When we ask about “everyone” we are asking about our conversation partner’s family or friends. This is just another way to ask “How are you?” but more focused on the (recent) past. You are also inviting them to answer the question in any way they’d like. We do this to be informal and signal comfort with our conversation partner. Sometimes we ask the question “How are you?” indirectly. We use “ya” instead of “you” to make it less formal.
This is the most popular way to ask this question.
“How ARE you?” They mean, “How are you REALLY doing?” Here are some different ways to say “How are you?” How are you? They may signal to you that they want more details when they emphasize the word “are” in the question. The only exception to this rule is if you know your conversation partner really well. If your conversation partner signals wanting to continue the discussion, answer in more detail later. This is what we call “exchanging pleasantries.” We are just warming up with some easy questions and answers. Think of the “How are you?” question as a simple way to get the conversation going. When people start off an English conversation with “How are you?” they usually don’t expect you to go into much detail. What do people really mean when they ask “How are you?” In the next section we will cover different ways to say “How are you?” and the typical responses. You may want to add a simple “hello” to your response just to acknowledge the person, like “Hi there! How are you?” or “Hey man. “How are you?” is a popular way to respond and keep the conversation going. Remember, we want to hit that tennis ball across the net.
So what do you say to someone who has just said “hello” to you? Of course you can respond back with “Hello” or “Hi,” but does that move the conversation forward? No it does not! In the South people use “y’all” to refer to a group of people. People in the South use this as an informal way to say hello. Use slang for a casual hello with close friends and acquaintances, but be careful, not everyone wants to be called “bro” or “girl!” “Hi there!” can used when greeting someone from a distance, but is also used when you haven’t seen some for a long time. This is another short and casual hello, usually used with someone you know.Īnother informal hello, “Hi there!” can be used with someone you know well, like a friend, neighbor or co-worker. Here are some different ways to say the basic “hello.” Hello. You may be asking yourself: “What should I say instead of “hello?” We often start an English conversation with a simple “hello.” You may see someone you know, make eye contact with a stranger, or start a phone conversation with this simple greeting. Whether you are having a casual conversation or preparing for a job interview in English, it’s important to know different ways to start a conversation. There are so many creative ways to say “hello” in English.
You need to know how to hit the ball back to keep the game going! Today let’s focus on the beginning of a conversation: the different ways we say “hello” in English and how to respond. Our students consider us the best English class online because we help our students know different ways to say things, but we also prepare them for how to respond or react.Ĭonversation is like tennis. Hi there! Are you looking for some different ways to say “hello” in English? Well, a good conversation in English (or any language) requires some back and forth.