How to Say Hello in Different Indian Languages?

Whether it is starting a conversation with new people, meeting your friends after a long time, or welcoming people, ‘hello’ is definitely the most used word in the dictionary. It is used widely as a greeting to initiate any conversation, formal or informal, but ever wondered how to say hello in different Indian languages?.

In this blog, we shall discuss how to say hello in some of the Indian languages. So, let us learn how to say hello in different Indian languages so that the next time you travel across India, you know it right!

Common Greetings in Indian Languages

India is home to a variety of greetings that reflect its cultural and linguistic diversity. From Namaste in Hindi to Vanakkam in Tamil and Sat Sri Akal in Punjabi, each greeting carries a unique meaning and respect.

Each language in India has its own way of greeting people. Here are some of the most commonly used greetings in Indian languages to say hello:

Language	Greeting (Hello)	Script	Meaning/ Context
Hindi	Namaste / Namaskar	नमस्ते / नमस्कार	Traditional greeting with folded hands; means “I bow to you.”
Bengali	Nomoshkar	নমস্কার	Formal hello, similar to Namaste.
Punjabi	Sat Sri Akal	ਸਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ	The Sikh greeting means “God is the eternal truth.”
Gujarati	Kem Cho	કેમ છો?	Informal hello meaning “How are you?”
Marathi	Namaskar / Namaskara	नमस्कार	Respectful greeting used in formal and informal contexts.
Tamil	Vanakkam	வணக்கம்	Means “Respectful greetings” with cultural significance.
Telugu	Namaskaram	నమస్కారం	The traditional hello is used respectfully.
Kannada	Namaskara	ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ	Formal hello, used with respect.
Malayalam	Namaskaram	നമസ്കാരം	Polite and traditional greeting.
Odia	Namaskar	ନମସ୍କାର	A traditional greeting, often used in formal settings.
Urdu	As-salaam-alaikum	السلام علیکم	The Islamic greeting means “Peace be upon you.”
Kashmiri	Adaab	آداب	Polite greeting meaning respect and hello.
Assamese	Namaskar	নমস্কাৰ	Common greeting with cultural roots.
Konkani	Namaskar	नमस्कार	Respectful hello, similar to Marathi.
Sindhi	Assalam-u-Alaikum	السلام عليکم	Traditional Islamic greeting.
Manipuri (Meitei)	Khurumjari	খুৰুমজৰি	Polite greeting in Manipuri culture.
Sanskrit	Namaste	नमः ते	Ancient and spiritual greeting meaning “I bow to you.”

Also Read: 10 Easy Tips to Learn a New Language As a Novice!

1. Namaste (नमस्ते) in Hindi

Namaste” is one of the most widely recognised greetings in India, particularly in Hindi-speaking regions. It translates to “I bow to you” or “The divine in me salutes the divine in you.

 

The first language in which we will find out how to say hello in different Indian languages is Hindi. Hindi is said to be one of the most widely used languages in India. Its roots can be traced back to the Indo-Aryan era. Hindi is recognised as the official language of 9 states and 3 Union Territories. It is primarily based on the Khariboli dialect of Delhi and the neighbouring areas of Northern India.

2. Sat Sri Akal (ਸਤਿ ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ) in Punjabi

“Sat Sri Akal” is a Punjabi greeting that translates to “God is the eternal truth.” It is more than just a greeting—it’s a reflection of the religious and spiritual importance in the Punjabi culture.

With more than 125 million speakers of this language, its roots can be traced back to the Indo-Aryan era. It is the native language of the state of Punjab. Punjabi is also the third most spoken language in the United Kingdom and the fifth most spoken language in Canada.

3. Nomoshkar (নমস্কার) in Bangla

Moving ahead in our list of hello in different Indian languages, we wish you Nomoshkar! Bengali is the lingua franca of West Bengal and also the most widely spoken language of Bangladesh. With nearly 228 million native speakers, it is the fifth most spoken native language. It is the most widely spoken language in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Significant populations speak it in states like Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Uttarakhand and Nagaland.

4. Aadab (आदाब) in Kashmiri

Kashmiri language belongs Dardic subgroup of Indo-Aryan languages and is used by around 7 million Kashmiris, primarily in Jammu and Kashmir. In 2020, a bill was passed by the Parliament of India to recognize Kashmiri, an official language of Jammu and Kashmir, along with Dogri, Hindi, English and Urdu.

5. Parnam (प्रणाम) in Magadhi

Pranam is considered to be one of the sweetest ways to say hello in different Indian languages. Also known as Magadhi, it is the language of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. It finds roots in age-old traditions of folk songs and stories. It is considered to be the language used by Gautama Buddha to deliver sermons.

6. Namaskar (नमस्कार) in Marathi

Marathi, an Indo-Aryan language, is spoken by nearly 83 million people of Maharashtra, India. It is the official language of Maharashtra and the co-official language of Goa. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India. Marathi ranks 10th in the list of most spoken languages globally and has the third-largest number of native speakers in India.

7. Vanakkam (வணக்கம்) in Tamil

Next on our list of saying hello in different Indian languages, we look at the sweet word Vanakkam in Tamil. Tamil, a Dravidian language widely used by the Tamil people of South Asia, is also the official language of Tamil Nadu and two sovereign nations, Singapore and Sri Lanka. In India, it is also recognised as the Union Territory of Puducherry’s official language and spoken by significant minorities in the South Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

8. Namaskaram (నమస్కరం) in Telegu

Designated as a classical language of India by the government, it is spoken by Telugu people living in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where it is also recognised as the official language.

9. Namaskar (ನಮಸ್ತೆ) in Kannada

Here is another way to say hello in different Indian languages – Namakara! Written using the Kannada script, it is predominantly spoken by the people of Karnataka. The language has nearly 43 million speakers. It has historical significance since it was the court language of some of the most powerful empires of South and Central India, like the Chalukya dynasty, the Rashtrakuta dynasty, the Vijayanagara Empire and the Hoysala Empire.

10. Namaskar (नमस्कार) – Konkani

The Konkani language follows the Vedic structural elements of both Western and Eastern Indo-Aryan languages. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India, as mentioned in the 8^th schedule of the Constitution. This language was introduced by the Southern Indo-Aryan language group and is the official language of the state of Goa.

11.  Radhe Radhe (राधे राधे) in BrajBhasha

Braj language, commonly known as Braj Bhasha, is one of the two predominant literary languages of North-Central India. It is mostly spoken by the people of the defined region of Braj.

The historical significance lies in the fact that, as mentioned in ancient Hindu texts such as the Bhagavata Purana, the Kingdom of Surasena was spreading through Bra,j where Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu, was born and spent his childhood days. So if you want to add another word to your list of how to say hello in different Indian languages, try Radhe Radhe!

12. Namaskarah (नमस्कार) in Sanskrit

Sanskrit is considered to be the sacred language of Hinduism and connotes various old Indo-Aryan practises. It originated in South Asia and is known as the classical language of South Asia.

13. Tashi Delek in Tibetan

India is home to the vibrant and happiest Tibetan communities spread across the North-east areas, as well as the Himalayan regions and even the capital city itself. If you ever visit a Tibetan community, you can say ‘Tashi Delek’ as hello in Tibetan.

14. Khurumjari in Manipuri

As one of the sweetest ways to say hello in Indian languages, Khurumjari can be literally translated as “My obeisance to thee”, which has the same meaning as namaste.

15. Khamma Ghani in Marwadi

Khamma Ghani is used to say hello or welcome with respect in Marwadi, which is spoken in Rajasthan. It is another sweeter way to say ‘hi’, so when you visit the royal lands of Rajasthan, don’t forget to say Khamma Ghani!

16. Assālam ‘alaykum (ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ) in Urdu

Assālam ‘alaykum comes from the Arabic language and can be literally translated as ‘peace be upon you’. It is a blessed way to say hello in Urdu and is usually used in Muslim communities.

17. Namaskara (ନମସ୍କାର) in Odia

Most regions in Southern India use the root word ‘Namaskar’ taken from Sanskrit, and add a certain intonation like “a” or “am” to it. Similarly, say hello in Odia by saying Namaskara (Namaskar+a).

18. Kem Chho (કેમ છો) in Gujarati

Kem Chho in Gujarati means both hello and how are you, just like we say “what’s up” in English. Gujarati is one of the sweetest Indian languages and has its own unique emphasis on words that make it even more endearing to speak in.

19. Ram Ram (राम राम) in Haryanvi

Ram Ram is a traditional and respectful greeting in Haryanvi, widely used in Haryana. It’s a simple, yet warm way of saying hello, with a spiritual touch, as “Ram” refers to Lord Ram, a revered deity in Hinduism. When visiting Haryana, make sure to greet others with a friendly “Ram Ram”!

20. Chibai/Ekhai in Mizo

Chibai or Ekhai are the words used to say hello or hi in Mizo, which is mainly spoken in Mizoram and Chibai is also a way to greet people in Mizo.

21. Nômôskar (নমস্কাৰ) in Assamese 

In the Indian state of Assam, people greet each other by saying Nômôskar. It is commonly used to greet people in Assam and signifies politeness and warmth, often accompanied by folded hands. 

22. Sagatam, Namaskkaram, or Halea in Malayalam

In Kerala, people commonly greet each other by saying Sagatam, Namaskkaram, or Halea. These words are used to say hello to greet each other. Moreover, you will also notice that the greeting is often accompanied by a warm smile or folded hands.

Also Read: How to Learn German Language: A Comprehensive Guide

Saying hello in different Indian languages is more than just a way to start a conversation — it’s a window into India’s culture, traditions, and values. Whether it’s Namaste in Hindi, Vanakkam in Tamil, or Sat Sri Akal in Punjabi, each greeting reflects warmth and respect.

If you’re travelling across India or interacting with diverse communities, learning a few of these greetings will not only help you connect better but also show your appreciation for India’s cultural richness.

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So, this was all about hello in different Indian languages. We hope it helps in adding new words to your vocabulary.  For more such informative content, stay connected to Leverage Edu!