Greetings are the first words you say in any conversation, and they set the tone for everything that follows. Knowing which way to greet someone in the right situation (casual vs. professional, morning vs. evening, in person vs. in writing) is one of the most practical skills any English learner can develop.
This guide covers 30 common English greetings phrases organised by category, with examples, replies, and pronunciation audio for each one. It also includes a section on farewells, since greetings and goodbyes go hand in hand in any conversation. For a broader look at everyday English communication, essential basic English phrases covers greetings alongside shopping, directions, and more.
Basic, informal, formal, and situational!
| Phrase | Type | Best Used In | Formality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | Basic | Anytime, with anyone | Neutral |
| Hi | Basic | Casual to semi-formal | Neutral |
| Hey | Basic | With people you know | Informal |
| Good morning | Basic | Before 12:00 PM | Neutral to Formal |
| Good afternoon | Basic | 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM | Neutral to Formal |
| Good evening | Basic | After 5:00 PM | Neutral to Formal |
| How are you? | Basic | Standard opener after hello | Neutral |
| How are you doing? | Basic | Casual check-in greeting | Informal |
| Nice to meet you | Basic | Meeting someone for the first time | Neutral |
| Good to see you | Basic | Seeing someone again | Neutral |
| What's up? | Informal | With friends and peers | Informal |
| How's it going? | Informal | Casual conversation opener | Informal |
| What's new? | Informal | Catching up with someone | Informal |
| Long time no see! | Informal | Reuniting after time apart | Informal |
| It's been a while! | Informal | Seeing someone after a long gap | Informal |
| How have you been? | Informal | Following up after time apart | Informal |
| Hey there! | Informal | Warm, friendly opener | Informal |
| Howdy! | Informal | Casual, regional American greeting | Informal |
| Yo! | Informal | Very casual, with close friends | Very Informal |
| What's good? | Informal | Street-casual greeting, US | Very Informal |
| Look who it is! | Informal | Surprise greeting for familiar faces | Informal |
| How do you do? | Formal | First meetings, professional settings | Formal |
| It's a pleasure to meet you | Formal | Professional first introductions | Formal |
| Pleased to meet you | Formal | Professional first introductions | Formal |
| I'm delighted to meet you | Formal | Elevated professional settings | Very Formal |
| It's an honor to meet you | Formal | High-profile or distinguished meetings | Very Formal |
| I look forward to working with you | Formal | Professional onboarding, new colleagues | Formal |
| Good morning / afternoon / evening, [Name] | Formal | Formal workplace or event settings | Formal |
| I'm pleased to make your acquaintance | Formal | Very formal first meetings | Very Formal |
| It's a privilege to meet you | Formal | Senior figures, distinguished guests | Very Formal |
Basic English Greeting Phrases
These 10 greetings form the foundation of English conversation. They are the most regular ways to greet people in English and work in almost any situation; formal, informal, spoken, or written. Whether you are learning English as an adult or teaching kids their first English words, these are the phrases to start with. Master these before moving on to more specialised phrases.
1. Hello
When to use:
Anytime, with anyone — the most universally safe greeting in English.
Example:
Hello! My name is Maria. It's nice to meet you.
Common reply:
Hello! Nice to meet you too.
2. Hi
When to use:
Slightly more casual than 'hello' but still appropriate in most situations, including workplaces.
Example:
Hi! Welcome to our office. Can I get you some coffee?
Common reply:
Hi! Yes, please — that would be great.
3. Hey
When to use:
With people you know well, or in very casual situations. Avoid using it with strangers in formal settings.
Example:
Hey, Jake! Are you coming to the meeting this afternoon?
Common reply:
Hey! Yeah, I'll be there at 3.
4. Good morning
When to use:
Any time before 12:00 PM. Works in both professional and casual settings.
Example:
Good morning, everyone! Let's get started with today's agenda.
Common reply:
Good morning! How are you today?
5. Good afternoon
When to use:
From 12:00 PM to approximately 5:00 PM. Common in offices, shops, and restaurants.
Example:
Good afternoon! Welcome to the hotel. Do you have a reservation?
Common reply:
Good afternoon! Yes, my name is Sarah.
6. Good evening
When to use:
After 5:00 PM or when the sun goes down. Used in restaurants, formal events, and professional contexts.
Example:
Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Walker. Your table is ready.
Common reply:
Good evening! Thank you so much.
Good morning: before 12:00 PM
Good afternoon: 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Good evening: after 5:00 PM
'Goodnight' is NOT a greeting — it's a goodbye used at the end of an evening or before bed.
You can add a name for extra warmth: 'Good morning, Sarah!'
7. How are you?
When to use:
After an initial greeting, as a standard check-in. In American English, it's often used as part of the greeting itself rather than a genuine question.
Example:
Hi! How are you?
Common reply:
I'm doing well, thank you! And you?
8. How are you doing?
When to use:
A slightly more casual version of 'How are you?' — normal in American English, especially in the South and Midwest.
Example:
Hey! How are you doing? I haven't seen you in a couple of weeks.
Common reply:
Pretty good, thanks! Busy but good. How about you?
9. Nice to meet you
When to use:
When meeting someone for the first time — in person, on a call, or at a group event.
Example:
Hi, I'm David from the marketing team. Nice to meet you!
Common reply:
Nice to meet you too, David! I'm Sarah.
10. Good to see you
When to use:
When seeing someone again after time apart — warmer than 'hello' because it acknowledges the relationship.
Example:
Good to see you again, Professor Lee! It's been a few months.
Common reply:
Good to see you too! How have you been?
Informal Greetings
Informal greetings are the ones you'll hear between friends, family members, classmates, and colleagues who know each other well. They're relaxed, energetic, and reflect the casual side of English. Using these correctly signals to native speakers that you're comfortable and confident in the language.
Once you feel comfortable with informal greetings, you'll also want to know how to introduce yourself in the conversations that follow. Our piece "How to introduce yourself" in English covers what to say after the greeting, in both casual and professional situations.
11. What's up?
When to use:
A pretty normal casual greeting. It literally asks 'what is happening?' but doesn't always expect a detailed answer.
Example:
Hey! What's up? Are you heading to class?
Common reply:
Not much! Just grabbing coffee. You?
12. How's it going?
When to use:
A relaxed way to ask 'How are you?' — used among coworkers and classmates.
Example:
How's it going? Did you finish the project report?
Common reply:
Pretty good, thanks! Yeah, I submitted it this morning.
13. What's new?
When to use:
Asking if anything interesting has happened since you last spoke — good for starting a catch-up conversation.
Example:
Hey! What's new? I feel like I haven't seen you since the summer.
Common reply:
Not much — same old! How about you?
14. Long time no see!
When to use:
For greeting someone you haven't seen in a long time — cheerful and warm.
Example:
Oh my goodness, long time no see! How are you doing these days?
Common reply:
I know! It's been forever. I'm great, thanks!
15. It's been a while!
When to use:
Similar to 'long time no see' — used when reconnecting with someone after an absence.
Example:
It's been a while! Are you still working at the same company?
Common reply:
Yeah, still there! Things have changed a lot though.
Here's a dialogue for you to practice:
A
Hey! What's up? Long time no see!
B
I know, it's been forever! How have you been?
A
Really good, thanks. Busy, but good. How about you?
B
Same here. What's new with you?
A
I just moved to a new apartment. It's been a lot, but I love it.
B
That's awesome! We definitely need to catch up properly soon.
16. How have you been?
When to use:
Warmer and more personal than 'How are you?' — implies you care about what's happened since you last met.
Example:
How have you been? I heard you moved to a new apartment.
Common reply:
I've been great, thanks! The new place is amazing.
17. Hey there!
When to use:
A warm, friendly greeting — slightly softer than 'hey' on its own, and fine to use with people you don't know well in casual settings.
Example:
Hey there! Is this seat taken?
Common reply:
Hey! No, go right ahead.
18. Howdy!
When to use:
An American regional greeting, associated with the South and Southwest. Friendly and distinctive — can feel humorous if you're not from those regions.
Example:
Howdy, neighbor! Beautiful day out there.
Common reply:
Howdy! Sure is. How's the family?
19. Yo!
When to use:
Very casual — originated in hip-hop culture. Use only with close friends and people around your age.
Example:
Yo! Did you see that game last night?
Common reply:
Yo! Yeah, that was insane.
20. What's good?
When to use:
A street-casual American greeting meaning 'What's going on?' or 'How are you?' Use only in very relaxed, familiar settings.
Example:
What's good? You ready for the weekend?
Common reply:
Everything's good! Yeah, can't wait.
21. Look who it is!
When to use:
An expressive greeting for when you unexpectedly run into someone you know. Conveys pleasant surprise.
Example:
Look who it is! I didn't know you were back in town!
Common reply:
Ha! Surprise! I got back last week.
Formal Greetings
Formal greetings are used in professional environments, at official events, with people you've just met in business contexts, and whenever you want to show respect and professionalism. These phrases carry more weight and signal that you take the interaction seriously.
22. How do you do?
When to use:
Very formal — used when meeting someone for the first time in a professional or official context. Less used today but still heard at formal events.
Example:
Good morning. How do you do? I'm Dr. Abrams from the research department.
Common reply:
How do you do? I'm pleased to meet you, Dr. Abrams.
23. It's a pleasure to meet you
When to use:
One of the most used formal first-meeting phrases. Warm but professional.
Example:
Thank you for coming in today. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Torres.
Common reply:
The pleasure is mine. Thank you for the opportunity.
24. Pleased to meet you
When to use:
A shorter version of 'It's a pleasure to meet you.' Natural when shaking hands at a meeting or conference.
Example:
Hello, I'm James Park from our Seoul office. Pleased to meet you.
Common reply:
Pleased to meet you, James. Welcome to the team.
25. I'm delighted to meet you
When to use:
More elevated than 'pleased to meet you' — suitable for important meetings, senior executives, or distinguished guests.
Example:
I'm delighted to meet you, Ambassador Williams. Your work has been an inspiration.
Common reply:
The feeling is mutual. Thank you for saying that.
When in doubt, go more formal — it's always easier to relax from formal to casual than to recover from being too casual.
In American workplaces, even formal settings tend to move to first names quickly. Follow the lead of the person you are speaking with.
'How do you do?' is the most formal greeting in this list — but in the US, it's less used than in British English. 'It's a pleasure to meet you' is a safer formal choice in most contexts.
26. It's an honor to meet you
When to use:
For meeting someone whose work or achievements you genuinely respect — industry leaders, academics, or public figures.
Example:
It's an honor to meet you, Professor Kim. I've been following your research for years.
Common reply:
Thank you so much. That's very kind of you.
27. I look forward to working with you
When to use:
When starting a new professional relationship — great for onboarding conversations, new clients, or joining a team.
Example:
Welcome to the company! I look forward to working with you on this project.
Common reply:
Thank you! I'm excited to be here.
28. Good morning / afternoon / evening, [Name]
When to use:
Adding a name after the time-of-day greeting makes it more personal and professional. Standard in workplaces and customer service.
Example:
Good morning, Mr. Smith. Your 9 o'clock appointment is here.
Common reply:
Good morning! Thank you. Please send them in.
29. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance
When to use:
Quite formal and slightly old-fashioned. Still used at official functions, diplomatic events, or in very traditional business cultures.
Example:
I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Richard. I've heard a great deal about your foundation.
Common reply:
Likewise. The pleasure is entirely mine.
30. It's a privilege to meet you
When to use:
The highest level of formal greeting — reserved for meeting someone of great distinction, seniority, or achievement.
Example:
It's a privilege to meet you, Senator Reyes. Thank you for your time today.
Common reply:
Thank you for coming. Please, have a seat.
Common English Greetings Phrases in Different Settings
Knowing the right phrase is only half the skill — the other half is knowing which setting calls for which greeting. The same person might say 'Yo!' to a friend on the street and 'It's a pleasure to meet you' to a client an hour later. This section shows you exactly how English greetings phrases work across three key settings.
Professional Settings
In offices, job interviews, business meetings, and formal events, the way you greet people makes an immediate impression. These are the phrases that work best in professional contexts, and the ones you should practice until they feel completely natural.
| Greeting | Best For | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Good morning / afternoon, [Name] | Daily workplace greetings | Good morning, Rachel. Ready for the team call? |
| It's a pleasure to meet you | First meetings with clients or executives | It's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard great things. |
| I look forward to working with you | Starting a new project or role | Great to have you on the team. I look forward to working with you. |
| How are you today? | Warm opener with colleagues | Hi Tom, how are you today? Big day ahead! |
| Thank you for meeting with me | Opening a scheduled meeting | Good afternoon. Thank you for meeting with me today. |
| It's great to see you again | Reconnecting with a client or colleague | It's great to see you again, Lisa. It's been a few months. |
In professional settings, scheduling meetings and managing your calendar often requires specific vocabulary. Knowing the days of the week in English is essential for handling appointments, scheduling calls, and understanding professional communications.
Social settings
Social settings (parties, community events, sports clubs, and casual gatherings) call for warmer, more relaxed greetings. These phrases help
| Greeting | Context | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hey! Good to see you! | Running into a friend | Hey! Good to see you! Are you here for the whole event? |
| How have you been? | Reconnecting with someone | How have you been? It feels like ages! |
| Long time no see! | Reuniting with old friends | Long time no see! We have to catch up properly. |
| What's up? | Casual opener with acquaintances | Hey, what's up? How's the new job going? |
| So glad you made it! | Welcoming guests | So glad you made it! Come on in, can I get you a drink? |
| How do you know [mutual friend]? | Meeting new people at social events | Nice to meet you! How do you know Jamie? |
Here's another dialogue:
A
Hey, good to see you! How have you been?
B
Long time no see! I've been great. Just got back from a trip abroad.
A
That's awesome! Where did you go?
B
South America for two weeks. It was incredible.
A
I'm so jealous. We definitely need to catch up over coffee soon.
B
Absolutely. Let's make it happen this week!
Written Communication
Written greetings (in emails, messages, and letters) follow different rules from spoken ones. The opening line of a written message sets the tone for everything that follows. Getting it right is especially important in professional emails, where your first impression is entirely text-based. When including contact details in written communications, knowing numbers in English 1 to 100 ensures you can write phone numbers, office extensions, and addresses correctly.
| Opening | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Dear [First Name], | Formal | Professional emails when you know the person |
| Dear Mr. / Ms. / Dr. [Last Name], | Very Formal | Formal professional correspondence |
| Dear Sir or Madam, | Formal | When you don't know the recipient's name |
| To Whom It May Concern, | Very Formal | General company correspondence, complaints |
| Hi [Name], | Semi-formal | Everyday workplace emails with colleagues |
| Hello [Name], | Neutral | Standard email opener, any context |
| Good morning / afternoon [Name], | Neutral to Formal | Emails sent at specific times of day |
| Hey [Name], | Informal | Messages to close colleagues or friends |
| Hi there, | Informal | Group messages or when you don't know the name |
Always use a comma after the greeting in English: 'Hi Sarah,' not 'Hi Sarah'.
Match the formality of your opening to the relationship and purpose — 'Dear Sir or Madam' for a formal complaint, 'Hi!' for a quick message to a friend.
In professional emails, 'Hi [First name],' is the most used opener even in relatively formal contexts. 'Dear' is reserved for very formal letters.
Avoid starting an email with 'Hey' to someone you don't know well — it can come across as too casual.
Extra: Farewells!
Greetings and farewells are two sides of the same conversation. Knowing how to say goodbye in English is just as important as knowing how to say hello — and the same rules of formality apply. Here are the most regular ways to end a conversation in English.
| Farewell | Type | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Goodbye | Neutral | Standard farewell, any situation |
| Bye! | Informal | Quick, casual goodbye |
| Bye-bye! | Very Informal | With close friends or children |
| See you later! | Informal | When you expect to see the person again |
| See you soon! | Informal | When you'll meet again in the near future |
| Talk to you later! | Informal | Common when ending a phone or online conversation |
| Take care! | Neutral | Warm goodbye, shows you care about the person |
| Have a good one! | Informal | Very American casual farewell |
| Have a great day! | Neutral | Friendly goodbye, common in shops and offices |
| It was great seeing you! | Neutral | After meeting someone in person |
| It was a pleasure meeting you | Formal | Professional first meeting goodbye |
| Good night | Neutral to Formal | At the end of an evening only — NOT a greeting |
👋 Farewell Tips for English Learners
- 'Good night' is only a farewell — never a greeting. You would never say 'Good night' when arriving somewhere.
- Americans often say 'Have a good one!' as a catch-all farewell — it means 'have a good day/evening/weekend' depending on the time; British people often say 'Cheers' in this scenario.
- In professional settings, 'It was a pleasure meeting you' or 'It was great seeing you again' are the most polished ways to say goodbye.
- The difference between 'See you later' and 'See you soon' is subtle — 'later' is vaguer, while 'soon' implies you expect to meet again within a short time.
Happy greeting!
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