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What does “Hi” really mean? Discover the origin of 10 greetings

Image: Hanri Meades

If you’ve ever found yourself awkwardly wondering how to greet someone, you’re not alone. The way Americans say "hello" has evolved over the centuries, shifting from stiff, almost royal phrases to today’s casual "yo" or even an emoji. Take a look at how greetings have evolved from the bowing and tipping hats era to the casual texting most of us use today.

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An archaic greeting that was perfectly normal a couple of centuries ago, "good morrow" was used in the same sense as good morning. The word "morrow" was used as a synonym for morning.

Image: Scott May

This expression dates back to the medieval period, when it was used as a friendly greeting. It comes from the idea of "good to meet you," with meet carrying its older sense of "fitting" or "suitable" for a given situation.

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Quite possibly the most globally recognized greeting, the handshake symbolizes trust and equality. In Ancient Greece, it was used to show that neither person was armed.

Today, handshakes are ubiquitous in professional and diplomatic settings around the world, with small cultural variations in their execution.

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An old equivalent of "What’s up?", this expression is now encountered more often in P. G. Wodehouse novels than in everyday life. Cheerful and slightly old-fashioned, "What ho!" was a common greeting in the early 20th century.

Image: Alicia Christin Gerald

A solemn greeting mostly used in East Asian cultures, bowing is especially significant in Japan, Korea, and parts of China. It signifies humility and respect. In Japan, a lower bow indicates a higher level of respect, while a quick nod is more casual​.

Image: Nick Monica

This curious phrase may derive either from the nautical sense of trick ("a turn at duty") or from the card game term trick. Once considered a rough or rustic expression—more suited to sailors and common folk—it simply meant "How are you doing?"

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An air kiss is a greeting where cheeks touch lightly, but lips do not. It is common in many parts of Europe and Latin America. In France, the number of kisses varies by region, with anywhere from two to four being customary, while in Spain and Italy, two is the norm.

Image: Taylor Brandon

What sounds like a cowboy greeting to many of us is, in fact, a portmanteau—a word formed by combining and shortening other words. In this case, it comes from "How Do You Do." The expression is meant to inquire about someone’s health.

Image: Chris Boland

One of the most common greetings in the English language, "hello," has been in use since the early 1800s.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it is a variation of "hallo," which originates from the Old High German term halâ, originally used to hail a ferryman.

Image: Kristina Paparo

Although more associated with modern times, this greeting has been in use since the mid-1800s. It was originally used to attract attention, rather than to greet someone, but it eventually acquired the meaning used today.

Holy mysteries

What does the Vatican have to do with the moon landing? Find out here

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Located in the heart of Rome, the Vatican is a city-state with roots that stretch far beyond its official founding year. And while you might think you’ve heard all about it, the world’s smallest country still holds plenty of secrets. Let’s uncover 10 fascinating facts hidden within its walls.

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In July 1969, the United States sent the first humans who reached the moon. But what exactly did the astronauts bring along with them? Believe it or not, a small Vatican City flag flew aboard Apollo 11 and made it all the way to the moon. Later, President Nixon presented that same flag to Pope Paul VI.

Image: Kelsey Knight

Wine in the Vatican isn’t just for Mass. In fact, this tiny city-state has the world’s highest wine consumption per capita! That may sound shocking, but it becomes a little more reasonable when you consider two things: there are no children in the population, so almost everyone is of drinking age, and residents also enjoy tax-free wine.

Image: Luma Pimentel

Did you know there are no hospitals and no delivery rooms at all? That’s right! You can’t become a Vatican citizen by birth. Citizenship is granted only based on a person’s role or employment within the Holy See.

Image: Ivan Lemekhov

You can’t just choose to live in the Vatican. Just as citizenship isn’t granted by birth, it isn’t permanent either. Those who become citizens hold it only temporarily, and it’s revoked once their service ends.

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Due to the large number of daily visitors, minor crimes like pickpocketing can occur. However, the Vatican doesn’t have a formal prison system. While there are a few temporary detention facilities, anyone sentenced to prison serves their time in Italian jails.

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It turns out no one has pets inside the Vatican walls, and it’s not because they don’t like animals. There is actually a rule that prohibits pets from living in or visiting the Vatican and its main attractions. While this might sound strange at first, it actually makes a lot of sense: the ban exists because the Vatican functions primarily as a high-security workplace and religious site, where noise, dirt, or pet waste wouldn’t be ideal. Of course, there are exceptions, such as guide dogs or therapy animals.

Image: Richard Wang

The Vatican is filled with incredible works by the master Michelangelo, with the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel being among the most famous. But there’s only one piece actually signed by Michelangelo himself, and it’s right here in the Vatican. More precisely, it’s in St. Peter’s Basilica: the breathtaking sculpture titled "The Pietà," completed when he was just about 24 years old.

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The Vatican Museums are the public museums of Vatican City, housing around 70,000 works of art! Together, their corridors and halls stretch nearly 10 miles and attract over 15 million visitors each year. In addition, you can explore the incredible Bramante Staircase, with a double-helix design that is mind-blowing.

Image: Elena Mozhvilo

With so many rooms and corridors, there are also countless doors, which means countless keys. Around 2,700, to be more precise. That’s right: each morning, the museum guards are responsible for opening every single one.

Image: Erik Mclean

Lingua Latina pars fundamentalis Vaticani est. But if that sentence didn’t make sense to you, you might want to bring cash when visiting the Vatican. Why? Well, their ATMs are in Latin! The good news: Italian and English are also available, so we’re covered.