Greetings

Simple Greetings

You’ve listed the Simple Greetings:

  • Hi!

  • Hello!

  • Hello there!

  • Howdy!

  • Hey!

  • Yo!

Let’s break each one down with usage tips and short dialogues to show you the tone and situation where they fit best.


👋 1. Hi!

Usage: Friendly, neutral, polite. Common with friends, colleagues, and strangers.
Level of Formality: Neutral
When to use: Anytime during the day.

Dialogue: A: Hi! How are you doing today?
B: Hi! I’m good, thanks. What about you?


👋 2. Hello!

Usage: Slightly more formal than “Hi”, but still friendly. Good for phone calls or when you meet someone for the first time.
Level of Formality: Neutral to polite
When to use: With colleagues, in shops, on the phone, with neighbors.

Dialogue:
A: Hello! I don’t think we’ve met—my name is Anna.
B: Hello, Anna! I’m Mark. Nice to meet you.


👋 3. Hello there!

Usage: Slightly more expressive or playful than just “Hello.” Often used when you're pleasantly surprised or happy to see someone.
Level of Formality: Casual, slightly friendly
When to use: With people you know well or in friendly situations.

Dialogue:
A: Hello there! I haven’t seen you in ages!
B: I know! It’s been forever. How have you been?


🤠 4. Howdy!

Usage: Informal, originally Southern American English. Now used jokingly or casually across the US.
Level of Formality: Very informal, often humorous
When to use: With friends or when being playful/friendly.

Dialogue:
A: Howdy, partner!
B: Haha! Howdy! What’s up?

Tip: Don't use Howdy in a business or formal setting.


👋 5. Hey!

Usage: Casual, very common among young people or between friends. Can sound very friendly—or too informal if used in the wrong context.
Level of Formality: Informal
When to use: With friends or people you know well.

Dialogue:
A: Hey! I didn’t expect to see you here!
B: Hey! Yeah, I just came to grab a coffee.

Tip: Avoid “Hey!” in a first-time meeting or formal context. It might sound too casual.


🧢 6. Yo!

Usage: Very informal, urban slang. Often used in street English or by young people.
Level of Formality: Very informal
When to use: With close friends, often male-to-male in casual settings. Not used professionally.

Dialogue:
A: Yo, bro! What’s good?
B: Yo! Just chillin’. You?

Tip: Use “Yo” only when you're very comfortable with someone. It’s not for workplace or polite conversation.


🧠 Memory Tip:

You can imagine a scale of formality like this:
Hello > Hi > Hello there > Hey > Howdy > Yo

General Greetings

🟢 1. How are you?

Usage: The most standard, polite way to greet someone and ask about their general well-being.
🧠 Formality: Neutral to polite
💬 Example:

  • A: Hello, David! How are you?

  • B: I’m doing well, thank you. And you?

🔄 Common replies:

  • I’m fine, thanks.

  • I’m good, and you?

  • I’m okay, just a bit tired.

Tip: Use it at work, with acquaintances, and in formal emails too.


🟢 2. How’s it going?

Usage: Very common informal greeting, often used with friends or coworkers you know well.
🧠 Formality: Informal
💬 Example:

  • A: Hey, Mike! How’s it going?

  • B: Pretty good. Just finishing up some work. You?

🔄 Common replies:

  • Not bad!

  • Pretty good.

  • Same old, same old.

  • Can’t complain.


🟡 3. How’s it been?

⚠️ This is not grammatically correct as a greeting. People usually say:

3a. How’s it going? (see #2)

or

3b. How’s everything been? / How have you been? (see next)


🟢 4. How’s everything?

Usage: Casual and friendly. Asks how life or work is going in general.
🧠 Formality: Casual
💬 Example:

  • A: Hi, Julia! How’s everything?

  • B: Everything’s good. Just busy with work!

🔄 Common replies:

  • Everything’s great.

  • Same as usual.

  • A bit hectic, but okay.


🟢 5. How have you been?

Usage: Great for when you haven’t seen someone in a while. It's a present perfect question (shows interest in the time since you last saw them).
🧠 Formality: Neutral, friendly
💬 Example:

  • A: Hey! Long time no see. How have you been?

  • B: I’ve been doing well. Work’s been busy lately.

🔄 Common replies:

  • I’ve been good.

  • Pretty busy, but can’t complain.

  • Things have been fine, thanks.

Tip: Use this instead of "How are you?" if it's been a while since you spoke to someone.


🟢 6. What have you been up to?

Usage: Very friendly, casual. Also for people you haven’t seen in a while.
🧠 Formality: Informal
💬 Example:

  • A: Hey! What have you been up to?

  • B: Oh, just working and trying to stay sane! You?

🔄 Common replies:

  • Not much, really.

  • Just working a lot.

  • Same old stuff.

Tip: You can use it after "How have you been?" for a more detailed chat.


🟢 7. What’s new?

Usage: Friendly, informal. Used when catching up with someone.
🧠 Formality: Informal
💬 Example:

  • A: Hey, what’s new?

  • B: Not a whole lot. Just the usual.

🔄 Common replies:

  • Nothing much.

  • Actually, I started a new job!

  • Same old.


🟢 8. What’s up?

Usage: Very casual, used mostly among friends. Often used instead of “Hi.”
🧠 Formality: Very informal
💬 Example:

  • A: What’s up?

  • B: Not much. You?

🔄 Common replies:

  • Not much.

  • Just chillin’.

  • All good.

Tip: You don’t need to give a deep answer—it’s more of a greeting than a question.


🟢 9. What’s happening?

Usage: Informal, like “What’s up?” but can show more interest in someone’s activities.
🧠 Formality: Informal
💬 Example:

  • A: Yo! What’s happening?

  • B: Just got back from class. You?

🔄 Common replies:

  • Not much!

  • Just the usual.

  • About to head out.


🟢 10. What’s going on?

Usage: Casual, friendly. Used in place of “What’s up?” or to check in on someone.
🧠 Formality: Informal
💬 Example:

  • A: Hey! What’s going on?

  • B: Just hanging out. You?

🔄 Common replies:

  • Not much.

  • Same stuff, different day.

  • Just relaxing.


📌 Summary: Greeting Use Table

Expression Formality When to Use
How are you? Neutral With anyone, any setting
How’s it going? Informal With friends, coworkers
How’s everything? Casual Friends, friendly workplace
How have you been? Neutral After some time apart
What have you been up to? Informal Casual, after time apart
What’s new? Informal Friendly catch-ups
What’s up? Very informal With close friends, as “Hi”
What’s happening? Very informal Playful or relaxed conversation
What’s going on? Informal To start a casual talk or check-in

General Greetings (more examples)


1. How are you?

🧠 Neutral, polite

  1. A: Hi, Sarah! How are you?
    B: I’m good, thanks. How about you?

  2. A: Good morning, Mr. Lee. How are you today?
    B: I’m well, thank you.

  3. A: How are you, Emma? It’s been a while!
    B: I’m doing okay. Just busy with life!

  4. A: Hey! How are you?
    B: Pretty tired, but I’m hanging in there.


2. How’s it going?

🧠 Informal, friendly

  1. A: Hey, Alex! How’s it going?
    B: Not bad! Just got off work.

  2. A: Hi, Tom. How’s it going with your new job?
    B: It’s going great so far. Thanks for asking.

  3. A: How’s it going, man?
    B: Same old, same old.

  4. A: How’s it going? Everything alright?
    B: Yeah, can’t complain. You?


3. How’s everything?

🧠 Casual and friendly

  1. A: Hey! How’s everything?
    B: Good! We just got back from vacation.

  2. A: How’s everything at work?
    B: A bit hectic, but I’m managing.

  3. A: How’s everything going with the kids?
    B: They’re growing too fast!

  4. A: How’s everything these days?
    B: Pretty stable. No major news.


4. How have you been?

🧠 Great for people you haven’t seen in a while

  1. A: Wow, it’s been forever! How have you been?
    B: I’ve been good! How about you?

  2. A: Hey, long time no see! How have you been?
    B: Busy but happy. Life’s treating me well.

  3. A: How have you been since the move?
    B: It’s been a big adjustment, but I’m settling in.

  4. A: How have you been lately?
    B: A bit stressed, but overall fine.


5. What have you been up to?

🧠 Very casual, informal

  1. A: Hey, what have you been up to?
    B: Just working and binging Netflix.

  2. A: What have you been up to these days?
    B: I’ve started taking dance classes!

  3. A: So, what have you been up to lately?
    B: Honestly, not much. Same old stuff.

  4. A: What have you been up to since we last met?
    B: Oh, I went on a short trip to Colorado.


6. What’s new?

🧠 Friendly, light

  1. A: Hey! What’s new?
    B: Not a lot. Just working and trying to stay sane.

  2. A: What’s new with you?
    B: I adopted a cat!

  3. A: What’s new? Haven’t seen you in weeks.
    B: Yeah, I’ve been traveling for work.

  4. A: What’s new in your world?
    B: Actually, I got promoted!


7. What’s up?

🧠 Very informal

  1. A: Yo! What’s up?
    B: Not much. You?

  2. A: Hey, what’s up?
    B: Just killing time before class.

  3. A: What’s up, man?
    B: I’m starving—heading to grab a bite.

  4. A: What’s up with you lately?
    B: Trying to get back into shape.


8. What’s happening?

🧠 Slangy, very informal

  1. A: What’s happening, dude?
    B: Just chilling. You?

  2. A: What’s happening around here?
    B: Nothing special. It’s a quiet day.

  3. A: Hey! What’s happening?
    B: Just got off work. I’m exhausted.

  4. A: What’s happening at the office?
    B: Lots of changes coming soon.


9. What’s going on?

🧠 Informal, but slightly more open-ended

  1. A: What’s going on? You look stressed.
    B: Yeah, I’ve got a big deadline coming up.

  2. A: What’s going on with the project?
    B: We’re almost done—just final touches.

  3. A: What’s going on here?
    B: We’re setting up for the party.

  4. A: Hey! What’s going on?
    B: Just catching up on emails.

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