How to Say Hello, Good Morning, Good Night and Some Basic Greeting Words in Hindi

When we meet someone, we exchange some words called greetings as a gesture of respect towards each other. The greetings are the initial stage of interpersonal communication in all civilized languages. Hindi is also a civilized language. We use a number of greeting words on different types of ceremonial or formal occasions. Let's discuss these different words used in Hindi for greetings and gently meeting the known-ones.

Note: The Hindi is written in Devanagari script but here the author has given the Hindi words in Roman script for the ease of readers to learn about the pronunciation of these words in Hindi.

Like the English word Hello, the first-hand greetings starts with "Namaste" in Hindi. You have to shake hands with the next person while saying Hello but in case of Hindi the Namaste greetings are followed by the gesture in which both hand palms are pressed against each other while raising the elbow. The level of hands-meeting should be above the chest.

The Namaste is the universal greeting word in Hindi but it can also be substituted if you are meeting an elder relative very well known to you. The Hindi also differs from English in the manner such that it uses different words while meeting someone elder in age than you. We will talk about such kinds of greetings but first I would like to clarify what nouns are being used in Hindi for different relatives, Here is the list :

One thing is notable here that you will have to use the word "Ji" after the noun for elder ones. It is a sign of respect towards them. For example, if you want to call your father you will say, "Pita(Father) Ji(a sign of respect)" similarly Chacha Ji, Dada Ji, Nana Ji etc

Among Hindus a prominent religion in India, while meeting a relative who is elder in age or relation; people generally greet them by touching their feet and say, "Charan Vandana" which means "I am touching your feet". In verbal communication(like telephonic) with some elder ones, where when you can't touch their feet you can say "Charan Vandana" to show respect towards them; now if you are making a call to your uncle the first thing you will say to him when he will pick the phone is "Chacha Ji Charan Vandana" meaning "Uncle I am touching your feet". In reply to this, the common blessing words from the elders are generally, "Khush Raho" meaning "Be Happy(My Son)"

The unmarried girls do not touch the feet or say charan Vandana to the elders as they are thought to be like the Goddess.

After the handshake, you will ask them about their health "How are you?" so the next line of communication will be "Kaise Hain Aap?" This is the formal way of communication and used to greet someone elder in age or designation than you. You can also ask the same thing in an informal manner. Informally, "How are you?" will be pronounced as "Kaise Ho Tum?" but you should use the informal way only when you are talking to someone younger in age, designation, etc. otherwise it will give a wrong impression about your personality. Here the word to word translation from English to Hindi is as follows :

How - Kaise

Are - Hain(Formally)

Are - Ho(Informally)

You - Aap(Formally)

You - Tum(Informally)

The common reply to this question is, "I am fine" so how will the answerer give reply in Hindi:-

"Main Theek Hoon"

I - Main

Theek - Fine

Am - Hoon

The above-mentioned phrase is applicable to both formal and informal communication.

The alternative words for "Good Morning" and "Good Night" are available in Hindi also. For "Good Afternoon" and "Good Evening" you can only use the universal greeting word "Namaste" as there is no alternative for the same. The morning time greeting is "Shubh Prataha" and that for the night is "Shubh Raatri". There is no differentiation of formal wise and informal wise pronunciation in this case. Also, No need for specific physical gesture as it is in the case of "Namaste"

Good Morning:- Shubh Prataha

Good Night:- Shubh Raatri

The festival greetings are also an integral part of the Culture of India. People greet their friends and relatives on the occasion of all festivals; Sweets and gifts are also exchanged.

The most common word used in such types of greetings is "Shubh" followed by the name of the festival.

For Example, if you are greeting someone on the occasion of "Deepawali" you will greet them with the following words :

"Shubh Deepawali"

Here the "Shubh" stands for "Happy" and the Deepawali is the name of the festival; If you want to translate the same in English, it will be "Happy Deepawali"

Sometimes, the greetings are given in a little bit informal way and good wishes are given for the sacred day instead of "Shubh" greetings. If you want to give good wishes for the same festival Deepawali, it will be :

"Aap Sabhi Ko Deepawali Ki Shubhkamnayen"

The word by word English translation of this phrase is as follows:-

"Aap" - "You"

"Sabhi" - "All"

"Ko" - "To"

"Deepawali' - "Deepawali'

"Ki" - "Of"

"Shubhkamnayen" - "Good Wishes"

So the "Aap Sabhi Ko Deepawali Ki Shubhkamnayen" will be written in English as "Good wishes to all of you for the Deepawali" This method is most widely used for the festival greetings.

Now if you want to give good wishes for some other festival(say Holi) then you will only need to change the name of the festival in the above sentence and it will easily convey the same message. Let us see an example:-

The good wishes for the Holi are "Aap Sabhi Ko Holi Ki Shubhkamnayen"

Similarly, "Aap Sabhi Ko Dussehra Ki Shubhkamnayen" and so on.

The next important wishes or greetings that you will give for someone dear to you are the birthday wishes because the birthday is one of the most important days people generally remember about their friends or dear ones. The birthday greetings are given in a different flow than in English, You will have to say the word "Birthday" first and then "Good wishes".

For example, you greet the birthday as "Happy Birthday" in English but in Hindi, it will come as:-

"Janam Din Mubarak"

The word by word translation to English:-

Birth - Janam

Day - Din

Mubarak - Congratulations