Where the word comes from
The word is built from namas ("a bow", "a greeting") and te ("to you"). Literally it is "a bow to you". In India it is an everyday polite greeting, like "hello" or "goodbye", said to friends and strangers, alongside variants such as namaskar.
You may hear a lovely phrase such as "the light in me honours the light in you". That is a modern, free explanation and not a literal translation. In class it is sometimes used to explain the gesture, and you can take it as an image, not as an exact translation.
How to say it and what the gesture is
Say nuh-muh-STAY, with the stress on the last syllable. The word usually goes with a gesture: palms together in front of the chest, fingers pointing up, the head slightly bowed. The gesture is called anjali mudra or pranam. You can say the word, bow without it, or just nod.
How it sounds in class
Most often namaste comes at the end of the class, after savasana: everyone sits up, joins their palms, the teacher says "namaste" and the group says it back or simply bows. Sometimes the word is also used at the start of a class or at the end of an online session.
Joining in is optional. If saying the word feels awkward, nod or say "thank you". Nobody in the room will be surprised.
Namaste and manners in class
The word sits beside other ways a class marks its start and end: the teacher thanks the group, everyone takes a quiet breath together, sometimes the syllable om or a short mantra is heard. Namaste is the simplest of these: it needs neither a voice nor a musical ear.
If you go to a class in another country or a studio with a different tradition, the form of the greeting may differ: some say "thank you", some applaud, some leave in silence. Watching the group and joining in what feels comfortable is a good rule of etiquette for a beginner.
Common misunderstandings
- "It is a spell or a prayer." In everyday speech in India it is a polite greeting.
- "You must say it." Taking part is voluntary, and in any class you can stay silent.
- "Everybody greets this way before class." Studios differ: in some the word is said only at the end, in others not at all.