As we all know, saying "hello" or "hi" is the first step in establishing a connection with someone. Depending on the country or culture, there are many ways to say "hello" - some more formal than others. So, whether you're traveling to a foreign country or just want to learn more about other cultures, knowing some greeting phrases in the most commonly spoken languages worldwide can always come in handy.
French's most commonly used greeting is connected to the time of day. So, typically you would hear people saying "Bonjour" to you from morning until late afternoon. It translates to "Good day (to you)." Once the evening settles in, people move over to "Bonsoir," meaning "Good evening."
Many Non-French people think "salut" is the French version of the English "hi." Well, although "salut" is an informal greeting used for relaxed settings, you'd make a big mistake using "salut" in scenarios where you'd usually also say "hi." The French care a lot about social class. Therefore, "salut" is only used among peers, friends, and family - and never with strangers.
This greeting is not only very informal and casual but also quite personal. Unfortunately, there's no English equivalent, but some native speakers compare it tone-wise to the British English "toodle-oo" (which some use to say goodbye). So, if you want to greet someone with a "Coucou," use it with close friends and family.
For business settings or any other formal occasion, "enchanté(e)" is a wise choice for a greeting. The complete phrase "enchanté(e) de faire votre connaissance" translates to "Nice/Pleasure to meet you."
Similar to the English "How are you?" that passes as a greeting, so does the French "Ça va?" which means the same.
"Bienvenue" translates to "Welcome!" and is the ideal greeting upon someone's arrival, especially after a long trip.
"Allô" is a common (casual/neutral) greeting when answering the phone - and only on the phone. You wouldn't hear this word in any other conversation.
"Hallo" is the direct equivalent of the English "Hello" and "Hi." Therefore, it can be used on the same occasions.
Similar to French, these greetings are connected to the time of day. So in the morning (usually until 10 am), Germans would say "Guten Morgen" (meaning "Good Morning"), then "Guten Tag" ("Good Day"), followed by "Guten Abend" ("Good Evening"), and "Gute Nacht" ("Good Night"). Whatever the occasion, you could nearly never go wrong with a "Guten Tag" during any time of the day.
"Servus" is a bit of an informal greeting in the lower parts of Germany and the neighboring country Austria. Especially in the Austrian countryside, greeting someone with a "servus" is quite common. Still, for most parts of Germany, you might get curious looks.
"Willkommen" translates to "welcome." You wouldn't hear people greeting each other with a "Willkommen" but rather see it on signs or written somewhere in hotels where someone would be greeted upon arrival.
This is the most common translation of the English "Hello." You can also always combine it with any of the greetings below.
Same as in French and German. Use the phrases depending on the time of the day.
"Buenos días" = "Good morning."
"Buenos tardes" = "Good afternoon."
"Buenos noches" = "Good evening/night."
Similar to the French "Ça va?" it means "How are you?" and is used as an informal greeting.
Same as the phrase above, however it is the formal way of asking somebody how they feel. It's commonly reserved for speaking to the elderly as a sign of respect.
It translates to the English "Welcome" and is used for someone who just arrived from somewhere.
"Salve" is a safe choice when greeting strangers or people you're unfamiliar with. Compared to "ciao," "salve" should be your go-to.
These Italian greeting phrases depend on the time of the day.
"Buongiorno" = "Good morning. / Good day."
"Buon pommerigio" = "Good afternoon."
"Buonasera" = "Good evening."
"Buonanotte" = "Good night."
Although it's pretty common, it's actually considered to be relatively informal. It translates to "How are you?"
For a slightly more formal or respectful tone, you can change it to "Come sta" (without the "i" at the end) for the Italian formal "you."
For non-native speakers, "ciao" seems to be to standard phrase for greeting someone. But Italy begs to differ. Actually, depending on the part of Italy. In most parts of the country, it's regarded as highly informal due to its origin and history (it originates from the old Venetian phrase "scia'o vostro," which translates to "I am your slave.") To be on the safe side, simply never use this word with strangers or people you're not close with. But with good friends and family, you should be fine greeting them with a "ciao."
Is the Danish equivalent of the English "Hello." It's perfect for any situation - formal or informal.
These Danish greeting phrases depend on the time of the day.
"God morgon" = "Good morning."
"God dag" = "Good day."
"God eftermiddag" = "Good afternoon."
"Hallå" translates to a simple "Hello" and is typically used when answering a phone call.
"Shobre" is a highly casual and slang-ish phrase that means "What's up?" Just to be safe: only use it with close friends.
Similar to the Danish "Hej," "Hei" is the Norwegian equivalent of the English "Hello." And again, it's perfect for any situation - formal or informal.
These Norwegian greeting phrases depend on the time of the day.
"God morgen" = "Good morning."
"God dag" = "Good day."
"God ettermiddag" = "Good afternoon."
"God kveld" = "Good evening."
This is a typical casual greeting among friends, peers, and family. It means "What's up?" or "What's going on in life?" and serves as a greeting only that expects no answer.
Do you want a phrase that means "Long time, no see!"? Here it is!
Unless you're talking to a king, where you'd be better of with a "God dag ers majestät" ("Good day, your majesty!"), a simple "Hej" is ideal for any situation in day-to-day life.
These Swedish greeting phrases depend on the time of the day.
"God morgon" = "Good morning."
"God dag" = "Good day."
"God eftermiddag" = "Good afternoon."
"God kväll" = "Good evening."
"Hejsan" and "hej hej" are two alternatives to standard "hej." Essentially, they all mean the same and can be applied to the same situations.
"Merhaba" is the standard phrase for greeting someone. You can use it at any time and in any context, which makes it perfect if you're unsure how to properly and respectfully greet someone.
These Turkish greeting phrases depend on the time of the day.
"Günaydın" = "Good morning."
"İyi günler" = "Good day."
"İyi akşamlar" = "Good evening."
"Selam" is the Turkish standard for saying "hi" and is also as common as greeting someone with "Merhaba." It's only a little less formal than "Merhaba."
Expand your German language abilities with our guide to saying hello. Explore common greetings and expressions.
Read →
Ready to speak another language like a native? Our post offers effective strategies for reaching fluency with confidence.
Read →
Make language learning more fun through the rhythm and lyrics of French songs, from timeless classics to the latest TikTok hits.
Read →
