Greetings
Simple Greetings
You’ve listed the Simple Greetings:
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Hi!
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Hello!
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Hello there!
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Howdy!
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Hey!
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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:
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A: Hello, David! How are you?
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B: I’m doing well, thank you. And you?
🔄 Common replies:
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I’m fine, thanks.
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I’m good, and you?
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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:
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A: Hey, Mike! How’s it going?
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B: Pretty good. Just finishing up some work. You?
🔄 Common replies:
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Not bad!
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Pretty good.
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Same old, same old.
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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:
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A: Hi, Julia! How’s everything?
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B: Everything’s good. Just busy with work!
🔄 Common replies:
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Everything’s great.
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Same as usual.
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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:
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A: Hey! Long time no see. How have you been?
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B: I’ve been doing well. Work’s been busy lately.
🔄 Common replies:
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I’ve been good.
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Pretty busy, but can’t complain.
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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:
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A: Hey! What have you been up to?
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B: Oh, just working and trying to stay sane! You?
🔄 Common replies:
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Not much, really.
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Just working a lot.
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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:
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A: Hey, what’s new?
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B: Not a whole lot. Just the usual.
🔄 Common replies:
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Nothing much.
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Actually, I started a new job!
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Same old.
🟢 8. What’s up?
✅ Usage: Very casual, used mostly among friends. Often used instead of “Hi.”
🧠 Formality: Very informal
💬 Example:
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A: What’s up?
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B: Not much. You?
🔄 Common replies:
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Not much.
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Just chillin’.
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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:
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A: Yo! What’s happening?
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B: Just got back from class. You?
🔄 Common replies:
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Not much!
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Just the usual.
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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:
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A: Hey! What’s going on?
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B: Just hanging out. You?
🔄 Common replies:
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Not much.
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Same stuff, different day.
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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
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A: Hi, Sarah! How are you?
B: I’m good, thanks. How about you? -
A: Good morning, Mr. Lee. How are you today?
B: I’m well, thank you. -
A: How are you, Emma? It’s been a while!
B: I’m doing okay. Just busy with life! -
A: Hey! How are you?
B: Pretty tired, but I’m hanging in there.
✅ 2. How’s it going?
🧠 Informal, friendly
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A: Hey, Alex! How’s it going?
B: Not bad! Just got off work. -
A: Hi, Tom. How’s it going with your new job?
B: It’s going great so far. Thanks for asking. -
A: How’s it going, man?
B: Same old, same old. -
A: How’s it going? Everything alright?
B: Yeah, can’t complain. You?
✅ 3. How’s everything?
🧠 Casual and friendly
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A: Hey! How’s everything?
B: Good! We just got back from vacation. -
A: How’s everything at work?
B: A bit hectic, but I’m managing. -
A: How’s everything going with the kids?
B: They’re growing too fast! -
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
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A: Wow, it’s been forever! How have you been?
B: I’ve been good! How about you? -
A: Hey, long time no see! How have you been?
B: Busy but happy. Life’s treating me well. -
A: How have you been since the move?
B: It’s been a big adjustment, but I’m settling in. -
A: How have you been lately?
B: A bit stressed, but overall fine.
✅ 5. What have you been up to?
🧠 Very casual, informal
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A: Hey, what have you been up to?
B: Just working and binging Netflix. -
A: What have you been up to these days?
B: I’ve started taking dance classes! -
A: So, what have you been up to lately?
B: Honestly, not much. Same old stuff. -
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
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A: Hey! What’s new?
B: Not a lot. Just working and trying to stay sane. -
A: What’s new with you?
B: I adopted a cat! -
A: What’s new? Haven’t seen you in weeks.
B: Yeah, I’ve been traveling for work. -
A: What’s new in your world?
B: Actually, I got promoted!
✅ 7. What’s up?
🧠 Very informal
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A: Yo! What’s up?
B: Not much. You? -
A: Hey, what’s up?
B: Just killing time before class. -
A: What’s up, man?
B: I’m starving—heading to grab a bite. -
A: What’s up with you lately?
B: Trying to get back into shape.
✅ 8. What’s happening?
🧠 Slangy, very informal
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A: What’s happening, dude?
B: Just chilling. You? -
A: What’s happening around here?
B: Nothing special. It’s a quiet day. -
A: Hey! What’s happening?
B: Just got off work. I’m exhausted. -
A: What’s happening at the office?
B: Lots of changes coming soon.
✅ 9. What’s going on?
🧠 Informal, but slightly more open-ended
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A: What’s going on? You look stressed.
B: Yeah, I’ve got a big deadline coming up. -
A: What’s going on with the project?
B: We’re almost done—just final touches. -
A: What’s going on here?
B: We’re setting up for the party. -
A: Hey! What’s going on?
B: Just catching up on emails.