Wherever you travel, a few words of the local language go a long way, and none more so than hello. Learning to greet people in their own language is a small courtesy that opens doors, starts conversations and shows respect for the culture you are visiting. This guide shows you how to say hello in different languages, with the word in its own script and a simple guide to pronouncing it, for the world’s major and most useful languages.
Hello in Different Languages: How to Greet the World
Why a greeting matters
A greeting is the first step in almost any interaction: asking for directions, checking into a hotel, or striking up a conversation with the person next to you on a plane. It is a universal act of politeness, used in both formal and informal settings, and it is usually among the very first things people learn in a new language.
You do not need to memorise hello in every language on earth, but knowing it in the language of wherever you are heading genuinely enriches the experience and often earns a warm smile in return. Hello in the world's major languages
The table below gives hello in a selection of widely spoken and travel-useful languages, with the native spelling and a rough pronunciation. Where a language has both a casual and a more formal greeting, both are shown.
How to Say "Hello" in All Languages of the World
| Language | Hello | Pronunciation |
| English | Hello, Hi | Heh-LOH |
| Spanish | Hola | OH-la |
| French | Bonjour, Salut | bon-ZHOOR |
| German | Hallo | HAH-lo |
| Italian | Ciao, Salve | chow, SAL-veh |
| Portuguese | Olá, Oi | oh-LA, oy |
| Dutch | Hallo, Hoi | HAH-lo, hoy |
| Polish | Cześć | cheshch |
| Russian | Привет Здравствуйте, | pri-VYET, ZDRAST-vooy-tye |
| Greek | Γεια σου | YAH-soo |
| Turkish | Merhaba | MER-ha-ba |
| Swedish | Hej | hey |
| Hebrew | םולש | sha-LOM |
| Hindi | नमस् | nuh-muh-STAY |
| Bengali | নম া র | no-mosh-KAR |
| Mandarin Chinese | 你好 | nee HOW |
| Japanese | こんにちは | kon-nee-chee-wa |
| Korean | 안녕하세요 | an-nyong-ha-SE-yo |
| Thai | สวัสดี | sa-wat-DEE |
| Vietnamese | Xin chào | sin CHOW |
| Swahili | Jambo, Habari | JAM-bo, ha-BA-ri |
| Hawaiian | Aloha | a-LO-ha |
Tips for greeting people abroad
A greeting works best when you match it to the situation. Many languages have separate formal and informal words, so when in doubt, use the polite form with people you do not know.
Pronunciation matters more than perfection: a clear, friendly attempt is always appreciated, even if the accent is not quite right. And a greeting rarely travels alone, so it is worth learning "thank you" alongside it, and pairing both with a smile, which is understood everywhere.
Summary
To say hello in different languages, start with the everyday greeting of wherever you are going: hola in Spanish, bonjour in French, hallo in German, ciao in Italian, olá in Portuguese, privet in Russian, nǐ hǎo in Mandarin, konnichiwa in Japanese, namaste in Hindi, or marhaba in Arabic. Match the formal or informal version to the situation, do your best with the pronunciation, and add a smile. It is the simplest, friendliest first step into any new language, and the natural start to a language course with SPRACHCAFFE.
FAQ
A greeting in the local language is a small courtesy that consistently sets a friendlier tone, whether you are entering a shop or meeting hosts. Even one well-placed "hello" often changes how you are received.
Hello is "hola" in Spanish, "bonjour" in French, "hallo" in German, "ciao" in Italian, "nǐ hǎo" in Mandarin Chinese and "marhaba" in Arabic. Many, like the Italian "ciao", also work as an informal goodbye.
Greetings stick fastest through real encounters, not lists. A language course abroad with SPRACHCAFFE gives daily practice with native speakers, so the right greeting becomes automatic from the first day.
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