There are several different greetings around the world, each of them unique to language and location. Now that you’ve been thoroughly welcomed using six common international greeting words, let’s explore the vast number of ways to greet someone in English.
“Hello” is generally the first word you learn in any new language. However, if you want to really develop your English language skills and sound like a native speaker, there are a ton of more colorful ways to say “hello.”
Like with all languages, there are different ways to say “hello” in English. These differences vary depending on the situation and person you’re talking to. For example, you would greet your friends and family differently to the cashier at the supermarket or the person in a job interview.
We’ll cover some basic English greetings both for formal and informal occasions. By the end of this article, you’ll know how to greet someone in English using 20 different ways!
Informal Greetings
Let’s begin by exploring some of the most common informal greetings in English. These can be used amongst friends or family, or even in an informal setting.
1. Hi!
Simple and straightforward, “hi” is often used as a quick greeting in English amongst friends, coworkers, and even family.
2. Hey, Heya or Hey there!
This is another one of the best greetings to use amongst friends or acquaintances.
3. Morning!
A more casual way of saying “Good morning.”
4. How are things?
This is one of the more casual greeting phrases used in an exchange.
5. What’s new?
Similar to “how are things?”, “what’s new?” is simply a way of saying hello to someone you haven’t talked to in a while.
6. It’s good to see you
As you may have assumed, this one is used when you haven’t seen someone in a while.
7. G’day!
This is short for “Good day,” typically used in Australia.
8. Howdy!
No list of English greetings vocabulary is complete without some unique variations. This is one that’s commonly used in the southern regions of the United States.
9. What’s up?
This can also be shortened to “‘Sup?”
10. How’s it going?
This is one of those types of greetings that doesn’t always need to be taken literally.
11. What’s happening?
Although a question, this type of greeting can be used in place of “hello!”
12. What’s the story?
This one is popular in Ireland.
13. Yo!
Another one of the simplest greetings words you can use.
Although some of these greetings look like questions, no answers are expected or a standard “good, thank you” or “nothing much” will suffice. These greetings are typically used amongst friends or in more casual situations.
Formal Greetings
Now that you’ve learned how to greet someone informally, let’s check out some of the most common formal greetings in English.
14. Hello!
In formal greetings examples, hello is preferred to “hi” or “hey.”
15. Hi there
This is a slightly less formal way to say hello, but still more appropriate than using “hey.”
16. Good morning
You can never go wrong when using “good morning” in greeting sentences.
17. Good afternoon
If greeting someone later in the day, this is a great option.
18. Good evening
If greeting someone during the evening, use this option.
19. It’s nice to meet you
Just don’t say this one to someone you’ve met three times before!
20. It’s a pleasure to meet you
Remember, these last two only work when you are meeting someone for the first time.
Practicing Your Greeting Words in English
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. If you do ’t have anyone to practice your new English greetings examples with, Tandem is here to help! We’ve got the perfect place for you to practice your new list of greetings in English, Portuguese, French, or whatever language you’re interested in.
With Tandem, it’s easier than ever to connect with a native English speaker and practice your newly learned greeting examples and other essential vocabulary.We might be a little biased, but we believe Tandem is the best way to learn English (or any one of our 300+ languages) online. Our community includes millions of members across the world, waiting to connect with like-minded individuals like you. At Tandem, you’re bound to find someone with similar interests to you, ensuring your language learning remains motivating. Try Tandem for free and take your English to the next level!
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