Original language of "Hail Mary"

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Kate1015

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I’m a homeschooling mom of 4 and we’re doing Latin for the first time this semester. We learned that “salve” is how we say “hello” to one person - this reminded me of something I read that said that “Ave” was a greeting reserved for a person of importance.

My question is if anyone knows if there is more than one word for “hello” in Aramaic and Greek? Was “Ave” just chosen for the Latin translation as a sign of respect for the Bledded Virgin Mary, or was it also in the original language? Thanks
 
Even protestant translations directly from the Greek use the word “hail” which is the respectful greeting so I assume the Greek word signifies a more formal, respectful hello–ie, hail.
 
Hi Kate,

“Ave” or “Salve” have basically the same value. They are the ordinary everyday greeting on meeting someone. They are neither formal nor informal.

The Greek equivalent is “chaire” (pron. chie-ray or cheh-ray, with the German ch). Its original meaning is “rejoice”, but to all practical purposes it’s like “ave” or “salve”. Although I have read that some Greek fathers gave it the “fuller” meaning of “rejoice”.

No one can be sure of the actual word the angel pronounced. But there is no reason to believe that his words meant more than the Greek or Latin.

Verbum
 
Look at the vulgate. Luke 1:28
**
28 et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit have gratia plena Dominus tecum benedicta tu in mulieribus**
 
Verbum said:
Hi Kate,

“Ave” or “Salve” have basically the same value. They are the ordinary everyday greeting on meeting someone. They are neither formal nor informal.

The Greek equivalent is “chaire” (pron. chie-ray or cheh-ray, with the German ch). Its original meaning is “rejoice”, but to all practical purposes it’s like “ave” or “salve”. Although I have read that some Greek fathers gave it the “fuller” meaning of “rejoice”.

No one can be sure of the actual word the angel pronounced. But there is no reason to believe that his words meant more than the Greek or Latin.

Verbum
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Actually, the Aramaic that probably would’ve been used by Gabriel was shlomo, which the Aramaic/Syriac word used for greetings. Of course, any student of Biblical languages (or anyone that has attended synangogue) will recognize its derivation from shalom (שָׁלוֹם), which in by its fuller meaning can mean peace between God and man, or denote a fullness, wholeness and true inner peace. Certainly a very apt description of Our Lady is either sense.
 
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