There is no doubt that the first impression is very important in any human interaction, and displaying etiquette and social courtesy is essential in all societies and human languages, especially the English language. Therefore, greetings and welcoming phrases are among the most important conversational lessons in English, especially for beginners.In this lesson, we have compiled the most common English greeting phrases and categorized them according to different occasions and their appropriate responses.
Different Greetings in English
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’s 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.
Formal greetings
The use of these phrases is limited to formal interactions, whether in the workplace or when communicating with older individuals, and thus they are less commonly used compared to informal expressions.
Use the following salutations to start a formal conversation in any of these situations.
1. How do you do?
" How do you do?" is ideal for a business dinner or formal event, like a conference. In professional discourse across all languages, the most suitable response is a neutral or positive one such as "I'm doing well, thank you" or "Fine, thank you," to maintain a certain level of distance, even if you're actually having a rough day!
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2. Nice to meet you / Pleased to meet you
When people meet, it is a common practice to shake hands. A handshake generally lasts for a few seconds, which gives enough time to say “Pleased to meet you”.
3. Good Morning / Good Afternoon / Good Evening
You can never go wrong when using “good morning” in greeting sentences.
4. It’s a pleasure to meet you
Remember, use it when you are meeting someone for the first time.
5. It’s nice to meet you
Just don’t say this one to someone you’ve met three times before!
Formal greetings for letters and emails
In any language, numerous formal conversations occur in written form, such as job applications, legal inquiries, or complaints against a company. Here are the most effective ways to greet someone in writing when addressing serious matters.
Dear Sir or Madam
If you do not know the name of the person you are sending a professional letter or email to then “Dear Sir or Madam” is the most common way to start the conversation.
To Whom It May Concern
This is another professional way to address an email to a stranger. It is a little old fashioned, but perfect if your formal email is going to be relevant to a group of people
Dear Mr X / Mrs X / Ms X / Miss X / Prof X / Dr X
It is better to begin the conversation with “Dear Mr [surname]” instead of “Dear sir or madam.”
Informal greetings
You can use “hey” and “hi” to greet someone instead of “hello.” Both are particularly popular among younger people.informal greetings are strictly reserved for your friends who are in your age group
, you can opt for these informal greetings. Situations where these fit naturally include:
- a casual meeting with colleagues
- having a conversation with your team at work
- networking events
- greeting neighbors
- chatting to a friend
1. Hello / Hi / Hey
Hello, Michel.
Hi, Monica
. It's great to see you! As a general guideline, reserve "hey" for people you're familiar with. While it's acceptable to initiate a conversation with a stranger in an informal setting using "hey," be mindful not to pronounce it too harshly, as it might be perceived as rude or confrontational in such instances.
2. How are you doing? / How’s it going?
People prefer to ask one of these questions after the main greeting.
3. Nice to see you / It’s great to see you / Good to see you
You can use them at the beginning of a conversation,
4. How are things?
This is one of the more casual greeting phrases used in an exchange.
5. Howdy!
No list of English greetings vocabulary is complete without some unique variations.
6. What’s up?
This can also be shortened to “‘Sup?”
7. What’s the story?
This one is popular in Ireland.
Slang Greetings in English
Informal slang greetings should be reserved for close acquaintances with whom you feel very comfortable.
It's important to note that slang often varies regionally. Using Australian slang, for instance, in the United States may sound unusual.
1. Yo!
It comes from 1990’s hip-hop slang and these days it’s often used both seriously and jokingly.
2. sup?/ Whazzup?
These greetings are abbreviations of “what’s up?” which are common among teenagers. Like with “what’s up?” you can answer “nothing” or “not much.”
3.Hiya
This greeting, short for “how are you?”, is commonly used in certain parts of England.
Understanding the Importance of Greetings
Greetings canbe used to show appreciation for someone’s presence or to express gratitude. In some cultures, a simple “hello” or “thank you” can go a long way in building positive relationships, Greetings also play an important role in communication. They can set the tone for a conversation and establish a level of familiarity between individuals. For example, using a formal greeting such as “Good morning, sir” may indicate a more professional or formal setting, while using a casual greeting such as “Hey, what’s up?” may indicate a more relaxed or informal setting. We hope you enjoy putting these new English greetings to use! You’ll find that greeting people in different ways will help your English sound more natural and you’ll be able to adapt to any situation you’re in.
What Are Closing Greetings
Closing greetings are formal ways to end a conversation politely in English. It can be difficult to cut a conversation short without sounding rude - a closing greeting solves that problem. It signifies the end of a conversation politely. It also lets everyone involved in the conversation know that the conversation is officially over.
Examples
‘It was great talking to you’
‘Thank you for your time, I look forward to talking with you again soon’
Greetings examples
- Formal: "Good morning, Mrs. Thompson. How may I assist you today?"
- Informal: "Hi, Mark! How's it going?"
- Casual: "Hey, Sarah! Long time no see. What have you been up to?"
- Slang: "What's up, dude? Ready to hang out?"
- Polite: "Hello, Mr. Patel. I hope you're having a pleasant day."
- Professional: "Good afternoon, Dr. Garcia. Thank you for meeting with me."
- Warm: "Hi, Emily! It's wonderful to see you again. How have you been?"
- Respectful: "Good evening, Sir. May I take your coat?"
- Friendly: "Hey there! How's everything going with you?"
- Colloquial: "Morning! Did you catch the game last night?"
Some common Questions about greetings
What is the most common English greeting?
The most common English greeting is "Hello" or "Hi."
When do we use "Good morning"?
"Good morning" is used in the morning as a greeting.
How do we greet someone in the afternoon?
We greet someone in the afternoon by saying "Good afternoon."
Can "Hi" be used in formal situations?
"Hi" is typically used in informal situations or among friends. In formal situations, it's better to use "Hello."
How do we greet someone in the evening?
We greet someone in the evening by saying "Good evening."
What's a casual way to greet someone?
A casual way to greet someone is by saying "Hey" or "What's up?"
Is it polite to ask "How are you?" after saying hello?
Yes, it's polite to ask "How are you?" after saying hello as it shows interest in the other person's well-being.
How do we respond to "How are you?" politely?
You can respond with "I'm good, thank you" or "I'm doing well, thanks."
Can "Hey" be used as a greeting?
Yes, "Hey" can be used as a casual greeting, especially among friends or acquaintances.
What's a friendly way to greet someone you haven't seen in a while?
A friendly way to greet someone you haven't seen in a while is by saying "Hey, long time no see!"
