1. English

Phrase: Hello

Usage: The most widely used greeting in English-speaking countries, applicable in both formal and informal contexts.

2. Spanish

Phrase: Hola (OH-lah)

Usage: A flexible and commonly used greeting in Spanish-speaking countries, appropriate for both formal and informal situations.

3. French

Phrase: Bonjour (bohn-ZHOOR)

Usage: Bonjour is the French way to say hello during the daytime, literally meaning “good day.” For evening greetings, Bonsoir (bohn-SWAHR) is used.

4. Italian

Phrase: Ciao (chow)

Usage: A casual greeting in Italy, often used among friends and family. In formal settings, Italians might say Buongiorno (bwohn-JOR-noh) to greet someone with “good day.”

5. German

Phrase: Hallo (HAH-loh)

Usage: Hallo is used in most situations in German-speaking countries, both formally and informally.

6. Portuguese

Phrase: Olá (oh-LAH)

Usage: In Portugal and Brazil, Olá is the common greeting, used in both casual and formal situations.

7. Mandarin Chinese

Phrase: (nǐ hǎo) 你好 

Usage: Nǐ hǎo is the typical greeting in Mandarin, translating to “are you well?” it is used in China very commonly and other Mandarin speaking regions.

8. Japanese

Phrase: こんにちは (konnichiwa)

Usage: A polite greeting used during the daytime. For more formal settings, you can say おはようございます (ohayō gozaimasu) in the morning, or こんばんは (konbanwa) in the evening.

9. Korean

Phrase: 안녕하세요 (annyeong haseyo)

Usage: Annyeong haseyo is a polite and common greeting in South Korea. The informal version is simply Annyeong.

10. Arabic

Phrase: مرحبا (marhaban)

Usage: Marhaban is commonly used across the Arabic-speaking world. Another widely used greeting is السلام عليكم (as-salāmu ʿalaykum), meaning “peace be upon you,” often used in more formal or religious contexts.

11. Russian

Phrase: Привет (privet)

Usage: Privet is a casual and friendly greeting in Russian. The formal version is Здравствуйте (zdravstvuyte), often used with people you don’t know well or in professional settings.

12. Hindi

Phrase: नमस्ते (namaste)

Usage: Namaste is a respectful and traditional greeting in India, meaning “I bow to the divine in you.” It’s used in both formal and informal contexts and is accompanied with a gesture of placing your palms together.

13. Swahili

Phrase: Habari (hah-BAH-ree)

Usage: Habari is a common greeting in many parts of East Africa. Another variant is Jambo, often used in tourist areas.

14. Turkish

Phrase: Merhaba (MEHR-hah-bah)

Usage: Merhaba is the standard greeting used throughout Turkey, suitable for both casual and formal conversations.

15. Dutch

Phrase: Hallo (HAH-loh)

Usage: Hallo is commonly used in the Netherlands and Belgium, much like the English version, and is used in both casual and formal situations.

16. Greek

Phrase: Γειά σας (Yia sas)

Usage: Yia sas is a polite way to greet people in Greece. For more casual situations, Yia sou (Γειά σου) is used with friends or people of the same age.

17. Hebrew

Phrase: שלום (Shalom)

Usage: Shalom means peace, but it’s commonly used as both a greeting and farewell in Israel. 

18. Polish

Phrase: Cześć (cheh-shch)

Usage: Cześć is a casual greeting in Polish, used with friends and family. The formal version is Dzień dobry (djen DOH-bri) meaning “good day.”

19. Finnish

Phrase: Hei (hey)

Usage: Hei is the most common greeting in Finland, similar to the English “hi.” A more formal greeting would be Hyvää huomenta (good morning) or Hyvää päivää (good day).

20. Thai

Phrase: สวัสดี (sawasdee)

Usage: Sawasdee is used in Thailand for both hello and goodbye. The greeting is often accompanied by a traditional gesture known as the wai, where the palms are pressed together in front of the chest.

21. Vietnamese

Phrase: Xin chào (sin chao)

Usage: Xin chào is the standard greeting in Vietnam, suitable for both formal and informal settings.

22. Zulu

Phrase: Sawubona (sah-WOO-boh-nah)

Usage: Sawubona is a traditional greeting in Zulu, used when greeting a single person. It means “I see you,” and the response is Yebo (yes).