What is the meaning of 'Vanakkam'? (Tamil Greeting)

Vanakkam (வணக்கம்) is the traditional Tamil word used to greet someone. It is the direct equivalent of the Hindi word 'Namaste' or the English word 'Hello'.

Depending on the context, Vanakkam can mean:

• Hello / Hi
• Welcome
• Good Morning / Good Evening
• I bow to you (with respect)

• When meeting someone: Just like you say 'Hello' when you meet a friend or a guest, you say "Vanakkam".
• The Gesture: The word is traditionally spoken while pressing the palms of both hands together in front of the chest (the Anjali Mudra), as a sign of deep respect.
• Is it formal or informal?: Vanakkam is universally perfect. You can say it to a shopkeeper, a small child, your grandparents, or even the Chief Minister. It works perfectly in both casual and highly formal situations.

The word originates from the ancient Tamil root word 'Vanangu' (வணங்கு), which literally translates to 'to bow', 'to bend', or 'to worship'. Therefore, when you say Vanakkam, you are humbly bowing to the divine presence within the other person.