Have you ever wondered how people say “hello” in different parts of the world? It’s such a simple word, yet it carries so much warmth, connection, and culture.
You’re traveling, making new friends online, or just curious about languages, learning how to greet someone in their native language can make a big difference. It shows respect, creates instant connection, and sometimes even brings a smile to someone’s face.
That’s exactly why I’ve put together this guide for you. Here, you’ll discover different ways to say hello in various languages from around the globe. From popular greetings you’ve probably heard before to unique ones that might surprise you, there’s something fun for everyone.
How to Say “Hello” in 60 Different Languages
United States
Word: Hello
Pronunciation: heh-lo
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Hello, nice to meet you.
Hello, how are you?
United Kingdom
Word: Hello
Pronunciation: heh-lo
Uses: Polite greeting
Example: Hello, welcome.
Hello, good morning.
Canada
Word: Hello
Pronunciation: heh-lo
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Hello, my friend.
Hello, how is your day?
Australia
Word: G’day
Pronunciation: guh-day
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: G’day, mate.
G’day, how are you?
New Zealand
Word: Kia ora
Pronunciation: kee-ah or-ah
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Kia ora, welcome.
Kia ora, nice to meet you.
Ireland
Word: Dia duit
Pronunciation: dee-ah gwit
Uses: Polite greeting
Example: Dia duit, friend.
Dia duit, how are you?
France
Word: Bonjour
Pronunciation: bon-zhoor
Uses: Daytime greeting
Example: Bonjour, madam.
Bonjour, how are you?
Spain
Word: Hola
Pronunciation: oh-la
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Hola, amigo.
Hola, good to see you.
Germany
Word: Hallo
Pronunciation: hah-lo
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Hallo, Tom.
Hallo, how are you?
Italy
Word: Ciao
Pronunciation: chow
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Ciao, Marco.
Ciao, nice day.
Portugal
Word: Olá
Pronunciation: oh-lah
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Olá, tudo bem?
Olá, nice to meet you.
Netherlands
Word: Hallo
Pronunciation: hah-lo
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Hallo, friend.
Hallo, welcome.
Belgium
Word: Hallo
Pronunciation: hah-lo
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Hallo, how are you?
Hallo, good morning.
Switzerland
Word: Grüezi
Pronunciation: groo-et-see
Uses: Polite greeting
Example: Grüezi, welcome.
Grüezi, nice to meet you.
Austria
Word: Servus
Pronunciation: sair-voos
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Servus, friend.
Servus, how are you?
Poland
Word: Cześć
Pronunciation: chest
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Cześć, Anna.
Cześć, nice day.
Czech Republic
Word: Ahoj
Pronunciation: ah-hoy
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Ahoj, friend.
Ahoj, welcome.
Slovakia
Word: Ahoj
Pronunciation: ah-hoy
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Ahoj, Peter.
Ahoj, how are you?
Hungary
Word: Szia
Pronunciation: see-ah
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Szia, friend.
Szia, nice to meet you.
Romania
Word: Salut
Pronunciation: sah-loot
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Salut, Maria.
Salut, good morning.
Bulgaria
Word: Zdravey
Pronunciation: zdrah-vey
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Zdravey, friend.
Zdravey, welcome.
Greece
Word: Yassas
Pronunciation: yah-sas
Uses: Polite greeting
Example: Yassas, welcome.
Yassas, how are you?
Turkey
Word: Merhaba
Pronunciation: meh-ra-ha-ba
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Merhaba, friend.
Merhaba, nice day.
Russia
Word: Privet
Pronunciation: pree-vyet
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Privet, Alex.
Privet, how are you?
Ukraine
Word: Pryvit
Pronunciation: pree-veet
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Pryvit, friend.
Pryvit, welcome.
Sweden
Word: Hej
Pronunciation: hey
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Hej, Lisa.
Hej, how are you?
Norway
Word: Hei
Pronunciation: hi
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Hei, friend.
Hei, welcome.
Denmark
Word: Hej
Pronunciation: hi
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Hej, good morning.
Hej, nice to meet you.
Finland
Word: Hei
Pronunciation: hi
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Hei, friend.
Hei, welcome.
Iceland
Word: Halló
Pronunciation: hah-lo
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Halló, friend.
Halló, how are you?
Mexico
Word: Hola
Pronunciation: oh-la
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Hola, amigo.
Hola, welcome.
Brazil
Word: Oi
Pronunciation: oy
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Oi, friend.
Oi, how are you?
Argentina
Word: Hola
Pronunciation: oh-la
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Hola, nice to meet you.
Hola, welcome.
Chile
Word: Hola
Pronunciation: oh-la
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Hola, friend.
Hola, good morning.
Colombia
Word: Hola
Pronunciation: oh-la
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Hola, welcome.
Hola, how are you?
Peru
Word: Hola
Pronunciation: oh-la
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Hola, friend.
Hola, nice day.
Venezuela
Word: Hola
Pronunciation: oh-la
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Hola, welcome.
Hola, good to see you.
China
Word: Nǐ hǎo
Pronunciation: nee how
Uses: Polite greeting
Example: Nǐ hǎo, friend.
Nǐ hǎo, welcome.
Japan
Word: Konnichiwa
Pronunciation: kon-nee-chee-wah
Uses: Polite greeting
Example: Konnichiwa, friend.
Konnichiwa, welcome.
South Korea
Word: Annyeong
Pronunciation: an-yong
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Annyeong, friend.
Annyeong, how are you?
India
Word: Namaste
Pronunciation: nah-mas-tay
Uses: Respectful greeting
Example: Namaste, teacher.
Namaste, welcome.
Pakistan
Word: Assalam alaikum
Pronunciation: ah-sah-lam ah-lay-koom
Uses: Polite greeting
Example: Assalam alaikum, friend.
Assalam alaikum, welcome.
Bangladesh
Word: Nomoshkar
Pronunciation: no-mosh-kar
Uses: Respectful greeting
Example: Nomoshkar, sir.
Nomoshkar, welcome.
Sri Lanka
Word: Ayubowan
Pronunciation: ah-yu-bo-wan
Uses: Respectful greeting
Example: Ayubowan, friend.
Ayubowan, welcome.
Nepal
Word: Namaste
Pronunciation: nah-mas-tay
Uses: Polite greeting
Example: Namaste, friend.
Namaste, welcome.
Thailand
Word: Sawadee
Pronunciation: sah-wah-dee
Uses: Polite greeting
Example: Sawadee, friend.
Sawadee, welcome.
Vietnam
Word: Xin chào
Pronunciation: sin chow
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Xin chào, friend.
Xin chào, welcome.
Indonesia
Word: Halo
Pronunciation: hah-lo
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Halo, friend.
Halo, how are you?
Malaysia
Word: Hai
Pronunciation: hi
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Hai, welcome.
Hai, nice to meet you.
Philippines
Word: Kumusta
Pronunciation: koo-moos-tah
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Kumusta, friend.
Kumusta, how are you?
Singapore
Word: Hello
Pronunciation: heh-lo
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Hello, welcome.
Hello, nice to meet you.
South Africa
Word: Hello
Pronunciation: heh-lo
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Hello, friend.
Hello, welcome.
Egypt
Word: Marhaba
Pronunciation: mar-ha-ba
Uses: Polite greeting
Example: Marhaba, friend.
Marhaba, welcome.
Nigeria
Word: Hello
Pronunciation: heh-lo
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Hello, friend.
Hello, how are you?
Kenya
Word: Jambo
Pronunciation: jam-bo
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Jambo, friend.
Jambo, welcome.
Morocco
Word: Salam
Pronunciation: sah-lam
Uses: Polite greeting
Example: Salam, friend.
Salam, welcome.
Saudi Arabia
Word: Salam alaikum
Pronunciation: sah-lam ah-lay-koom
Uses: Respectful greeting
Example: Salam alaikum, sir.
Salam alaikum, welcome.
United Arab Emirates
Word: Marhaba
Pronunciation: mar-ha-ba
Uses: Polite greeting
Example: Marhaba, welcome.
Marhaba, friend.
Israel
Word: Shalom
Pronunciation: shah-lom
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Shalom, friend.
Shalom, welcome.
Iran
Word: Salam
Pronunciation: sah-lam
Uses: Polite greeting
Example: Salam, friend.
Salam, welcome.
Conclusion
Learning different languages to say hello helps you connect with people from many cultures. A simple greeting can open conversations, show respect, and bring the world closer together.
