The word Template:Lang, ( kecharitōménē), here translated as 'full of grace', admits of various translations.

Accordingly, both 'Hail' and 'Rejoice' are valid English translations of the word ('Hail' reflecting the Latin translation, and 'Rejoice' reflecting the original Greek). This was the normal greeting in the language in which Saint Luke's Gospel is written and continues to be used in the same sense in Modern Greek.

The opening word of greeting, Template:Lang, chaíre, here translated 'Hail', literally has the meaning 'rejoice' or 'be glad'. The first of the two passages from Saint Luke's Gospel is the greeting of the Angel Gabriel to Mary, originally written in Koine Greek. The prayer incorporates two greetings to Mary in Saint Luke's Gospel: 'Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.' and 'Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.' In mid-13th-century Western Europe the prayer consisted only of these words with the single addition of the name 'Mary' after the word 'Hail', as is evident from the commentary of Saint Thomas Aquinas on the prayer.

Hail mary in latin words