Ways To Say Hello In Different Languages

You had me at “hello” — it 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 the future of our relationship with the other person. We may use something like a formal “good day” in certain situations, and a more informal “hey” or “hi” in others. Knowing how to say hello is almost always the first step in language learning. Knowing how to say hello in many different languages will help you be more conversational with the rest of the world, even if you’re just a tourist. Few of us would doubt that “hello” (or some variation of it) is one of the most important phrases you should commit to memory when you’re learning a new language, especially if you’re a traveler learning the local language.

So when it comes to learning how to say hello in languages from around the world, don’t sweat — we’ve got you covered. We have a formal and informal greeting for 21 different languages, so you’re ready for almost any situation.

Ways To Say Hello in Other Languages from Spanish to Arabic

More Ways To Greet People Around the World

Every language and culture has its own nuances around greetings that don’t translate directly to hello. Many languages have different greetings for different formality levels, relationships between people, or variants for different times of the day (think buenos dias versus buenas tardes and buenas noches). For more details on other greetings in different languages, we’ve created guides that go deeper on all these topics in various languages:

• Spanish

• French

• German

• Norwegian

• Swedish

• Danish

• Dutch

• Russian

• Italian

• Portuguese

• Turkish

Tips for Greetings in Other Languages

Greetings vary by more than the words you speak. Various cultures use have greeting customs involving gestures, body language, and physical contact, from handshakes to hugs to bows cheek kisses. Our best advice when traveling abroad is to try to blend in with others, be polite, and know that most people won’t mind if you make small mistakes. Learning to greet someone is all about showing courtesy and making a connection, so do your best. Once you have a grasp on greetings and other basic interactions, you can tackle the other parts of planning a trip.