Common English Greetings: 22 Ways to Say Hello in Every Situation

The safest greeting in 99% of situations is “Hi.” English greetings look simple on the surface, but they quietly shape how natural, polite, or awkward a conversation feels. Native speakers don’t think about grammar when greeting someone. They consider relationships, circumstances, timing, and tone. That's why you can feel warmly at one greeting and feel strange at another. 

The goal is to understand how greetings work in actual social situations, how politeness manifests in the workplace, and in daily life. You have to focus on patterns so the right greeting comes out naturally without overthinking.

The 10-Second Greeting Cheat Sheet (Quick Start)

If there’s one truth about English greetings, it’s this: most mistakes happen from trying too hard. Native speakers don’t calculate greetings; they pick safe, familiar options that fit the moment. In most situations, “Hi” is the safest choice.
Strangers, colleagues, superiors, emails, chats, and names can be used in formal meetings. It is polite and not too casual but friendly.

When choosing the right greeting, it’s easier to think in terms of "Audience + Setting" rather than memorizing grammar rules. Your goal isn't to impress the other person with complex vocabulary; it’s to match the energy and atmosphere of the room. The purpose is not to impress, but to match the place's atmosphere.

How to Choose the Right Greeting (Context Rules Everything)

Instead of memorizing greetings, focus on context filters. These filters decide what sounds natural.

Formal vs informal

Formal greetings show respect and distance. Informal greetings show friendliness and intimacy. The mistake that learners make is to confuse casual words with formal honorifics or with polite expressions.

Spoken vs written

Spoken greetings convey warmth with voice tone and body language. Clarity is more important because written greetings depend only on words. Emails are usually somewhat more structured than face-to-face conversations.

Understanding Different Ways to Say Hello

There is a wide range of greetings; choosing an appropriate greeting is a means of giving consideration, respect, and easy relationships to the other party. On the other hand, inappropriate greetings can make the interaction feel awkward, seem rushed, or be out of place.

The perfect selection depends on the context, relationship, and situation rather than the rules.

Before classifying greetings, let's understand important concepts:

• Most English greetings are social signals, not true questions.

• Understanding this makes it much easier to use greetings naturally.

Formal Greetings

Formal greetings are used in situations where people do not know each other well and where roles and status matter.

Typical situations where formal greetings are required include job interviews, business meetings, first meetings with new colleagues, conversations with clients, interviews with managers, and conversations with senior and authoritative persons. In these situations, greetings help establish reliability and integrity.

1. How do you do?

“How do you do?” is one of the most prestigious English greetings and is still used today. It sounds like a question statement, but it does not ask about the person's health or emotions. Rather, it is used as a polite greeting for the first time, especially in a traditional environment and a high-ranking profession.

In modern everyday English, this expression is rare. However, it is still seen in diplomatic places, formal introductions, and ceremonial scenes. Common responses repeat the same phrase ("How do you do?"). It is a polite reply, "I am honored to meet you.":

• “How do you do?”

• or “Very well, thank you.”

This exchange maintains professional distance and avoids personal disclosure.

2. Nice to meet you / Pleased to meet you

It is a general expression as a first face-to-face greeting. "Nice to meet you" is a more common and natural expression in modern English, and "pleased to meet you" gives a slightly formal and discreet impression.

In the business world, such greetings are often exchanged after a call and are accompanied by a simple handshake. What is important is maintaining a concise, confident attitude rather than showing excessive enthusiasm.

Example:
“Good afternoon. I’m Sarah Johnson from Marketing.”
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Johnson.”

3. How have you been?

This greeting is only valid if you have a close relationship beforehand. You can show interest without interference while acknowledging the passage of time. "How are you?" Unlike it, it maintains professional boundaries while accepting somewhat longer responses.

Ideal for reuniting with former colleagues, clients, and acquaintances at remarkable intervals.

Example:

"How have you been since I met you last time?"

"I was busy with new projects. How about you? "

4. Good morning / Good afternoon / Good evening

Greetings based on time zones are reliable in all formal situations. It is polite, neutral, and widely accepted.

Common time zone usage:

• Good morning: early morning until around 12:00 p.m.

• Good afternoon, from noon until early evening

• Good evening: after sunset or around 6:00 p.m.

Note that "good night" is not a greeting, but a farewell greeting.

In the business scene, it is common to add titles and names to these greetings:

• "Good morning, Mr. Williams."

• "Good afternoon, Dr. Chen."

First names are becoming common in casual workplaces:

• "Good morning, David."

Formal Greetings for Written Communication

Formal greetings show respect and distance. Informal greetings show familiarity and intimacy. The mistake that learners make is to confuse casual words with formal honorifics or polite expressions.

5. Dear Sir or Madam

This greeting is appropriate when the identity of the destination is completely unknown. The sense of distance is felt, but it is still acceptable in formal letters. As much as possible, it gives a stronger impression by specifying a specific person.

6. To Whom It May Concern

This expression is ideal for letters for multiple readers and institutions, not individuals. Suitable for letters of recommendation, formal complaints, and general statements. However, if the name is known, it should be avoided with a personal message.

7. Dear Hiring Manager

It is a practical and targeted choice in job search activities. It shows appropriateness without guessing the name or title and gives a more personal impression than a general expression.

8. Dear Mr. / Mrs. / Ms. / Dr. / Prof. [Surname]

If the recipient's name and title are known, this form is the most respectful. Please use professional names, such as doctors and professors, if applicable.

If marital status is unknown, Ms. is the safest and most widely accepted choice.

Over time, many written exchanges naturally shift to first names. A good rule is to reflect the level of decency used by the other party.

Informal Greetings

Informal greetings are suitable for everyday interactions and relaxed work environments. Convey a sense of openness and ease without crossing personal boundaries.

These greetings are effective for colleagues, neighbors, casual acquaintances, and regular interactions.

9. Hello / Hi / Hey

"Hi" is a neutral and flexible greeting. "Hello" is somewhat formal. "Hey" adds familiarity and causality. If the tone and body language are important and communicated with a friendly attitude, both greetings are used in many situations.

10. Morning / Afternoon / Evening

Omitting "good" gives a relaxed impression. It is often used as a simple greeting to close people, especially in shared spaces such as offices and neighborhoods.

11. How are you doing? / How’s it going?

These are used as opportunities for conversation rather than serious worries. A short and positive response is expected. Detailed responses remain close.

12. Nice to see you / Good to see you

Greetings that convey recognition and warmth, especially when you unexpectedly meet again or when you reunite after a long time.

13. Long time no see / It’s been a while

These phrases naturally lead to a near-state report by admitting the absence without distraction. Give a friendly impression, not emotional.

Slang Greetings

Slang's greeting shows intimacy and familiarity. It should be used carefully because it depends heavily on the shared social context.

14. Yo

Concise and casual. It is often used among friends and colleagues. Confidence is conveyed, but politeness is not accompanied, so context is important.

15. What’s up?

One of the most common casual greetings. It is rare to expect an actual response, and it is effective in face-to-face and messages.

16. Sup

「What’s up? 」 Short form. It is often used jokingly or ironically. Ideal for close interiors.

17. Heyyy

Stretching the character changes the tone. This version makes you feel playful and familiar and is often used in informal chats. Excessive use can feel unnatural.

Greetings unique to the UK

Using local greetings indicates cultural understanding, but should be used in a natural way.

18. Lovely to meet you / Lovely to see you

Common in English, especially in polite and semi-formal scenes. Lovely resonates warmly with the English ear instead of nice.

19. Are you OK?

In British English, it serves as a standard greeting rather than an expression of worry. Responses are usually concise and positive.

20. Alright? / Alright, mate?

Extremely common in the UK. It simply means “hello.” The expected reply mirrors the question rather than explaining feelings.

21. Hiya!

Friendly and informal, widely used across the UK in both speech and messaging.

22. What’s the craic?

An Irish greeting meaning “What’s new?” or “Any news?” Best used cautiously by non-locals to avoid sounding performative.

Practice English Greetings in Real Situations Fluently

Knowing the rules of greeting is helpful, but true confidence comes from using them in real situations. Many learners are stuck here. I understand what to say, but when the conversation starts, it stays firm. Because practice has never matched reality. The gap between "know" and "talk" is what Fluently is designed to fill.

Fluently works like a patient, human-like English tutor available at any time of the day. Unlike many English apps that focus primarily on words and rules without pressure or criticism, Fluently focuses on the exchange of spoken words. You can not only learn greetings, but also actually use them, adjust tones, and experience expressions that sound natural in context.