namaste
Bow with palms
Namaste is a respectful greeting or farewell from South Asian cultures, literally meaning "I bow to you." In the West, it's strongly associated with yoga classes, where instructors often say it while pressing palms together at the chest: The teacher closed the session with a gentle namaste.
The gesture and word have become shorthand for spiritual mindfulness, sometimes used ironically to signal forced calm or mock enlightenment.
Common spoken greeting
- salutationExpression of goodwill
- welcomeHospitable greeting offered
- salaamRespectful Eastern bow
- alohaHawaiian multipurpose greeting
shalom · bow · farewell · goodbye · hi · hey · greetings · ciao
Sacred essence within beings
- inner lightSpiritual guidance within oneself
- sacredWorthy of reverence
- dharmaCosmic moral order
- karmaSpiritual cause and effect
mantra · moksha · guru · devotion · vedanta · enlightenment · blessing · reverence
High regard, moral dignity
- reverenceProfound admiring respect
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
dignity · humility · bowing · esteem · veneration · homage · regard · courtesy
hello
Common spoken greeting
- salutationExpression of goodwill
- welcomeHospitable greeting offered
- salaamRespectful Eastern bow
aloha · shalom · bow · farewell · goodbye · hi · hey · greetings · ciao · bonjour
divine spark
Sacred essence within beings
- inner lightSpiritual guidance within oneself
- sacredWorthy of reverence
- dharmaCosmic moral order
karma · mantra · moksha · guru · devotion · vedanta · enlightenment · blessing · reverence · honoring
honor
High regard, moral dignity
- reverenceProfound admiring respect
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
recognition · dignity · humility · bowing · esteem · veneration · homage · regard · courtesy · politeness
Hindi
India's official language
- SanskritAncient Indo-Aryan language
- IndiaSouth Asian republic
- traditionCustom passed through generations
culture · Bollywood · Diwali · temple · ashram · chai · saree · puja · Hindu · Nepal
prayer pose
Palms joined at chest
namastefuck off
Rude dismissal command
contempt · disrespect · insult · curse · middle finger