2. Say “Haai” or “Hallo” if you are greeting an acquaintance or a friend. You can use the informal way to say “Hello” in Afrikaans if you know the person or are on familiar terms with the person. Many Afrikaans will greet each other with “Haai” or “Hallo” when they see each other on the street or in their homes.3.. Greet a stranger formally with “Goie dag”. When you first meet someone, you should greet them formally as a sign of respect with the formal way to say “Hello” in Afrikaans. 1  You can also offer your hand to the person and shake their hand as a formal way of greeting.