When you meet someone, you greet them.
You say someone goodbye at the end of a meeting.
Here are some expressions used for greeting:
Informal greetings
Hi /haɪ/
Hallo/ hullo /həˈləʊ/
Hey /heɪ/
Hiya /ˈhaɪ.jə/
Howdy /ˈhaʊ.di/
Hello stranger!
Long time, no see!
These two expressions are used when you meet a friend after a long time.
Formal greetings
Hello /helˈəʊ; həˈləʊ/
It’s a little formal.
Good morning
Good evening
Good afternoon
It’s informal to say just morning, evening or afternoon.
Extras
It’s not always necessary to stop to say someone hello or good morning. You can say it while passing by someone.
It is usual to add the name, title or relation to the greeting.
Ben: Hi, Lewis. How are you?
Lewis: Oh hi, Ben.
After a greeting, a conversation may continue with a polite inquiry about health, etc. Here are some expressions for this purpose:
How are you?
How are you getting on?
How are things?
How’s everything?
How’s life (treating you)?
How’s it going?
How are you doing?
What’s up?
When you greet a sick person, you can say:
How are you feeling today/these days? or
I hope you are well.
All right is used to greet someone and enquire about their health at the same time.
“All right, John?”
“Not bad, thanks, and you?”
The possible responses to inquiries about health may be any of the following:
Fine.
I’m fine.
Fine, thanks.
Fine, thank you.
I’m fine, thank you.
Very well, thanks.
Very well, thank you.
I’m doing fine, thanks.
Not bad, thanks.
Great, thanks. I’m OK.
You thank the other person for inquiring about your health. Remember that thank you is formal.
It is usual to add a reply question like any of these:
How are you?
And you?
You?
A reply question shows that you are interested in the other person.
When you meet someone for the first time or someone introduces you to someone else, you can also say:
(I’m) pleased to meet you.
Nice to meet you.
Nice to see you.
You can ask others also to convey your greeting:
Please give/send/convey my regards to your father and mother.
Here are some dialogues for illustration of these expressions:
David: Morning, John.
John: Hi, David. How are you doing?
David: I’m doing fine, thanks.
Lewis: Morning, Mary. How are you?
Mary: Great. How are you, Lewis?
Lewis: Good.
Sandra: Good morning.
Clara: Good morning, Sandra. How are you?
Sandra: Fine, thanks. How are you?
Clara: Good.
You can say goodbye in various ways:
Bye
Bye-bye
Goodbye
See/Catch you later.
Later
Take care (of yourself)
Goodnight
It’s not a greeting at night. You say someone goodnight when you leave them at night or go to sleep.
Ta-ta is young children’s word for (good)bye.
You greet or wish people also at ceremonies, celebrations, etc. Some such greetings are as follows:
Happy/Merry Christmas!
Many happy returns (of the day)!
Happy Eid!
Happy birthday!
Congratulations!
Well done!
Good luck!
Happy New Year!
At presentations, you make a welcome or introductory speech to greet your audience.
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