The First Word Sets the Tone
A greeting in someone’s own language changes how a conversation starts. It does not need to be followed by a fluent sentence: the attempt itself is what people notice.
Here is the standard hello in ten widely spoken languages, with pronunciation, the formal or casual alternatives, and the small customs that go with each one.
Quick Reference: “Hello” in 10 Languages
- Spanish: Hola (OH-lah)
- French: Bonjour (bohn-ZHOOR)
- German: Hallo (HAH-loh)
- Italian: Ciao (chow)
- Portuguese: Olá (oh-LAH)
- Japanese: こんにちは (kohn-nee-chee-wah (konnichiwa))
- Korean: 안녕하세요 (ahn-nyohng-hah-seh-yoh (annyeonghaseyo))
- Mandarin Chinese: 你好 (nee how (nǐ hǎo))
- Arabic: مرحباً (MAR-hah-bahn (marḥaban))
- Hindi: नमस्ते (nuh-muh-STAY (namaste))
Pronunciations are rough English approximations to get you started. Listen to a native speaker when you can, because sounds such as the French r, Mandarin tones and Arabic consonants do not map neatly onto English spelling.
Language by Language: What to Say and When
Spanish: Hola
How to say it: OH-lah. Other greetings: Buenos días (morning), buenas tardes (afternoon) and buenas noches (evening) are the more formal greetings.
The h is silent. Hola works at any time of day and with anyone.
French: Bonjour
How to say it: bohn-ZHOOR. Other greetings: Bonsoir (bohn-SWAHR) replaces it in the evening. Salut (sah-LÜ) is casual, for friends.
Say it first, every time: starting any interaction in France without bonjour is considered rude.
German: Hallo
How to say it: HAH-loh. Other greetings: Guten Tag (GOO-ten tahk) is the formal daytime greeting; Guten Morgen in the morning and Guten Abend in the evening.
In southern Germany and Austria you will often hear Grüß Gott or Servus instead.
Italian: Ciao
How to say it: chow. Other greetings: Buongiorno (bwohn-JOR-noh) is the polite daytime greeting and buonasera the evening one.
Ciao is informal and also means goodbye. Use buongiorno with shop staff, officials and older people.
Portuguese: Olá
How to say it: oh-LAH. Other greetings: Bom dia (morning), boa tarde (afternoon) and boa noite (evening) are used all the time. Oi is the casual hello in Brazil.
Time-of-day greetings are more common than olá when you walk into a shop or office.
Japanese: こんにちは
How to say it: kohn-nee-chee-wah (konnichiwa). Other greetings: おはようございます (ohayō gozaimasu) in the morning and こんばんは (konbanwa) in the evening.
Konnichiwa is a daytime greeting. On the phone, people say もしもし (moshi moshi) instead.
Korean: 안녕하세요
How to say it: ahn-nyohng-hah-seh-yoh (annyeonghaseyo). Other greetings: 안녕 (annyeong) is the casual form for close friends and children.
The same greeting works morning, afternoon and evening, usually with a small bow of the head.
Mandarin Chinese: 你好
How to say it: nee how (nǐ hǎo). Other greetings: 您好 (nín hǎo) is the respectful form for elders and customers. 早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo) means good morning.
On the phone, people answer with 喂 (wéi). Among friends, asking “have you eaten?” (吃了吗) is a traditional casual greeting.
Arabic: مرحباً
How to say it: MAR-hah-bahn (marḥaban). Other greetings: السلام عليكم (as-salāmu ʿalaykum), “peace be upon you”, is the most common greeting; the reply is وعليكم السلام (wa ʿalaykum as-salām).
Marḥaban is neutral and understood everywhere. Greetings are often followed by several questions about your health and family.
Hindi: नमस्ते
How to say it: nuh-muh-STAY (namaste). Other greetings: नमस्कार (namaskār) is slightly more formal.
Said with the palms pressed together at chest height and a slight bow. It works at any time of day and also as a goodbye.
Greeting Habits Worth Knowing
- Time of day matters in some languages. Portuguese, German, Italian and Japanese speakers often choose a greeting by the clock rather than a general hello.
- Casual and formal are different words. Italian ciao, French salut and Korean annyeong are for friends. With strangers, use buongiorno, bonjour and annyeonghaseyo.
- The body language is part of it. A nod or bow in Japan and Korea, palms together for namaste in India, and a handshake with direct eye contact in Germany all carry as much meaning as the word. Our guide to greetings around the world covers these in more detail.
Practice and Share
The Language Helper has these and other everyday phrases for all ten languages, with a search box. Tap any phrase to copy it, or save it as an image card to send to a friend who is learning.