"hello, hi" in seven languages
Meaninghello, hi
Spanish
/ˈola/
other source · Interjection of uncertain origin
French
/saly/
other source · Latin SALŪTEM 'health, greeting'
Informal; the all-purpose greeting is bonjour.
Italian
/ˈtʃao/
other source · Venetian s-ciao, s-ciavo '(your) servant', from Medieval Latin SCLAVUM 'Slav, slave'
Portuguese
/oj/
other source · interjection of uncertain origin
Olá is the more formal hello; Portugal prefers olá.
Romanian
/saˈlut/
other source · French salut (Latin SALŪTEM 'health, greeting')
Bună (ziua) is the other everyday greeting.
Catalan
/ˈɔlə/
other source · interjection of uncertain origin (as Spanish hola)
English
/həˈloʊ/
native English · English hallo / hollo (a call to attract attention)
The story
Ciao is Venetian s-ciavo, '(I am your) slave', a servant's courtesy like Austrian servus; it spread across Italy and on to Latin American Spanish (chau, chao). French salut is the old Latin wish of health, SALŪTEM, the same word as Spanish salud.
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In a sentence
- es¡Hola, Marta!
- frSalut Marta !
- itCiao, Marta!
- ptOi, Marta!
- roSalut, Marta!
- caHola, Marta!
- enHi, Marta!
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- pleasepor favors'il vous plaîtper favorepor favorvă rogsi us plau
- thank you, thanksgraciasmercigrazieobrigadomulțumescgràcies
- you're welcomede nadade rienpregode nadacu plăcerede res
- yessíouisìsimdasí