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All greetings in English
07.01.2025
4 minutes to read
Hello! Have you ever wondered how many different ways you can say “Hello” in English? Turns out there are a whole bunch of them, and each one is appropriate for a different situation! Whether it's for school, for friends, or for a cool messenger message, let's break down all of these greetings so you always sound up to par!
Table of contents
Formal greetings in English are used in situations where you need to show respect or formalities. These phrases are often used in professional settings, when speaking to strangers, or in formal letters. Here are some common examples:
Hello is the most universal greeting and is appropriate for most situations, including business and formal situations. It sounds neutral enough so it can be used both at work and socially without creating unnecessary tension.
Good morning / Good afternoon / Good evening - these expressions depend on the time of day and are considered polite, especially in a business setting. For example, it is common to say “Good morning” in the morning, “Good afternoon” in the afternoon and “Good evening” in the evening. They create an atmosphere of politeness and show attention to time.
How do you do? - is a highly formal greeting that is often used in the UK, especially when meeting unfamiliar people. It is important to note that this question is not usually expected to be answered. Rather, it is a way of showing respect and formality.
These expressions help to maintain the right tone of communication in formal situations and avoid misunderstandings, which is especially important in a business environment or when dealing with people you are not familiar with.
Here are some examples of formal greetings that may be useful in business situations or when communicating with strangers:
Good morning, how are you today?
This greeting is suitable for a morning meeting with a colleague or at a formal meeting.
Good afternoon, it's a pleasure to meet you.
It is usually used when making a first acquaintance in a more formal setting.
Good evening, I hope you're doing well.
A greeting that can be used in the evening, especially when meeting clients or colleagues.
How do you do?
This is a very formal way of saying hello. It is usually used at important meetings or when meeting people with whom you do not have a close relationship.
Hello, it's great to see you.
This is used in more formal situations when you want to show respect, such as when meeting someone you don't interact with often.
These greeting formulas help create an impression of respect and professionalism in a business setting or when talking to strangers.
Hello is the most universal greeting and is appropriate for most situations, including business and formal situations. It sounds neutral enough so it can be used both at work and socially without creating unnecessary tension.
Good morning / Good afternoon / Good evening - these expressions depend on the time of day and are considered polite, especially in a business setting. For example, it is common to say “Good morning” in the morning, “Good afternoon” in the afternoon and “Good evening” in the evening. They create an atmosphere of politeness and show attention to time.
How do you do? - is a highly formal greeting that is often used in the UK, especially when meeting unfamiliar people. It is important to note that this question is not usually expected to be answered. Rather, it is a way of showing respect and formality.
These expressions help to maintain the right tone of communication in formal situations and avoid misunderstandings, which is especially important in a business environment or when dealing with people you are not familiar with.
Here are some examples of formal greetings that may be useful in business situations or when communicating with strangers:
Good morning, how are you today?
This greeting is suitable for a morning meeting with a colleague or at a formal meeting.
Good afternoon, it's a pleasure to meet you.
It is usually used when making a first acquaintance in a more formal setting.
Good evening, I hope you're doing well.
A greeting that can be used in the evening, especially when meeting clients or colleagues.
How do you do?
This is a very formal way of saying hello. It is usually used at important meetings or when meeting people with whom you do not have a close relationship.
Hello, it's great to see you.
This is used in more formal situations when you want to show respect, such as when meeting someone you don't interact with often.
These greeting formulas help create an impression of respect and professionalism in a business setting or when talking to strangers.
Formal greetings in English
Informal greetings in English
Informal greetings in English are what we use with friends, family, or just people we know and with whom we feel at ease. They are much simpler and more casual than formal ones, and can vary depending on the situation or mood. Here are some popular examples:
Hi is the most common and most popular way to say “Hi”. It's appropriate in any situation where you're socializing with people you know well. It's perfect for friends, classmates, or people your age.
Hey is a little more informal than just “Hi” and is more commonly used among friends. It's kind of a more relaxed version that makes communication even more friendly.
What's up? or What's going on? - These phrases are most often used when you meet someone for the first time in a day or just want to know how they are doing. It's not really a question, but more of a greeting, and is usually answered with something like “Not much!” or “Nothing special.”
Yo is a super informal greeting that is often used among young people or in street culture. It's like saying “Hey!” in a very relaxed way.
How's it going?” is a slightly more extended version of ‘What's up?’. It too is often used in conversation with friends and actually means “How's it going?”.
Informal greetings are basically a way of showing that you are open to socializing and don't want to create unnecessary formality. They help to make the conversation casual and friendly, especially when talking to people you know well.
Here are some examples of how you can use informal greetings in conversation:
Hi! How's it going?
Appropriate if you're meeting a friend at school or on the street.
Hey! What's up?
This is a simple greeting that is often used with friends. The answer can be something like “Not much, just chilling”.
Yo! How's everything?
This variant is used among teenagers or in informal settings.
if you haven't seen a friend for a long time.
Hey, long time no see!
This is appropriate if you meet someone you haven't seen for a while.
These greetings make communication easier and cozier because they allow you to be more open and at ease with people you're on the same page with.
Hi is the most common and most popular way to say “Hi”. It's appropriate in any situation where you're socializing with people you know well. It's perfect for friends, classmates, or people your age.
Hey is a little more informal than just “Hi” and is more commonly used among friends. It's kind of a more relaxed version that makes communication even more friendly.
What's up? or What's going on? - These phrases are most often used when you meet someone for the first time in a day or just want to know how they are doing. It's not really a question, but more of a greeting, and is usually answered with something like “Not much!” or “Nothing special.”
Yo is a super informal greeting that is often used among young people or in street culture. It's like saying “Hey!” in a very relaxed way.
How's it going?” is a slightly more extended version of ‘What's up?’. It too is often used in conversation with friends and actually means “How's it going?”.
Informal greetings are basically a way of showing that you are open to socializing and don't want to create unnecessary formality. They help to make the conversation casual and friendly, especially when talking to people you know well.
Here are some examples of how you can use informal greetings in conversation:
Hi! How's it going?
Appropriate if you're meeting a friend at school or on the street.
Hey! What's up?
This is a simple greeting that is often used with friends. The answer can be something like “Not much, just chilling”.
Yo! How's everything?
This variant is used among teenagers or in informal settings.
if you haven't seen a friend for a long time.
Hey, long time no see!
This is appropriate if you meet someone you haven't seen for a while.
These greetings make communication easier and cozier because they allow you to be more open and at ease with people you're on the same page with.
Greetings used in everyday communication
The greetings we use in everyday communication are varied and depend on your mood and who you are communicating with. These are the phrases that sound natural and easy, whether you're meeting a friend on the street or writing in a chat room. Here are some examples:
Hi there!
This is just a friendly greeting, a little more informal than the usual “Hi”. Suitable for all situations when you meet someone you know.
What's up? or What's happening? - “How are you?” or “What's happening?”
This is a super popular greeting among young people. It can be answered with “Not much!” or something like “Just chilling!”.
Hey there!
This is like “Hi,” only it sounds a little more relaxed. It is often used with friends or acquaintances.
How's it going?
A very common and informal greeting that can be used with friends or coworkers.
Yo!
This is a street greeting that is most often heard among teenagers. It sounds cool and relaxed, like “Hey!”.
In everyday communication, the main thing is not to overload phrases with formalities and to speak in a way that is comfortable for both you and the person you are talking to. These greetings create an atmosphere of ease and friendliness.
Hi there!
This is just a friendly greeting, a little more informal than the usual “Hi”. Suitable for all situations when you meet someone you know.
What's up? or What's happening? - “How are you?” or “What's happening?”
This is a super popular greeting among young people. It can be answered with “Not much!” or something like “Just chilling!”.
Hey there!
This is like “Hi,” only it sounds a little more relaxed. It is often used with friends or acquaintances.
How's it going?
A very common and informal greeting that can be used with friends or coworkers.
Yo!
This is a street greeting that is most often heard among teenagers. It sounds cool and relaxed, like “Hey!”.
In everyday communication, the main thing is not to overload phrases with formalities and to speak in a way that is comfortable for both you and the person you are talking to. These greetings create an atmosphere of ease and friendliness.
When you meet someone you haven't seen for a long time, you want to say hello in a special way to show that you missed them. Here are a few phrases that will do the trick:
Long time no see!
This is probably one of the most popular greetings, which is always appropriate if you haven't seen each other for a while. For example, if you meet a friend you haven't talked to in a couple months, you can say, “Long time no see! How've you been?”
It's been ages!
You can use it if you meet someone you haven't seen for a long time. It's like saying it's been ages, even if it's only a couple months.
I missed you!
This is a more personal and sincere greeting, suitable for close friends or family. It conveys that you really missed connecting with this person.
Long time no see!
This is probably one of the most popular greetings, which is always appropriate if you haven't seen each other for a while. For example, if you meet a friend you haven't talked to in a couple months, you can say, “Long time no see! How've you been?”
It's been ages!
You can use it if you meet someone you haven't seen for a long time. It's like saying it's been ages, even if it's only a couple months.
I missed you!
This is a more personal and sincere greeting, suitable for close friends or family. It conveys that you really missed connecting with this person.
After a long separation
On the street
When you meet someone on the street, the greeting can be simple and short, but at the same time you need to make it friendly to show that you are happy to see the person.
Hey! How's it going?
Suitable for a quick meeting on the street with friends or acquaintances. The response will usually be quick, such as: “Good, and you?” .
What's up?
This is not so much a question as a way of saying “Hi” without going into details. You might hear “Not much, just walking around.”
Yo! What's good?
This is a street style greeting that can be appropriate for meeting friends if you are both on the same wavelength.
Hey! How's it going?
Suitable for a quick meeting on the street with friends or acquaintances. The response will usually be quick, such as: “Good, and you?” .
What's up?
This is not so much a question as a way of saying “Hi” without going into details. You might hear “Not much, just walking around.”
Yo! What's good?
This is a street style greeting that can be appropriate for meeting friends if you are both on the same wavelength.
Visiting
When you come to visit someone, the greeting should be friendly and welcoming. It expresses your joy at meeting them.
Hi! Thanks for having me over!
This is a good greeting when you are visiting friends or acquaintances. It is important to show your gratitude for the invitation.
Hey, it's great to be here!
It is used to express that you are happy to be a guest and to create an atmosphere of comfort.
Nice place you've got here!
This adds a compliment to the greeting and helps set a welcoming atmosphere.
Hi! Thanks for having me over!
This is a good greeting when you are visiting friends or acquaintances. It is important to show your gratitude for the invitation.
Hey, it's great to be here!
It is used to express that you are happy to be a guest and to create an atmosphere of comfort.
Nice place you've got here!
This adds a compliment to the greeting and helps set a welcoming atmosphere.
Friends can usually use the most relaxed forms of greetings. The key is to make them sound natural and uncluttered.
Hey, what's up?
This is probably the most popular greeting among friends. It's short, but it always cheers you up.
Yo! How you doing?
This one is used among close friends or people you talk to often.
Sup, dude?
This is a very informal and relaxed greeting used by friends in everyday conversation. It's appropriate if you haven't seen a friend for a couple days.
Hey, what's up?
This is probably the most popular greeting among friends. It's short, but it always cheers you up.
Yo! How you doing?
This one is used among close friends or people you talk to often.
Sup, dude?
This is a very informal and relaxed greeting used by friends in everyday conversation. It's appropriate if you haven't seen a friend for a couple days.
A friendly greeting
Greetings at a party
At a party, greetings tend to be more fun and energetic to create a party atmosphere.
Hey, party time!
Appropriate for a get-together at a fun hangout where everyone is expecting to have fun. It kind of emphasizes that everyone is ready for a good time.
What's up, everybody?
Used when you walk into a room where there are already friends or acquaintances. It's a good way to start socializing at a party.
Yo, let's get this party started!
An energetic greeting that is appropriate for the party itself, when you want to energize everyone.
These greetings help you to get in the right mood depending on the situation and create an atmosphere that is suitable for socializing with friends, on the street, at a party or as a guest.
Hey, party time!
Appropriate for a get-together at a fun hangout where everyone is expecting to have fun. It kind of emphasizes that everyone is ready for a good time.
What's up, everybody?
Used when you walk into a room where there are already friends or acquaintances. It's a good way to start socializing at a party.
Yo, let's get this party started!
An energetic greeting that is appropriate for the party itself, when you want to energize everyone.
These greetings help you to get in the right mood depending on the situation and create an atmosphere that is suitable for socializing with friends, on the street, at a party or as a guest.
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