Namaste
नमस्तेनमस् (namaḥ — greeting, reverence; from na mama — not mine) + ते (te — to you)
namaste
Ethics and Values
Literally 'greetings to you' (namaḥ + te); in the tradition, 'not mine' (na mama) — recognizing the other as distinct from oneself
Namaste literally means 'greetings to you' — namaḥ (greetings) plus te (to you). It is a philosophical expression of the non-dual vision, where we recognize that consciousness is present in all beings — a greeting that honors the universal consciousness in the other. However, in the tradition, namaḥ comes from na mama, which means 'not mine'. The idea is to recognize the other as distinct from oneself, not as one's property or extension.
Using this in academic work? Get formal citation
Vishva Vidya (2026). Namaste (नमस्ते). Vishva Vidya — Vedanta. https://vedanta.com.br/en/glossary/namaste
Vishva Vidya. "Namaste (नमस्ते)." Vishva Vidya — Vedanta, January 1, 2026, https://vedanta.com.br/en/glossary/namaste.
Vishva Vidya. "Namaste (नमस्ते)." Vishva Vidya — Vedanta, January 1, 2026. https://vedanta.com.br/en/glossary/namaste.
Related terms
Want to study Vedānta in depth?
Learn about our study programs →