Greetings and Farewells

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Greetings and Farewells

GREETINGS AND FAREWELLS

Depending on the situations greetings are categorized in two types: formal greetings and informal (casual) greetings. When you meet someone for the first time and you don't know the person yet, you can use formal expressions in order to avoid annoying behaviors. Instead, people generally use casual greetings and farewells with the people they already know well whether among teenagers or older people.

In addition to greetings and farewells we normally shake hands or other body languages which can give an impression of familiarity and respect. In some countries people may bow each other instead of shaking hands such as in China and Japan. Performing impressive greetings to both strangers and colleagues will definitely keep you in good relations with them.

This lesson is designed to provide you useful expressions regarding greetings and farewells based on the contexts. Practice each phrase several times to know better and able to use them automatically. Enjoy your learning!

FORMAL GREETINGS & FAREWELLS

GREETINGS

Formal styles are not used very much today, even by native English speakers. "How do you do?" is the most formal way to greet someone in formal situations. The reply must be "How do you do.". The most common way is "Good morning?" / "Good afternoon?" / "Good evening?". You can use the same phrases to answer.

The next action might be saying:
"It's nice to meet you." / "Pleased to meet you." (to people in the first time meeting)
or
"It's nice to see you." / "Great to see you."  (to people you have met more than once)

After that people normally ask their partners' feelings or health, "How are you?" / "How are you today?"

Note: Formal greetings are generally started by a shakehand and smile.

FAREWELLS

To end a formal meeting people often say:
"It was nice to meet you." / ''It was a pleasure to meet you.'' (to people in the first time meeting)
or
"It was wonderful to see you." / "Nice to see you again." (to people you have met more than once)

CASUAL GREETINGS & FAREWELLS

GREETINGS

Both for younger people or elders, casual or informal styles are used more often. Some common expressions are: "Hi!" / "Hey!" /"Hey man!" / "Hello!".

The following questions would be:
What's up?
What's new?
What's going on?
How's it going?
How are you doing?
How's everything?
How are things?
How's life?
How's your day?
etc

These are how you can reply:
I am good.
I am great.
Not too bad.
I'm going well.
I'm doing good.
etc

FAREWELLS

Bye.
Bye-bye.
Good bye.
Bye for now.
Take care.
See ya.
Catch you later.

READ THE DIALOGUE

FORMAL

Mrs. Susan : Good morning. It's nice to see you, Mr. Allan.
Mr. Allan   : Good morning, Mrs. Susan. It is nice to see you, too.
Mrs. Susan :  How are you today?
Mr. Allan   : I ma fine, thank you. How about you?
Mrs. Susan : I am fine, too. Would you like to start our meeting now?
Mr. Allan   : Of course! It would be great.

INFORMAL

Katie: Hey! How are you doing?
Ana  : Hey! I'm doing good. And ya?
Katie: Not too bad.
Ana  : Have you finished your project yet?
Katie: Ouch... That's a boring project. I haven't yet.
Ana  : Me, too. How if we work together?
Katie: Great idea!





Tag:
greetings and farewells in English, English greeting phrases, English greeting expressions (formal and informal)