100+ Other Ways to Say Hello in English (Plus, How to Respond)

PDF download Download Article
Say “hello” in any situation to sound like a native English speaker
PDF download Download Article

“Hello” is an appropriate way to greet almost anyone in any situation in English. However, there are a lot more unique and fun ways to say, “Hello.” Whether you want to sound more like a native English speaker or simply expand your vocabulary, we’ve got you covered! In this article, we’ll go over casual and formal ways to say, “Hello.” We’ll also explain how to say “Hello” in different situations, like meeting someone for the first time or talking on the phone. Read on to learn more!

Ways to Say “Hello” in English

  • Informal ways : “Hi,” “Hey,” “How’s it going,” “What’s up,” or “Yo!”
  • Formal ways : “Good morning/afternoon/evening” or “How are you doing?”
  • Funny/unique ways : “Howdy,” “What’s cookin’, good lookin’,” or “Ahoy!”
Section 1 of 9:

Casual Ways to Say “Hello”

PDF download Download Article
  1. There are lots of ways to say “Hello” and greet people in English that are perfect for informal situations. Say these phrases with people you know well, like friends, family members, casual acquaintances, and coworkers or colleagues you have a close relationship with. You can use these phrases on their own, or follow them with the person’s name (ex: “Hi, Sam!”). [1]
    • “Hi!”
    • “Hey, Amari!”
    • “Hiya!”
    • “Heyo!”
    • “Hey, you!”
    • “Holla!”
    • If you know the person really well , lengthen your “Hi” or “Hey.” For instance, lots of English speakers greet their friends by saying, “Hiiiiiii,” “Heeeeey,” or “Helloooooo!”
  2. In English-speaking countries, it’s common practice to greet someone you know by asking them how they’re doing instead of saying “Hello.” It’s okay to use some of these phrases in casual situations at the workplace, but stick to using the very informal greetings with your friends and family members. [2]
    • Casual (coworkers, colleagues, friends, family, acquaintances):
      • “How’s it going, Carlos?”
      • “How are you?
      • “How are things?”
      • “What’s new?”
    • Very casual (friends, family):
      • “What’s up, Dina?”
      • “How ya been?”
      • “What’s poppin’?”
      • “What’s good?”
      • “What’s happenin’?”
      • “What’s goin’ on?”
      • “How you doin’?”
      • “How’s you?”
      • “What’s crackin’?”
    Advertisement
  3. To help you sound like a native English speaker, use slang to say “Hello” to your closest friends. These phrases are super informal, so say them in casual situations with people you know very well.
    • “‘Sup, Joseph!”
    • “Yo!”
    • “Whassup!”
    • “What’s good in the hood?”
    • Feel free to replace your friend’s name with a slang term like, “bro,” “dude,” “girl,” or “homie.” For instance, you might say “‘Sup, bro!” or “Whassup, homie!”
    • Expert note : Before you start using slang, Griffin Bassett, linguistics expert, recommends that you understand where the terms come from. He says that lots of slang, like “What’s good in the hood,” come from African American English (AAE) and “might sound a bit strange if used by an English learner who doesn't necessarily understand their social context.”
    • It’s important to understand a slang term’s origins to ensure you aren’t being culturally insensitive by using it. In particular, using AAE slang can be considered cultural appropriation if it’s not part of your normal dialect or you use it in a performative or mocking way. [3]
  4. If you’re saying “Hello” to a friend or coworker before 12:00 pm, say, “Morning, Yuki!” In the afternoon between 12 pm and 5 pm, say, “Afternoon!” If you’re greeting them after 5 pm, say, “Evening!”
    • For an even more casual greeting, say “Mornin’” or “Evenin’!” You might say these when you quickly want to acknowledge someone but can’t stop to talk to them further.
    5. Advertisement
Section 2 of 9:

Formal Ways to Say “Hello”

PDF download Download Article
  1. Besides “Hello,” saying either “Good morning,” “Good afternoon,” or “Good evening” are the most formal ways to greet someone in English. Use these when greeting someone you don’t know well, authority figures (like bosses or teachers), and people older than you. [4]
    • When to say :
      • Before 12:00 pm, say, “Good morning.”
      • Between 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm, say, “Good afternoon.”
      • After 5:00 pm, say, “Good evening.”
    • For a more personal “Hello,” say the person’s name after your greeting. Just make sure to use their proper title to stay polite, if they have one (ex: “Good morning, Mr. Smith.”).
    • Note : While “How do you do,” “Greetings,” and “Salutations” are very formal greetings, most US English speakers don’t say them.
  2. It’s also appropriate to ask people how they are doing instead of saying “Hello” in more formal situations. This is a polite and friendly way to quickly acknowledge someone you don’t know well or to start a conversation with someone in a position of authority. For instance, say:
    • “How are you doing, Dr. Robinson?”
    • “How are you?”
    • “How have you been?”
  3. If you’re saying “Hello” to someone you’ve met once or who you see infrequently (like a colleague’s husband), use a slightly formal greeting like “It’s nice to see you again.” This is a great way to acknowledge them without being overly casual or friendly.
    • “It’s nice to see you again, Felix.”
    • “It’s good to see you again.”
    • “It’s nice to meet you again.”
    • “Hello, again!”
    4. Advertisement
Section 3 of 9:

How to Say “Hello” to Someone You Haven’t Met

PDF download Download Article
  1. When you meet someone new for the first time, say, “Hello” and tell them your name . Then, use a polite expression to let them know you’re happy to meet them. Saying, “It’s nice to meet you” is appropriate for most formal and casual situations.
    • Example : “Hello, Pierre. My name is Jack. It’s nice to meet you!”
    • Formal variations :
      • “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Lewis.”
      • “It’s nice to meet you.”
      • “It’s so good to meet you.”
    • Casual variations :
      • “Nice to meet you, Jenna!”
      • “I’ve heard so much about you!”
      • “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you!”
Section 4 of 9:

How to Say “Hello” to Someone You Haven’t Seen in a While

PDF download Download Article
  1. These phrases are pretty casual, so say them to friends, family members, and other people you know well. For instance, you might say “Long time no see” to a friend after spending a long time apart or greet a coworker who’s been sick with “Good to see you!”
    • Casual (coworkers, colleagues, friends, family, acquaintances):
      • “Good to see you, Abdul!”
      • “It’s nice to see you, finally!”
      • “It’s been a minute since I’ve seen you! How have you been?”
      • “It’s been a while!”
    • Very casual (friends, family):
      • “Long time, no see!”
      • “Hello, stranger!”
      • “You’re a sight for sore eyes!”
      • “Where have you been hiding?”
      • “Is that really you?”
      • “No way, this can’t be real!”
    2. Advertisement
Section 5 of 9:

Funny Ways to Say “Hello”

PDF download Download Article
  1. It’s perfectly fine to use a funny greeting when you’re saying “Hello” to your close friends and family. These phrases show that you know the person very well and are excited to see them. English speakers often use funny rhyming expressions, like “What’s cookin’, good lookin’,” say their greetings sarcastically , or say outdated, formal greetings in a silly way, like “Salutations, my friend!”
    • “Howdy!”
    • “What’s cookin’, good lookin’?”
    • “What’s shakin’, bacon?”
    • “Howdy-doo, partner!”
    • “Ahoy, matey!”
    • “Top o’ the mornin’ to ya!”
    • “Oh, it’s you again…”
    • “Well, well, well. Look who it is.”
    • “Speak of the devil…”
    • “So, we meet at last.”
    • “Fancy meeting you here!”
    • “Come here often?”
    • “Greetings, earthling. I come in peace.”
    • “How do you do?”
    • “How art thou, good sir?
    • “Good day!”
    • “Greetings and salutations!”
    • Note : Feel free to use a popular reference as your greeting, as long as your friend knows it! For instance, you might say, “What’s up, doc!” ( Looney Tunes ) or “Here’s Johnny!” ( The Shining ).
Section 6 of 9:

How to Say Hello on the Phone, In Texts, and In Emails

PDF download Download Article
  1. Since most phones have caller ID, English speakers usually answer the phone by saying, “Hello” or “Hey” followed by the person’s name. If you’re answering the phone at work or receiving a call from someone you don’t know, you usually say, “Hello” followed by your own name. [5]
    • Casual/you know the person calling :
      • “Hello, Aanya!”
      • “Hey, Mark! What’s up?”
      • “Hi, Iris! What’s going on?”
    • Professional/you don’t know the person calling :
      • “Hello, this is Mateo.”
      • “Hello, this is Genesis speaking. How can I help you?”
      • “Hello, this is Ivan. May I ask who’s calling?”
  2. If you’re texting someone for the first time or you haven’t messaged them in a while, greet them by typing, “Hello,” “Hi,” or “Hey.” If you’re texting friends and family that you message regularly, there’s no need to say “Hello” or “Hi” at the start of each message—simply continue your conversation without a greeting.
    • “Hi, Cora! This is Enzo. Jessie gave me your phone number. How’s it going?”
    • “Hey, Silas! It’s been a while since we’ve texted. How are you doing?”
  3. If you’re emailing someone you don’t know, an authority figure (like a boss or teacher), or an important business client, begin your email with a formal greeting like “Dear” or “Good morning” followed by the person’s name. If you’re emailing someone you know well, like a friend or coworker, use a more casual greeting like “Hi” or “Hey.” [6]
    • Formal :
      • “Dear Dr. Mitchel,”
      • “Good morning, Susan,”
      • “Hello, Harrison,”
    • Casual :
      • “Hi, Niko,”
      • “Hey, Kiara!”
      • “Morning, Noah!”
    4. Advertisement
Section 7 of 9:

Ways to Say “Hello” in English in Other Countries

PDF download Download Article
  1. The United States is a big country, so people in the north, south, east, and west often have different slang ways of saying “Hello!” For instance, you might hear:
    • Western or southern US: “Howdy!”
    • Southern US: “Hey, y’all!” (“Y’all” is a contraction of “you all,” so you usually say this to 2 or more people)
    • New York City: “ Yurr! ”
  2. The Brits have their own ways of saying “Hello.” If you’re in Great Britain, you might hear people saying these casual expressions to their friends: [7]
    • “Alright?”
    • “Hello, mate!”
    • “Hullo!”
    • “You okay?”
    • “Lovely to see you!”
    • “Oi!”
  3. In Ireland, you might hear people say “Hello” in Irish instead of English. The Irish also have a few unique expressions for saying, “Hello” in English. [8]
    • “Dia dhuit!”
    • “What's the craic?”
    • “What’s the story?”
    • “How’s the form?”
  4. Australians have a few different slang ways of saying “Hello,” too. These are pretty casual greetings, so you’ll usually hear them among friends. [9]
    • “G’day!” (“G’day” is a contraction of “good day”)
    • “G’day, mate!”
    • “Oi!”
    • “Mate!”
    • Bassett recommends learning the common ways to say “Hello” in the specific dialect you’re learning. For instance, while “G'day," isn’t very common in the U.S., he says “it might be great to know for someone trying to learn Australian English.”
  5. Lots of New Zealanders use Māori terms to say “Hello,” so you might hear them while in the country. New Zealanders also have a few slang ways of saying “Hello” in English.
    • “Kia ora!” (This literally translates to “Be well”) [10]
    • “Tēnā koe!” [11]
    • “Gidday!” (“Gidday” is a slang way of saying “Good day”)
    6. Advertisement
Section 8 of 9:

How to Say “Hello” in Different Languages

PDF download Download Article
  1. Want to say “Hello” to people in different languages ? Check out the greetings below! Like in English, these are the standard ways to say “Hello,” so they work in both casual and formal situations. [12]
    • Spanish : “¡Hola!"
    • French : “Bonjour!”
    • Italian : “Buongiorno!”
    • Portuguese : “Olá!”
    • German : “Guten tag!”
    • Arabic : “As-salam alaykom!”
    • Afrikaans : “Goeie dag!”
    • Hindi: “नमस्ते” (“Namaste!”)
    • Chinese : “你好” (“Nǐ hǎo!”)
    • Japanese : “こんにちは” (“Konnichiwa!”)
    • Korean : “안녕하세요” (“An-nyeong-ha-se-yo!”)
    • Russian : “Zdravstvujtye!”
Section 9 of 9:

How to Respond to “Hello”

PDF download Download Article
  1. When someone greets you with a “Hello,” simply say it back! If they’re a friend or someone you know well, say “Hi,” “Hey,” or “What’s up!” Then, if you want to start a conversation , ask them how they’re doing. If the person is a stranger or an authority figure, stick to saying, “Hello” or “Good morning/afternoon/evening.” [13]
    • Them : “Hey, Angela!”
      You : “Hi, Garrett! How are you doing?”
    • Them : “Hello!”
      You : “Good morning!”
  2. When someone simply greets you with a “How are you” or “What’s up,” briefly answer with how you’re doing. In most cases, these question-style greetings are just polite and rhetorical—the person isn’t expecting you to tell them everything that’s going on in your life. You simply tell them that you’re doing well and ask them how they’re doing back. [14]
    • Them : “How are you, Gianna?”
      You : “I’m well! How are you doing?”
    • Them : “How ya doin’, Amelia?”
      You : “Good, how ‘bout you?”
    • Them : “What’s up, Roy?”
      You : “Not much! What’s goin’ on with you?”
    3. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Write a Speech Introducing Yourself
      100+ Creative Ways to Say Good Night
      How to
      Introduce Yourself in Any Situation
      110 Happy Friday Wishes for Everyone in Your Life
      How Should You Respond When Someone Asks “How Are You?”
      How to
      Impress a Girl when You First Meet
      How to
      Introduce Yourself in Class
      How to
      Shake Hands
      How to
      Address Doctors
      How to
      Introduce Yourself to a Girl
      The Meaning of "Welcome on Board" and "Welcome Aboard"
      How to
      Write and Deliver an Engaging Guest Speaker Introduction
      How to
      Introduce People
      11 Ways to Make a Fantastic First Impression
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://7esl.com/ways-to-say-hello/
      2. ↑ https://archive.carla.umn.edu/speechacts/greetings/american.html
      3. ↑ https://libguides.pratt.edu/c.php?g=1278195&p=9413482
      4. ↑ https://7esl.com/ways-to-say-hello/
      5. ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-answer-the-phone
      6. ↑ https://ucol.charlotte.edu/resources/effective-email-communication/
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/hK8KwiGOWb4?feature=shared&t=8
      8. ↑ https://yourirish.com/culture/13-ways-to-say-hello-in-ireland
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/V5C35ZV8jOI?feature=shared&t=16
      1. ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kia%20ora
      2. ↑ https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/tena-koe
      3. ↑ https://www.embraceni.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Words-of-Welcome-Booklet-2013.pdf
      4. ↑ https://archive.carla.umn.edu/speechacts/greetings/american.html
      5. ↑ https://archive.carla.umn.edu/speechacts/greetings/american.html

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 650 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement