It’s impossible to learn all the languages in the world, but you can learn the basics suchas how to say hello! Greeting eachother around the world is much more than a wave or a handshake.
Every culture has a unique way of greeting people and we’ve found the most unique ways to say hello around the world!
Say hi in Tibet: Stick your tongue out
Tibetan monks stick their tongue out to greet people. They also press the hands together and place them in front of their chest to show that they “come in peace”. They started doing this to prove that they’re not the reincarnation of a cruel king from the 9th century that had a black tongue.
Greet in the Philippines: “Mano”
In the Philippines, elders are greeted by taking one of their hands gently and pressing it on your forehead. They call this gesture “Mano” (which is “hand” in Spanish) and it’s used to show respect.
Greet with a bow in Japan
People greet each other with a bow in Japan. Depending on the person their greeting, and their social status, bows differ in angle and duration.
Do a Nose “kiss” in Oman
In Oman, men often greet each other by pressing their noses together.
Say hi in New Zealand with the traditional Hongi
The traditional Māori greeting, known as hongi, is similar to the oman greeting except they also press their foreheads together and look at each others eyes
How to say hello in Tuvalu
The traditional greeting in Tuvalu is to press their cheeks together and simultaneously inhaling.
A Malaysian greeting, heart to heart
Malays usually stretch out their hands and touch the other person’s fingertips and then bring their hands to their hearts. It symbolizes that they’re greeting you from their hearts.
Give the Kunik in Greenland
You know how everyone thinks they greet others by pressing the tip of their noses against each other? Well, forget about it. Actually, don’t even talk to them about it because it’ll bug them. But they perform a unique and traditional greeting with their loved ones called “Kunik” and it consists of placing their nose and upper lip against the cheek or forehead of the other person and taking a deep breath.
The welcome greeting of Adamu in Kenya
If you’re lucky enough to witness the unique welcoming greeting of the Maasai’s, you’re in for a treat! The tribe warriors perform an elaborated jumping dance.
Greet with a Wai in Thailand
The Botswanan Handshake
Now that you’re a pro of greeting people in different cultures, you’re ready for the Botswana handshake! To perform this, you have to follow 3 steps: extend your right arm, place your left hand on your right elbow, and press hands together; Interlock your hand with the other person’s, interlacing thumbs; and then return to the original position and say “Lae kae?” which means “How are you?” in Setswana.
This wed site is very helpful and useful to me for my studies.
A lot of different greatings
The adumu of the Maasai is not a greeting but part of a warrior’s rite of passage