beginner - 5 min
Your first word: नमस्ते
Greeting, etymology, and reverence
Namaste — perhaps the most famous Sanskrit word in the world. Let us see what it actually means.
The structure
नमस्ते = नमः + ते
- नमः (namaḥ): bowing, salutation, reverence
- ते (te): to you (dative singular of तत्/त्वम्)
Literally: "salutation to you".
The deeper meaning
Traditionally interpreted as: "I bow to the divine in you" — recognizing the Atman that pervades both the greeter and the greeted.
Variations
- नमस्कार (namaskāra): the act of namaste
- प्रणाम (praṇāma): a deeper bow, often with prostration
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