{"id":147423,"date":"2024-02-20T14:42:58","date_gmt":"2024-02-20T19:42:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/english-greetings-expressions\/"},"modified":"2025-01-20T09:46:51","modified_gmt":"2025-01-20T14:46:51","slug":"english-greetings-expressions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/english\/english-greetings-expressions\/","title":{"rendered":"Different Greetings in English"},"content":{"rendered":"

You probably already know “hello” and “how are you?”<\/a> in English.<\/p>\n

However, English speakers also use many other English greetings and expressions to say slightly different things.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s learn how to use some other simple formal and informal English greetings, as well as fun slang expressions that English-speakers use to greet each other.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What is a Greeting in English?<\/h2>\n

Greetings in English are expressions or sometimes gestures used when meeting someone. They are a way to show respect, friendliness and goodwill.<\/p>\n

Common English greetings include phrases such as “hello,” “hi” and “good morning.”<\/p>\n

Depending who you are with, greetings can range from formal to informal. Knowing a good range of greetings will help you start a conversation off right with anyone, no matter what the situation is!<\/p>\n

Formal Greetings in English<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s best to begin by using formal greetings in most business situations, and then listen to how your co-workers or business partners greet you.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a good idea to wait until someone speaks casually with you before you speak casually with them. You may find that people will begin to use casual greetings with you over time, as you get to know each other better.<\/p>\n

Formal greetings are also used when you meet older people.<\/p>\n

1. Good morning \/ Good afternoon \/ Good evening<\/h3>\n

These are formal ways of saying \u201chello\u201d, which change depending on the time of day.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that \u201cgood night\u201d<\/a> is only used to say \u201cgoodbye,\u201d so if you meet someone late in the day, remember to greet them with \u201cgood evening,\u201d rather than \u201cgood night.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Good morning” can be made more casual by simply saying \u201cmorning.\u201d\u00a0 You can also simply use \u201cafternoon\u201d or \u201cevening\u201d as informal greetings, but these are less commonly used.<\/p>\n

2. It\u2019s nice to meet you \/ Pleased to meet you<\/h3>\n

These greetings are formal and polite. If you say this to someone when you meet him or her for the first time, it will make you seem courteous <\/em>(polite).<\/p>\n

Remember to only use these greetings the first<\/i> time you meet someone. Next time you see the person you can show that you remember him or her by saying \u201cit\u2019s nice to see you again” or simply “it’s nice to see you.”<\/p>\n

3. How have you been?<\/h3>\n

This greeting question is only asked by people who have already met. If someone asks you \u201chow have you been?\u201d they want to know if you have been well since the last time the two of you met.<\/p>\n

4. How do you do?<\/h3>\n

This greeting is VERY formal, and quite uncommon and old-fashioned now, but it may still be used by some older people.<\/p>\n

The proper response is \u201cI\u2019m doing well\u201d or, as strange as it seems, some people even ask \u201chow do you do?\u201d right back as an answer.<\/p>\n

Informal Greetings in English<\/h2>\n

5. Hey \/ Hey man \/ Hi\u00a0<\/h3>\n

You can use \u201chey\u201d and \u201chi\u201d to greet someone instead of \u201chello.\u201d Both are particularly popular among younger people.<\/p>\n

While \u201chi\u201d is appropriate to use in any casual situation, \u201chey\u201d is for people who have already met. If you say \u201chey\u201d to a stranger, it might be confusing for that person because he or she will try to remember when you met before!<\/p>\n

You can also add \u201cman\u201d to the end of \u201chey\u201d when greeting males. Some people also use \u201chey man\u201d to casually greet younger women, but only do this if you know the woman very well.<\/p>\n

Remember that \u201chey\u201d doesn\u2019t always mean \u201chello.\u201d \u201cHey\u201d can also be used to call for someone\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n

6. How\u2019s it going? \/ How are you doing?<\/h3>\n

These are casual ways of asking \u201chow are you?\u201d If you\u2019re trying to be particularly polite, stick with \u201chow are you?\u201d but otherwise, you can use these expressions to greet almost anyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The word \u201cgoing\u201d is usually shortened, so it sounds more like \u201cgo-in\u201d. You can answer with \u201cit\u2019s going well\u201d or \u201cI\u2019m doing well\u201d depending on the question.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Although it\u2019s not grammatically correct, most people just answer \u201cgood\u201d\u2014and you can too. Like when responding to \u201chow are you?\u201d you can also follow your answer by asking \u201cand you?\u201d<\/p>\n

7. What\u2019s up? \/ What\u2019s new? \/ What\u2019s going on?<\/h3>\n

These are some other informal ways of asking \u201chow are you?\u201d which are typically used to casually greet someone you have met before. Most people answer with \u201cnothing\u201d or \u201cnot much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Or, if it feels right to make small talk, you could also briefly describe anything new or interesting that\u2019s going on in your life, before asking \u201cwhat about you?\u201d to continue the conversation.<\/p>\n

8. How\u2019s everything? \/ How are things? \/ How\u2019s life?<\/h3>\n

These can be used to casually greet someone and ask how the person is doing, but most often these sentences are used to greet someone you already know. To these, you can answer \u201cgood\u201d or \u201cnot bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Again, if small talk feels appropriate, you could also briefly share any interesting news about your life, and then ask the person \u201cwhat about you?\u201d or another greeting question.<\/p>\n

9. How\u2019s your day? \/ How\u2019s your day going?<\/h3>\n

These questions mean \u201chow are you?\u201d not just right now, but how you\u2019ve been all day. You would use these greetings later in the day and with someone you see regularly.<\/p>\n

For example, you might ask a co-worker one of these in the afternoon, or a cashier that you see at the grocery store every evening.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going well\u201d is the grammatically correct response, but many people simply answer with \u201cfine,\u201d \u201cgood\u201d or \u201calright.\u201d<\/p>\n

By the way, notice that \u201cgood,\u201d \u201cfine\u201d or \u201cnot bad\u201d are perfect answers to almost any<\/i> greeting question.<\/p>\n

10. Good to see you \/ Nice to see you<\/h3>\n

These casual greetings are used with friends, co-workers or family members that you haven\u2019t seen in a while.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s common for close friends to hug when they greet each other, particularly if they haven\u2019t seen each other in some time. So you might use this greeting along with a hug or handshake depending on your relationship with the person.<\/p>\n

11. Long time no see \/ It\u2019s been a while<\/h3>\n

These casual greetings are used when you haven\u2019t seen someone in a long time, particularly if you meet that person unexpectedly.<\/p>\n

How much is a long<\/i> time? It depends on how often you normally see that person. For example, you could use one of these greetings if you normally see the person every week, but then don\u2019t see them for a few months or more.<\/p>\n

Usually, these phrases are followed by another question, like \u201chow are you,\u201d \u201chow have you been?\u201d or \u201cwhat\u2019s new?\u201d<\/p>\n

Slang Greetings in English<\/h2>\n

Slang greetings are extremely informal, and should only be used with people that you know very well, and feel very comfortable with.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that a lot of slang is regional, and using Australian slang<\/a> in the United States, for example, can sound quite strange.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll need to learn the local slang wherever you are, but these common examples will help you get started.<\/p>\n

12. Yo!<\/h3>\n

This extremely informal greeting is common in the U.S. It comes from 1990\u2019s hip-hop slang and these days it\u2019s often used both seriously and jokingly.<\/p>\n

This greeting should only be used with very close friends, and never in a business setting.<\/p>\n

13. Are you OK? \/ You alright? \/ Alright mate?<\/h3>\n

This casual way of asking both \u201chello\u201d and \u201chow are you\u201d is common in Britain.<\/p>\n

You can respond \u201cyeah, fine,\u201d or simply \u201calright\u201d before asking “and you?” to the other person.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

14. Howdy!<\/h3>\n

This is a very informal abbreviation of \u201chow do you do?\u201d that is common in certain parts of Canada and the U.S.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that if you say \u201chowdy\u201d outside of these regions, you will sound like a cowboy, and it might make the other person laugh.<\/p>\n

15. Sup? \/ Whazzup?<\/h3>\n

These greetings are abbreviations of \u201cwhat\u2019s up?\u201d which are common among teenagers. Like with \u201cwhat\u2019s up?\u201d you can answer \u201cnothing\u201d or \u201cnot much.\u201d<\/p>\n

16. G\u2019day mate!<\/h3>\n

This casual greeting is an Australian abbreviation of \u201cgood day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that Australian greetings often use \u201cya\u201d instead of \u201cyou.\u201d So \u201chow are ya?\u201d is the same as \u201chow are you?,\u201d and \u201chow are ya going?\u201d is basically the same as \u201chow\u2019s it going?\u201d or \u201chow are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

17. Hiya!<\/h3>\n

This greeting, short for \u201chow are you?\u201d, is commonly used in certain parts of England. However, you don\u2019t need to actually answer this question\u2014you can just say \u201chey!\u201d right back.<\/p>\n

English Greetings for Emails and Letters<\/h2>\n

When writing an email or letter, there are specific greetings you should use to address the person you are sending it to. Here are some of the most important greetings you should know for this context.<\/p>\n

18. Dear [recipient’s Name]<\/h3>\n

This greeting is commonly used in formal correspondence and professional settings. It indicates respect and maintains a polite tone. Including the recipient’s name makes it more personal.<\/p>\n

It’s suitable for emails or letters addressed to colleagues, clients, or people who you have a professional relationship with.<\/p>\n

19. Dear Sir or Madam<\/h3>\n

You can use this greeting when writing to someone whose name you don’t know, or when your letter or email is directed at a more general audience.<\/p>\n

It shows respect and professionalism, making it a good option for things like job applications, formal inquiries, or letters to unknown recipients.<\/p>\n

20. To whom it may concern<\/h3>\n

“To whom it may concern” is a formal greeting used in business letters or emails when the sender does not have a specific recipient in mind.<\/p>\n

This greeting is appropriate when addressing general inquiries, formal complaints, or other situations where the recipient’s identity is unknown or irrelevant. This greeting has less of a personal touch, so best not to use it with someone you are more familiar with!<\/p>\n

And of course, once you’ve nailed the introductions, there’s another set of phrases you need to learn.<\/p>\n

That’s right, farewells<\/em> (saying goodbye)!<\/a> This video will give you a brief introduction to saying goodbye in English.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/lite-youtube><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I hope you enjoy trying out these new English greetings. You\u2019ll find that greeting people in different ways will help your English sound more natural, and it might even make English greetings more fun and interesting for you.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

And One More Thing...<\/h2>\r\n

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FluentU lets you learn engaging content with world famous celebrities.<\/p><\/div>\r\n

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\r\nLearn all the vocabulary in any video with quizzes. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you\u2019re learning.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

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FluentU helps you learn fast with useful questions and multiple examples. Learn more.<\/a><\/p><\/div>\r\n

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\r\nStart using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You probably already know “hello” and “how are you?” in English. However, English speakers also use many other English greetings and expressions to say slightly different things. Let\u2019s learn how…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":247169,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"Different Greetings in English | FluentU English Blog","description":"Are you looking for some new greetings in English that are not \"hello\" and \"how are you?\" Here are detailed explanations of different English greetings so you can sound more natural when speaking to native-speakers. Learn formal, informal and slang phrases, such as \"How's it going?\" and \"Nice to see you.\" Let's get started!"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[685,687],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3,875],"class_list":["post-147423","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-english","category-vocabulary-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147423","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=147423"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147423\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":211007,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147423\/revisions\/211007"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/247169"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=147423"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=147423"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=147423"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=147423"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}