Learning to say hello correctly: the meaning of greeting words in the culture of different peoples. World Hello Day, or how they say hello in different countries

How to say hello in different countries?

How many times a day do we say hello? "Good afternoon!" We welcome the client. "Hello!" - we say to a friend. "Hello!" - talking on the phone Do you know what these words mean? Where did the custom of greeting each other come from?

If you look at how it is customary to greet in different countries, then the conclusion simply suggests itself that the greeting has some kind of deep meaning:

For example, in France they say: "Comment ca va" - which can be translated: "How is it going?".

And the Italians greet each other with the words: "Come sta", which means: "How are you standing?"

An Arab would say to you: "Salaam alei-kun!" - "Peace be with you!"

An Englishman would ask "How do you do?" which literally means "How are you doing?"

In India, for example, in the morning you would be asked: "Did the mosquitoes bother you too much last night?"

The traditional greeting in Thailand is called "wai", in which hands clasped together are applied to the head or chest, with the position of the hands and the duration of the whole gesture determined social position welcomed: the more significant the status of the person, the higher the palms rise, and the longer the wai lasts.

The origin of this gesture is deeply rooted in ancient history states. Unlike the handshake adopted in European countries, in Thai society they greet at a considerable distance from each other, pressing their palms to their chest and slightly bowing their heads. At first glance, it only seems that all Thais do “wai” in the same way. You will be right if you say this, because, for sure, you can judge by the way they do it when they greet you, foreigners. As soon as you observe a little how this happens in a normal home environment, where there is a difference in age and position between family members, you will very soon see clear differences.

Obviously people different peoples in greeting emphasize what is most important in their lives. For Russians, it is health, from which our "Hello!" comes, i.e. live healthy, be healthy. For the British and Americans, this is work. For the Italians - stability, and for the French, on the contrary, - change. For the Arabs, as well as for some African peoples, peace. And if you try, you can certainly find confirmation of this in the history of countries.

In addition to words and expressions, we also use gestures to greet.


The most common is probably the handshake. It is studied by psychologists, believing that it says a lot about a person's character. Etiquette ascribes a whole ritual, who, when and to whom should shake hands.

It was customary for the Indians to run up to each other and rub their noses. So they expressed their joy from meeting a person and good disposition towards him.

And in the old days, it was customary for noble gentlemen to bow to each other, taking off their hats and sweeping the floor with feathers? Insanely beautiful and romantic custom! But this, too, was not just an elegant ritual. The style of greeting, the number of steps and the waving of the hat spoke of the nobility and position of the nobleman, even his rank and privileges. Thus, the gentlemen showed each other what place they occupy in society.

Later, this greeting became simpler, as, in fact, the hats themselves. The men began to greet each other, slightly raising their headdress. And now hardly anyone wears hats. And the custom itself, greeting, taking off your hat, came to us from knightly times, when two knights, greeting each other, raised the visor of the helmet, or even took it off to reveal their faces. So they demonstrated sincerity and purity of intentions.

In Europe and New Guinea, it is a common custom to greet each other at a distance with a "take-off" of the eyebrows, when both eyebrows simultaneously rise, fly up. Only in Europe this gesture is used to greet good friends and relatives, in New Guinea - to greet foreigners.

And in ancient times, the Tuareg tribe living in the deserts had a very complex and long greeting. It started when two more people were about a hundred meters from each other and could last as long as half an hour! The Tuareg bowed, jumped, grimaced...

Now, perhaps, many of these customs may seem meaningless. But they have their own history and their own motives. The Tuareg, for example, tried in this way to recognize if a stranger was approaching him in order to prepare, in case of danger, for defense.

The same goals were pursued by the special greetings of the members secret societies or organizations. Remember the Angelica books? The inhabitants of the Court of Miracles, beggars, greeted each other and spat on the ground. The Nazis threw forward a hand with a straightened palm. Even the divers from Sergey Lukyanenko's book had their own special greeting - extending their hand, they cunningly folded their fingers.

There are several theories about the origin of the custom of shaking hands when greeting each other.

The most common is that in ancient times, when people gathered in small groups-tribes, often at war with each other, meeting each other, they, like the Tuareg, held out their hands to each other, showing that they had no weapons, that they had come with the world.

But there is another theory.

Sociologist Spencer believes that the handshake is a residual phenomenon ancient custom.

In ancient times, warriors did not leave alive defeated enemies. But later a man came up with the idea that the enemy can be kept as a free servant, a slave. And recognizing himself defeated and subdued, as a token of gratitude for the fact that life was given to him, the newly-made slave first fell on his face, as if showing that he was killed, defeated, then slowly rose, kneeling, and extended both palms to his master, showing that he gives himself to him.

Perhaps that is why in Latin and the words "hand" - "manus" and "submit" - "manus dare", and later also "mansuetus" - "tamed", "slave" are the same root.

And, perhaps, this is where the custom of kissing the hand of a more noble and influential person comes from? The nobleman - to the king, the servant - to the nobleman, the man - to the woman, demonstrating his humility, bowing before someone else's greatness.


Spencer doesn't stop there. He further suggests the following. Let us fast forward to later times, when the phenomenon of slavery was already in the past, but the division into castes still remained. Imagine a not very powerful person wants to please a more influential person by kissing his hand, demonstrating respect. But an influential person, to the best of his own reasons, not just modesty, but perhaps disgust, opposes this and tries to pull his hand away. The first insists on his own. And what happens? It is quite possible that the custom of shaking hands, greeting each other, could be born from such a pulling of the hand.

Interesting theory? Therefore, the next time a man kisses your hand, you can safely consider yourself a queen!

Yuri Nikulin in his book recalled that in the first days of the war, our territory in large quantities the Germans, dressed in the uniform of the Soviet military, were thrown. One of these saboteurs was summed up by an unexpected meeting on the street with Soviet general: instead of taking it under the visor, he threw his hand up.

In the Akamba tribe of Kenya, as a sign of deep respect, they spit on the oncoming one. Also spitting greet in the Maasai tribe. True, they spit on their own hands, and then shake hands with another.

Memento more - "remember death." The famous phrase, it turns out, was also a greeting: this is how members of the Trappist order greeted in the Middle Ages. The monks reminded each other that a person must live with dignity in order to avoid punishment for sins in the next world.

Greetings from the inhabitants of Easter Island: stand straight, clench your hands into fists, stretch them out in front of you, raise them above your head, open your fists and let your hands fall quietly.

It is customary among some Indian tribes at the sight stranger squat down until a stranger approaches and notices you.

The Japanese are very responsible for greetings. They use three types of bows - very low, medium and light. The most respected and wealthy people are greeted with a low bow.

Tibetans, when meeting, take off their headdress with their right hand, left hand put behind the ear and stick out the tongue.

In the New Guinea tribe, the Koiri tickle each other with their chins when they meet.

In Samoa, you will be misunderstood if you do not sniff your friend when you meet.

Native New Zealand greetings: when meeting, they first shout out words in a ferocious and staccato manner, then slap their thighs with their hands, then stomp their feet with all their might and bend their knees, and finally inflate chest, bulging eyes and sticking out tongues from time to time.

* Russia. People at a meeting wish each other good health and exchange friendly handshakes.
* Germany. Strictly! Until 12 noon they say " Good morning", from 12 to 17 - "Good afternoon", after 17 - "Good evening".
* USA. Question: "How are you?" Answer: "Everything is great!", even if not everything is great. Saying "bad" is the height of indecency!
* Malaysia. Question: Where are you going? Answer: Walk.
* Israel. People say to each other "Peace be with you!"
* Iran. People say to each other "Be cheerful!"
* Greenland. People say to each other "Good weather!", even if it's minus 40 degrees outside and a damp wind is blowing!
* France. When meeting and parting in an informal setting, it is customary to kiss, touching each other's cheeks in turn and sending one to five kisses into the air.
* Italy. People say "Chao" to each other.
* Countries Latin America. When meeting, it is customary to hug even if it is an unfamiliar or complete stranger.
* Lapland (a region in Finland, Sweden and Norway). When meeting people rub their noses against each other.
* Japan. When meeting, people bow in one of three types of bows - the lowest, medium with an angle of 30 degrees, or light.
* China. When meeting, people bow with arms extended along the body.
* India. As a sign of greeting, people fold their hands together and respectfully press them to their chest.
* Arab countries. When meeting, people cross their arms over their chests.
* Samoa (an island state in the Pacific Ocean). When meeting people sniff each other.
* Tibet (a region in China). When meeting, people take off their headgear with their right hand, and put their left hand behind their ear and stick out their tongue.
* Zulu (Negroid people in South Africa). When they meet, they exclaim "I see you!".
* It is customary for some African tribes to spit at each other when they meet, and a more delicious spit is a sign of more respectful attitude, and if they didn’t spit at you, this is a sign of complete disrespect, if not contempt.
* Some Indian tribes in America have to squat when meeting. This position is considered the most peaceful.
* Some Indian peoples take off their shoes when they meet.
* Mongolia. When meeting people say to each other "Are your cattle healthy?".
* Representatives of some people in China shake hands with themselves when they meet.
(from internet)

The most common action we do every day is to greet each other. We greet not only people close to us and friends, but even strangers. The greeting is so common that every year November 21st is World Hello Day. Each country and culture has certain rules of greeting. In some countries, the greeting is so unusual that it brings a smile to the representatives of other cultures.

The most common greeting, as in Everyday life, and at business meetings, is a handshake. IN Slavic countries This is how men usually say hello. If people meet for the first time, then during the handshake they still introduce themselves to each other. There are some rules in handshake etiquette:

• a man should be the first to extend his hand to a woman (although this rule in England it works exactly the opposite);
  
• if you are sitting at the moment when a hand is extended to you, then you need to get up;
  
• shaking hands at any time of the year should be done without gloves;
  
• if there is a person in front of you who is higher in status or older, wait until he reaches out first.
  

To one of the most unusual ways greetings can be attributed custom Tibetan people. At a meeting, as well as at parting, the younger Tibetan should take off his hat in front of the elder, bow his head slightly, put his left hand behind his ear and show his tongue. This cultural tradition given people appeared a very long time ago. It is believed that by showing the tongue, the interlocutor assures that he is not possessed by demons, since they have black tongues.

A special tradition of greeting can boast Japanese. In their culture, it is customary to bow and pronounce “konnichiva” (in Russian it means “the day has come”). They do not violate their tradition, so tourists from the Land of the Rising Sun need to learn their greeting culture. There are three types of bows in Japan:

• Saikerei is the lowest bow, which is done very slowly. Such a bow expresses deep respect;
  
• ordinary (ceremonial) - this is a bow when a person leans at an angle of 20-30 degrees and is in such a slope for a couple of seconds;
  
• a slight bow occurs only 15 degrees: a slight tilt of the torso and head is made.
  

IN India as a sign of greeting, it is customary to fold the palms up so that the tips of the fingers are at the level of the eyebrows. Also, between close people, if they have not met for a long time, hugs are possible: for men they are strong with a pat on the back, and women lightly hug each other and touch their cheeks twice.

One of the most interesting ways greetings in Kenya. Most strong men dancing to greet national dance Adam. In it, they show all their strength and compete to see who can jump higher. They also greet with a handshake, but before that, men always spit on their hands. And the first time they spit on the ground, and the second time - on the hand. If you spit only once and immediately on your hand, then express disrespect in this way. Women during the greeting sing a song and press their palm to the palm of the interlocutor. In the Akamba tribe, as a sign of respect for a person, they even spit in the face when they meet.

IN Thailand, following their traditions, Thais join their palms as a sign of greeting and apply them to the head or chest. The traditional greeting is called wai. Great importance has a distance between the palms and the human body. The closer the palms are brought to the head or chest, the more respect the person shows you.

In France, in addition to the usual handshakes, when meeting and parting in an informal setting, it is customary to touch the cheeks three times, depicting kisses.

A very beautiful welcome ritual. northern African countries. When they greet, they bring their right hand first to the forehead, then to the chest and to the lips. These gestures can be translated as "I think of you, I talk about you, I respect you." IN Zambezia when greeting, people squat and clap their hands.

Hot by nature representatives Latin America when meeting, they exclaim “buenos dias” and hug each other, at the same time patting on the shoulders. Moreover, it is customary to hug both familiar people and those whom they met for the first time.

Very nice greeting from the representatives Lapland(a region in Finland, Norway and Sweden). When meeting people rub their noses against each other.

IN New Zealand Maori ( indigenous people) also touch their noses when they meet. Such a tradition has existed among them since ancient times and symbolizes the "breath of life." After such a greeting, you are no longer considered a stranger, but perceived as a close person.

One of the most unusual and funny greetings is met by residents of a small state. Tuvalu(state in Polynesia). When they greet each other, they press their faces against their cheeks and sniff each other.

IN Mongolia the owner of the house, when meeting a guest, should give a ribbon (hadu) made of silk or chintz as a sign of hospitality and greeting. The color of the tape should be light (pale yellow or light blue). Passing the ribbon is a sign of respect, as well as an ancestral tradition that is still followed in Mongolian culture.

At northern peoples Greenland(Eskimos) also have their own long-standing culture of greeting: when meeting relatives and dear people, they press against the face of the interlocutor with their nose and upper lip and breathe. Unfamiliar people are greeted by rubbing their noses. However, men have their own, “rude” greeting: when they greet each other, they lightly hit each other on the back and head.

A whole greeting ritual is observed by the indigenous people easter islands. First, they stretch their fists in front of them to chest level, then raise them up and, opening them, sharply throw them down.

Local population Philippines also boasts a unique greeting. When they meet, they bow, take the interlocutor's right hand, and then touch his forehead with their knuckles, while saying: “Mano po” (“hand” and “respect”).

In some Indian tribes still, when meeting a stranger, it is customary to squat down and sit like that until he sees. Such a sign demonstrates peacefulness. You may also be offered to smoke a "peace pipe".

There are many more unique greeting traditions. How many peoples, so many cultures of greetings. Each "hello" is individual and carries a special, deep meaning. Some greeting traditions surprise, others make you smile. But, no doubt, in whatever country you greet, greeting, people want only health, warmth, kindness, light and love. No matter how this greeting is expressed.

The greeting plays very big role in our life, because it is with this that communication between people begins. By saying hello, a person shows his attitude towards other people. And how successfully he does this depends on how their further conversation will turn out. Greeting how you can arrange a person to communicate, and push away.

Arab countries Arab countries people put their hand on their chest and say "Assalam alaikum". This means that peace is wished to you from the bottom of your heart. You can shake hands with an Arab man, but women are greeted only with words.

Japan The Japanese are the most responsible for greetings. They use three types of bows - the lowest - for the most respected and rich, medium and light. Their greeting "Konnitiva" means nothing more than "the day has come". Moreover, you can say “Konnitiva” strictly from 10 am to 6 pm. Then "Kombanwa" - "good evening" comes into force.

New Zealand To welcome the natives of New Zealand, Maori, get ready for a little gymnastics. When meeting, the Maori first shout out words in a fierce and staccato manner, then slap their hands on their thighs, then stomp their feet with all their might and bend their knees, and finally puff up their chests, bulge their eyes and stick out their tongues from time to time.

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Travel notes

Getting ready to travel to new country, we try to learn a few phrases in the language of the country we are going to. And we are interested, and people are pleased when they say "thank you" or "please" on their mother tongue. We have collected for you unusual greetings from the peoples of the world, which will surely remain in your memory, and if fate suddenly throws you to Samoa or Kenya, you will remember our article and greet local residents according to all customs and canons.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, the indigenous people, the Maori, touch each other with their noses when they meet. This tradition goes back centuries. It is called "hongi" and symbolizes the breath of life - "ha", ascending to the gods themselves. After that, the Maori perceive the person as their friend, and not just as a visitor. This tradition is observed even when meeting at " highest level”, so do not be surprised if you see on TV how the president of a country rubs his nose with the representative of New Zealand. This is etiquette and should not be broken.

Iran

Iranians shake hands at a meeting, then put their right hand to their hearts (moreover, the youngest or lower standing on the social ladder, if he was not greeted with a handshake, only puts his hand to his heart) - a sign of greeting and deep respect; in the Middle East, respect and deep respect to a high-ranking person they express it as follows: the palm of the right hand covers the left hand, both hands are lowered down and pressed to the body, which is slightly tilted forward, the head is lowered.

Andaman Islands

A native of the Andaman Islands sits on the knees of another, hugs his neck and cries. And do not think that he is complaining about his fate or wants to tell some tragic episode from his life. Thus, he rejoices in meeting his friend, and tears are the sincerity with which he meets his fellow tribesman.

Samoa

Samoans sniff each other when they meet. For them it is rather tribute ancestors than a serious ritual. Once upon a time, in this way, the Samoans tried to find out where the person they greeted was from. The smell could tell how many people walked through the jungle or when last time ate But more often than not, a stranger was identified by smell.

Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, after shaking hands, the host puts the guest's left hand on the right shoulder and kisses on both cheeks. If the owner’s wife is at home at this moment, then you will be introduced to her, you need to be friendly with her, but restrainedly, it is not customary to shake hands with a woman.

Kenya

The Maasai tribe is the most ancient in Kenya, it is famous for its ancient and unusual rites. One of these rituals is the welcome dance to Adam. It is performed only by the men of the tribe, as a rule, these are wars. The dancers stand in a circle and begin to jump high. The higher he jumps, the brighter he will show his courage and courage. As the Maasai lead natural economy, they often have to jump like this when hunting lions and other animals.

Tibet

In Tibet, when they meet, they show each other their tongue. Such a custom goes on from IX, when Tibet was ruled by the tyrant-king Landarma. He had a black tongue. So the Tibetans were afraid that the king, after his death, might settle in someone else, and therefore they decided to show their tongue in order to protect themselves from evil. If you want to follow this custom as well - make sure you don't eat anything that stains your tongue in dark color otherwise misunderstanding may occur. The arms are usually held crossed over the chest.

Mongolia

During the meeting of the guest, the owner of the house gives the visitor a silk or chintz ribbon - khad. Its color is white, pale blue or light yellow. Taking the hada with both hands, the guest should bow slightly to the host.

Baffin Island, Canadian Arctic

The main population here is the Eskimos, and so they strike a friend with a fist on the head and shoulders as a sign of greeting. They hit hard and hard - this is how the residents check how ready a person is for adversity and frost, which literally “hit” the inhabitants of this region. The tradition is centuries old and is popular with this nation in many places of residence.

Greenland

The northern peoples inhabiting Greenland have a tradition: when meeting close people, one of them presses his upper lip and nose to the face of the other and breathes. This ritual is called "kunik". There is a misconception that this tradition arose among the Eskimos due to the fact that their lips freeze to each other in severe frost during ordinary kisses. In fact, this action does not have an erotic meaning, but is a form of friendly greeting between close people who, when meeting, often have only their nose and eyes bare with clothes.

Philippines

When you visit the Philippines, you will see a very unusual greeting. When meeting, the one who is younger bows, with his right hand takes the right hand of an older person, and then with his knuckles touches his forehead, saying: “Mano po.” These words mean hand ("mano") and respect ("po"). In general, the age cult in the Philippines is very important. You will never see an old man standing and a young one sitting. Also, you will not see that one hundred of the elders carry a heavy bag, there will always be someone younger who will help carry the burden home.

Milkmaids (in a pair, one has fingers crossed except for the big ones, which are directed downwards, the second pulls the fingers)

Lumberjacks (fingers of the right hand, except for the thumb, are extended forward, thumb lifted up, with the left hand we take the thumb, give each other a hand and begin to imitate a saw)

Pofigists (a fig is made with which partners greet)

real guy( forefinger and the little finger form a figure, which they greet).

2. Hello Beaver!

Once the head woke up

So the legs too.

The eyes see

ears hear,

So we can all do it.

Let's light a fire of joy

Loudest: Hello Beaver!

3. I wake up early in the morning!

Target: relieve tension.

I wake up early in the morning (we stretch)

Sunshine, Sunshine (close from the sun)

I drink a cup of tea

To the bottom, to the bottom (we drink tea)

And I eat a sandwich

With butter, with butter (we eat a sandwich)

Come on together, come on together

Hello Hello!

4. Hello friend!

Hello friend (shake hands)

How are you here (we pat the partner on the shoulder)

Where have you been (we threaten)

I missed you (hands to chest)

You came (hands to partner)

Fine! (embrace)

5. How to say hello in different countries.

Target: removal of communication barriers

Norwegians (because there are a lot of fish, they greet the hand like a fish)

The Swiss (because they make cheese, the thumb rises on both hands, then, with our own hands, we take the partner’s thumbs, we get a cheese mixer and start stirring the cheese, saying: “Cheese!”

Japanese (summo, butt turns and collides)

Malaysians (rubbing with the tips of the nose)

Russians (triple hug)

Germans - handshake and eye contact

French - shaking hands and kissing on both cheeks

Chinese bow with crossed arms

Indians - a slight bow, palms folded in front of the forehead

6. Curd.

The guys are divided into two circles, inner and outer, turn their backs to each other, walk in a circle, after the command: “Cottage cheese”, bend down, look through their legs at their partner and greet.

7. I am a thrush!

I am a thrush! (point to yourself)

You are a thrush! (point to partner)

You have a nose, I have a nose!

Your cheeks are red, my cheeks are red!

You have scarlet lips, I have scarlet lips!

We are two friends, we love each other!

8. Penguins.

I am a penguin and you are a penguin!

Pair of eyes, one nose!

Our ears are on top,

Hands hidden under the belly!

What do we need to keep warm?

Hug everyone very friendly!

9.Parts of the body.

The guys are divided into four groups, the first group puts the right hand on the shoulder, the second on the thigh, the third on the knee, the fourth right on the knee, the left on the thigh. Everyone begins to greet with these parts of the body and sing: “Mistress, lady!”

10. By - rapper.

The children are invited to come up with their own form of health.

11. Hello

Target: rapprochement of group members with each other and bringing into joint work element of friendship

The guys greet each of the group by the hand and at the same time say: “Hi! How are you doing?" The main rule: when greeting one of the participants, you can release your hand only after you begin to greet someone else with your other hand.

12. "OVATION"

Target: feel self-importance, increase self-confidence

Instruction: One of the most courageous young people is invited to the circle. He must say loudly: “I want a low ovation,” then the rest of the circle sits down on one knee and applauds him. Then the most daring girl and 5 strong young people are invited to the circle. The girl says loudly: “I want a high ovation,” then the young people take her in their arms and throw her up. The host speaks that if any person from the group (detachment) has Bad mood or just want friendly support, then he can approach any person or group of people and ask him for a low or high ovation, and they will not have the right to refuse him.