Boost your confidence in communication with appropriate greetings in English

For a pleasant and natural conversation, the initial greeting is very important. In the article below, PREP will summarize various appropriate phrases of greetings in English for different situations that you can apply in various contexts.

I. What are greetings in English?

When we first meet or start a new conversation, we will greet each other with some initial English greetings. However, it is not always suitable to use "Hi, Hello, ..." in every case or situation. Below, PREP has shared with you some phrases of greetings in English for different situations so that you can diversify your greetings!

II. How to conduct greetings in English

Different types of relationships require varying greeting styles. Let's explore the differnt ways to say hello in English for friends, colleagues, and partners in the table below:

1. Daily life

Below are some common informal greetings in English used in everyday situations to greet each other.

2. Formal and polite situations

For more formal situations like the workplace or meeting partners, instead of just using common English greetings, you can opt for more polite greetings like:

3. The time of the day

Greetings can vary depending on the time of day. Greetings in the morning differ from those in the afternoon or evening. Here are some common English greeting phrases used for different periods:

4. People you haven't seen in a long time

These greeting phrases are informal and express joy at reconnecting with an old friend/acquaintance. Feel free to customize them based on your relationship and feelings for that person to find the most suitable greetings in English!

English greeting for old acquaintances:

• Long time no see!
• It’s been ages!
• Wow, look who’s here! How have you been?
• Hey there! I can’t believe it’s been so long!
• Well, well, well, look who decided to show up! How’ve you been keeping?
• Fancy meeting you here after all this time!
• Hello! How’s life treating you?
• I was just thinking about you the other day. It’s great to see you again!
• What a pleasant surprise! How have things been since we last saw each other?
• It’s wonderful to catch up with you after all these years. How’s everything going in your life?

5. Greeting via phone calls or emails

Here are some friendly phrases of greetings in English that are suitable for phone calls, text messages, or emails. Let's explore more with PREP right below!

III. Key differences in how English greetings are expressed across cultures 

Besides common English greetings for different situations, there are subtle differences in greeting styles between countries like England, America, and Australia. Below are some of the greetings from those countries collected by PREP, which friends can learn about to better understand the cultures of these lands!

As mentioned above, PREP has collected a variety of common greetings in English for different situations that you may encounter daily. Save them and use them confidently whenever needed to communicate effectively in any circumstance!