Ever thought about how a simple greeting like “Hey” can sound completely different around the world?
From casual hellos in bustling cities to warm welcomes in small villages, the way people say “Hey” reflects culture, tone, and personality.
In this article, we’ll explore Hey in Different Languages — giving you a fun, informative journey through greetings that connect people across continents.
This guide is crafted just for you, the curious reader who wants to discover the small but fascinating ways language shapes everyday interactions.
By the end, you’ll not only know how to say “Hey” in dozens of languages but also have a new appreciation for the power of a friendly greeting — wherever you are in the world.
🌐 How to Say Hey in 70 Different Languages
- English (🇬🇧) – Hey | Pronunciation: hey
Example: Hey! How’s your day going? - Spanish (🇪🇸) – ¡Hola! | Pronunciation: OH-lah
Example: ¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás? (Hey! How are you?) - French (🇫🇷) – Salut | Pronunciation: sah-LOO
Example: Salut! Tu vas bien? (Hey! Are you well?) - German (🇩🇪) – Hallo | Pronunciation: HAH-loh
Example: Hallo! Wie geht’s? (Hey! How’s it going?) - Italian (🇮🇹) – Ciao | Pronunciation: chow
Example: Ciao! Come stai? (Hey! How are you?) - Portuguese (🇵🇹) – Olá | Pronunciation: oh-LAH
Example: Olá! Tudo bem? (Hey! Everything good?) - Russian (🇷🇺) – Привет (Privet) | Pronunciation: pree-VYET
Example: Привет! Как дела? (Hey! How are you?) - Chinese (Mandarin) (🇨🇳) – 嗨 (Hāi) | Pronunciation: hi
Example: 嗨！你今天好吗？ (Hey! How are you today?) - Japanese (🇯🇵) – やあ (Yā) | Pronunciation: yah
Example: やあ！元気？ (Hey! How are you?) - Korean (🇰🇷) – 안녕 (Annyeong) | Pronunciation: an-NYAWNG
Example: 안녕! 오늘 어때? (Hey! How’s today?) - Arabic (🇸🇦) – مرحبا (Marḥabā) | Pronunciation: mar-HA-bah
Example: مرحبا! كيف حالك؟ (Hey! How are you?) - Hindi (🇮🇳) – अरे (Are) | Pronunciation: uh-ray
Example: अरे! क्या हाल है? (Hey! How’s it going?) - Urdu (🇵🇰) – ارے (Arey) | Pronunciation: uh-ray
Example: ارے! کیا حال ہے؟ (Hey! How are you?) - Turkish (🇹🇷) – Selam | Pronunciation: seh-LAHM
Example: Selam! Nasılsın? (Hey! How are you?) - Greek (🇬🇷) – Γεια (Geia) | Pronunciation: YAH
Example: Γεια! Τι κάνεις; (Hey! How are you?) - Hebrew (🇮🇱) – היי (Hey) | Pronunciation: hey
Example: היי! מה שלומך? (Hey! How are you?) - Thai (🇹🇭) – สวัสดี (Sawasdee) | Pronunciation: sah-WAHT-dee
Example: สวัสดี! คุณเป็นอย่างไรบ้าง? (Hey! How are you?) - Vietnamese (🇻🇳) – Chào | Pronunciation: chow
Example: Chào! Bạn khỏe không? (Hey! Are you well?) - Swahili (🇰🇪) – Hujambo | Pronunciation: hoo-JAHM-boh
Example: Hujambo! Habari yako? (Hey! How’s it going?) - Zulu (🇿🇦) – Sawubona | Pronunciation: sah-WOO-boh-nah
Example: Sawubona! Unjani? (Hey! How are you?) - Polish (🇵🇱) – Cześć | Pronunciation: ch-ESH-ch
Example: Cześć! Jak się masz? (Hey! How are you?) - Dutch (🇳🇱) – Hoi | Pronunciation: hoy
Example: Hoi! Hoe gaat het? (Hey! How’s it going?) - Swedish (🇸🇪) – Hej | Pronunciation: hey
Example: Hej! Hur mår du? (Hey! How are you?) - Finnish (🇫🇮) – Hei | Pronunciation: hey
Example: Hei! Mitä kuuluu? (Hey! How are you?) - Hungarian (🇭🇺) – Szia | Pronunciation: SEE-ah
Example: Szia! Hogy vagy? (Hey! How are you?) - Czech (🇨🇿) – Ahoj | Pronunciation: AH-hoy
Example: Ahoj! Jak se máš? (Hey! How are you?) - Romanian (🇷🇴) – Salut | Pronunciation: sah-LOOT
Example: Salut! Ce faci? (Hey! What are you doing?) - Ukrainian (🇺🇦) – Привіт (Pryvit) | Pronunciation: pree-VEE-t
Example: Привіт! Як справи? (Hey! How are you?) - Persian (🇮🇷) – سلام (Salām) | Pronunciation: sah-LAAM
Example: سلام! حال شما چطور است؟ (Hey! How are you?) - Malay (🇲🇾) – Hai | Pronunciation: hi
Example: Hai! Apa khabar? (Hey! How are you?) - Indonesian (🇮🇩) – Hai | Pronunciation: hi
Example: Hai! Apa kabar? (Hey! How are you?) - Filipino (🇵🇭) – Hoy | Pronunciation: hoy
Example: Hoy! Kumusta ka? (Hey! How are you?) - Danish (🇩🇰) – Hej | Pronunciation: hey
Example: Hej! Hvordan har du det? (Hey! How are you?) - Norwegian (🇳🇴) – Hei | Pronunciation: hey
Example: Hei! Hvordan går det? (Hey! How’s it going?) - Slovak (🇸🇰) – Ahoj | Pronunciation: AH-hoy
Example: Ahoj! Ako sa máš? (Hey! How are you?) - Slovenian (🇸🇮) – Živjo | Pronunciation: ZHEEV-yo
Example: Živjo! Kako si? (Hey! How are you?) - Bulgarian (🇧🇬) – Здрасти (Zdrasti) | Pronunciation: ZDRAH-stee
Example: Здрасти! Как си? (Hey! How are you?) - Croatian (🇭🇷) – Bok | Pronunciation: bok
Example: Bok! Kako si? (Hey! How are you?) - Serbian (🇷🇸) – Здраво (Zdravo) | Pronunciation: ZDRAH-vo
Example: Здраво! Како си? (Hey! How are you?) - Bosnian (🇧🇦) – Zdravo | Pronunciation: ZDRAH-vo
Example: Zdravo! Kako si? (Hey! How are you?) - Estonian (🇪🇪) – Tere | Pronunciation: TEH-reh
Example: Tere! Kuidas sul läheb? (Hey! How are you?) - Latvian (🇱🇻) – Sveiki | Pronunciation: SVEH-ee-kee
Example: Sveiki! Kā tev klājas? (Hey! How are you?) - Lithuanian (🇱🇹) – Labas | Pronunciation: LAH-bahs
Example: Labas! Kaip sekasi? (Hey! How are you?) - Maltese (🇲🇹) – Ħej | Pronunciation: hey
Example: Ħej! Kif inti? (Hey! How are you?) - Icelandic (🇮🇸) – Hæ | Pronunciation: hey
Example: Hæ! Hvernig hefur þú það? (Hey! How are you?) - Irish (🇮🇪) – Haigh | Pronunciation: hi
Example: Haigh! Conas atá tú? (Hey! How are you?) - Welsh (🏴) – Helo | Pronunciation: HEH-lo
Example: Helo! Sut wyt ti? (Hey! How are you?) - Hawaiian (🇺🇸) – Aloha | Pronunciation: ah-LOH-hah
Example: Aloha! Pehea ʻoe? (Hey! How are you?) - Maori (🇳🇿) – Kia ora | Pronunciation: kee-ah OH-rah
Example: Kia ora! Pehea koe? (Hey! How are you?) - Afrikaans (🇿🇦) – Haai | Pronunciation: hi
Example: Haai! Hoe gaan dit? (Hey! How are you?) - Amharic (🇪🇹) – ሰላም (Selam) | Pronunciation: seh-LAHM
Example: ሰላም! እንዴት ነህ? (Hey! How are you?) - Bengali (🇧🇩) – হ্যালো (Hyālō) | Pronunciation: hey-LO
Example: হ্যালো! কেমন আছো? (Hey! How are you?) - Tamil (🇮🇳) – ஹேய் (Hēy) | Pronunciation: hey
Example: ஹேய்! எப்படி இருக்கிறாய்? (Hey! How are you?) - Telugu (🇮🇳) – హే (Hē) | Pronunciation: hey
Example: హే! ఎలా ఉన్నావు? (Hey! How are you?) - Kannada (🇮🇳) – ಹೇ (Hē) | Pronunciation: hey
Example: ಹೇ! ನೀವು ಹೇಗಿದ್ದೀರಾ? (Hey! How are you?) - Malayalam (🇮🇳) – ഹെയ് (Hey) | Pronunciation: hey
Example: ഹെയ്! എങ്ങനെയാണ്? (Hey! How are you?) - Gujarati (🇮🇳) – હાય (Hāy) | Pronunciation: hey
Example: હાય! કેમ છો? (Hey! How are you?) - Marathi (🇮🇳) – हाय (Hāy) | Pronunciation: hey
Example: हाय! तू कसा आहेस? (Hey! How are you?) - Punjabi (🇮🇳/🇵🇰) – ਹੈਲੋ (Hello) | Pronunciation: hey-lo
Example: ਹੈਲੋ! ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੋ? (Hey! How are you?) - Nepali (🇳🇵) – है (Hai) | Pronunciation: hey
Example: है! कस्तो छ? (Hey! How are you?) - Sinhala (🇱🇰) – හෙලෝ (Hello) | Pronunciation: hey-lo
Example: හෙලෝ! කොහොමද? (Hey! How are you?) - Mongolian (🇲🇳) – Сайн уу (Sain uu) | Pronunciation: sighn oo
Example: Сайн уу! Танд юу байна? (Hey! How are you?)
🌸 Conclusion
“Hey” is the universal greeting that instantly opens doors to connection. No matter the country or language, a simple hey shows friendliness, warmth, and curiosity. Use these greetings to start conversations, meet new people, and explore cultures with confidence. A small word can make a big impact across the globe!
John Preston is a passionate American author known for his insightful storytelling and thought-provoking narratives. With a deep love for literature and a sharp eye for detail, John crafts stories that not only entertain but also inspire reflection and growth. His modern writing style, combined with relatable characters and real-life settings, has earned him a loyal readership across diverse audiences.
Dedicated to exploring human emotions, relationships, and societal challenges, John brings authenticity and depth to every page he writes. When he’s not working on his next manuscript, you can find him in his cozy office, surrounded by books, a warm cup of coffee by his side, and his laptop always within reach.
Some of his most notable works include:
The Silent Echoes
Chasing the Dawn
Beneath the City Lights
Through his writing, John Preston continues to leave a lasting impact, one story at a time.