Have you ever traveled to another country or met someone from a different culture and wondered how they say “hello”? It’s a simple word, but it can open the door to new friendships, conversations, and experiences.
Learning different ways to say hello in different languages is a fun and easy way to connect with people from around the world. Every culture has its own unique greeting style some are formal, some are casual, and others come with warm smiles or hand gestures.
In this guide, I’m going to share several different ways to say hello in different languages so you can sound more friendly and confident when meeting people from other countries.
How to Say “Hello” in 60 Different Languages
United States
Word: Hello
Pronunciation: heh-lo
Uses: Used in all situations
Example: Hello, how are you?
Hello, nice to meet you.
United Kingdom
Word: Hello
Pronunciation: heh-lo
Uses: Formal and informal
Example: Hello, are you free today?
Hello, welcome back.
France
Word: Bonjour
Pronunciation: bon-zhoor
Uses: Polite daily greeting
Example: Bonjour, madame.
Bonjour, how are you today?
Spain
Word: Hola
Pronunciation: oh-la
Uses: Informal and friendly
Example: Hola, my friend!
Hola, how is your day?
Mexico
Word: Hola
Pronunciation: oh-la
Uses: Common daily greeting
Example: Hola, good morning.
Hola, nice to see you.
Germany
Word: Hallo
Pronunciation: hah-lo
Uses: Informal greeting
Example: Hallo, how are you?
Hallo, welcome here.
Italy
Word: Ciao
Pronunciation: chow
Uses: Informal greeting and goodbye
Example: Ciao, my friend.
Ciao, see you later.
Portugal
Word: Olá
Pronunciation: oh-lah
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Olá, how are you?
Olá, welcome!
Brazil
Word: Olá
Pronunciation: oh-lah
Uses: Daily greeting
Example: Olá, good to see you.
Olá, how is your family?
Russia
Word: Privet
Pronunciation: pree-vyet
Uses: Informal greeting
Example: Privet, my friend.
Privet, how are you?
China
Word: Nǐ hǎo
Pronunciation: nee how
Uses: Polite greeting
Example: Ni hao, teacher.
Ni hao, nice to meet you.
Japan
Word: Konnichiwa
Pronunciation: kon-nee-chee-wa
Uses: Polite daytime greeting
Example: Konnichiwa, everyone.
Konnichiwa, how are you?
South Korea
Word: Annyeong
Pronunciation: ahn-yong
Uses: Informal greeting
Example: Annyeong, my friend.
Annyeong, nice to see you.
India
Word: Namaste
Pronunciation: nuh-mas-tay
Uses: Polite and respectful greeting
Example: Namaste, sir.
Namaste, welcome.
Nepal
Word: Namaste
Pronunciation: nuh-mas-tay
Uses: Respectful greeting
Example: Namaste, how are you?
Namaste, my friend.
Thailand
Word: Sawasdee
Pronunciation: sah-was-dee
Uses: Polite greeting
Example: Sawasdee, welcome.
Sawasdee, nice to meet you.
Vietnam
Word: Xin chào
Pronunciation: sin chow
Uses: Formal and informal
Example: Xin chào, teacher.
Xin chào, everyone.
Indonesia
Word: Halo
Pronunciation: hah-lo
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Halo, how are you?
Halo, long time no see.
Malaysia
Word: Hai
Pronunciation: hi
Uses: Informal greeting
Example: Hai, my friend.
Hai, nice day.
Philippines
Word: Kamusta
Pronunciation: ka-moos-ta
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Kamusta, how are you?
Kamusta, my friend.
Turkey
Word: Merhaba
Pronunciation: mehr-ha-bah
Uses: Common greeting
Example: Merhaba, welcome.
Merhaba, how are you?
Saudi Arabia
Word: Salam
Pronunciation: sah-laam
Uses: Respectful greeting
Example: Salam, my friend.
Salam, welcome here.
United Arab Emirates
Word: Salam
Pronunciation: sah-laam
Uses: Polite greeting
Example: Salam, how are you?
Salam, nice to meet you.
Egypt
Word: Ahlan
Pronunciation: ah-lan
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Ahlan, my friend.
Ahlan, welcome.
Morocco
Word: Salam
Pronunciation: sah-lam
Uses: Respectful greeting
Example: Salam, how are you?
Salam, welcome.
Greece
Word: Yassas
Pronunciation: yah-sas
Uses: Polite greeting
Example: Yassas, welcome.
Yassas, how are you?
Netherlands
Word: Hallo
Pronunciation: hah-lo
Uses: Common greeting
Example: Hallo, my friend.
Hallo, nice day.
Sweden
Word: Hej
Pronunciation: hey
Uses: Informal greeting
Example: Hej, how are you?
Hej, nice to see you.
Norway
Word: Hei
Pronunciation: hi
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Hei, my friend.
Hei, welcome.
Denmark
Word: Hej
Pronunciation: hi
Uses: Informal greeting
Example: Hej, how are you?
Hej, nice day.
Finland
Word: Hei
Pronunciation: hey
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Hei, welcome.
Hei, my friend.
Poland
Word: Cześć
Pronunciation: chesh
Uses: Informal greeting
Example: Cześć, how are you?
Cześć, nice to meet you.
Czech Republic
Word: Ahoj
Pronunciation: ah-hoy
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Ahoj, my friend.
Ahoj, welcome.
Hungary
Word: Szia
Pronunciation: see-ya
Uses: Informal greeting
Example: Szia, how are you?
Szia, my friend.
Romania
Word: Salut
Pronunciation: sah-loot
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Salut, my friend.
Salut, how are you?
Bulgaria
Word: Zdravey
Pronunciation: zdra-vey
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Zdravey, how are you?
Zdravey, welcome.
Serbia
Word: Zdravo
Pronunciation: zdrah-vo
Uses: Informal greeting
Example: Zdravo, my friend.
Zdravo, welcome.
Croatia
Word: Bok
Pronunciation: bok
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Bok, how are you?
Bok, my friend.
Slovenia
Word: Živjo
Pronunciation: zhee-vyo
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Živjo, how are you?
Živjo, welcome.
Ukraine
Word: Pryvit
Pronunciation: pruh-veet
Uses: Informal greeting
Example: Pryvit, my friend.
Pryvit, how are you?
Lithuania
Word: Labas
Pronunciation: lah-bas
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Labas, welcome.
Labas, how are you?
Latvia
Word: Sveiki
Pronunciation: svay-kee
Uses: Polite greeting
Example: Sveiki, everyone.
Sveiki, welcome.
Estonia
Word: Tere
Pronunciation: teh-reh
Uses: Common greeting
Example: Tere, my friend.
Tere, how are you?
Iceland
Word: Halló
Pronunciation: hah-lo
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Halló, welcome.
Halló, how are you?
Ireland
Word: Hello
Pronunciation: heh-lo
Uses: Daily greeting
Example: Hello, my friend.
Hello, nice to meet you.
Scotland
Word: Hello
Pronunciation: heh-lo
Uses: Common greeting
Example: Hello, welcome.
Hello, how are you?
Australia
Word: G’day
Pronunciation: guh-day
Uses: Very informal 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, my friend.
South Africa
Word: Hello
Pronunciation: heh-lo
Uses: Common greeting
Example: Hello, how are you?
Hello, welcome.
Kenya
Word: Jambo
Pronunciation: jam-bo
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Jambo, my friend.
Jambo, welcome.
Tanzania
Word: Jambo
Pronunciation: jam-bo
Uses: Casual greeting
Example: Jambo, how are you?
Jambo, welcome.
Nigeria
Word: Hello
Pronunciation: heh-lo
Uses: Common greeting
Example: Hello, my friend.
Hello, welcome.
Ghana
Word: Hello
Pronunciation: heh-lo
Uses: Daily greeting
Example: Hello, how are you?
Hello, welcome.
Ethiopia
Word: Selam
Pronunciation: seh-lam
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Selam, my friend.
Selam, welcome.
Argentina
Word: Hola
Pronunciation: oh-la
Uses: Common greeting
Example: Hola, how are you?
Hola, my friend.
Chile
Word: Hola
Pronunciation: oh-la
Uses: Daily greeting
Example: Hola, welcome.
Hola, how is your day?
Colombia
Word: Hola
Pronunciation: oh-la
Uses: Friendly greeting
Example: Hola, my friend.
Hola, nice to see you.
Peru
Word: Hola
Pronunciation: oh-la
Uses: Common greeting
Example: Hola, how are you?
Hola, welcome.
Conclusion
Learning different ways to say hello in different languages helps people feel closer and more respectful to each other. A simple greeting can open conversations, build friendships, and connect cultures all around the world.
