Hello…Why the Wai?

Greeting in the Coronavirus age

The Wai, the most common greeting used by natives of Thailand, consists of bringing one’s palms together while bowing or dipping one’s head. Sometimes the Wai is performed so that it accompanies a verbal greeting. Sometimes it is a nonverbal act with no verbal accompaniment.

Growing up in Thailand I was introduced to the Wai at a very early age. It was part of my upbringing. A beautiful tradition, an expression that represents the Thai culture, the Wai is used as part of greetings in Thailand, for hellos and goodbyes, to show respect, gratitude, acknowledgement, and also during sincere apology.

In appearance, the Thai Wai is most similar to the traditional Indian prayer pose, Pranamasana. The Pranamasana is delivered as a greeting with the phrase “Namaste” which, like the Wai, involves placing the hands together with the fingers upright over the chest, head slightly bowed forward, thus placing the gesture directly over the heart, or chakra.

Thai people don’t always shake hands by default, unless they’re doing so to make Westerners feel more comfortable. Instead, they offer a friendly Wai for such things as greetings, farewells, accompanying apologies, expressing thanks, and returning or acknowledging a Wai with a Wai.