नमस्कार (namaskaar)

interjection/noun A respectful greeting/salutation word, close cousin of नमस्ते (namaste) but slightly more formal; also used as a noun meaning 'greeting' or 'salutation.'

Sense 1 : formal greeting (hello/goodbye)

interjection

Synonyms: नमस्ते (namaste), प्रणाम (pranaam, used especially toward elders or in touching feet)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: You will hear नमस्कार (namaskaar) the moment a Hindi news anchor comes on air, or when a speaker opens a formal event -- it carries a slightly more ceremonial, public-address flavor than the warmer, more intimate नमस्ते (namaste) used between friends and family. Both are accompanied by the same folded-hands gesture (नमस्ते (namaste) mudra), which itself is the literal root of the word: a bow of respect.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often treat नमस्कार (namaskaar) and नमस्ते (namaste) as fully interchangeable in every context; नमस्कार (namaskaar) leans slightly more formal and is very common in public speeches, radio/TV announcements, and written correspondence, while नमस्ते (namaste) is the default for everyday face-to-face greeting. 2) It works for both 'hello' and 'goodbye' -- learners sometimes hunt for a separate goodbye word when this one already covers it.

Sample Sentences:

नमस्कार, आज के समाचार में आपका स्वागत है। Greetings, welcome to today's news.

(namaskaar, aaj ke samaachaar men aapkaa svaagat hai।)

सभी अतिथियों को मेरा नमस्कार। My greetings to all the guests.

(sabhii atithiyon ko meraa namaskaar।)

मंच पर आते ही उन्होंने सबको नमस्कार किया। As soon as he came on stage, he greeted everyone with a namaskar.

(manch par aate hii unhonne sabko namaskaar kiyaa।)

कृपया मंत्री जी को नमस्कार कीजिए। Please greet the minister with a namaskar.

(kripyaa mantrii jii ko namaskaar kiijie।)

कार्यक्रम की शुरुआत में सभी वक्ता नमस्कार कहकर अपनी बात रखते हैं। At the start of the program, all the speakers begin by saying namaskar.

(kaaryakram kii shuruaat men sabhii vaktaa namaskaar kahkar apnii baat rakhte hain।)

उद्घाटन समारोह में मुख्य अतिथि को विशेष नमस्कार दिया गया। A special greeting was given to the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony.

(udghaatan samaaroh men mukhy atithi ko vishesh namaskaar diyaa gayaa।)

अगर मैं वहाँ होता, तो सबसे पहले सबको नमस्कार करता। If I had been there, I would have greeted everyone first.

(agar main vahaan hotaa, to sabse pahle sabko namaskaar kartaa।)

प्रधानमंत्री ने राष्ट्र को नमस्कार करते हुए भाषण शुरू किया। The Prime Minister began his speech by greeting the nation.

(pradhaanmantrii ne raashtr ko namaskaar karte hue bhaashan shuroo kiyaa।)

क्या आपको नहीं लगता कि भाषण के अंत में भी नमस्कार कहना चाहिए? Don't you think one should say namaskar at the end of the speech too?

(kyaa aapko nahiin lagtaa ki bhaashan ke ant men bhii namaskaar kahnaa chaahie?)

एंकर हर शाम एक ही अंदाज़ में नमस्कार बोलती है। The anchor says namaskar in the same style every evening.

(enkar har shaam ek hii andaaz men namaskaar boltii hai।)

सम्मेलन के समापन पर सभी ने नमस्कार करके एक-दूसरे से विदा ली। At the close of the conference, everyone said their goodbyes with a namaskar.

(sammelan ke samaapan par sabhii ne namaskaar karke ek-doosre se vidaa lii।)

Sense 2 : a greeting, salutation, or gesture of respect

noun, masculine Used with verbs like करना (karnaa) -- नमस्कार करना (namaskaar karnaa, 'to offer a greeting') -- to describe the act of greeting someone.

Synonyms: अभिवादन (abhivaadan, formal), प्रणाम (pranaam)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: In its noun use you will often hear किसी को नमस्कार करना (kisii ko namaskaar karnaa, 'to greet someone'), for instance describing a student greeting a teacher formally at the start of class -- a small daily ritual of respect that is second nature in Indian schools and offices.

Common Mistakes: 1) As a noun this word takes करना (karnaa), not कहना (kahnaa) -- you 'do' a नमस्कार (namaskaar) rather than 'say' it, even though in English we'd say 'say hello.'

Sample Sentences:

छात्र ने खड़े होकर अपने अध्यापक को नमस्कार किया। The student stood up and greeted his teacher with a namaskar.

(chhaatr ne khade hokar apne adhyaapak ko namaskaar kiyaa।)

हमारे स्कूल में बच्चे हर सुबह प्रार्थना के बाद अध्यापकों को नमस्कार करते हैं। In our school, the children greet the teachers with a namaskar every morning after prayers.

(hamaare skool men bachche har subah praarthnaa ke baad adhyaapkon ko namaskaar karte hain।)

दफ्तर में नए कर्मचारी ने सबको हाथ जोड़कर नमस्कार किया। The new employee joined his hands and offered a namaskar to everyone in the office.

(daphtar men nae karmchaarii ne sabko haath jodkar namaskaar kiyaa।)

मंच पर आते ही मुख्य अतिथि ने सभा को नमस्कार किया। As soon as he came onto the stage, the chief guest offered a namaskar to the gathering.

(manch par aate hii mukhy atithi ne sabhaa ko namaskaar kiyaa।)

बड़ों को नमस्कार करना कभी मत भूलना। Never forget to offer a respectful greeting to your elders.

(badon ko namaskaar karnaa kabhii mat bhoolnaa।)

अगर तुम गुरुजी से मिलो, तो पहले उन्हें नमस्कार करो। If you meet the guru, first offer him a respectful greeting.

(agar tum gurujii se milo, to pahle unhen namaskaar karo।)

काश मैं भी उस समारोह में होता, तो अपने पुराने अध्यापक को नमस्कार करता। If only I had been at that ceremony too, I would have greeted my old teacher with a namaskar.

(kaash main bhii us samaaroh men hotaa, to apne puraane adhyaapak ko namaskaar kartaa।)

सम्मेलन में हर वक्ता को नमस्कार करते हुए मंच पर बुलाया गया। At the conference, each speaker was called onto the stage with a namaskar of welcome.

(sammelan men har vaktaa ko namaskaar karte hue manch par bulaayaa gayaa।)

कवि सम्मेलन की शुरुआत में सभी श्रोताओं को नमस्कार किया जाता है। At the start of the poets' gathering, a namaskar is offered to all the listeners.

(kavi sammelan kii shuruaat men sabhii shrotaaon ko namaskaar kiyaa jaataa hai।)

देवता की मूर्ति के सामने सिर झुकाकर नमस्कार करना हमारी परंपरा है। Bowing one's head and offering a namaskar before the deity's idol is our tradition.

(devtaa kii moorti ke saamne sir jhukaakar namaskaar karnaa hamaarii parampraa hai।)

Morphology

Noun

(sg.m.direct): नमस्कार (namaskaar)

(sg.m.oblique): नमस्कार (namaskaar)

(pl.m.direct): नमस्कार (namaskaar)

(pl.m.oblique): नमस्कारों (namaskaaron)