How to greet people in English

In this post we learn some of the most common and useful expressions for greeting people.

Greeting someone when you arrive:

• Good morning.
• Good afternoon.
• Good evening.
• Good day Sir / Madam (very formal).
• Hello (name).
• Hi! (informal)

Greeting someone when you leave:

• Good morning.
• Good afternoon.
• Good evening.
• Good night.
• Have a good day!
• Goodbye.
• Bye! (informal)
• See you soon! (informal)
• See you later. (informal)
• Se you tomorrow! (informal)

Saying someone that is a pleasure to meet him/her:

• Nice to meet you.
• I'm glad to meet you.
• It's a pleasure to meet you.
• How do you do.
• I'm pleased to make your acquaintance.

Responding when someone has said you "Nice to meet you":

• I'm glad/it's nice to meet you too.
• The pleasure is mine.
• My pleasure.
• How do you do.

Asking someone how they are:

• How are you? 
• How you doing? 
• How you going? 
• How's it going? 
• You alright?

Saying you are well

• Good, thanks! 
• Fine, thanks! 
• Not bad, not bad! 
• Alright, thanks! 
• I'm OK!

Returning the question when someone has asked if you are well:

• And you? 
• How about you? 
• What about you?