Well begun is half done. In the same way, a conversation well begun achieves its purpose. One of the key things you should learn when picking up a second language is how to greet people and say goodbye. In this article you will find ways to greet using commonly spoken Hindi words and phrases.
Appropriate Greetings in Hindi Language
Salutations or Greetings in a communication are polite expressions of goodwill, respect, affection and regard. Words, phrases and gestures are used as salutation. They are present in every language and culture. Beginning a communication with the right salutation is important in both formal and informal communications. When moving to another culture or amongst people speaking another language, learning to greet them in their own language is the first and foremost thing to learn.
The article discusses greetings and salutations commonly used in the Indian subcontinent, in the most widely spoken language of the region, Hindi. The article lists a few words and phrases in English, followed by their Hindi translation. The text in the brackets following the Hindi translation is how the words and phrases would be written using Hindi text. This is not an exhaustive list and several options are possible. The article lists only some basic greetings and salutations. The Hindi phrases are as commonly used in India and the sub continent and not pure Hindi. Learners of the language can form practice groups and attempt greeting and striking up conversation using the information provided in the article.
Hello, Hi: Namaste (नमस्ते)
Welcome: Aapka swagat hai! (आपका सवागत है)
Good Morning: Suprabhat (सुप्रभात)
Good Evening: Shubh Sandhya (शुभ संध्या)
Good Night: Shubh Ratri (शुभ रात्रि)
Happy New Year: Naya saal Mubarak ho (नया साल मुबारक हो, नये साल की शुभ कामनाएँ)
Happy Holi: Holi Mubarak (होली मुबारक हो, होली की शुभ कामनाएँ)
Happy Diwali: Diwali Mubarak ho (दीपावली मुबारक हो, दीपावली की शुभ कामनाएँ)
Merry Christmas: Bade din ki shubh kamnae (बडे़ दिन की शुभ कामनाएँ, क्रिसमस की बधाइयाँ)
Greetings: Mubarak (मुबारक )
Happy Birthday: Janam Din ki badhayi ho (जनमदिन की मुबारकबाद, जनमदिन की शुभ कामनाएँ)
Happy Anniversary: Shaadi ki saalgira Mubarak ho (शादी की साल्गीरह मुबारक हो)
How are you?: Aap kaisey hai (आप कैसे हैं ?)
I’m Good: Main acha hun (मै अच्छा हुँ) (Masculine Gender) Main achi hun (मै अच्छी हुँ) (Feminine Gender)
And you tell?: Aur aap bataey? (और आप बताये?)
Thank you: Shukriya (शुक्रिया)
What’s up?: Kya chal raha hai (क्या चल रहा है?)
Nothing much: Kuch khas nahi (कुछ खास नही)
Can I help you?: Kya main aapki madat kar sakta hun? (क्या मैं आपकी मदद कर सकता हुँ ?) (Masculine Gender) Kya main aapki madat kar sakti hun? (क्या मैं आपकी मदद कर सकती हुँ ?) (Feminine Gender)
Can you help me?: Kya aap meri madat kar sakte hai? (क्या आप मेरी मदद कर सकते हैं ?)
See you: Phir milinge (फिर मिलेंगे)
Good Luck: Shubh Kaamnaayein (शुभ कामनाएँ)
What’s new?: Kya naya chal raha hai? (क्या नया चल रहा है i)
Bye: No specific word available. We can use ’namaste’, or ‘khuda aafiz’, a Urdu phrase (नमस्ते, खुदा आफ़िज़)
Congratulations: Badhai, Mubarakbad (बधाई, मुबारकबाद)
Note: Mubarkbad and Mubarak can be used interchangibly.
A list of the words for easy reference is available for download.
