How to Say Good Morning in 85 Different Languages

Waking up to a new day often starts with a simple greeting: “Good morning.” This phrase, though small, carries warmth, positivity, and a sense of connection. But what if you could say it in a way that bridges cultures, surprises a friend, or adds flair to your conversations? In this article, we’ll explore how to say “good morning” in different languages, diving into polite, professional, and casual alternatives.

You’ll discover the nuances of tone, context, and how to pick the perfect greeting for any situation—whether you’re chatting with a colleague, a loved one, or a stranger across the globe.

This isn’t just a list; it’s a journey through languages and cultures, offering you fresh ways to brighten someone’s day. From the melodic lilt of Italian to the rhythmic flow of Swahili, each greeting has its own personality. Along the way, we’ll highlight 11 standout examples that shine for their uniqueness, charm, or versatility. Let’s dive in and expand your morning vocabulary!

How to Say “Good Morning” in 85 Languages

Below, you’ll find 85 ways to say “good morning,” written simply and naturally. Each entry reflects how native speakers might use it, with notes on tone or context where it adds value. After this, we’ll spotlight 11 exceptional examples and dive into their nuances.

1. Afrikaans: Goeiemôre
   A warm, straightforward greeting common in South Africa.
2. Albanian: Mirëmëngjes
   Polite and friendly, perfect for casual or formal settings.
3. Amharic: እንደምን አደርክ (Indemin aderk)
   Used in Ethiopia, this has a gentle, welcoming tone.
4. Arabic: صباح الخير (Sabah al-khayr)
   A widely recognized greeting in the Arab world, formal yet kind.
5. Armenian: Բարի լույս (Bari luys)
   Soft and poetic, ideal for a gentle start.
6. Azerbaijani: Sabahınız xeyir
   A respectful way to wish someone a good day in Azerbaijan.
7. Basque: Egun on
   Simple and cheerful, spoken in parts of Spain and France.
8. Belarusian: Добры дзень (Dobry dzen)
   A bit formal, but adaptable for casual use.
9. Bengali: সুপ্রভাত (Suprabhat)
   Elegant and polite, common in India and Bangladesh.
10. Bosnian: Dobro jutro
    A versatile greeting, friendly yet professional.
11. Bulgarian: Добро утро (Dobro utro)
    Warm and approachable, great for any context.
12. Catalan: Bon dia
    Bright and concise, used in Catalonia and beyond.
13. Cebuano: Maayong buntag
    A cheerful greeting from the Philippines.
14. Chinese (Mandarin): 早上好 (Zǎoshang hǎo)
    Polite and professional, widely understood.
15. Chinese (Cantonese): 早晨 (Jóusàhn)
    Casual and friendly, popular in Hong Kong.
16. Croatian: Dobro jutro
    Similar to Bosnian, with a welcoming vibe.
17. Czech: Dobré ráno
    A polite and classic morning wish.
18. Danish: God morgen
    Clean and simple, with a Scandinavian charm.
19. Dutch: Goedemorgen
    Friendly and professional, a Dutch staple.
20. Esperanto: Bonan matenon
    A universal greeting from this constructed language.
21. Estonian: Tere hommikust
    Polite and melodic, used in Estonia.
22. Filipino (Tagalog): Matinong umaga
    Warm and casual, perfect for everyday use.
23. Finnish: Hyvää huomenta
    A bit formal, with a Finnish flair.
24. French: Bonjour
    Iconic and versatile, from casual to chic.
25. Galician: Bos días
    A soft, friendly greeting from northwest Spain.
26. Georgian: დილა მშვიდობისა (Dila mshvidobisa)
    Peaceful and respectful, a Georgian gem.
27. German: Guten Morgen
    Crisp and polite, ideal for formal settings.
28. Greek: Καλημέρα (Kaliméra)
    Bright and lively, a Mediterranean classic.
29. Gujarati: સુપ્રભાત (Suprabhāt)
    Warm and respectful, spoken in India.
30. Haitian Creole: Bonjou
    Simple and upbeat, from the Caribbean.
31. Hausa: Ina kwana
    A friendly greeting from West Africa.
32. Hawaiian: Aloha kakahiaka
    Warm and tropical, with a laid-back vibe.
33. Hebrew: בוקר טוב (Boker tov)
    Cheerful and straightforward, used in Israel.
34. Hindi: सुप्रभात (Suprabhāt)
    Polite and widely recognized in India.
35. Hungarian: Jó reggelt
    A polite and pleasant morning wish.
36. Icelandic: Góðan morgun
    Cool and crisp, with an Icelandic twist.
37. Igbo: Ụtụtụ ọma
    A warm greeting from Nigeria.
38. Indonesian: Selamat pagi
    Polite and friendly, used across Indonesia.
39. Irish (Gaelic): Maidin mhaith
    Soft and lyrical, a Celtic treasure.
40. Italian: Buon giorno
    Melodic and charming, perfect for any tone.
41. Japanese: おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu)
    Formal and respectful; drop “gozaimasu” for casual use.
42. Javanese: Sugeng enjing
    Gentle and polite, from Indonesia’s Java island.
43. Kannada: ಶುಭೋದಯ (Shubhodaya)
    Elegant and respectful, spoken in India.
44. Kazakh: Қайырлы таң (Qayırlı tañ)
    A kind and formal greeting from Kazakhstan.
45. Khmer: អរុណសួស្តី (Arun suostei)
    Soft and polite, used in Cambodia.
46. Korean: 안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo)
    Formal greeting; “좋은 아침” (Joeun achim) for casual.
47. Kurdish: Beyanî baş
    Warm and simple, from Kurdish regions.
48. Lao: ສະບາຍດີຕອນເຊົ້າ (Sàbàidee dtôn-cháo)
    Friendly and melodic, spoken in Laos.
49. Latvian: Labrīt
    Short and sweet, with a Baltic charm.
50. Lithuanian: Labas rytas
    Polite and bright, a Lithuanian favorite.
51. Luxembourgish: Gudde Moien
    Cozy and friendly, from Luxembourg.
52. Macedonian: Добро утро (Dobro utro)
    Warm and versatile, like its Balkan cousins.
53. Malay: Selamat pagi
    Polite and cheerful, used in Malaysia.
54. Malayalam: സുപ്രഭാതം (Suprabhātam)
    Graceful and respectful, from South India.
55. Maltese: Bongu
    Simple and sunny, from the Mediterranean.
56. Maori: Mōrena
    Warm and cultural, from New Zealand.
57. Marathi: सुप्रभात (Suprabhāt)
    Polite and pleasant, spoken in India.
58. Mongolian: Өглөөний мэнд (Öglöönii mend)
    Respectful and unique, from Mongolia.
59. Nepali: शुभ प्रभात (Shubha prabhāt)
    Gentle and formal, used in Nepal.
60. Norwegian: God morgen
    Clean and friendly, a Nordic classic.
61. Pashto: سحر پخیر (Sahar pakheyr)
    Warm and respectful, from Afghanistan.
62. Persian (Farsi): صبح بخیر (Sobh bekheyr)
    Polite and poetic, used in Iran.
63. Polish: Dzień dobry
    Formal and versatile, a Polish staple.
64. Portuguese: Bom dia
    Bright and welcoming, from Brazil to Portugal.
65. Punjabi: ਸਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ (Sat sri akaal)
    A broader greeting, adaptable for mornings.
66. Romanian: Bună dimineața
    Warm and polite, a Romanian delight.
67. Russian: Доброе утро (Dobroe utro)
    Formal yet friendly, widely used.
68. Samoan: Talofa le taeao
    Cheerful and Pacific, from Samoa.
69. Scottish Gaelic: Madainn mhath
    Soft and cultural, from Scotland.
70. Serbian: Добро јутро (Dobro jutro)
    Warm and approachable, a Balkan greeting.
71. Sinhala: සුභ උදෑසනක් (Subha udǣsanak)
    Respectful and melodic, from Sri Lanka.
72. Slovak: Dobré ráno
    Polite and simple, from Slovakia.
73. Slovenian: Dobro jutro
    Friendly and versatile, a Slovenian go-to.
74. Somali: Subax wanaagsan
    Warm and kind, used in Somalia.
75. Spanish: Buenos días
    Classic and cheerful, a global favorite.
76. Swahili: Habari za asubuhi
    Friendly and rhythmic, from East Africa.
77. Swedish: God morgon
    Bright and simple, with Swedish charm.
78. Tamil: காலை வணக்கம் (Kālai vaṇakkam)
    Respectful and warm, from South India.
79. Telugu: శుభోదయం (Śubhōdayaṁ)
    Elegant and polite, spoken in India.
80. Thai: สวัสดีตอนเช้า (Sàwàsdee dtôn-cháo)
    Versatile and friendly, from Thailand.
81. Turkish: Günaydın
    Warm and concise, a Turkish classic.
82. Ukrainian: Доброго ранку (Dobroho ranku)
    Polite and heartfelt, from Ukraine.
83. Urdu: صبح بخیر (Subah bakhair)
    Poetic and kind, used in Pakistan.
84. Vietnamese: Chào buổi sáng
    Polite and clear, a Vietnamese staple.
85. Zulu: Sawubona ekuseni
    Warm and cultural, from South Africa.

11 Standout Examples: Nuances and Context

Here are 11 greetings that stand out for their tone, versatility, or cultural richness. Each includes examples of use, the vibe they carry, and tips for choosing them in the right moment.

1. French: Bonjour
   • Example: “Bonjour, how’s your day starting?”
   • Tone: Chic and adaptable—works in a café or a boardroom.
   • When to Use: Perfect for any situation, from casual chats to professional emails.
2. Japanese: Ohayou gozaimasu
   • Example: “Ohayou gozaimasu, sensei!” (to a teacher).
   • Tone: Respectful and formal; “Ohayou” alone is casual.
   • When to Use: Use the full phrase for elders or superiors; shorten it for friends.
3. Spanish: Buenos días
   • Example: “Buenos días, mi amigo, ready for coffee?”
   • Tone: Warm and universally friendly.
   • When to Use: Great for travel or greeting Spanish-speaking neighbors.
4. Arabic: Sabah al-khayr
   • Example: “Sabah al-khayr, hope you slept well!”
   • Tone: Kind and slightly formal, with a touch of elegance.
   • When to Use: Ideal for respectful exchanges or Middle Eastern settings.
5. Italian: Buon giorno
   • Example: “Buon giorno, what a beautiful morning!”
   • Tone: Melodic and cheerful, effortlessly charming.
   • When to Use: Use it to add flair to casual or semi-formal moments.
6. Hawaiian: Aloha kakahiaka
   • Example: “Aloha kakahiaka, let’s hit the beach!”
   • Tone: Laid-back and tropical, full of good vibes.
   • When to Use: Perfect for a relaxed, sunny start with friends.
7. Swahili: Habari za asubuhi
   • Example: “Habari za asubuhi, how’s your morning going?”
   • Tone: Friendly and rhythmic, inviting a response.
   • When to Use: Great for East African connections or casual curiosity.
8. German: Guten Morgen
   • Example: “Guten Morgen, ready for the meeting?”
   • Tone: Crisp and professional, yet approachable.
   • When to Use: Ideal for work settings or structured conversations.
9. Korean: Joeun achim
   • Example: “Joeun achim, want some tea?”
   • Tone: Casual and cozy, a softer alternative to “Annyeonghaseyo.”
   • When to Use: Best for close friends or informal mornings.
10. Russian: Dobroe utro
    • Example: “Dobroe utro, let’s plan the day!”
    • Tone: Warm yet slightly formal, with a hearty feel.
    • When to Use: Works well in friendly or semi-professional contexts.
11. Thai: Sàwàsdee dtôn-cháo
    • Example: “Sàwàsdee dtôn-cháo, have a great day!”
    • Tone: Friendly and versatile, used for hello and goodbye.
    • When to Use: A go-to for travel or Thai-inspired mornings.

Conclusion

Saying “good morning” in languages opens a world of possibilities. It’s more than a greeting—it’s a way to connect, express yourself, and share positivity. Whether you stick to your native tongue or sprinkle in a global flair, each phrase carries its own magic. Practice a few, share them with others, and watch how a simple “good morning” can transform your day—and theirs.

Which one will you try tomorrow?