"Hello" is correct in every situation, and that is the reason it can sound flat. The other ways to say hello in English each fit one kind of moment: "hey" for a friend, "good morning" for a colleague, "long time no see" for someone you have missed. The right choice depends on how well you know the person and where you are speaking, and the casual greetings for friends are the place to start.
Common Ways to Say Hello in Everyday English
These seven greetings fit almost everyone, from a neighbour to a new colleague, and each one changes the mood of the first line.
Hi: friendly and neutral, so it fits anyone you know by name. It goes with a first name and works in speech and in writing.
- Hi, Priya, did you get my message about Friday?
- Hi, I’m here for my two o’clock appointment with Dr Malik.
- Oh, hi! I didn’t see you come in.
Hello: the full form, a step more polite than "hi". It fits a stranger, a customer, or a phone call, and it never sounds too casual.
- Hello, could I speak to someone in the billing department?
- Hello, Mrs Adeyemi, thank you for coming in today.
- Hello again, I think we met at the conference last spring.
Hey: the warmest of the three, and it fits friends, family, and colleagues you joke with. With a stranger or a manager it sounds too familiar, so keep it for people you know well.
- Hey, Tom, are you still coming tonight?
- Hey! I was about to call you.
- Hey, Mum, I’m outside, can you open the door?
Hi there: "hi" with a little extra warmth, used when you notice someone or greet someone you do not know by name.
- Hi there, are you waiting for the bus to the station?
- Hi there! Come in, the kettle is on.
- Hi there, I’m Leo, I’ll be your guide for the tour.
Hello there: the same warmth in a more polite form. It sounds friendly from a shop assistant, a teacher, or an older neighbour.
- Hello there, what can I get for you today?
- Hello there, you must be Maya’s brother.
- Hello there, little one, did you lose your mum in the shop?
Hey there: casual and playful, and it fits a message or a face-to-face hello with someone you like.
- Hey there, stranger, where have you been hiding?
- Hey there! I saved you the last slice.
- Hey there, Jess, how was the interview?
How’s it going?: a greeting and a question in one. It fits friends and relaxed colleagues, and the expected reply is short: "Good, you?"
- How’s it going? I heard the move went well.
- Morning, Raj, how’s it going?
- How’s it going, guys? Sorry I’m late.
Write "hi" when you are unsure, because it never sounds too warm and never sounds cold.
Casual Ways to Say Hello to Friends
Casual greetings are for people who know you well, and each one sounds relaxed, quick, and a little playful.
What’s up?: a greeting rather than a real question, so the reply is "not much" or "hey". It fits friends and classmates and sounds odd in an email to someone senior.
- What’s up, Dan? You look tired.
- Hey, what’s up? I got your text.
- What’s up, everyone? Ready to go?
Sup: the shortest form of "what’s up", used by younger speakers with close friends. Keep it out of any message that a teacher or a manager will read.
- Sup, Marco, you coming to practice?
- Sup? Long day?
- Yo, sup, we’re at the back table.
Yo: American slang for hello, and it fits close friends only. As a first word to a stranger it sounds rude.
- Yo, Chris, over here!
- Yo, did you see the score last night?
- Yo, I’m outside, come down.
Heyyy: "hey" with extra letters, used in texts to sound warm or flirty. The more letters you add, the more playful it reads.
- Heyyy, how was the party?
- Heyyy, I miss you, are you free this weekend?
- Heyyy! You finally replied.
Hey, you!: a fond greeting for a partner, a close friend, or a child you are happy to see.
- Hey, you! I wasn’t expecting you until six.
- Hey, you, come and give me a hand with these bags.
- Hey, you! Look at that haircut.
What’s new?: a friendly opener that asks for news, so it fits a friend you see every week or two.
- What’s new, Anna? How’s the new flat?
- Hi, Ben, what’s new with you?
- What’s new? Still working on the app?
How are things?: softer than "how are you", and it fits friends and family in speech and in messages. The reply is a short update.
- How are things, Grandad? Is your knee better?
- Hey, Sofia, how are things at the new job?
- How are things? Haven’t heard from you all week.
How’s everything?: the same warmth as "how are things", and it works well at the start of a call or a video chat.
- How’s everything, Mum? Did the parcel arrive?
- Hi, Kemi, how’s everything at your end?
- How’s everything? Sorry I’ve been quiet.
Keep "sup", "yo", and "heyyy" for friends your own age, and use "hi" with everyone else.
Formal Ways to Say Hello at Work
Formal greetings fit a manager, a client, a doctor, or a stranger, and they pair with a title and a surname or with a full sentence.
Hello, Ms Adams: "hello" with a title and surname is the standard formal greeting in an office, a clinic, or a bank. Use the title until the person offers a first name.
- Hello, Ms Adams, the contract is ready for your signature.
- Hello, Dr Okafor, thank you for seeing me at short notice.
- Hello, Mr Petrov, we spoke on the phone last week.
It’s good to see you: a warm formal greeting for someone you have met before, and it fits a client or a senior colleague.
- It’s good to see you, Mr Chen, how was the flight?
- It’s good to see you back in the office, Fatima.
- It’s good to see you again after so many months.
How are you?: the polite question that follows a greeting at work, and the reply is short and positive: "Very well, thank you, and you?"
- Good morning, Mrs Ali, how are you?
- Hello, how are you? Please take a seat.
- How are you, Professor Grant? I enjoyed your lecture.
How are you today?: a little warmer than "how are you", and it fits a receptionist, a nurse, or a shop assistant greeting a customer.
- Good afternoon, how are you today?
- Hello, Mr Lewis, how are you today? Any pain in the shoulder?
- How are you today, sir? Do you have a booking?
It’s a pleasure to see you again: a very formal greeting for a guest, a partner, or a senior person you respect.
- It’s a pleasure to see you again, Ambassador.
- It’s a pleasure to see you again, Mrs Novak, welcome to the campus.
- It’s a pleasure to see you again, we’re glad you could join us.
Welcome: a greeting for someone who has just arrived at a place you belong to, and it fits an event, a shop, a class, or a home.
- Welcome, everyone, please find a seat near the front.
- Welcome to Northfield, Mr Diaz, I’ll show you to your desk.
- Welcome! Come in out of the rain.
The one greeting to avoid with a manager you met a minute ago is "hey", because it puts you on the level of a close friend before the relationship is there.
- Hey, Ms Adams, got a minute? ❌
"Hey" sounds too familiar for a first conversation with a senior person, and a title with "hello" fits the same moment.
- Hello, Ms Adams, do you have a minute? ✅
Every greeting on this page belongs to one of five levels.
| Level | Greetings | Who it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Slang | Sup, yo, heyyy | Close friends your own age |
| Casual | Hey, what’s up, how’s it going | Friends, family, relaxed colleagues |
| Neutral | Hi, hello, hi there | Anyone you know by name |
| Formal | Good morning, hello with a title, how are you | Managers, clients, strangers, older people |
| Very formal | It’s a pleasure to see you, how do you do | Guests of honour, interviews, ceremonies |
Use "hello" with a title and surname on the first day, and move to a first name only after the other person does.
Ways to Say Hello in an Email
An email greeting is called a salutation, and the salutation goes on its own line before the message. The name after it changes with the relationship.
Hi Sara,: the standard greeting for a colleague, a client you know, or anyone who signs with a first name. It is the most common email opening in English today.
- Hi Sara, thanks for sending the slides so quickly.
- Hi Sara, are you free for a short call on Thursday?
- Hi Sara, I hope the trip went well.
Hello Sara,: a step more polite than "hi", and it fits a first email to someone whose first name you already know.
- Hello Sara, I’m writing about the job posted on your site.
- Hello Sara, Mark gave me your address and suggested I get in touch.
- Hello Sara, thank you for your reply yesterday.
Dear Ms Adams,: the formal salutation for someone you have never written to, for a customer, or for anyone senior. It goes with a title and surname.
- Dear Ms Adams, please find the signed agreement attached.
- Dear Dr Okafor, I am writing to confirm my appointment on 4 March.
- Dear Mr Petrov, thank you for your time on Monday.
Dear Hiring Manager,: the salutation for a job application when you do not know the reader’s name. "To whom it may concern" is older and colder, so use it only for a formal letter of complaint.
- Dear Hiring Manager, I am applying for the marketing assistant role.
- Dear Hiring Manager, please find my CV and cover letter attached.
- Dear Hiring Manager, I was referred to this position by Lena Ross.
Good morning, Tom,: a time-of-day greeting works in an email when you expect the reader to open it the same morning, and it sounds warm and polite at the same time.
- Good morning, Tom, the report is ready for review.
- Good morning, Tom, just a reminder that the meeting starts at ten.
- Good morning, Tom, thanks again for yesterday.
Hope you’re well: not a salutation on its own, but the first line after one, and it softens a request that follows.
- Hi Sara, hope you’re well. Could you send me the invoice?
- Hello Tom, hope you’re well and the new house is settling in.
- Dear Ms Adams, I hope you’re well. I am writing to follow up on our call.
"Dear" belongs to writing only, and it sounds strange out loud.
- Dear Ms Adams, thank you for meeting me. (spoken at the door) ❌
"Dear" is a written salutation, so in speech the same greeting takes "hello" or "good morning".
- Hello, Ms Adams, thank you for meeting me. ✅
Write "Hi" plus a first name for a colleague, and "Dear" plus a title and surname for anyone you have never written to.
Ways to Say Hello on the Phone
A phone greeting names the speaker as well as saying hello, because the other person cannot see you.
Hello?: the standard way to answer a personal phone, said with a rising voice because you are asking who is calling.
- Hello? Who’s this?
- Hello? Sorry, the line is bad, can you say that again?
- Hello? Oh, hi, Mum, I was about to ring you.
Hi, it’s Ana: the way to open a call to someone who knows you. "It’s" plus your name replaces "I am" on the phone.
- Hi, it’s Ana, is this a good time to talk?
- Hi, it’s Ana, I’m calling about the flat on Green Street.
- Hi, it’s Ana from the book club, are you still coming on Tuesday?
Hello, this is Mark from Northfield Clinic: the formal opening for a work call, with your name and your company in the first line.
- Hello, this is Mark from Northfield Clinic, I’m calling to confirm your appointment.
- Hello, this is Mark from Northfield Clinic, could I speak to Mrs Ali?
- Hello, this is Mark from Northfield Clinic, I’m returning your call from this morning.
Hey, it’s me: the greeting for a partner, a parent, or a close friend who knows your voice at once.
- Hey, it’s me, I’m running ten minutes late.
- Hey, it’s me, can you pick up some milk on the way home?
- Hey, it’s me, did you get my voicemail?
Good afternoon, Rivera Dental, how can I help you?: the business greeting for answering a work phone, with the company name and an offer of help in one breath.
- Good afternoon, Rivera Dental, how can I help you?
- Good morning, Rivera Dental, Ella speaking, how can I help you?
- Good evening, Rivera Dental, you’re through to reception, how can I help?
On a call, say who you are in the first sentence, because "hello" alone makes the other person guess.
Ways to Say Hello Over Text
Text greetings are short, and punctuation and repeated letters do the work of your voice in speech.
Hey!: the default text greeting between friends, and the exclamation mark makes it warm rather than flat.
- Hey! Are we still on for lunch?
- Hey! Just landed, I’ll call you from the taxi.
- Hey! Saw your photos, the beach looked amazing.
Hi, how’s your day?: a soft opener for a friend or a partner, and the reply is a short chat rather than one word.
- Hi, how’s your day? Mine has been meetings from nine.
- Hi, how’s your day going? Any news from the doctor?
- Hi, how’s your day? I’m bored at the airport.
Morning!: the short form of "good morning", and it fits the first text of the day to a friend or a partner.
- Morning! Did you sleep okay?
- Morning! Coffee later?
- Morning! Don’t forget the dentist at eleven.
Hey, you around?: a greeting and a question in one, used when you want to talk or meet right now.
- Hey, you around? I’m near your office.
- Hey, you around? Need a quick favour.
- Hey, you around this evening? Fancy a film?
What’s good?: American slang that means "what’s up", and it fits close friends in a group chat.
- What’s good, Jay? Game tonight?
- What’s good? I’m free after six.
- Yo, what’s good, everyone? Who’s driving?
Keep a text greeting to two or three words, and let the exclamation mark do the smiling.
Ways to Say Hello to a Group
A group greeting names everyone at once, and the level of the greeting matches the room.
Hi all,: the standard opening for an email or message to several colleagues, and it works in a meeting too.
- Hi all, the agenda for Monday is attached.
- Hi all, thanks for joining on such short notice.
- Hi all, quick update on the launch date.
Hello everyone: a little more formal than "hi all", and it fits the start of a presentation, a class, or a video call with people you do not know well.
- Hello everyone, thank you for coming this evening.
- Hello everyone, can you all hear me at the back?
- Hello everyone, welcome to week three of the course.
Hi both,: the greeting for an email to exactly two people, common in British offices.
- Hi both, could one of you cover the front desk on Friday?
- Hi both, looping you in on the client feedback.
- Hi both, great work on the pitch yesterday.
Hey guys: casual and friendly, and it fits a group of friends or classmates of any gender. In a formal email it sounds too relaxed, so keep it for people you know.
- Hey guys, who’s up for pizza after class?
- Hey guys, I’m running late, start without me.
- Hey guys, thanks for coming to the game.
Good morning, team: a warm formal greeting for a work group at the start of the day, in person or in a message.
- Good morning, team, let’s start with the numbers from last week.
- Good morning, team, one quick reminder before we begin.
- Good morning, team, great to see everyone back after the holiday.
Write "hi all" or "hello everyone" for a work group, and keep "hey guys" for friends.
Ways to Say Hello When You Meet Someone for the First Time
A first-meeting greeting comes after "hello" and your name, and it tells the other person you are glad the meeting is happening.
Nice to meet you: the standard first-meeting greeting at every level, and it goes with a handshake or a nod.
- Hi, I’m Dana, nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you, Mr Chen, I’ve read a lot about your work.
- It’s so nice to meet you at last.
Pleased to meet you: a step more formal than "nice to meet you", and it fits an interview, a client, or an older person.
- Pleased to meet you, Ms Adams, thank you for the invitation.
- Good morning, I’m Omar Haddad, pleased to meet you.
- Pleased to meet you, Dr Okafor, my sister speaks very highly of you.
It’s a pleasure to meet you: the most formal of the three, used for a guest of honour, a senior official, or a future employer.
- It’s a pleasure to meet you, Professor Grant.
- It’s a pleasure to meet you in person after so many emails.
- It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ambassador, welcome to the city.
Lovely to meet you: a warm British greeting for a first meeting, and it fits a friend of a friend, a new neighbour, or a partner’s family.
- Lovely to meet you, Ruth, Sam talks about you all the time.
- Lovely to meet you! Come in, the others are in the garden.
- It was lovely to meet you both, let’s do it again soon.
How do you do?: a very formal first-meeting greeting, now rare outside formal British settings. It is not a question about health.
- How do you do? I’m Charles Whitmore.
- How do you do, Lady Ashford? Thank you for receiving us.
- How do you do? My father asked me to pass on his regards.
I’ve heard so much about you: a friendly first-meeting line that follows "nice to meet you" when a mutual friend has talked about the person.
- Nice to meet you, Elena, I’ve heard so much about you.
- I’ve heard so much about you, all of it good.
- I’ve heard so much about you from Kwame, welcome to the team.
"Nice to meet you" fits the first meeting only, and on a second meeting it sounds as if you forgot the first one.
- Nice to meet you, Ms Adams. (at your third meeting) ❌
On a second or later meeting the greeting is "nice to see you", because "meet" means the first time.
- Nice to see you again, Ms Adams. ✅
"How do you do?" also catches people out, because it looks like a question.
- How do you do? (reply) I’m fine, thanks, a bit tired. ❌
"How do you do?" is a fixed greeting, so the reply is the same phrase or a short "pleased to meet you".
- How do you do? (reply) How do you do? ✅
Say "nice to meet you" the first time and "nice to see you" every time after that.
Ways to Say Hello to Someone You Have Not Seen in a While
These greetings do more than say hello: they name the time that has passed, and they fit friends, family, and old colleagues.
Long time no see: the classic greeting for a friend you have not seen for months, and it sounds warm and a little surprised.
- Long time no see, Aisha! How’s the baby?
- Well, well, long time no see. Where have you been?
- Long time no see, mate, you look great.
It’s been a while: softer than "long time no see", and it fits a colleague or a friend after a few weeks or months apart.
- Hi, Ravi, it’s been a while. How’s the team?
- It’s been a while since we had lunch, hasn’t it?
- It’s been a while, I almost didn’t recognise you.
It’s been ages: the casual British form of "it’s been a while", used between friends after a long time apart.
- It’s been ages! When did you get back?
- Hey, Lucy, it’s been ages, how are the kids?
- It’s been ages since I saw you at the gym.
Hello stranger: a playful greeting for a friend who has been out of touch, and it has a small tease in it.
- Hello stranger, I thought you’d moved to Mars.
- Well, hello stranger, look who finally came to visit.
- Hello stranger! You never reply to my messages.
How have you been?: the question that follows a hello after a long absence, and it asks for real news rather than a quick "fine".
- Hi, Joel, how have you been? I heard about the new job.
- Long time no see, how have you been?
- How have you been, Grandma? Is the garden still full of roses?
Welcome back: the greeting for someone returning to a place: a colleague after leave, a student after the holidays, a friend after a trip.
- Welcome back, Nadia, the office wasn’t the same without you.
- Welcome back! How was Japan?
- Welcome back, everyone, I hope you had a good break.
Use "long time no see" for a friend after months, and "welcome back" for anyone returning to a place you share.
Ways to Say Hello by Time of Day
Time-of-day greetings are the standard formal way to say hello, and each one covers a fixed part of the day.
Good morning: used from waking until noon, with strangers, colleagues, and family alike. It is the most common formal greeting in English.
- Good morning, Mrs Ali, did you sleep well?
- Good morning, everyone, please open your books to page ten.
- Good morning! Two coffees, please.
Good afternoon: used from noon until about six, and it fits a shop, a school, a clinic, or a meeting.
- Good afternoon, I have a reservation under Lopez.
- Good afternoon, class, let’s pick up where we left off.
- Good afternoon, Dr Okafor, I’m here for my results.
Good evening: used after about six, and it sounds a little more formal than the other two. It fits a restaurant, a theatre, or an evening event.
- Good evening, and welcome to tonight’s performance.
- Good evening, Mr Petrov, your table is ready.
- Good evening, is it too late to order food?
Morning, afternoon, evening: the short forms, said with a smile between colleagues and neighbours, and they fit speech rather than formal writing.
- Morning, Sam, kettle’s on.
- Afternoon, Mrs Kaur, lovely weather today.
- Evening, all, sorry I’m late.
"Good night" looks like the fourth greeting in the set, and it is not one.
- Good night, Mr Lewis, do you have a booking? (at 9 p.m., on arrival) ❌
"Good night" is a farewell said when someone leaves or goes to bed, so the greeting on arrival is "good evening". The mix-up happens because "good morning" and "good afternoon" work as greetings, so "good night" looks like the fourth in the set.
- Good evening, Mr Lewis, do you have a booking? ✅
Regional Ways to Say Hello in English
English-speaking countries each keep a few greetings of their own, and using one in the right country wins a smile at once.
British Ways to Say Hello
Alright?: the everyday British greeting, and it is not a question about health. The reply is "alright?" back, or "yeah, you?"
- Alright? Busy day?
- Alright, Dave? Fancy a pint later?
- Oh, alright? Didn’t see you there.
Alright, mate?: "alright" with "mate", the friendly British word for a friend or any man you speak to casually.
- Alright, mate? Long time no see.
- Alright, mate, is this seat taken?
- Alright, mate? Cheers for the lift yesterday.
Hiya: a warm, casual British hello, common in the north of England and in texts between friends.
- Hiya, Claire, come in, come in.
- Hiya! Just checking you got home okay.
- Hiya, love, what can I get you?
Now then: a northern English greeting that means "hello, what’s happening?", and it fits friends and neighbours.
- Now then, Pete, how’s the allotment?
- Now then, what’s all this about?
- Now then, lad, you’re up early.
American Ways to Say Hello
Howdy: a friendly American greeting from the South and West, short for "how do you do", and it fits neighbours, shops, and strangers on a trail.
- Howdy, folks, welcome to the ranch.
- Howdy, neighbour, need a hand with that fence?
- Howdy! Y’all lost?
Hey y’all: "hey" plus "you all", the Southern American greeting for a group of friends or family.
- Hey y’all, dinner’s ready.
- Hey y’all, thanks for coming out tonight.
- Hey y’all, who wants the last biscuit?
What’s happening?: casual American slang that means "what’s up", and it fits close friends.
- What’s happening, Marcus? Still on for the game?
- Hey, what’s happening? You disappeared last night.
- What’s happening, everybody? Let’s get started.
Australian and Irish Ways to Say Hello
G’day: the Australian "good day", said at any hour, to friends and strangers alike.
- G’day, mate, how are you going?
- G’day, is this the queue for the ferry?
- G’day, everyone, thanks for having me.
How are you going?: the Australian form of "how are you", and it means the same thing. The reply is "good, thanks".
- How are you going, Liam? Surf any good today?
- Hi, Mel, how are you going?
- How are you going? Find the place alright?
What’s the craic?: the Irish greeting that means "what’s happening, what’s the fun?", said "crack". It fits friends and a friendly pub.
- What’s the craic, Sean? Any news?
- Hi, lads, what’s the craic?
- What’s the craic? Haven’t seen you since the wedding.
How’s the form?: an Irish greeting that asks how someone is feeling, used between friends.
- How’s the form, Niamh? Still on the night shifts?
- How’s the form? You look well.
- Hey, Paddy, how’s the form today?
Use "alright?" in Britain, "howdy" in the American South, "g’day" in Australia, and "what’s the craic?" in Ireland, and use "hi" everywhere else.
Funny Ways to Say Hello
Funny greetings are for close friends who know your sense of humour, and each one plays on an old or unusual form of hello.
Ahoy!: a sailor’s hello, used as a joke greeting between friends or when someone arrives by boat, bike, or any wheels.
- Ahoy, Captain! Where are we sailing today?
- Ahoy, there! The pizza has landed.
- Ahoy! I’ve got the tickets.
Greetings and salutations!: a mock-formal greeting from old letters, said with a bow for a laugh.
- Greetings and salutations, my friend, the kettle awaits.
- Greetings and salutations! Did you bring the cake?
- Greetings and salutations, fellow humans.
Well, look what the cat dragged in: a teasing greeting for a friend who arrives late, tired, or looking a mess. Use it only with someone who laughs at jokes about themselves.
- Well, look what the cat dragged in, you look like you slept in a hedge.
- Look what the cat dragged in! Rough night?
- Well, well, look what the cat dragged in, we’d given up on you.
Hello, sunshine!: a cheerful greeting for a child, a partner, or a friend who is clearly in a bad mood, and the joke is the contrast.
- Hello, sunshine! Somebody needs coffee.
- Hello, sunshine, ready for school?
- Hello, sunshine! Nice of you to join us at eleven.
Save the funny greetings for people who will laugh, because a joke hello to a stranger reads as a mistake.
How Do You Reply When Someone Says Hello?
The reply to a greeting matches the greeting: a hello gets a hello back, and a question-shaped greeting gets a short answer and the same question returned.
Hi or hello: reply with the same word, or a warmer one, plus the person’s name.
- Hi, Priya. Hi, Tom, good to see you.
- Hello, Mr Chen. Hello, Ms Adams, please come in.
- Hey! Hey, yourself.
How are you? and how’s it going?: the reply is short and positive, then the question goes back.
- How are you? Very well, thank you, and you?
- How’s it going? Good, thanks, you?
- How are you today? Fine, thanks, a bit cold out there.
What’s up? and alright?: the reply is "not much" or the same greeting, because there is no real question in it.
- What’s up? Not much, you?
- Alright? Alright, yeah, you?
- Sup? Sup.
Nice to meet you: the reply is "nice to meet you too", or "you too" in casual speech.
- Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you too.
- Pleased to meet you. And you.
- Lovely to meet you. You too, come in.
Long time no see: the reply agrees, then asks for news.
- Long time no see! Too long, how have you been?
- It’s been ages. It has, what have you been up to?
- Hello stranger. Look who’s talking, you never call.
Welcome and good morning: the reply thanks the speaker or returns the greeting.
- Welcome to the team. Thank you, I’m glad to be here.
- Good morning, everyone. Morning.
- Welcome back. Thanks, it’s good to be back.
Return the greeting at the same level, and answer a question-shaped hello in three words or fewer before you ask it back.
More Everyday English Phrases
- Other Ways to Say Good Morning
- Other Ways to Say Good Afternoon
- Other Ways to Say Good Evening
- Other Ways to Say What’s Up
- Other Ways to Say Goodbye
FAQs
There is no fixed number, because new greetings appear all the time, and this page covers more than seventy that native speakers use today. The core set is small: "hi", "hello", "hey", "good morning", "good afternoon", and "good evening" cover almost every situation. Everything else adds a level, a place, or a mood on top of those six.
"Hi" is the standard email greeting for a colleague or anyone you already know, and "hello" is the choice for a first email to someone you know only by name. "Dear" with a title and surname is for a stranger, a customer, or anyone senior. When in doubt, match the greeting the other person used in their last email.
Yes, "greetings" works as a hello, but it sounds either very formal or a little playful, so it is rare in everyday speech. It fits a formal letter, a speech to a group, or a joke between friends. In a normal conversation "hello" or "hi" is the natural choice.
Answer with the same greeting, or a warmer one, and add the person’s name if you know it. "Hello" gets "hello" or "hi", "hey" gets "hey", and a question-shaped greeting such as "how’s it going?" gets "good, thanks, you?" The reply always stays short.
"Good day", "good morrow", and "how do you do?" were the common greetings before "hello" became standard in the late nineteenth century. "Hello" spread with the telephone, because early callers needed a word to open a conversation with someone at the other end of a wire. "Good day" survives in Australia as "g’day".
"Hey" is not rude between friends, family, and colleagues who know you well, and it is the most common casual greeting in American English. It becomes a problem with a manager, a customer, or an older stranger, because it sounds too familiar for a first conversation. Use "hello" or "hi" with those people until they use "hey" with you first.
The greetings you will hear most are "hola" in Spanish, "bonjour" in French, "ciao" in Italian, "hallo" in German, "konnichiwa" in Japanese, "ni hao" in Mandarin, and "as-salaam alaykum" in Arabic. Each one follows its own rules for time of day and formality, in the same way "hey" and "good morning" do in English. A page on ways to say hello in different languages covers them one at a time.
