Possibly the most essential word in all languages is ‘hello’, the word that allows people to talk to each other.
For example:
• aa (Diola, Senegal)
• beeta (Soninke, Mali, Senegal and Ivory Coast)
• bok (Croatian)
• boozhoo (Ojibwe, USA and Canada)
• daw-daw (Jutlandish, Denmark)
• ella (Awabakal, Australia)
• i ay (Huaorani, Ecuador)
• khaumykhyghyz (Bashkir, Russia)
• nark (Phorhépecha, Mexico)
• rozhbash (Kurdi, Iraq and Iran)
• samba (Lega, Congo)
• wali-wali (Limbe, Sierra Leone)
• xawaxan (Toltichi Yokuts, California, USA)
• yoga (Ateso, Uganda)
• yoyo (Kwakiutl, Canada)
But it may not even be a word. In the Gilbert Islands of the Pacific, arou pairi describes the process of rubbing noses in greeting. For the Japanese, bowing is an important part of the process and a sign of respect: ojigi is the act of bowing; eshaku describes a slight bow (of about 15 degrees); keirei, a full bow (of about 45 degrees); while saikeirei is a very low, worshipful type of bow that involves the nose nearly touching the hands. When one meets someone extremely important, one might even consider pekopeko, bowing one’s head repeatedly in a fawning or grovelling manner.