How to Say Hello in 100 Different Languages
Learn how to say hello in different languages! Master 100 unique greetings from around the world and make every encounter more meaningful.
Greeting someone in their native language can create an instant connection and make you more memorable.
I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to a lot of countries, and one thing I’ve learned is the immense value of being able to say “hello” in the local language. No matter where I’ve been, that simple gesture has opened doors, sparked smiles, and helped me connect with people on a personal level.
Learning just a few basic words before arriving in a new place has become an essential part of my travel routine, and it’s something I’d encourage any traveler to try. The best place to start is “hello”.
Knowing how to say “hello” in different languages opens doors to new cultures and shows respect to people from diverse backgrounds. In this guide, you’ll find greetings from around the world, each alphabetized for easy reference.
Hello in 100 Languages
Below, you’ll find how to say “hello” in 100 languages from around the world, along with pronunciation guidance and a brief introduction to the language.
Language | Formal Hello | Informal Hello | Region/Where Spoken |
Afrikaans | Goeie dag | Hallo | South Africa, Namibia |
Albanian | Përshëndetje | Tungjatjeta | Albania, Kosovo |
Amharic | Selam | Selam | Ethiopia |
Arabic | Marhaban | Salam | Middle East, North Africa |
Armenian | Barev Dzez | Barev | Armenia |
Azerbaijani | Salam | Salam | Azerbaijan |
Basque | Kaixo | Kaixo | Basque Country (Spain, France) |
Belarusian | Dobry dzień | Pryvit | Belarus |
Bengali | Nomoshkar | Hālō | Bangladesh, India (West Bengal) |
Bosnian | Zdravo | Ćao | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Bulgarian | Zdraveyte | Zdrasti | Bulgaria |
Burmese | Mingalaba | None | Myanmar |
Cantonese | Néih hóu | Néih | Hong Kong, Macau, Southern China |
Catalan | Hola | Ei | Catalonia (Spain), Andorra |
Cebuano | Maayong adlaw | Hālo | Philippines |
Chichewa | Moni | Moni | Malawi, Zambia |
Chinese (Mandarin) | Nǐ hǎo | Hāi | China, Taiwan, Singapore |
Croatian | Dobar dan | Bok | Croatia |
Czech | Dobrý den | Ahoj | Czech Republic |
Danish | God dag | Hej | Denmark |
Dutch | Goedendag | Hoi | Netherlands, Belgium |
Dzongkha | Kuzuzangpo la | None | Bhutan |
English | Hello | Hi | Worldwide |
Estonian | Tere päevast | Tere | Estonia |
Finnish | Hyvää päivää | Hei | Finland |
French | Bonjour | Salut | France, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland |
Georgian | Gamarjoba | Gamarjoba | Georgia |
German | Guten Tag | Hallo | Germany, Austria, Switzerland |
Greek | Kaliméra | Yia | Greece, Cyprus |
Gujarati | Namaste | Hālo | India, Pakistan |
Haitian Creole | Bonjou | Sali | Haiti |
Hausa | Sannu | Barka | Nigeria, Niger |
Hebrew | Shalom | Hey | Israel |
Hindi | Namaste | Hāllo | India, Fiji, Nepal |
Hungarian | Jó napot | Szia | Hungary |
Icelandic | Góðan daginn | Halló | Iceland |
Igbo | Ndewo | Kedu | Nigeria |
Indonesian | Selamat siang | Hai | Indonesia |
Irish | Dia dhuit | Haigh | Ireland |
Italian | Buongiorno | Ciao | Italy |
Japanese | Konnichiwa | Yā | Japan |
Javanese | Sugeng siang | Halo | Indonesia (Java) |
Kannada | Namaskara | Hālo | India (Karnataka) |
Kazakh | Salemetsiz be | Salem | Kazakhstan |
Khmer | Suostei | Suostei | Cambodia |
Kinyarwanda | Muraho | Bite | Rwanda |
Korean | Annyeonghaseyo | Annyeong | South Korea |
Kurdish | Silav | Silav | Kurdistan (Iraq, Turkey, Syria) |
Kyrgyz | Salamatsyzby | Salam | Kyrgyzstan |
Lao | Sabaidee | None | Laos |
Latvian | Labdien | Čau | Latvia |
Lithuanian | Laba diena | Labas | Lithuania |
Luxembourgish | Moien | Salut | Luxembourg |
Macedonian | Zdravo | Ćao | North Macedonia |
Malagasy | Manao ahoana | Salama | Madagascar |
Malay | Selamat tengahari | Hai | Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore |
Malayalam | Namaskaram | Hāi | India (Kerala) |
Maltese | Bonġu | Hawn | Malta |
Maori | Kia ora | Kia ora | New Zealand |
Marathi | Namaskar | Hālo | India (Maharashtra) |
Mongolian | Sain uu | None | Mongolia |
Nepali | Namaste | Hāllo | Nepal |
Norwegian | God dag | Hei | Norway |
Pashto | Salaam | Salaam | Afghanistan, Pakistan |
Persian | Salam | Salam | Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan |
Polish | Dzień dobry | Cześć | Poland |
Portuguese | Olá | Oi | Portugal, Brazil |
Punjabi | Sat sri akaal | Hello | India, Pakistan |
Quechua | Rimaykullayki | Napaykullayki | Peru, Bolivia |
Romanian | Bună ziua | Salut | Romania, Moldova |
Russian | Zdravstvuyte | Privet | Russia, Belarus |
Samoan | Talofa | Malo | Samoa |
Serbian | Zdravo | Ćao | Serbia, Montenegro |
Shona | Mhoro | Mhoro | Zimbabwe |
Sinhala | Ayubowan | None | Sri Lanka |
Slovak | Dobrý deň | Ahoj | Slovakia |
Slovenian | Dober dan | Živijo | Slovenia |
Somali | Salaan | Hello | Somalia, Ethiopia |
Spanish | Hola | Qué tal | Spain, Latin America |
Swahili | Hujambo | Jambo | East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania) |
Swedish | God dag | Hej | Sweden |
Tagalog | Magandang araw | Kamusta | Philippines |
Tamil | Vanakkam | Halo | India (Tamil Nadu), Sri Lanka, Malaysia |
Telugu | Namaskaram | Hāi | India (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana) |
Thai | Sawasdee | None | Thailand |
Tibetan | Tashi delek | Tashi delek | Tibet, China, Nepal |
Turkish | Merhaba | Selam | Turkey, Cyprus |
Turkmen | Salam | Salam | Turkmenistan |
Ukrainian | Dobryi den | Pryvit | Ukraine |
Urdu | Assalamu Alaikum | Hello | Pakistan, India |
Uzbek | Salom | Salom | Uzbekistan |
Vietnamese | Xin chào | Chào | Vietnam |
Welsh | Helo | Sut mae | Wales |
Wolof | Salaam aleekum | Salaam | Senegal, Gambia |
Xhosa | Molo | Molo | South Africa |
Yiddish | Sholem aleichem | Sholem | Jewish communities worldwide |
Yoruba | Ẹ káàárọ̀ | Bawó ni | Nigeria, Benin |
Zulu | Sawubona | Yebo | South Africa |
Afrikaans
Afrikaans, a West Germanic language, evolved from Dutch settlers in South Africa. It’s also spoken in Namibia.
- How to say hello: Hallo
- How to pronounce it: HAH-loh
- Where to say it: South Africa, Namibia
Albanian
Albanian, one of Europe’s oldest languages, has unique dialects across Albania and Kosovo.
- How to say hello: Tungjatjeta
- How to pronounce it: toon-jah-TYEH-tah
- Where to say it: Albania, Kosovo
Amharic
Amharic is the official language of Ethiopia, spoken by over 22 million. It’s written in the Ge’ez script.
- How to say hello: Selam
- How to pronounce it: seh-LAHM
- Where to say it: Ethiopia
Arabic
Arabic is a widely spoken language across the Middle East and North Africa. As one of the oldest and most complex languages, it has many regional variations, each with unique greetings.
- How to say hello: Salam
- How to pronounce it: sah-LAHM
- Where to say it: Middle East, North Africa
Armenian
Armenian is the official language of Armenia, with a distinct script and ancient heritage. It is one of the oldest recorded languages, with a unique phonetic system and rich literary history.
- How to say hello: Barev
- How to pronounce it: BAH-rehv
- Where to say it: Armenia
Azerbaijani
Azerbaijani, part of the Turkic language family, is spoken in Azerbaijan and Iranian regions with cultural influence.
- How to say hello: Salam
- How to pronounce it: sah-LAHM
- Where to say it: Azerbaijan, Iran
Basque
Basque is unrelated to any other language, spoken by the Basque people in Spain and France.
- How to say hello: Kaixo
- How to pronounce it: kai-SHOH
- Where to say it: Spain (Basque Country), France
Bengali
Bengali, known for its poetic heritage, is the official language of Bangladesh and widely spoken in India’s West Bengal. It’s celebrated for its expressive sounds and deep cultural roots.
- How to say hello: Nomoskar
- How to pronounce it: no-MO-skar
- Where to say it: Bangladesh, India (West Bengal)
Bosnian
Bosnian is one of the standardized languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina, similar to Serbian and Croatian.
- How to say hello: Zdravo
- How to pronounce it: ZDRAH-voh
- Where to say it: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgarian
Bulgarian, one of Europe’s oldest languages, is the official language of Bulgaria and uses the Cyrillic script.
- How to say hello: Zdravey
- How to pronounce it: zdrah-VEY
- Where to say it: Bulgaria
Burmese
Burmese, Myanmar’s official language, has a unique script that is part of the Brahmic writing family.
- How to say hello: Mingalaba
- How to pronounce it: MIN-gah-lah-BAH
- Where to say it: Myanmar
Cantonese
Cantonese is a Chinese language variety spoken mainly in Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangdong, with complex tonal qualities.
- How to say hello: Nei hou
- How to pronounce it: nay-HOH
- Where to say it: Hong Kong, Macau, Southern China
Catalan
Catalan, a Romance language, is spoken in Catalonia, Spain, with influences from both Spanish and French.
- How to say hello: Hola
- How to pronounce it: OH-lah
- Where to say it: Spain (Catalonia), Andorra
Cebuano
Cebuano, spoken in the Philippines’ central regions, is named after Cebu island and has many Spanish loanwords.
- How to say hello: Kumusta
- How to pronounce it: koo-MOOS-tah
- Where to say it: Philippines
Chichewa
Chichewa is widely spoken in southeastern Africa, particularly Malawi, and reflects the region’s rich oral traditions.
- How to say hello: Moni
- How to pronounce it: MOH-nee
- Where to say it: Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique
Chinese (Mandarin)
Mandarin is the most widely spoken language globally, primarily used in China, Taiwan, and Singapore. Known for its tonal sounds, Mandarin has four distinct tones that change word meanings.
- How to say hello: Nǐ hǎo
- How to pronounce it: NEE how
- Where to say it: China, Taiwan, Singapore
Czech
Czech is a Slavic language spoken mainly in the Czech Republic. Known for its complex sounds and grammar, it has a rich literary history and strong regional dialects.
- How to say hello: Ahoj
- How to pronounce it: ah-HOY
- Where to say it: Czech Republic
Danish
Danish, a North Germanic language closely related to Norwegian and Swedish, is Denmark’s official language.
- How to say hello: Hej
- How to pronounce it: hi
- Where to say it: Denmark
Dutch
Dutch is spoken in the Netherlands and Belgium, with similarities to both English and German.
- How to say hello: Hallo
- How to pronounce it: HAH-loh
- Where to say it: Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname
Dzongkha
The official language of Bhutan, Dzongkha is a Sino-Tibetan language used throughout the country.
- How to say hello: Kuzu zangpo la
- How to pronounce it: KOO-zoo zang-POH lah
- Where to say it: Bhutan
English
One of the most widely spoken languages worldwide, English boasts around 2 billion speakers across the globe and serves as a common lingua franca.
- How to say hello: Hello
- How to pronounce it: huh-LOH
- Where to say it: English-speaking countries, globally recognized
Estonian
Estonian, a Finno-Ugric language, shares roots with Finnish and has many loanwords from German and Swedish.
- How to say hello: Tere
- How to pronounce it: TEH-reh
- Where to say it: Estonia
Finnish
Finnish is Finland’s primary language and is known for its challenging grammar and unique vocabulary.
- How to say hello: Hei
- How to pronounce it: hay
- Where to say it: Finland
French
French is one of the world’s most influential languages, spoken in many parts of Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
- How to say hello: Bonjour
- How to pronounce it: bon-ZHOOR
- Where to say it: France, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, parts of Africa
Fula
Fula, a widely spoken language in West Africa, reflects the rich cultural heritage of the Fulani people.
- How to say hello: N’bona
- How to pronounce it: n-BOH-nah
- Where to say it: Mali, Senegal, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria
Georgian
Georgian is the official language of Georgia and uses a unique script with ancient origins.
- How to say hello: Gamarjoba
- How to pronounce it: gah-mar-JOH-bah
- Where to say it: Georgia
German
German, one of Europe’s major languages, is widely spoken across central Europe with distinct regional dialects.
- How to say hello: Hallo
- How to pronounce it: HAH-loh
- Where to say it: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein
Greek
Greek, with its roots in ancient civilization, has a long literary and historical legacy.
- How to say hello: Yia sas
- How to pronounce it: YAH sahs
- Where to say it: Greece, Cyprus
Guarani
Guarani is an official language of Paraguay, with indigenous roots and deep cultural importance.
- How to say hello: Mba’eichapa
- How to pronounce it: m-bah-EY-chah-pah
- Where to say it: Paraguay, parts of Argentina and Brazil
Gujarati
Gujarati is a major language in India, with millions of speakers in the Gujarati diaspora worldwide.
- How to say hello: Kem Cho
- How to pronounce it: KEM-choh
- Where to say it: India (Gujarat), United Kingdom, United States
Haitian Creole
Haitian Creole, influenced by French, African languages, and indigenous Taíno, is widely spoken in Haiti.
- How to say hello: Bonjou
- How to pronounce it: bon-ZHOO
- Where to say it: Haiti
Hawaiian
Hawaiian, an indigenous language of Hawaii, has seen revitalization efforts to preserve its cultural heritage.
- How to say hello: Aloha
- How to pronounce it: ah-LOH-hah
- Where to say it: Hawaii, USA
Hebrew
Hebrew, with its ancient roots, was revived as a modern language and is now Israel’s official language.
- How to say hello: Shalom
- How to pronounce it: shah-LOHM
- Where to say it: Israel
Hindi
Hindi, one of the primary languages of India, is derived from Sanskrit and is spoken by millions.
- How to say hello: Namaste
- How to pronounce it: nah-MAH-stay
- Where to say it: India, Nepal, Fiji
Hmong
Hmong is spoken by the Hmong people in China, Vietnam, Laos, and diaspora communities globally.
- How to say hello: Nyob zoo
- How to pronounce it: nyaw-zoh
- Where to say it: China, Laos, Vietnam, United States
Hungarian
Hungarian is an isolated Finno-Ugric language with unique grammar and vocabulary, spoken mainly in Hungary.
- How to say hello: Helló
- How to pronounce it: HEH-loh
- Where to say it: Hungary
Icelandic
Icelandic, derived from Old Norse, has changed little since medieval times, retaining many old linguistic features.
- How to say hello: Halló
- How to pronounce it: HAH-loh
- Where to say it: Iceland
Igbo
Igbo is one of Nigeria’s major languages, known for its distinct dialects across southeastern Nigeria.
- How to say hello: Ndewo
- How to pronounce it: N-deh-woh
- Where to say it: Nigeria
Indonesian
Indonesian, based on Malay, serves as the unifying language in Indonesia, a country of vast linguistic diversity.
- How to say hello: Halo
- How to pronounce it: hah-LOH
- Where to say it: Indonesia
Irish Gaelic
Irish Gaelic, with ancient Celtic roots, has seen a resurgence as Ireland works to preserve its linguistic heritage.
- How to say hello: Dia dhuit
- How to pronounce it: DEE-ah gwit
- Where to say it: Ireland
Italian
Italian, a Romance language with rich cultural history, is spoken in Italy and regions influenced by Italian heritage.
- How to say hello: Ciao
- How to pronounce it: chow
- Where to say it: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City
Japanese
Japanese, unique among world languages, uses three scripts and has influences from Chinese and indigenous languages.
- How to say hello: Konnichiwa
- How to pronounce it: kon-NEE-chee-wah
- Where to say it: Japan
Javanese
Javanese is one of Indonesia’s largest local languages, widely spoken on the island of Java.
- How to say hello: Sugeng
- How to pronounce it: soo-GENG
- Where to say it: Indonesia (Java)
Kannada
Kannada, an ancient Dravidian language, is primarily spoken in the Indian state of Karnataka.
- How to say hello: Namaskara
- How to pronounce it: nah-MAH-skah-rah
- Where to say it: India (Karnataka)
Kazakh
Kazakh is spoken in Kazakhstan and is related to other Central Asian Turkic languages.
- How to say hello: Salemetsiz be
- How to pronounce it: sah-LEH-met-siz beh
- Where to say it: Kazakhstan
Korean
Korean, the official language of both North and South Korea, has a unique script called Hangul.
- How to say hello: Annyeonghaseyo
- How to pronounce it: ahn-YEONG-ha-say-yoh
- Where to say it: South Korea, North Korea
Kurdish
Kurdish, spoken by the Kurdish people, has several dialects, with Kurmanji and Sorani being the most prominent.
- How to say hello: Slaw
- How to pronounce it: slah-W
- Where to say it: Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Syria
Lao
Lao is the official language of Laos and shares similarities with Thai due to their common roots.
- How to say hello: Sabaidee
- How to pronounce it: sah-bye-DEE
- Where to say it: Laos
Latvian
Latvian is the official language of Latvia, known for its unique phonetics and rich folklore.
- How to say hello: Sveiki
- How to pronounce it: svay-kee
- Where to say it: Latvia
Lithuanian
Lithuanian is one of the oldest languages in Europe, closely related to Sanskrit.
- How to say hello: Labas
- How to pronounce it: LAH-bahs
- Where to say it: Lithuania
Macedonian
Macedonian, a South Slavic language, has distinct features and uses the Cyrillic alphabet.
- How to say hello: Zdravo
- How to pronounce it: zdrah-VOH
- Where to say it: North Macedonia
Malay
Malay is spoken in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, with variations in dialect across the regions.
- How to say hello: Hai
- How to pronounce it: HAI
- Where to say it: Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei
Maltese
Maltese is the national language of Malta, a unique blend of Arabic, Italian, and English influences.
- How to say hello: Bongu
- How to pronounce it: BONG-goo
- Where to say it: Malta
Maori
Maori is the indigenous language of New Zealand, deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of the Maori people.
- How to say hello: Kia ora
- How to pronounce it: kee-AH-or-ah
- Where to say it: New Zealand
Marathi
Marathi is a major language in India, primarily spoken in the state of Maharashtra, and has a rich literary tradition.
- How to say hello: Namaskar
- How to pronounce it: nah-MAH-skar
- Where to say it: India (Maharashtra)
Mongolian
Mongolian has a unique script and reflects the rich nomadic culture of Mongolia.
- How to say hello: Sain bainaa
- How to pronounce it: s-INE bye-NAH
- Where to say it: Mongolia
Nepali
Nepali, the official language of Nepal, has roots in Sanskrit and serves as a unifying language in a diverse country.
- How to say hello: Namaste
- How to pronounce it: nah-MAH-stay
- Where to say it: Nepal
Norwegian
Norwegian has two official forms, Bokmål and Nynorsk, and is influenced by its Nordic roots.
- How to say hello: Hei
- How to pronounce it: HAY
- Where to say it: Norway
Pashto
Pashto, spoken in Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan, is known for its rich oral tradition and poetry.
- How to say hello: Salaam
- How to pronounce it: sah-LAHM
- Where to say it: Afghanistan, Pakistan
Persian (Farsi)
Persian, or Farsi, is an Indo-European language with a rich literary history, spoken mainly in Iran.
- How to say hello: Salam
- How to pronounce it: sah-LAHM
- Where to say it: Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan
Polish
Polish is a West Slavic language known for its complex grammar and pronunciation.
- How to say hello: Cześć
- How to pronounce it: chesht
- Where to say it: Poland
Portuguese
Portuguese is a global language with a rich literary tradition, spoken in Portugal and Brazil.
- How to say hello: Olá
- How to pronounce it: oh-LAH
- Where to say it: Portugal, Brazil, Mozambique, Angola
Punjabi
Punjabi is spoken in Punjab, India, and Pakistan, known for its vibrant culture and music.
- How to say hello: Sat Sri Akal
- How to pronounce it: sat sree ah-KAAL
- Where to say it: India, Pakistan
Romanian
Romanian is a Romance language with Latin roots, spoken primarily in Romania and Moldova.
- How to say hello: Bună
- How to pronounce it: BOO-nah
- Where to say it: Romania, Moldova
Russian
Russian, a Slavic language, is known for its complex grammar and is one of the six official languages of the UN.
- How to say hello: Zdravstvuyte
- How to pronounce it: zdrah-STVOO-tee
- Where to say it: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan
Samoan
Samoan is a Polynesian language rich in oral traditions, primarily spoken in Samoa and American Samoa.
- How to say hello: Talofa
- How to pronounce it: tah-LOH-fah
- Where to say it: Samoa, American Samoa
Serbian
Serbian is a South Slavic language that uses both Cyrillic and Latin scripts.
- How to say hello: Zdravo
- How to pronounce it: zdrah-VOH
- Where to say it: Serbia, Montenegro
Slovak
Slovak is a West Slavic language, closely related to Czech and spoken primarily in Slovakia.
- How to say hello: Ahoj
- How to pronounce it: ah-HOY
- Where to say it: Slovakia
Slovenian
Slovenian is a South Slavic language known for its dialectical variety across Slovenia.
- How to say hello: Zdravo
- How to pronounce it: zdrah-VOH
- Where to say it: Slovenia
Spanish
Spanish is a Romance language with global reach, widely spoken in Spain and Latin America.
- How to say hello: Hola
- How to pronounce it: OH-lah
- Where to say it: Spain, Mexico, most of Central and South America
Swahili
Swahili is a Bantu language spoken in many East African countries and serves as a lingua franca.
- How to say hello: Jambo
- How to pronounce it: JAM-boh
- Where to say it: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
Swedish
Swedish, a North Germanic language, is spoken in Sweden and has similarities with Danish and Norwegian.
- How to say hello: Hej
- How to pronounce it: hey
- Where to say it: Sweden
Tamil
Tamil is a classical language with ancient roots, spoken in India, Sri Lanka, and among global Tamil communities.
- How to say hello: Vanakkam
- How to pronounce it: vah-NAHK-kahm
- Where to say it: India (Tamil Nadu), Sri Lanka
Thai
Thai is the national language of Thailand, known for its complex tonal system.
- How to say hello: Sawasdee
- How to pronounce it: sah-wah-DEE
- Where to say it: Thailand
Turkish
Turkish is the most widely spoken Turkic language, known for its vowel harmony and agglutinative grammar.
- How to say hello: Merhaba
- How to pronounce it: MER-ha-bah
- Where to say it: Turkey, Cyprus
Ukrainian
Ukrainian is a Slavic language with roots in Old East Slavic and has a rich cultural history.
- How to say hello: Pryvit
- How to pronounce it: prih-VEET
- Where to say it: Ukraine
Urdu
Urdu, an Indo-Aryan language, shares much vocabulary with Persian and Arabic, spoken mainly in Pakistan and India.
- How to say hello: Assalam-o-Alaikum
- How to pronounce it: ah-sah-LAHM-oh ah-LAI-kum
- Where to say it: Pakistan, India
Vietnamese
Vietnamese, a tonal language, has been influenced by Chinese and French over centuries.
- How to say hello: Xin chào
- How to pronounce it: seen-CHOW
- Where to say it: Vietnam
Welsh
Welsh is a Celtic language spoken in Wales, known for its unique sounds and extensive literary tradition.
- How to say hello: Helo
- How to pronounce it: HEL-oh
- Where to say it: Wales
Xhosa
Xhosa is one of South Africa’s official languages, rich in clicks and known for its cultural heritage.
- How to say hello: Molo
- How to pronounce it: MOH-loh
- Where to say it: South Africa
Yoruba
Yoruba is a Niger-Congo language, widely spoken in Nigeria and among the Yoruba diaspora.
- How to say hello: Bawo
- How to pronounce it: BAH-woah
- Where to say it: Nigeria, Benin, Togo
Zulu
Zulu is a Bantu language spoken primarily in South Africa, known for its click sounds.
- How to say hello: Sawubona
- How to pronounce it: sah-oo-BOH-nah
- Where to say it: South Africa
Why Learning Greetings Matters
When you greet someone in their native language, you show cultural awareness and open the door to new friendships. Each culture has unique ways of welcoming others, and by learning these greetings, you deepen your appreciation for languages worldwide.
Even if your pronunciation isn’t perfect, locals usually appreciate the effort and are often more open to helping or sharing their world with you as a result. It’s a small but powerful way to show respect for the culture and to start new conversations and connections.
Conclusion: Say Hello!
Learning how to say hello in different languages opens doors to meaningful connections and richer travel experiences. A simple greeting shows respect, curiosity, and a willingness to engage with people from diverse cultures. Whether you’re navigating a bustling city or visiting a quiet village, knowing how to greet others in their language can break the ice and help with communication.
As you explore new places, don’t underestimate the power of a well-placed “hello” — it’s often the first step in making unforgettable memories and genuine connections around the world. So, next time you travel, try out a few of these greetings and see the reaction you get!
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