How To Say ‘Hello’ In 10 Different Languages

Every conversation, whether formal or informal, starts with a greeting. Here’s what to say.

Jul 5, 2017

“You had me at ‘Hello'” may be a love story cliché, but it also makes a valid point about the importance of how we greet others. The words we choose and the way we deliver them set the tone for the entire conversation, and in turn, shape our relationship with the other person. We may use a formal “Hello” in certain situations, and a more informal “Hey” or “Hi” in others. Knowing how to greet someone and which greeting to use is the first step in learning a new language. No sweat; we’ve got you covered.

1. French

Formal: Bonjour

Informal: Salut

2. Spanish

Formal: Hola

Informal: ¿Qué tal? (What’s up?)

3. Russian

Formal: Zdravstvuyte

Informal: Privet

4. Chinese

Formal: Nǐn hǎo

Informal: Nǐ hǎo

5. Italian

Formal: Salve

Informal: Ciao

6. Japanese

Formal: Konnichiwa

Informal: Yā, _Yō
_

7. German

Formal: Guten Tag

Informal: Hallo, Hi

8. Portuguese

Formal: Olá

Informal: Oi

9. Korean

Formal: Anyoung haseyo

Informal: Anyoung

10. Arabic

Formal: Asalaam alaikum (Peace be upon you)

Informal: Ahlan

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