Kevin
January 29, 2022
Common Questions

Do you know the meaning of namaste? This article will provide you with all the information you need on the word namaste!

The word namaste comes from Sanskrit. This term roughly translates to “The Divine in me honors the Divine in you.” Some people also say that the word namaste translates to “the light within me honors the light within you.”

In Sanskrit, the word nama translates to bow. The word as means I, and the word te means you. Literally translated, namaste can be taken to mean “I bow to you.” This greeting acknowledges the soul in another person from the belief in Hinduism that God resides in everyone.

While the correct pronunciation of namaste is nuh-MUH-stheh, the American English pronunciation is nah-mah-STAY.

Many times, words from other languages are used in English. Sometimes, these words are not direct translations but altogether take on a new meaning. Other times, they are used for direct translation.

There is a fine line between cultural appropriation and appreciation. You might be concerned about appropriating a culture by using a certain word. When in doubt, try to do your research on the origin of a word and whether it’s offensive in the context you’re considering.

How Is Namaste Used in Yoga Classes?

The term namaste is commonly used at the end of yoga classes as a farewell greeting. This is often used in connection with the hands of prayer, known as the Anjali mudra, pronounced UHN-jah-lee MOO-dra.

This comes from the word anj in Sanskrit, meaning to celebrate or honor. In Sanskrit, the word mudra translates to the word gesture. Therefore, this is an honorable gesture.

The full gesture of the Anjali mudra is to press the hands together with the palms facing and fingers facing up in a prayer position. Place your thumbs at the height of the breastbone or heart chakra, close your eyes, and bow your head.

You can also place the thumbs at the third eye chakra. Yoga students and teachers can use namaste during a yoga practice but should be sensitive toward its Sanskrit origins.

Have respect for the phrase, and say namaste to show gratitude, not just in closing a class.

Other Uses of Namaste

In South Asia, namaste and namaskar are very formal and used as a salutation when you greet an elder, teacher, or honorable person. Namaskar is similar to namaste but is often used to greet people who are very highly respected or who hold spiritual significance.

This is very different from how it is used in America or in other places where yoga is practiced outside of South Asia. Sometimes, this word becomes co-opted or used as slang, which can be considered offensive, especially when put on garments in pulley phrases such as “Nama-Slay” or “Nama-Stay in Bed.”

Other Terminology in Yoga

You might hear many Sanskrit terms in a yoga class or yoga practice. Many of these words might seem difficult to learn. You will absorb them over time by taking more yoga classes and studying the Sanskrit language.

Take a look at these Sanskrit terms and see how many you recognize:

Nadi – The energy channels through which prana or life force flows
Sundar (सुन्दर) – Beautiful or Attractive
Asana (आसन ) – Seat or Pose
Adho Mukha Svanasana – Downward Dog
Vinyasa – Movement linked with breath
Mantra – Word or Phrase Repeated
Balak (बालक‎) – Boy
Pranayama – Breathing Exercises
Yoga (योग) – The divine union of the mind, body, and spirit
Prajna (प्रज्ञा) – Wisdom
Patanjali – A Sage who compiled the Yoga Sutras
Savasana – Corpse Pose
Rachnatmak (रचनात्मक) – Great Creativity
Surya Namaskar – Sun salutations
Sukha (सुख) – Happiness
Chakra – Wheel
Karma (कर्म) – The Cause And Effect Of Our Actions
Shanti (शांति) – Peace
Bhakti (भक्ति) – Devotion
Jnana (ज्ञान) – Spiritual Knowledge
Agni (अग्नि) – Fire
Asha (आशा) – Hope
Mudra – Hand Position
Balika (बालिका) – Girl
Ananda (आनन्द) – Bliss
Ujjayi – Victorious Breath
Satya (सत्य) – Truthfulness
Srishti – Focal Point
Prakriti (प्रकृति) – THe Primal Nature of a Being
Maya (माया) – Moksha (मोक्ष) – The Final Enlightenment
Pratyahara (प्रत्याहार) – Withdrawal of Senses
Bandha – Internal muscular ‘locks’
Prana (प्राण) – Life Force
Yoga Nidra – Yogic Sleep
Shanti – Peace
Hatha – Yoga for the Physical Body
Chaturanga – Four limbed staff pose or low plank
Guru (गुरु) – Teacher
Atman (आत्मन्) – The Universal Self
Om (ॐ) – The original sound

How Can the Word Namaste Be Used in a Sentence?

In the west, namaste is most often used as a farewell greeting or closing to a yoga class. In Eastern Asian countries like India, this word is used as a formal, polite greeting.

Take a look at these example sentences and see which ones might be more common in western versus eastern Asia countries:

Namaste, Professor. I hope the day is treating you well.

Thank you all for honoring me with a great yoga class. I am so grateful for each one of you. Namaste.

Namaste, grandma. How are you?

Conclusion

Overall, the word namaste is a Sanskrit word that roughly translates to “the Divine in me honors the Divine in you” and literally translates to “I bow to you.”

Outside of South Asia, this phrase is often heard at the end of yoga classes as a farewell greeting. In India and South Asia, this phrase is often used to salute people you respect greatly.

Sources:

Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.