How to say ‘Hello’ in the 11 Official South African Languages

South Africa is without a doubt a rainbow nation and with so many cultures sharing this land it is only right that we learn how to communicate with each other in our respective languages. In this article we’re going to teach you how to greet your fellow Saffas by saying hello.

Going back in time, it is a shame that we are not all able to speak the diverse 11 languages of South Africa as each language is unique and has a beauty that is often overlooked and missed.

So when you leave the house this week why not try saying hello to someone in their native tongue? We’re certain it will put a smile on their face and even if your pronunciation is not perfect, there is no doubt that there will be great appreciation and respect for your effort.

Here is how to say hello in the 11 official South African languages:

1. English – Hello
2. Afrikaans – Hallo
3. Sepedi – Dumela (to one) / Dumelang (to many)
4. IsiNdebele – Lotjhani / Salibonani
5. IsiXhosa – Molo (to one) / Molweni (to many)
6. IsiZulu – Sawubona! (to one)/ Sanibona! (to many)
7. Sesotho – Dumela (to one) / Dumelang (to many)
8. SiSwati – Sawubona
9. Tshivenda – Ndaa/Aa
10. Xitsonga – Avuxeni
11. Setswana – Dumela

Then, we know that sign Language is not an official language of South Africa but we felt it still deserves to be added.

Here is how to say hello in Sign Language: