ni Hao," pronounced nee-haw. In Cantonese, you would say "Nei Ho" or "Lei Ho," pronounced ne ho or lay ho. If you're exploring the region, you might also find interest in these fabulous things to do in Manila.

3. Hindustani (Indian)

Many of us also have dealings with people from India, so when you are learning ways to say hello in different languages, you should also learn to say it in Hindustani. People from different regions say hello in different ways in India, but the most common way to say it is "Namaste," pronounced na-mus-thei. This is perfect for when you're visiting quirky towns and villages around the world.

4. Islamic Greeting

The most formal of all Islamic greetings is "Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakato," which means "May peace and mercy and the blessings of God be upon you." This may be shortened to "Assalamu Alaykum." The correct response to this greeting is "Wa Alaykum Assalam," which means "And peace be upon you also." In the most informal setting, the Islamic greeting is further shortened to just "Salaam," which can be responded to in the same way.

5. Hebrew

In the Hebrew language, the way to say hello is very similar to the shortest Islamic greeting, although the pronunciation is different. In Hebrew, you would say "Shalom." You would also say "Shalom" to say goodbye. It means "peace."

6. Japanese

The Japanese have many different ways to greet each other and say hello. The best terminology to use is to say "Ohayou Gozaimasu," pronounced o-ha-yo go-zai-mass. On the telephone, you would say "Moshi Moshi," pronounced moh-shee moh-shee.

7. Russian

Russian has both formal and informal ways of saying hello. In a formal setting, you would say "Zdravstvuyte," pronounced ZDRA-stvooy-tyeh. In an informal setting, you would say "Pree-vyet."

Quick Reference Table

It is not difficult to learn 7 ways to say hello in different languages. However, you also need to know the custom that accompanies it. In the Western world, we usually shake hands. But in other parts of the world, people join their hands, or bow, or even applaud. To keep practicing, you can check out official resources like Duolingo or Lonely Planet for more travel tips.