Basic greetings and expressions in English
Learn how to say hello and goodbye in English, with formal and informal greetings, short dialogues and common mistakes to avoid.
In this lesson
A greeting is a word or phrase that we use to say hello to someone. In English, some greetings are formal, such as “Good morning” and “How do you do?”, and some are informal, such as “Hi” and “What’s up?”. Choose your greeting by thinking about the time of day and how well you know the person.
Key point
Use Good morning, Good afternoon or Good evening with anyone, at the right time of day. Use Hi and What’s up? only with friends and people you know well.
Which greetings depend on the time of day?
These greetings are polite and safe in almost every situation. You can use them in both formal and informal ways.
Good morning!
Use Good morning when you meet someone in the morning, usually until about 12 noon.
Examples
- Formal: “Good morning, sir. May I come in?”
- Informal: Mary: “Good morning, Sam. Where are you going?”
- Sam: “Good morning, Mary. I’m going to the shop.”
Good afternoon!
Use Good afternoon when you meet someone after 12 noon and before the evening.
Examples
- Formal: “Good afternoon, sir. May I leave now?”
- Informal: Mary: “Good afternoon, Sam. Where are you going?”
- Sam: “Good afternoon, Mary. I’m going to meet a friend.”
Good evening!
Use Good evening when you meet someone in the evening, usually after about 6 pm or when it gets dark.
Examples
- Formal: “Good evening, sir. Thank you for coming.”
- Informal: Mary: “Good evening, Sam. It’s been a long time!”
- Sam: “Good evening, Mary. Yes, I was in England for the last few months.”
Good night!
Good night is not a greeting. We say it when we leave someone at night, or before we go to bed.
Examples
- Mary: “Sam, I’m going to sleep now. Good night.”
- Sam: “Good night, Mary.”
Common mistake
You arrive at a friend’s house at 8 pm. “Good night!” → “Good evening!”
Say Good evening when you arrive. Say Good night only when you leave or go to bed.
What are the most common everyday greetings?
Hello!
Use Hello to greet someone at any time and in any place. It is neither very formal nor very informal. We also say Hello at the start of a telephone conversation.
Examples
- Mary: “Hello, Sam! Can I talk to you now?”
- Sam: “Hello, Mary! Yes, you can. So, what’s up?” (the beginning of a telephone conversation)
Hi!
Hi is a friendly, informal greeting. Use it with friends, family, classmates and colleagues you know well.
Examples
- Mary: “Hi, Sam. How are you?”
- Sam: “Hi, Mary! I’m fine. And how are you?”
What’s up?
What’s up? is an informal greeting that we use in face-to-face conversations and in text messages. Use it only with friends and people you know well. Notice that what’s is the short form of what is. You can learn more in our lesson on contracted forms.
Examples
- Mary: “Hi, Sam. What’s up?”
- Sam: “Hey, Mary. I’m doing great, thanks. And you?”
Tip
What’s up? is often not a real question. A short, friendly answer such as “Not much. You?” is perfectly natural.
What do you say when you meet someone for the first time?
Nice to meet you.
Say Nice to meet you when you meet someone for the first time. It is polite, and you can use it in both formal and informal situations. The other person usually replies with the same words and adds too.
Examples
- Mary: “Hello, I’m Mary. Nice to meet you.”
- Sam: “Hi! I’m Sam. Nice to meet you too.”
How do you do?
How do you do? is a very formal greeting for someone you have not met before. Although it looks like a question, it is not really asking how you are. The usual reply is the same phrase: How do you do? See the Cambridge Dictionary meaning of “how do you do?”.
Examples
- Mary: “Good morning. I’m Mary Silva. How do you do?”
- Sam: “How do you do? I’m Sam Perera.”
Common mistake
“How do you do?” “I’m fine, thanks.” → “How do you do?” “How do you do?”
To ask about someone’s health or day, use How are you? instead.
Note
How do you do? sounds old-fashioned to many people today. In most situations, Nice to meet you or Pleased to meet you is a better choice.
Formal and informal greetings compared
Use this table to choose the right expression for the situation.
| Situation | Formal | Informal |
|---|---|---|
| Saying hello | Good morning. Good afternoon. Good evening. Hello. | Hi! Hey! Morning! |
| Asking how someone is | How are you? | How’s it going? What’s up? |
| Answering | I’m very well, thank you. And you? | I’m fine, thanks. Not bad. Not much. |
| Meeting someone new | How do you do? Pleased to meet you. | Nice to meet you. |
| Saying goodbye | Goodbye. Good night. | Bye! See you later. See you! |
| Using names | Sir, madam, Mr Perera, Ms Silva | First names: Sam, Mary |
How do you say goodbye?
When we leave people, we usually say something as we go. These expressions go from more formal to less formal.
Examples
- Goodbye.
- Good night. (at the end of the day)
- Bye.
- See you later.
- See you!
For more examples of greetings and goodbyes, read the Cambridge Dictionary guide to greetings and farewells.
Tip
In writing, put a comma before the name of the person you are greeting: Good morning, Sam. Hi, Mary!
Many greetings start with a question word, as in What’s up? and How are you? To build more questions like these, see our lesson on Wh- questions and question words. If you are just starting English, our list of the 100 most common words in English is a great next step.
Summary
- Good morning, Good afternoon and Good evening depend on the time of day and work in any situation.
- Good night is for leaving or going to bed, not for saying hello.
- Hello works anywhere. Hi and What’s up? are informal.
- Say Nice to meet you when you meet someone for the first time.
- How do you do? is very formal, and the reply is How do you do?
Frequently asked questions
Can I say “Good night” as a greeting?
No. Good night is only for saying goodbye at night or before going to bed. When you meet someone in the evening, say Good evening or Hello.
Is “Hi” rude in a formal situation?
It is not rude, but it can sound too casual. With a teacher, a manager or someone you do not know, Hello or Good morning is safer.
How should I answer “How are you?”
A short answer is best: “I’m fine, thanks. And you?” or “Very well, thank you.” It is polite to ask the other person the same question.
What is the difference between “How are you?” and “How do you do?”
How are you? asks about someone’s health or day, and you answer it. How do you do? is a formal greeting for a first meeting, and you reply with the same words.
When does “Good afternoon” change to “Good evening”?
There is no exact time. Many people say Good evening from about 6 pm, or when it starts to get dark.
