namaste नमस्ते Hello

Image Courtesy: Exotic India Online Art Store

In India, in formal situations both genders join their own hands to greet each other. Young people wave hands or shake hands with each other.

I) Words to Remember:

नमस्ते!	namaste!	Hello! (I bow to you!)
नमस्कार!	namaskār!	Hello! (I bow to you!)
मेरा नाम राम है।	merā nām rām hai.	My name is Ram.
आप से मिल कर खुशी हुई।	āp se mil kar khushī huī.	Pleased to meet you.

Cultural Tip:

Indians frequently address people as  श्रीमान (shrīmān = Mr.), महोदय (mahoday = Sir), महोदया (mahodayā = Ma’am). With names you can use श्रीमान or श्री. (shrī) for married men; श्रीमति (shrīmati = Mrs.) for married women. कुमार (kumār = Master) for boys or unmarried men; कुमारी (kumārī  = Miss) for girls or unmarried women.

Other popular greetings are सत श्री अकाल (sat shrī akāl), सलाम (salām), राम-राम (rām-rām), जय राम जी की (jai rām jī kī).

II) In Conversation: Introduction

Ram :	नमस्ते! मेरा नाम राम कुमार शर्मा है।	namaste! merā nām rām kumār sharmā hai.	Hello! My name is Ram Kumar Sharma.
Sarita :	नमस्ते! मैं सरिता तलवार हूं। आप से मिल कर खुशी हुई।	namaste! maiň saritā talwār hūň. āp se mil kar khushī huī.	Hello! I am Sarita Talwar. Pleasure to meet you.
Ram :	जी, मुझे भी!	jī, mujhe bhī!	Yes, me too!

In Conversation: Goodbye

Indians use ‘namaste’ / ‘namaskār’ while leaving as well.

Ram :	तो हम कल मिलें?	to ham kal mileň?	So should we meet tomorrow?
Sarita :	हां, बिल्कुल!	hān, bilkul!	Yes, definitely!
Ram :	ठीक है। नमस्ते…	Theek hai. namaste!	OK. Bye…

*Informally, the English ‘hi’ & ‘bye’ are more popular. In offices, ‘hello’  is used the most.

III) Put into practice

IV) Useful Phrases

आप का शुभ नाम?	āp kā shubh nām?	Your (good) name?
अल्विदा	alvidā…	Goodbye…
धन्यवाद!	dhanyavād!	Thank you!
फिर मिलेंगे/फिर मिलते हैं!	fir milenge/fir milte haiň!	We’ll meet again!

V) Meeting known people

कैसे हैं आप?	kaise haiň āp?	how are you?
कैसे हैं वो?	kaise haiň vo?	how is he?
क्या हाल हैं?	kyā hāl haiň?	{literally} what condition is?
मैं ठीक हूं।	maiň Theek hūň.	I am fine.
बढिया!	baDhiyā!	excellent!
बहुत अच्छा!	bahot achchā!	very good!
मस्त!	mast!	awesome!