50 different ways to say hi in English

Whether you are conducting business negotiations, meeting friends or writing an email, the right greeting in English can make a positive impression and create a friendly atmosphere. Using different ways to say “Hello” will help you show your cultural awareness in English. Learning English includes knowing both formal and informal greetings, as well as colloquial English expressions. In this article, we will look at 50 different English greetings that will help you make a good impression in any situation.

Common greetings

• Hello
  The most common and universal way to greet someone. Suitable for any situation.
• Hi
  A more informal version of “Hello”. Often used among friends or close acquaintances.
• Hey
  Another informal greeting, often used among young people or friends. Can carry a tone of surprise or excitement.
• Good morning
  Used before noon. Appropriate in formal settings such as meetings or business negotiations.
• Good afternoon
  Used after noon until the evening. A formal greeting suitable for official meetings.
• Good evening
  A greeting for the evening time. Used in formal situations or during evening events.
• Howdy
  This greeting comes from the southern United States. It’s now used informally across the country.
• Greetings
  A more formal way to greet someone, often used in written communication or during formal events.
• Hiya
  A very informal greeting, commonly used in conversational English in the UK.
• Yo
  A modern and informal greeting, usually used among young people.

Greetings with questions

• How are you?
  A common greeting that also serves as a way to start a conversation.
• What’s up?
  A very informal greeting, popular among young people. It asks for a brief update on what’s going on.
• How’s it going?
  Another informal version of “How are you?” suitable for conversations with friends or colleagues.
• How have you been?
  Used when you haven’t seen someone for a while and want to know how they’ve been doing.
• How’s everything?
  An informal greeting to start a conversation about the other person’s life.
• How’s life?
  Another informal greeting that asks about the other person’s general well-being.
• How are things?
  An informal greeting suitable for friends or colleagues.
• What’s new?
  Used to ask about recent events in someone’s life.
• How are you doing?
  A common greeting that helps to start a conversation.
• What’s happening?
  A very informal greeting suitable for friends or colleagues.

Specific greetings

• Good day
  Can be used at any time of day, more common in British English.
• Salutations
  A formal greeting, rarely used in spoken language but appropriate in writing.
• Hello there
  A universal greeting with a friendly tone.
• Hey there
  A very informal greeting, often used among young people.
• Welcome
  Used to greet guests or new members in a group or organization.
• Hi everyone
  A greeting for a group of people.
• Hey everyone
  An informal greeting for a group of people.
• Hi all
  A greeting for a group of people.
• Hey all
  A very informal greeting for a group of people.
• Hello everybody
  A universal greeting for a group of people.

Situation-specific greetings

• Long time no see
  Used when you haven’t seen someone for a long time.
• Nice to see you
  Used when meeting someone you know.
• Nice to meet you
  Used when meeting someone for the first time.
• Pleased to meet you
  A formal greeting when meeting someone for the first time.
• Good to see you
  Used when meeting someone you know.
• How do you do?
  A very formal greeting, often used in business settings.
• Look who it is!
  An informal greeting with a tone of surprise.
• What’s good?
  A very informal greeting among young people.
• Yo, what’s up?
  A very informal greeting among young people.
• What’s going on?
  An informal greeting suitable for friends or colleagues.

Written greetings

• Dear
  Used in formal letters.
• Hi there
  A universal greeting in written form.
• Hello everyone
  A greeting for a group of people in written form.
• To whom it may concern
  Used in very formal letters.
• Hey team
  An informal greeting for a group of people in written form.
• Hi folks
  An informal greeting for a group of people in written form.
• Hello folks
  An informal greeting for a group of people in written form.
• Greetings everyone
  A formal greeting for a group of people in written form.
• Good morning everyone
  Used in written form, usually in work-related emails.
• Good afternoon everyone
  Used in written form, usually in work-related emails.