- Author:
- Ellery Rosin
- Published:
- April 18, 2019
- Favorites:
Respecting the people you meet and the cultures you experience is among the most important things you can do while traveling. (Though dressing appropriately is also on the list. Check out these packing tips.)
One way to show respect for the people and places you visit is to learn to say hello and communicate in the local language as much as you can.
Please review the culturally-appropriate greetings and key phrases for your destination country below.
Australia
Greeting: Hi (or G’day!)
Naming: first name
Ex. Hi Sam
Goodbye: Goodbye
Please: Please
Thank you: Thank you
Balkans
Greeting: Poštovana
Naming: first name
Ex. Poštovana Zack
Goodbye: Zdravo
Please: Molim
Thank you: Hvala
Cambodia
Greeting: Sui’sday (informal) / Chum Reap Suor (formal)
Naming: first name (if they’re younger than you are) / Bong first name (if they’re older than you are)
Ex. Chum Reap Suor Bong Lexi
Goodbye: Lear-hiey
Please: Som
Thank you: Or-kun
China
Greeting: Ni Hao
Naming: first name
Ex. Ni Hao Amanda
Goodbye: Zai jian
Please: Qing
Thank you: Xie xie
Costa Rica
Greetings: Hola
Naming: first name
Ex. Hola Wainer
Goodbye: Adios
Please: Por favor
Thank you: Gracias
Cuba
Greeting: Hola or Estimado (for men) / Estimada (for women)
Naming: Srta first name (women), Sr first name (for men)
Ex. Estimado Sr Harry
Goodbye: Adios
Please: Por favor
Thank you: Gracias
Dominican Republic
Greeting: Hola or Estimado (for men) / Estimada (for women)
Naming: Srta first name (women) / Sr first name (for men)
Ex. Estimada Srta Kate
Goodbye: Adios
Please: Por favor
Thank you: Gracias
Fiji
Greeting: Bula, Bula Vinaka (formal)
Naming: first name
Ex. Bula Bethany
Goodbye: Moce
Please: Kerekere
Thank you: Vinaka
India and Nepal
Greeting: Namaste
Naming: first name
Ex. Namaste Sudarshan
Goodbye: Namaste
Please: Krupya
Thank you: Dhanyavad
Laos
Greeting: Sabaidee
Naming: first name
Ex. Sabaidee John
Goodbye: Sohk dee deuh
Please: Kaluna
Thank you: Khop Jai
Mongolia
Greeting: Sain Baina Uu
Naming: first name
Ex. Sain Baina Uu Amanda
Goodbye: Bayartai
Please: Guij baina
Thank you: Ba-yar-laa
Morocco
Greeting: Salam
Naming: Mr. first name (men) / Ms. first name (women)
Ex. Salam Ms. Chaima
Goodbye: B’salama
Please: ‘Afak
Thank you: Shukran
Myanmar
Greeting: Mingalabar
Naming: Ko first name (men) / first name (women)
Ex. Mingalabar Ko Chit Oo
Goodbye: Thwa me naw
Please: Jay zu pyu bee
Thank you: Jay zu beh
Peru
Greeting: Hola
Naming: first name
Ex. Hola Kelly
Goodbye: Adios
Please: Por favor
Thank you: Gracias
Tanzania
Greeting: Hujambo (to one person) / Hamjambo (to multiple people)
Naming: Mr. first name (men) / Ms. first name (women) or Mama (older women) / Baba (older men)
Ex. Hamjambo Mr. Patrick and Ms. Tuse
Goodbye: Kwaheri
Please: Tafadhali
Thank you: Asante
Thailand
Greeting: Sawasdee Kah (if you’re a women) / Sawasdee Krap (if you’re a men)
Naming: Khun first name (for people around your age), P’first name (for people older than you)
Ex. Sawasdee Ka Khun Bryan
Goodbye: Laa korn
Please: Karunaa
Thank you: Korp kun krap / kah
USA
Greeting: Hello / Hi / Hey (informal)
Naming: first name
Ex. Hey Dani
Goodbye: Goodbye / Bye (informal)
Please: Please
Thank you: Thank you / thanks (informal)
Learn more key phrases and other information about our destination countries in our country books.
Ellery Rosin
Program Staffing and Training Coordinator
Going on her father’s university field trips to Costa Rica as a child, Ellery learned the value of experiential education and travel at an early age. She has been working in travel, adventure, and education since before she graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in culture, health, and the environment. Before assuming her role on the program staffing and training team, she worked as the New Orleans Program Manager, led programs for Rustic in five countries, and spent two years in Ethiopia as a Peace Corps volunteer.