20+ ways to Say Hello in English

🎯 TLDR – How to Choose the Right Greeting

✅ Use formal greetings in professional settings, emails, and first meetings.
✅ Use informal greetings with friends, colleagues, and casual conversations.
✅ Use slang and funny greetings to make people smile and sound more natural.
✅ Try British greetings if you're in the UK or Ireland!

🔹 Formal Greetings – Professional & Polite

Use these formal greetings in business settings, job interviews, or when speaking with older people.

Greeting	When to Use It?
How do you do?	A very formal greeting, often used in business settings.
Nice to meet you. / Pleased to meet you.	When meeting someone for the first time.
How have you been?	When seeing someone again after a long time.
Good morning	Good morning time is 5:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Good afternoon	Good afternoon time is 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Good evening	Good evening time is 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

📌 Tip: "Goodnight" is NOT a greeting! It is used to say goodbye at the end of the day.

📧 Formal Greetings for Emails & Letters

Use these greetings in written communication, such as emails, job applications, or professional letters.

Greeting	When to Use It?
Dear Sir or Madam,	When writing to someone whose name you don’t know.
To Whom It May Concern,	When writing to a company or department.
To the Hiring Manager,	When applying for a job.
Dear Mr. Smith / Ms. Johnson,	When writing to a specific person (if you know their name).

📌 Tip: If the person replies using their first name, you can switch to a more informal greeting in future emails.

Illustration of 20+ ways to Say Hello in English

😊 Informal Greetings – Everyday Conversations

Use these greetings when talking to friends, colleagues, neighbors, or acquaintances.

Greeting	When to Use It?
Hello / Hi / Hey	The most common and simple ways to say hello.
Morning / Afternoon / Evening	A casual way to greet someone based on the time of day.
How are you doing? / How’s it going?	A relaxed way to ask how someone is.
Nice to see you. / Good to see you.	When meeting someone again.
Long time no see. / It’s been a while.	When greeting someone you haven’t seen for a long time.

📌 Tip: "Hey" is very casual—use it with friends or people you know well.

🎤 Slang & Fun Greetings

Use these greetings with close friends, younger people, or in text messages.

Greeting	Meaning
Yo!	A casual, hip-hop-style greeting.
What’s up? / Sup?	A relaxed way to ask how someone is.
Heyyy!	A playful greeting, often used in texting.
What’s crackin’?	A fun way to say "What’s up?"
Howdy!	A Southern American greeting.

📌 Tip: "Heyyy" with extra "y"s is often flirty! 😏

British English Greetings

If you're visiting the UK, try these British-style greetings!

Greeting	When to Use It?
Lovely to meet you. / Lovely to see you.	A polite way to say hello in the UK.
Are you OK?	A British way of asking, "How are you?"
Alright, mate? / Alright?	A casual British greeting among friends.
Hiya!	A friendly British way to say "Hi".
What’s the craic?	An Irish way to say "What’s up?"

📌 Tip: "Are you OK?" doesn’t mean you look upset! It’s just a friendly British greeting.

😂 Funny & Old-Fashioned Greetings

Want to make someone laugh? Try these silly or old-fashioned ways to say hello!

Greeting	Meaning
Ahoy!	A pirate-style greeting!
Hello, stranger!	A fun way to greet someone you haven’t seen in a long time.
‘Ello, gov’nor!	A jokey, old-fashioned London accent greeting.
Good morrow!	A Shakespearean way to say "Good morning".
What’s up, buttercup?	A playful and funny greeting.

📌 Tip: Use these with friends—people might think you're joking! 😂

🎯 FAQ – Common Questions About Greetings

What time do I say “Good morning”?

"Good morning" is used from 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM (noon).

When should I say “Good afternoon”?

Use "Good afternoon" from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

What time do I use “Good evening”?

"Good evening" is used from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Can I use “Goodnight” as a greeting?

No! "Goodnight" is NOT a greeting. It is used to say goodbye at the end of the day.

Is “Howdy” a British greeting?

No, "Howdy" is an American greeting, mostly used in Texas and the Southern U.S..

What is the most formal greeting in English?

The most formal greeting is "How do you do?", but it is rarely used today.

What is the most informal greeting?

"Yo!", "Heyyy!", and "Sup?" are very informal and best for close friends.

What does “Alright, mate?” mean?

It’s a British informal greeting, similar to "How’s it going?".

What should I say in a business email?

Use "Dear [Name]" or "To Whom It May Concern" for a professional tone.

What is a fun way to greet someone?

Try saying "Ahoy!", "What’s up, buttercup?", or "Good morrow!" for a laugh!