How to say hello in different languages

By Catalogs Editorial Staff

Learn how to say hello in different languages to make friends around the world

You do not have to be fluent in a language to be able to communicate a few phrases. With the business world becoming more global, and traveling becoming easier and easier, there are more opportunities to see other countries and hear foreign tongues. It is good to learn a few new ways to communicate with others when traveling. Begin with learning how to say hello in different languages.

In addition to this article, our experts go through an A-Z list of how to say I love you in different countries.

Here are ways to say hello in twenty different languages:

1. French – Bonjour
2. Spanish – Hola
3. Italian – Bon Giorno
4. German – Guten Tag
5. Chinese – Ni hao
6. Irish – Dia Duit
7. Hindi – Namaste
8. Russian – Zdravstvuite (pronounced Zdra-stvooy-tyeh)
9. Greek – Yia sou (Ya-soo)
10. Czech – Dobry rano
11. Japanese – Ohayou gozaimasu (pronounced O-ha-yoh go-za-ee-mas)
12. Hebrew – Shalom (this is used for hello, goodbye and peace)
13. Arabic-based languages – Marhabah
14. Swedish – Hej
15. Dutch – Goedendag
16. Swahili – Jambo
17. Vietnamese – Chao
18. Korean – Ahn nyeong ha se yo
19. Portuguese – Bom dia (Good Morning)
20. Finnish – Hyv???? p??iv????

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Pronunciation

You may find that it is difficult to pronounce greetings from other countries. Often, if you say hello using the phrase that you have learned, you may notice that someone corrects you. If this does not happen, listen carefully to how a person greets you. This will help you recognize if you are pronouncing the word correctly or not.

The pronunciation can vary from region to region within a country. For this reason, it is important to listen carefully to how others speak. Being a good listener is one of the keys to successfully learning another language.

Things to Remember

While it may be easy to learn how to say hello in a different language, it may not be the best phrase to say in every situation. There are often ways to greet one another formally and informally. For example, in English we may say “Good morning” to a coworker in a formal setting and “Hello” to a friend. The same is true in other languages. If you are not sure which greeting to use, start with the formal one. Another factor to consider involves the time of day. Sometimes greetings change as the day progresses. For example, in Spanish, “Buenos d??as” is used in the morning, “Buenas tardes” in the afternoon, and “Buenas noches” in the evening. Check in a dictionary or listen carefully if you are not certain which greeting to use.

Besides learning to say hello in different languages, you may need to know actions that accompany greetings. In some cultures, it is customary to shake hands or bow as you greet one another. Pay attention to those around you when traveling. Try to imitate their actions or ask someone who may know if you are unsure.

In today’s global environment, knowing how to greet foreigners will help you in many situations. In the business world, you may encounter meetings with executives from other countries. In a working environment, you may also come across a variety of cross cultural situations. Being able to greet others in foreign tongues will help you get off to a good start.Pronunciation

You may find that it is difficult to pronounce greetings in other languages. Often, if you say hello using the phrase that you have learned, you may notice that someone corrects you. If this does not happen, listen carefully to how a person greets you. This will help you recognize if you are pronouncing the word correctly or not.

Things to Remember

While it may be easy to learn how to say hello in a different language, it may not be the best phrase to say in every situation. There are often ways to greet one another formally and informally. For example, in English we may say “Good morning” to a coworker in a formal setting and “Hello” to a friend. The same is true in other languages. If you are not sure which greeting to use, start with the formal one. Another factor to consider involves the time of day. Sometimes greetings change as the day progresses. For example, in Spanish, “Buenos días” is used in the morning, “Buenas tardes” in the afternoon, and “Buenas noches” in the evening. Check in a dictionary or listen carefully if you are not certain which greeting to use.

In today’s global environment, knowing how to say hello in different languages will help you in many situations. In the business world, you may encounter meetings with executives from other countries. In a working environment, you may also come across a variety of cross cultural situations. Being able to greet others in different languages will help you get off to a good start.