Discover over 30 English greetings that will make you sound like a pro and give a great first impression.

Hello! It’s one of the first words we all learn in a new language. A basic greeting that tells someone you want to talk to them. But if you want to make the most of your first impression, there are lots of more engaging ways to say “hello”.

Do you want to know the best way to greet colleagues on a video call or in a formal social setting? Some informal terms to begin chatting to native English speakers on your next visit to the UK? Or to make sense of those regional slang greetings you hear on social media?

This guide explores the diverse ways to say "hello" in English, from formal to informal greetings, and even regional slang. It provides insights into the history and evolution of common greetings, like "How do you do?" and "hello," while offering tips on how to use them appropriately in different social settings. It also covers the nuances of greeting gestures, such as handshakes, hugs, and even kisses, helping you greet native English speakers with confidence and ease.

400-Years of "How do you do?"

The phrase "How do you do?" originated in England and has a history dating back to the 16th century. It was initially used as a formal greeting. Not so much a question, but more of a polite way to acknowledge someone.

Evolution of the phrase:

• 16th Century: In this period, people might have said something like "How do you?" or "How do ye?" as a way of inquiring about someone's well-being or actions.

• 17th Century: By the 17th century, "How do you do?" became a set phrase, particularly among the upper classes, as a greeting. It was more of a rhetorical question, not necessarily expecting a detailed response about one's well-being.

• 18th to 19th Century: It continued to be used in this manner and became widely recognized as a polite and formal way to greet someone, particularly in social settings.

Over time, "How do you do?" has fallen out of fashion and been replaced by simpler greetings like "Hello" or "Hi". In British English, it has kept its place as a formal greeting, although its usage continues to decline. Today, it's often heard in more traditional or formal settings, or appears in historical dramas or literature.

What is the origin of Hello?

Today we say "hello" as a greeting when we meet someone or start a conversation. It's a simple and friendly way to acknowledge the presence of another person and initiate interaction. The word "hello" helps establish a connection and sets a positive tone for communication.

The word became popular in the English language in the late 19th century. Although variations of the word existed earlier, it gained widespread use with the invention of the telephone. Thomas Edison is often credited with popularizing "hello" as the standard greeting when answering the phone. Before that, people might have used other greetings like "ahoy" or "good day."

Hello was easy to say and clear to understand. It quickly became the default greeting not just on the phone, but in everyday face-to-face interactions. It’s now one of the most common greetings in the English-speaking world.

Thomas Edison, AI illustration

How do Brits greet each other today?

As you learn English you will need to learn many English greetings. As the language developed, Brits (British people) simply weren't happy with just "hello!" or "hi". So they’ve made greeting one another in English quite complex. And that’s even before you add names, handshakes, hugs, kisses and other gestures!

Across the United Kingdom, people now use a wide variety of words and expressions to say "hello", reflecting formality and the rich diversity of regional dialects and local cultures.

Different circumstances also call for different levels of formality. You would not greet a business colleague or prospective employer in the way that you would greet your family and friends.

Formal greetings

A formal English greeting is appropriate in situations where professionalism, respect, or politeness is required. Common scenarios include business meetings, job interviews, academic or official events, and when addressing unfamiliar individuals or someone of higher status, such as royalty. Formal greetings, such as "Good morning, Professor Mutch", help convey respect and create a positive impression.

Here are the more common formal greetings with examples:

"How do you do?"

A very formal and traditional greeting used when meeting someone for the first time. It is not actually a question. The expected response is typically to repeat the phrase rather than answering the question directly.

"How do you do? I’m James Cooper from the marketing department."

"How do you do? My name is Sarah Johnson. It’s a pleasure to meet you."

"Hello!"

A versatile and polite greeting that can be used in both formal and informal situations, often at the beginning of a conversation.

"Hello! Thank you for joining us today."

"Hello! How are you doing today?"

"Good morning / Good afternoon / Good evening"

These are time specific greetings used to show respect and politeness in formal settings, used throughout the day.

"Good morning, Mr. Smith. I hope you're doing well."

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Jones. Thank you for visiting us today."

"Good evening, Mr. Bond. Would you like your martini shaken or stirred?"

"It’s a pleasure to meet you"

A formal and polite way to express your delight in meeting someone, often used in business or professional contexts. Replacing “pleasure” with “nice” makes it slightly less formal. Replacing "a pleasure" with "an honor" makes it highly formal, typically used when meeting someone of significant importance or status.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Williams. I’ve heard so much about your work."

"It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Brown. Thank you for coming today."

"It’s an honor to meet you, Sir. I’ve long admired your work."

"Lovely to meet you"

A warm and polite greeting, often used to express genuine pleasure in meeting someone. Using "Lovely" gives the phrase a slightly more personal touch. Replacing “meet” with "see" is used when you’ve met the person before but it’s been some time since the last meeting.

"Lovely to meet you, Sarah. I’ve been looking forward to this."

"Lovely to see you again, Mr. Taylor. I hope all is well with you."

"How are you today?"

A more formal version of "How are you?" often used in professional settings.

"How are you today, Mr. Anderson? I trust the trip was comfortable."

"How are you today, Mr. Thompson? It’s been a while since we last spoke."

"Good to make your acquaintance"

A formal expression used when meeting someone for the first time.

"Good to make your acquaintance, Dr. Patel. I’ve heard many good things about you."

"Good to make your acquaintance, Sarah. I'm looking forward to working together on this project."

Informal greetings

Informal greetings are used in casual, relaxed situations where a formal tone isn't necessary. Common scenarios are conversations with family and friends, greeting people you see regularly, interacting with colleagues in a relaxed environment, meeting new people at informal gatherings, and everyday events, such as interacting with store assistants, baristas, or waitstaff in a casual manner.

Here are the more common informal greetings with examples:

"Hello!"

A versatile and polite greeting that can be used in both informal and formal situations, often at the beginning of a conversation.

"Hello! It’s nice to meet you."

"Hello! How are you?"

“Hi" / “Hi there”

A very casual and friendly greeting, often used in informal situations among friends or acquaintances.

"Hi! How’s everything going?"

"Hi there! What are you up to?"

"Hey" / “Hey there” / “Hey mate”

A casual and friendly greeting used to get someone's attention. "Hey there!" is a slightly more enthusiastic version used to greet someone warmly. "Hey mate!" is typically used among friends.

"Hey, are you free to talk later?"

"Hey there! How's your day going?"

"Hey mate! Great to see you. Fancy going for a pint tonight?"

"Morning / Afternoon! / Evening!"

A simple and casual way to greet someone depending on the time of day.

"Morning! Did you catch the football game last night?"

"Afternoon! Lovely weather we're having."

"Evening! Smells great in here - what’s cooking?"

"How are you? / How are things? / How you doing? / How’s it going?"

These are relaxed and simple ways to ask about someone's well-being or current situation, often used among friends.

"How are you? Haven't seen you in a while."

"How are things? Everything going well with work?"

"How you doing? Ready for the weekend?"

"How’s it going? Need any help with that?"

"Good to see you / Great to see you / Lovely to see you"

An expression used to convey pleasure at meeting someone. Good can change to "Great" or "Lovely" depending upon the occasion. "Great" is used when you’re more enthusiastic and genuinely pleased to see someone. "Lovely" is used in more polite or formal social interactions.

"Good to see you. I hope you're doing well."

"Great to see you! It's been far too long."

"Lovely to see you again, James. I hope all is well with you."

"What’s new?"

A casual way to ask about recent events or updates in someone's life.

"What’s new? Anything exciting happening?"

"What’s new? How are things going?"

Regional (Slang) greetings

Across the United Kingdom (UK), people use a variety of words and expressions to say "hello," reflecting the rich diversity of regional dialects and local cultures. The ease with which they can be understood depends on how familiar you are with different English accents and your level of language proficiency. Even native English speakers can have difficulty understanding regional accents, especially if it is particularly strong.

Engaging with regional dialects can be a fun part of your language learning experience. If you have lived in the United Kingdom or have been exposed to British TV or social media you may already know some of these regional expressions.

Here are a selection from across the UK to show you the variety and richness of British English:

Regions of the United Kingdom

“Howay”

Common in the North East of England, particularly in Newcastle and surrounding areas. "Howay" (huh-WAY) is more of a call to action.

"Howay, man! We’re going to miss the match if we don’t leave now."

"Howay, lads, let's drink up and move on to the next pub."

“Ey up!”

Used in Yorkshire a is a casual greeting.

"Ey up! What brings you to this neck of the woods (area)?"

"Ey up! Haven't seen you since last Christmas!"

“Areet / Alreet”

These are shortened greetings for "Are you all right?". "Areet?" is used in Yorkshire. "Alreet" (al-REET) is common in the North East of England, especially in Newcastle.

"Areet, mate? Fancy grabbing a pint later?"

"Aleet, pet (mate)? How’s the family doing?"

“Awright? / Awright, me duck?”

These are shortened greetings for "Are you all right?". "Awright?" on it’s own is common in London and the South East. "Awright, me duck?" is used in the East Midlands, particularly around Nottingham. "me duck" is a term of endearment.

"Awright? How's your day going so far?"

"Awright, me duck? How's your mum keeping these days?"

“Wotcha”

A casual greeting used in London and the South East, derived from "What are you up to?".

"Wotcha, mate! Long time no see!"

"Wotcha! Fancy meeting you here."

“Hiya / Hiyer”

A friendly, informal version of "hi". You will hear "hiya" used across the UK but it is common in the North West and Wales. "Hiyer" is used in Scotland and the North of England.

"Hiya! How’ve you been?"

"Hiyer, pal! You all set for the weekend?"

“Fit like?”

A friendly, informal Scottish greeting, particularly common in the northeast of Scotland. It means "How are you?" or "How's it going?". The typical response might be something like "Nae bad," meaning "Not bad."

"Fit like, quine (girl)? Had a good day at work?"

"Fit like, loon (boy/mate)? Fancy a round of golf this weekend?"

“What's the craic?”

A friendly, informal Northern Ireland (and Ireland) greeting, meaning "What's the news?" or "How are things?". The word "craic" is Irish and means "news" or "gossip."

"What's the craic? Did you hear about the new pub opening?"

"What's the craic? Any plans for the weekend?"

What makes saying “Hello” so complex?

You may think having over 30 different words and expressions to say "hello" was complex enough. But as you have seen from our examples adding a person's name and joining these words and expressions together is pretty common. It may be a little more complex, but it is a great way to personalize the greeting and engage in conversation with someone.

Just remember the formula: Greeting + Name + Question.

Here are some more examples of complex greetings:

"Hello, Susan. How are you?"

"Good evening, Mr. Bond. Thank you for dropping in to visit us today."

"Great to see you again, James. I hope all is well with you."

What about handshakes, hugs, kisses and other gestures?

According to social anthropologist Kate Fox Brits (British people) have struggled to greet each other since "How do you do?" fell out of fashion. Fox said, Brits don't know what to say, whether to embrace or what to do with their hands.

In Britain, the use of greeting gestures like shaking hands, hugging, and kissing varies depending on the context, the relationship between the individuals, and regional customs.

Here's how these gestures are generally used:

Handshakes

Shaking hands is typically reserved for formal or semi-formal situations, such as business settings or when meeting someone for the first time. It’s considered a polite and professional gesture.

Nailing a handshake is pretty straightforward. Just make sure it’s firm, but not painful. Throw in a friendly smile and make eye contact. Avoid the damp hand and don’t try to shake their arm off.

Hugs

Hugging is generally reserved for friends, family, and close acquaintances, and is less common in formal settings. The "goodbye" hug can be used more liberally, especially if you have bonded. Neither are really workplace-appropriate.

Timing is everything. Do not remain in any hug for longer than is comfortable for the other person.

Kisses

Formerly left to the French and glitterati (rich, famous, and fashionable people) cheek kissing is becoming more accepted. Most notably among friends, family, or in certain social circles, especially in the South of England and among younger people. However, many Brits still prefer to avoid cheek kissing unless they are certain it’s appropriate, as it can be seen as overly familiar or awkward in some settings.

When done, it’s usually a single kiss on one cheek (nowhere else), but sometimes on both. No nervous pecks please. And don’t looked surprised if that second cheek is offered.

High fives and fist bumps

These gestures are more common in America. They are used in Britain, particularly among younger people, where they serve as expressions of positivity, agreement, or shared enthusiasm. They are used most often in sports, among peers, and at relaxed social situations. They have also gained popularity as a more hygienic alternative to handshakes since the pandemic, along with the elbow bump.

If the person your greeting goes for one of these moves. Follow their lead and avoid those over-complicated moves that you've seen in films. It could be humiliating!

A simple nod can be enough

And remember post-pandemic some people may just opt for a non-contact greeting like nodding.

The next time you say "hello"

Mastering English greetings can make a significant impact on how you're perceived. So, the next time you say "hello," think about the context, the person you're greeting, and the impression you want to leave.

And remember the formula: Greeting + Name + Question.

With this guide, you're now equipped to greet anyone with confidence, whether you're in a boardroom in London, a pub in Yorkshire, or a café in Edinburgh. Practice these greetings, and soon enough, you'll sound like a native English speaker, no matter where your journey takes you.

Adele’s "Hello!" Quiz

In 2015 Adele released her chart topping song "Hello!". In the lyrics she says "Hello!" 5 different ways. Can you identify which ones are proper English greetings?

"Hello, it's me"

"Hello, can you hear me?"

"Hello from the other side"

"Hello from the outside"

"Hello, how are you?"

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