Sanskrit · संस्कृत

Everyday Sanskrit Words and Greetingsदैनिक संस्कृत

You can begin speaking Sanskrit with a few everyday words and greetings — many of which are still used in Indian languages today.

  • Greetingनमस्ते namaste
  • Thank youधन्यवादः dhanyavādaḥ
  • Welcomeस्वागतम् svāgatam
Image: Raja Ravi Varma, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Greetings

  • नमस्ते namaste / नमस्कारः namaskāraḥ — hello (I bow to you)
  • सुप्रभातम् suprabhātam — good morning
  • शुभरात्रिः śubharātriḥ — good night
  • स्वागतम् svāgatam — welcome
  • पुनर्मिलामः punarmilāmaḥ — see you again

Polite words

  • धन्यवादः dhanyavādaḥ — thank you
  • क्षम्यताम् kṣamyatām — sorry / please forgive
  • कृपया kṛpayā — please
  • आम् ām — yes
  • न na — no
  • अस्तु astu — all right / let it be

Simple questions

  • भवान् कथम् अस्ति? bhavān katham asti? — How are you? (to a man)
  • भवती कथम् अस्ति? bhavatī katham asti? — How are you? (to a woman)
  • अहं कुशली / कुशलिनी। ahaṃ kuśalī / kuśalinī — I am well (man / woman)
  • भवतः नाम किम्? bhavataḥ nāma kim? — What is your name?
  • मम नाम … mama nāma … — My name is …

Frequently asked questions

What does "namaste" mean?

"I bow (namaḥ) to you (te)" — a greeting that honours the divine in the other person.

How do you say thank you in Sanskrit?

धन्यवादः (dhanyavādaḥ).