Say “Hello” in Different Languages

Some countries have their own version of unique English greetings that can be learned by anybody. However, in some other countries, “hello” or “hi” doesn’t have an exact translation in their native language so they use these English greetings instead.

Chinese – “Ni Hao”
Japanese – “Konichiwa”
Indian – “Namaste”
Thai – “Sawadee”
South Korean – “Annyeonghaseyo”
Indonesian – “Halo”
Brazilian – “Ola”
Spanish – “Hola”
Vietnamese – “Xin Chao”
French – “Bonjour”

How do you say these English greetings in your own language?

Note: In the Philippines, we don’t have the exact translation of these words unlike in other Asian countries. Moreover, when we say “Hello” we tend to add it with our translation of “How are you” or “Kumusta ka?” That then makes the thought sensible and intelligible.

How to Respond to English Greetings

Generally, when someone greets us with “hi” or “hello” we respond with the same exact words or vice versa. In daily English conversations, the question “How are you?” is added to “hi” or “hello” where we respond with “I’m fine, thank you” or “Very well, thanks.”

Responses to English greetings vary in situations. “How do you do?” is used in formal occasions and the response would be “How do you do?” In the recent years, this greeting has not been used by the current generation because of the trend in language.

A firm handshake is usually accompanied by a greeting like “Pleased to meet you” or “Nice to meet you.” This is commonly observed in formal situations like business meetings or conferences. The best reply for this “Pleased to meet you, too” or “It’s nice to meet you, too.”

In informal or friendly situations, saying “Hey, what’s up?” to greet a friend is common. The shortest reply to this could be “Not bad” or “Fine.” These responses are not appropriate in formal situations because they sound so unprofessional.

Another English greeting in informal occasions is “Oh, you’re here!” and the response can be “Yeah, you too!” or “well, obviously.” Remember that these expressions are only applicable in casual conversations and not in formal ones.

Responding appropriately in English greetings is one way to bridge the gap in communication. Observing proper response is good to avoid conflict or misinterpretation of your intended message. Always consider the person you are talking to.

How to Address Someone You Meet for the First Time

When we meet someone for the first time, we start with a polite greeting and address them with either “Sir” or “Madam.” This is a courteous way to address them properly regardless of their social status.

If we know them already, we can address them according to their titles like “Mr.”, “Mrs.”, “Miss”, “Dr.”, “Atty.”, etc. It depends on who we are talking to. It sometimes feels awkward to address them in their titles so we often tend to stick with “Sir” or “Madam.”

On the other hand, a friendly or casual address doesn’t matter because it actually depends on how people do it, so long as they are comfortable and do not offend the other person. For example, in the Philippines, friends address each other as “Friend,” or “Beshy,” which are actually informal at all.

“Sis” or “Bro” are also casual addresses to friends and are present in different countries. In some English speaking countries, they don’t usually call people with their titles but with their first name (e.g. USA) like “John”, “Tom”, etc.

Proper salutation is important in English greetings. It shows respect and courtesy towards the other person. Introduce yourself confidently, respond to their greetings appropriately, and address them properly to have an effective relationship building.