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Namaste

नमस्ते
nuh-muh-STAY

Traditional Indian greeting, performed with palms joined at the chest and a slight bow.

Appears as an answer in MG Mini #966.

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Meaning & usage

Namaste literally translates as "I bow to you" (namah = bow, te = to you). It is the standard respectful greeting in much of the Hindi-speaking north and has spread through yoga culture worldwide. The fuller form is "namaskar"; "namaskaram" is the southern variant. Hands are pressed together at the heart and the head is lowered slightly. No physical contact is needed, which is part of why the gesture exported so cleanly during the pandemic.

In a sentence

She greeted the guests with a namaste at the doorway.

Common spelling variants

  • Namaskar
  • Namaskaram
  • Namaste-ji

Namaste is the English spelling used in MG Mini #966.

As seen in crosswords

Namaste is a 7-letter answer. A typical clue:

“Traditional Indian greeting, performed with palms joined at the chest and a slight bow” (7)

Play the crossword that uses it — MG Mini #966

Category: Concept Origin: Sanskrit Script: Hindi

Related words

  • Bharat — Indigenous Sanskrit name for India, used officially alongside "India".
  • Mantra — Sacred sound, syllable or phrase repeated to focus the mind or invoke power.
  • Yoga — Indian system of physical, mental and spiritual disciplines aimed at union of self with the divine.
  • Nashta — A light breakfast or snack in Indian cuisine.
  • Memsahib — Respectful Indian English term of address for a European or upper-class lady — historically colonial.
  • Ahimsa — Non-violence or non-injury, an ethical principle in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist traditions.

Related crosswords

Puzzles with a theme close to Namaste.

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