# What Does Namaste Mean? How to Greet People in Nepal _Published 22 August 2026_ The first word you'll learn in Nepal, and the one you'll use most, is **namaste**. It's said with a smile, often with palms pressed together, and opens doors everywhere. **Quick answer:** namaste comes from Sanskrit and means roughly "**I bow to you**". In Nepal it is used for both hello and goodbye. Press your palms together in front of your chest and bow your head slightly. **Namaskar** is a more respectful form, used with elders. ## How to say it - Place your palms together at chest height, fingers pointing up. - Bow your head slightly and say "namaste". - With elders or respected people, you can say "namaskar". ## When to use it Use it when greeting anyone: shopkeepers, lodge owners, people you pass on the trail. Children on trekking routes will often shout "namaste!" as you walk by. ## Other greeting etiquette - Handshakes are common in cities, especially between men; follow the other person's lead. - Public displays of affection are uncommon. - Use the right hand to give and receive things, or both hands as a sign of respect. - In Sherpa areas, you may hear "tashi delek". Learn more in our [Nepali phrases for travellers](/blog/nepali-phrases-for-travellers) and [is English spoken in Nepal?](/blog/is-english-spoken-in-nepal) ## The meaning behind the word **Namaste** comes from two Sanskrit words: *namah*, meaning "bow" or "salutation", and *te*, meaning "to you". Together, it means "I bow to you". Many people interpret it more deeply as "the divine in me honours the divine in you", reflecting the Hindu and Buddhist idea that something sacred lives within every person. The gesture that goes with it, palms pressed together at the heart, is called **anjali mudra** and is also used in prayer and meditation. When Nepalis greet you with namaste, they are offering respect, warmth and welcome all at once. ## Namaste vs namaskar NamasteNamaskarFormalityEveryday, friendly and politeMore formal and respectfulUsed withAlmost everyoneElders, officials, teachers, religious figures, formal occasionsGesturePalms together, slight nodPalms together, deeper bow, sometimes hands raised higherVisitors can use namaste with everyone; namaskar is a nice touch when meeting older people or in formal settings. ## Greetings in Nepal's other languages Community or languageGreetingSherpa and Tibetan communitiesTashi delekNewar (Nepal Bhasa)JwajalapaRai and Limbu (Kirat)SewaroTamangFyafullaMuslim communitiesAssalamu alaikumUsing a community's own greeting, even clumsily, is always appreciated. When in doubt, namaste works everywhere. ## How the gesture changes - **Everyday:** palms together at chest height, with a slight nod or bow of the head. - **Greater respect:** palms raised to the forehead, with a deeper bow, for elders, teachers or holy people. - **At a temple:** palms raised higher, sometimes above the head, before a deity. - **Casual:** among friends, a quick "namaste" with one hand raised, or just the word. ## Namaste in different situations - **On the trail:** greet everyone you meet, including porters, farmers and children. It is part of the rhythm of trekking. - **In a lodge or homestay:** greet your hosts when you arrive and leave, and greet elders first. - **In shops and restaurants:** a namaste on entering sets a friendly tone. - **Meeting monks or nuns:** namaste or tashi delek with palms together; avoid handshakes unless they offer. - **Saying goodbye:** namaste again, perhaps with "pheri bhetaula" (see you again). ## Handshakes, hugs and touch In cities and business settings, handshakes are common, especially between men, and many Nepalis will shake hands with visitors. Between men and women, wait to see whether a hand is offered; many women prefer a namaste. Hugging and kissing in greeting are uncommon outside close friends and family, and public displays of affection are generally avoided. Touching someone's head, even a child's, is considered disrespectful, as the head is seen as the most sacred part of the body. ## Other polite customs - Use your right hand, or both hands, to give and receive things, especially money, food and gifts. - Remove your shoes before entering homes and temples. - Don't point your feet at people or step over someone sitting on the floor. - Address people as **dai** (older brother), **didi** (older sister), **bhai** or **bahini** (younger brother or sister), or add **-ji** to names for respect. - Accept tea or food when offered, even if only a little; refusing can seem unfriendly. See [Nepali phrases](/blog/nepali-phrases-for-travellers). ## Namaste beyond Nepal Namaste is used across South Asia, especially in India and Nepal, and has spread around the world through yoga, where teachers often close a class with "namaste". In Nepal, though, it is not a special or spiritual word reserved for yoga; it is the everyday greeting of millions of people, used as naturally as "hello". Visitors are sometimes surprised to hear children shouting it from fields and rooftops, or to see bus conductors, shopkeepers and soldiers all using it. Using namaste naturally and often is one of the easiest ways to fit in. ## Body language that goes with greetings Nepalis are generally warm and polite, but often reserved with strangers at first. Eye contact is normal but not intense, especially between men and women. A gentle smile accompanies most greetings. When meeting a family, greet the eldest person first. Standing up when an older person enters the room, and offering them your seat, is a sign of respect. In villages, people may ask very personal questions soon after meeting, such as your age, whether you are married and how many children you have; this is friendly curiosity, not rudeness. ## Greeting during festivals During festivals, greetings change. At Dashain, people say **"Dashain ko shubhakamana"**; at Tihar, **"Tihar ko shubhakamana"**; and at the Nepali New Year in mid-April, **"Naya barsha ko shubhakamana"**. At Lhosar in Sherpa, Tamang and Gurung communities, **"Lhosar tashi delek"** is common. Elders may give younger people tika and blessings, and visitors invited to join are usually welcomed warmly. See [festivals](/blog/festivals-of-nepal). ## Saying thank you and goodbye "Thank you" in Nepali is **dhanyabad**, but Nepalis use it less often than English speakers do; among friends and family, thanks are often expressed through actions and smiles. A namaste with a smile when leaving a shop or lodge is enough. When you leave someone's home, you can say **"aba jaanchhu"** ("I'll go now") and namaste, and your hosts may reply **"pheri aaunus"** ("please come again"). ## Common mistakes to avoid - **Over-bowing:** a slight nod is enough; a deep bow can seem theatrical in everyday situations. - **Using it sarcastically:** namaste is sincere; avoid jokey uses you might see online. - **Ignoring elders:** greet the eldest people first in a group or family. - **Greeting with the left hand:** if you wave or offer a hand, use the right. - **Forgetting to greet:** walking into a shop, lodge or home without a greeting can seem abrupt. ## A trekking ritual On Nepal's trails, namaste becomes a rhythm. You will exchange it dozens of times a day with porters bent under heavy loads, women carrying grass, monks walking between monasteries, and other trekkers from all over the world. Many trekkers say that this simple greeting, repeated again and again in the mountains, is one of the things they miss most when they return home. See [questions trekkers ask our guides](/blog/questions-trekkers-ask-our-guides). ## Teaching children to greet In Nepali families, children are taught from a young age to greet elders with namaste, or by touching an elder's feet in more traditional settings, a gesture of deep respect called **dhok** in some communities. If you travel with children, teaching them to say namaste with palms together will delight the people you meet and open doors to friendships with Nepali children along the way. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does namaste mean? Roughly "I bow to you". ### Is namaste hello or goodbye? Both, in Nepal. ### What is the difference between namaste and namaskar? Namaskar is a more respectful form. ### How do you greet Sherpas? "Tashi delek" is a common Tibetan-style greeting. ### What does namaste literally mean? "I bow to you", from the Sanskrit namah (bow) and te (to you). ### How do you greet Newars? "Jwajalapa", the Newar greeting, though namaste is also used everywhere. ### What is the namaste gesture called? Anjali mudra: palms pressed together at the heart. ### Should I shake hands or say namaste? Namaste is always appropriate; shake hands if someone offers, especially in business settings. ### Can I touch a child's head in Nepal? Better not; the head is considered sacred. ### How do you say Happy New Year in Nepali? "Naya barsha ko shubhakamana". ### Do Nepalis say thank you often? Less than English speakers; thanks are often shown through smiles and actions, but "dhanyabad" is always appreciated. ### What are common greeting mistakes? Over-bowing, ignoring elders, using the left hand and forgetting to greet when entering. ### Do trekkers say namaste to each other? Yes. It is the standard greeting on the trail for everyone. ### What is touching an elder's feet called? In some communities it is called dhok, a gesture of deep respect. ### Should children say namaste? Yes. Nepalis are delighted when visiting children greet them with namaste. ### How do you say "please come again" in Nepali? "Pheri aaunus", often said by hosts when you leave. ### Is it rude not to say namaste? Not rude, but greeting people with namaste is friendly and appreciated everywhere. Web page: https://himalayanhiking.com/blog/what-does-namaste-mean