What does namaste mean? And how to use it in India

It is printed on mats and mugs and said at the end of countless classes, often with a small bow that nobody explains. Here is what it is.

What it literally means

Namaste is two Sanskrit words joined (our yoga glossary explains over a hundred more):

• namah (namas) — a bow, obeisance, respectful salutation;
• te — to you.

So the literal meaning is simply "I bow to you" or "salutations to you". There is a slightly more formal version, namaskar or namaskara, which means the act of bowing itself. You will hear both in India.

The gesture

The words usually come with a gesture: the palms pressed together in front of the chest, fingers pointing up, with a slight bow of the head. In yoga this hand position is called anjali mudra, the gesture of offering. It is one of the mudras, and it turns up in the sun salutation at the start and end of each round.

In India the gesture often stands on its own, without the word. Raising the joined hands slightly towards someone, with a small nod, says the whole thing.

How it is used in India

Namaste is an everyday greeting across much of India, used for both hello and, less often, goodbye. It carries respect, and it is particularly natural:

• when greeting someone older than you;
• in formal situations, or on meeting someone for the first time;
• at temples and religious occasions;
• as a courteous alternative to a handshake.

Among friends and younger people you are just as likely to hear an ordinary "hi". In business, men commonly shake hands. Namaste is never wrong, but it is more formal than visitors sometimes expect.

Namaskaram in Kerala

In Malayalam, Kerala's language, the usual word is namaskaram. You will hear it far more often here than namaste, which is more common in the Hindi-speaking north. The gesture is the same.

A few other words go a long way in Fort Kochi: nanni is thank you, and a smile and a small nod does most of the rest.

The popular translation

In yoga studios around the world, namaste is often translated as "the divine in me honours the divine in you" or "the light in me sees the light in you".

That is a beautiful thought and it fits the spirit of Vedanta, which does hold that the same self is present in everyone. But it is an interpretation, not a translation. The words themselves simply say "I bow to you". Which is arguably the deeper statement: the bow is the whole thing.

A little etiquette

• Visitors are welcome to use it. Said sincerely, it is received warmly, and people will appreciate the effort.
• It is not a joke word. Using it sarcastically or as a pun lands badly with many people here.
• With elders, it is always appropriate. A namaste to an older host or shopkeeper is a small, noticed courtesy.
• At the end of a class, the teacher usually says it and the room answers. Join in or simply bow; both are fine.

There is more on how to behave in a class here — shoes, phones, arriving late — in what to wear to a yoga class in India.

Common questions

What does namaste literally mean?

It combines the Sanskrit namah, a bow or salutation, with te, to you. Literally it means “I bow to you” or “salutations to you.”

Does namaste mean “the divine in me honours the divine in you”?

Not literally. That is a popular modern interpretation used in yoga studios. It fits the spirit of Vedanta, but the words themselves simply mean “I bow to you.”

Is it OK for tourists to say namaste in India?

Yes. Said sincerely it is received warmly and is always appropriate with elders. It is more formal than many visitors expect, and among younger people a simple hello is just as common.

How do you say hello in Kerala?

The usual Malayalam greeting is namaskaram, with the same joined-palms gesture as namaste. Thank you is nanni.