Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

namaste

/ˈnʌm.ə.steɪ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.74 in modern English

Syllables
na-maste
IPA
/ˈnʌm.ə.steɪ/
9
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
3
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

intj

Thank you (via a misunderstanding of the meaning of the associated gesture).

noun

The traditional greeting when saying the word namaste, with folded hands and a slight bow.

noun

In yoga, the pose associated with this word, usually with the flat hands held palms together, fingers up, in front of the heart and a slight bow.

verb

To utter "namaste".

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Sanskrit नमस्ते (namaste, literally “a bow to you”).

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈnʌm.ə.steɪ/
  • British English: /ˈnʌm.ə.steɪ/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Frequently Paired Words

Questions

How do you pronounce namaste?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈnʌm.ə.steɪ/.
What does namaste mean?
A greeting in contexts relating to Indian culture or the New Age movement.
Where does namaste come from?
Learned borrowing from Sanskrit नमस्ते (namaste, literally “a bow to you”).

How to pronounce namaste

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “namaste”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈnʌm.ə.steɪ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “namaste”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “namaste” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.