World travel is good for the soul. It opens your eyes to ways of living you might've never considered. Perhaps Moroccan cuisine will inspire you to enjoy new varieties of tea. Or Japanese decor will inspire you to embrace a "less is more" attitude.
Either way, there's one ice breaker that'll never let you down throughout your travels. Learning how to say hello in different languages will open the door to all kinds of conversations and experiences. Let's spin that globe and venture far and wide, from Egypt to Korea, and beyond.
Hello Around the World
Indeed, nothing beats a nod of the head and a simple greeting. It's the best way to open up lines of communication with new friends. Here are several ways to say hi in different languages, including both formal and informal scenarios:
Language | Formal | Informal |
Afrikaans | Goeie dag (pronounced "gwee eh dahg") | Hallo (pronounced "hah low") |
Arabic | Asalaam alaikum (pronounced "ah salam u alay koom") | Ahlan (pronounced ah lahn) |
Armenian | Barev dzez (pronounced "ba rev d-zez") | Barev (pronounced "ba rev") |
Basque | Kaixo (pronounced "ki show") | Epa (pronounced "eh pah") |
Chinese (Mandarin) | Nǐ hǎo (pronounced "nee how") | Hā luō (sounds like "hello") |
Croatian | Dobar dan (pronounced "doe bar dahn") | Bok (pronounced "book") |
Czech | Morning hours: Dobré ráno (pronounced "doe bray rah no") Daytime hours: Dobrý den (pronounced "do bree den") Evening hours: Dobrý večer (pronounced "do bree vay cher") | Ahoj (pronounced "ahoy") |
Danish | Hej (pronounced "hi") | Halløj (pronounced "halloy") |
Dutch | Hallo (pronounced "hah low") | Hoi (pronounced "hoy") |
Do'rud (pronounced "doh rood") | Salâm (pronounced "salaam") | |
Filipino (Tagalog) | Mabuhay (pronounced "mah boo hi") | Kamusta (pronounced "cahm usta") |
French | Daytime hours: Bonjour (pronounced "boh zhoor") Evening hours: Bonsoir (pronounced "boh swahr") | Salut (Pronounced "sa-loo") |
German | Guten Tag (pronounced "goo ten tahg" | Hallo or Hi |
Greek | Γεια σου or Geia sas (Pronounced "ya su") | Γεια or Geia (Pronounced "ya") |
Hawaiian | Aloha (pronounced "a low ha") | Aloha |
Hebrew | Shalom (pronounced "shuh lowm") | Hay (pronounced "hi") |
Namaste (pronounced "nah mah stay") | He (pronounced "hee") | |
Hungarian | Jó napot (pronounced "yo ah na put") | Szia (pronounced "see ya") |
Indonesian | Morning hours: Selamat pagi (pronounced "suh lah mat pah gee") Daytime hours: Selamat siang (pronounced "suh lah mat see awng") Afternoon hours: Selamat sore (pronounced "suh lah mat sor ee") Evening hours: Selamat malam (pronounced "suh lah mat mah lahm") | Halo (pronounced "hah low") |
Irish Gaelic | Dia duit (pronounced "dee a gwit") | Haigh (pronounced "hay") |
Italian | Salve (pronounced "sahl vay") | Ciao (pronounced "chow") |
Japanese | Morning hours: Ohayō gozaimasu (pronounced "oh-high-yoh goh-zai-ee-mas") Daytime hours: Konnichiwa (pronounced "koh nee chi wah") Evening hours: Konbanwa (pronounced "kohn bahn wa") | Yā (pronounced "yah" or Yō (pronounced "yoh") |
Korean | Annyeong haseyo (pronounced "ahn yoong hah say yoh") | Annyeong (pronounced "ahn yoong") |
Norwegian | Morning hours: God morgen (pronounced "gu morn") Daytime hours: God dag (pronounced "gu dahg") Evening hours: God kveld (pronounced "gu kuh veld") | Hei (pronounced "hi") |
Maori | Tēnā koe (pronounced "ten ah kwi") | Kia ora (pronounced "key oh ra") |
Polish | Dzień dobry (pronounced "gin dobrey") | Cześć (pronounced "cheh-sh-ch") |
Portuguese | Olá (pronounced "oh la") | Oi (pronounced "oy") |
Romanian | Bună ziua (pronounced "boo nah zee wa") | Bună (pronounced "boo na") |
Russian | Zdravstvuyte (pronounced "z-drah stvooy te") | Привет or Privet (pronounced "pree vee yet") |
Spanish | Hola (pronounced "oh la") | Qué tal (pronounced "kay tahl") |
Habari (pronounced "ha barr ee") | Hujambo (pronounced "who jahm bow") | |
Swedish | God dag (pronounced "gu dahg") | Hej (pronounced "hey") |
Thai | When greeting a man: Sawatdee krup (pronounced "suh wah tee crop") When greeting a woman: Sawatdee ka (pronounced "suh wah tee kah") | When greeting a man: Watdee krap (pronounced "wah tee crop") When greeting a woman: Watdee ka (pronounced "wah tee kah") |
Turkish | Merhaba (pronounced "mar hah bah") | Selam (pronounced "seh lahm") |
Vietnamese | Xin chào (pronounced "sin jow") | Chào bạn (pronounced "jow bahn") |
Welsh | Helô (pronounced huh-low) | S'mae (pronounced "suh-may") |
Sanibonani (pronounced "sah-nee-boh-bah-nee") | Sawubona (pronounced "sah-woo-boh-nah") |
"How Are You?" in Different Languages
If you're feeling comfortable in your new surroundings, one of the best ways to follow up "hello" is with "how are you?" Review this common phrase in each of the languages listed above:
Language | How Are You? |
Afrikaans | Hoe gaan dit? (pronounced "who han eet") |
Arabic | When greeting a man: Ezayak? (pronounced "ez aye ack") When greeting a man: Ezayik? (pronounced "ez aye ick") |
Armenian | Vonts ek? (pronounced "vonts eck") |
Basque | Zer moduz? (pronounced "sare mah dues") |
Chinese (Mandarin) | Nǐ hǎoma? (pronounced "nee how mah") |
Croatian | Kako si? (pronounced "kah koh see") |
Czech | Jak se máš? (pronounced "yahk suh mahg") |
Danish | Hvordan har du det? (pronounced "vor den har du det") |
Dutch | Hoe gaat het met je? (pronounced "who haht het met ye") |
Farsi | Haletun chetore? (pronounced "hal eh toon che toree") |
Filipino (Tagalog) | Kamusta ka na? (pronounced "kah moos ta kah nah") |
French | Informal: Comment vas-tu? (pronounced "coh moh vah too") or Comment ça va? (pronounced "coh moh sah vah") Formal: Comment allez-vous? (pronounced "coh moh tah lay voo") |
German | Wie geht es dir? (pronounced "vee geet es deer") |
Greek | Πώς είσαι or Pós eísai? (pronounced "pos ee saeh") |
Hawaiian | Pehea 'oe (pronounced "pay hey oy") |
Hebrew | Mah ha'inyanim? (pronounced "mah hah-in yah neem") |
Hindi | āpa kaise hain? (pronounced "ahp kay say hayn") |
Hungarian | Hogy van? (pronounced "hoe jee vahn") |
Indonesian | Apa kabar? (pronounced "ah pah kah bar") |
Irish Gaelic | Conas atá tú? (pronounced "kun as ah thaw too") |
Italian | Informal: Come stai? (pronounced "koh me stah ee") Formal: Come sta? (pronounced "koh me stah") |
Japanese | O genki desu ka? (pronounced "oh gen key des kah") |
Korean | Eotteohge jinae? (pronounced "oh etto ketch eh ney") |
Norwegian | Hvordan har du det? (pronounced "vor den har du det") |
Maori | Kei te pēhea koe? (pronounced "ki teh pee eh quey") |
Polish | Jak się masz? (pronounced "yak zhou mash") |
Portuguese | Como você está? (pronounced "koh mo vie voh say") |
Romanian | Ce mai faci? (pronounced "sheh my fatch") |
Russian | Как вы поживаете? (pronounced "kak vee poszh eva yeh teh") |
Spanish | ¿Cómo está? (pronounced "koh mo es tah") |
Swahili | Habari gani? (pronounced "ha bar ee gah nee") |
Swedish | Hur mår du? (pronounced "hoor more do") |
Thai | Pĕn xỳā ngrị b̂āng? (pronounced "koon pen yan ri bahng") |
Turkish | Nasılsın? (pronounced "nas oos en") |
Vietnamese | Bạn khỏe không? (pronounced "bahn quay quong") |
Welsh | Sut ydych chi (pronounced "shu duch chee") |
Zulu | Unjani (pronounced "ooh jah nee") |
If someone happens to ask you how you're doing, you might want to learn how to say thank you. Here's how to say thank you in many languages. And when it's time to leave it's good to know how to say goodbye or goodnight in different languages too.
Be a Modern Linguist
It may not be possible to learn the language of every country on your bucket list. But, a show of respect with greetings in different languages will serve you well. Knowing how to say hello in other languages is a great start. From there, let Google Translate work its magic or cross your fingers in the hope that your new acquaintance has a little English.
If you believe Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year and you'd like to check out a Christmas market in, say, Germany or Italy, keep Words to Wish You a Merry Christmas as a reference for your travels.