Skip to main content

Basic Greetings

Here we will learn the basic greetings. These are commonly used when speaking in American English.

* Click the phrase in English to listen.

1. Simple greetings

Hi!

Hello!

Hello there!

Hey!

Conversation

Hey!

Hello there!

How are you?

I'm good. What about you?

I'm fine. How's your day going?

It's going ok. What about yours?

My day is going great.

That's good.

2. General greetings 

How are you?

How you doin'?

How's everything?

Is everything ok?

How's it been?

How've you been?

How you been?

What have you been up to?

What’s new?

What’s up?

Greetings for various times of the day

Good morning

Morning

Mornin’

How are you this morning?

Good afternoon

Good evening

4. Greeting a person you haven’t seen in a long time

I haven’t seen you in years!

Long time no see!

I haven’t seen you in ages! 

5. Welcoming someone who has returned

Welcome back!

Welcome back, stranger!

Longtime no see!

Where have you been?

Where did you go?

6. Expressing surprise when meeting someone

What a surprise to meet you here!

I'd never thought of seeing you here!

What brings you around here?

Where've you been hiding?

You must of been busy lately?

Wow!!! It's good to see you here!

7. After you have greeted someone

Haven't we met before?

We seem to keep bumping into each other.

I'm sorry; I have a terrible memory, but what is your name again?

I've been meaning to call again.

I've been meaning to see you again.

8. Concerning a journey or vacation

How was your vacation?

How did it go?

Did everything go ok?

Did you have fun?

Tell me about it?

Did you take any pictures or videos?

Were the people friendly?

Did you bring back any gifts?

I missed you.

I missed you while you weren't here with me.

It wasn't the same without you here.