English Greetings for Informal Situations
Let’s start with casual greetings to use most of the time, whether you’re greeting a friend, a coworker on the elevator, a neighbor you’ve never spoken to, or a complete stranger on an early morning walk.
Because I’m an American and I currently live in the U.S., I’ll focus on greetings used in the United States.
There may be common greetings where you live that I haven’t included here.
If you’re not sure what to say, I recommend listening to others around you, particularly those who consistently speak with politeness, kindness, and warmth. Which greetings to they typically use?
This is a good way to identify the best ways to say hello to others where you live.
Now here are several you can use:
Good Morning
This is the most formal way to say hello in casual conversation but it’s also very friendly and warm. With this combination of formality and warmth, it’s perfect to use when passing by a stranger on a morning walk, greeting a neighbor, or saying hello to coworkers.
Of course, because it includes the word ‘morning’ we stop using it around noon.
Hello / Hi / Hey / Hey there
These are all common ways of saying “hello” in a casual, friendly way, and quite often, these are immediately followed by a question such as…
How’s it going? / What’s going on? / How’s everything?
These questions are typically combined with hi, hey, or hey there. For example
- Hey, how’s everything?
- Hey there. How’s it going?
- Hello. How’s it going?
When responding to these greetings, the expectation is that you use simple answers or simply respond with a similar greeting. For example
- Hi, how’s it going?
- Good, thanks. You?
- Fine thanks, you?
- Everything’s great, thanks. You?
What’s up? / What’s new?
Similar to how’s it going but more informal is what’s up or what’s new.
For example:
- Hey, what’s up?
Common responses include:
- Not much.
- Nothing.
- Hey, what’s new?
Here is an example dialogue:
A: Hey Mina, what’s up?
B: Oh, hey. Not much. How’s it going?
Yo
While not as common as hi or hey, you may occasionally hear “yo.” It is typically only used with individuals who know each other well and is more common
Howdy
“Howdy” is a regional greeting, which means it is only used in some areas of the United States.
Good to see you. / It’s been ages! (since I’ve seen you.) / Where have you been hiding? / What have you been up to?
These are common greetings when you have not seen someone you know for some time and often follow a hi or hey.
These expressions can be used as part of your greeting when you see someone unexpectedly, at a party, a family gathering, etc.
The question “where have you been hiding” invites conversation. It is a way of saying, “How have you been?” Here is an example dialogue:
A: Hey! It’s good to see you! It’s been ages! Where have you been hiding?
B: Hi Sue, what’s up? I’ve just been busy, working a lot of long hours. What about you? How have you been?
A: Everything’s good. Nothing new really.
