Hello is often the first word we hear from a stranger.
The first thing we tell a stranger, and they are not a stranger anymore.
This project was started as just an index of how to say hello in many different languages, as many as I can gather here.
The chosen word
There are many different ways to say hello in evey language, of course.
Depending on the age of the speakers, their status, gender and many other factors, the word used to say hello may vary in many languages and cultures.
The formal way
So I chose, for most languages on this site, the formal way to say hello.
The one you could use when meeting someone you didn’t know before, in a casual atmosphere (that is, neither as if you were with your friends, nor as with someone with much higher authority than you).
- This would be the equivalent to English “hello”.
Many languages in this site have one more option, the informal way, which you would use when you already know someone, or between friends.
- This would be an equivalent to English “hi”.
Of course, sometimes there will be more than one option.
For the simple version of this project, one had to be chosen. I wanted to launch the project without overcomplicating it. I didn’t want to keep adding details and details and never actually launch it.
A dynamic project
Additions and corrections will be made were needed. And if you want to suggest a better word, or contribute in any way, please do so here.
Other greetings (good morning, afternoon or evening, hello on the phone, etc.) and useful words for travelers (thank you, sorry, two beers please, etc.) will be added to every language soon.
The languages
I wanted to launch this project with as many languages as I could think of, but many more will be added in the future.
If your region’s language is not included in the project yet, you can suggest its addition.
Yes, some of the languages added are extinct, constructed, or invented (which one isn’t, anyway?) in science fiction works.
The name of the languages…
Also some of the languages posted in this site redirect to their correct name, or to the official language spoken in that country. For example:
If you searched “how to say hello in Mexican”, it would redirect you to Spanish, as this is the name of the official language spoken in Mexico. Anyway, you will find links to other languages spoken in Mexico.
As stated before, there may be errors, so if you find one please report it here.
The recordings
Most of the recordings for each greeting were taken from Forvo, an awesome online community and dictionary.
Who is behind sayHello.how?
My name is Rubén Vara, a Basque traveler and web developer with many ideas for new online projects.
As both traveling and languages have always interested me, I decided to join both together in this site.