If you’re learning English, you’ve probably wondered when it is good evening time and other greetings-related questions. 

Greetings are one of the first things you learn whenever you’re learning a new language. They’re the most important thing when you start a conversation. Whether you’re talking with a colleague in a business meeting or a new friend at a social gathering, your first impression is greetings. 

While “hello” is the first word most people use in English, there are plenty of ways to greet people depending on different situations. There are different words and phrases you can use depending on the context or the time of day. For example, there’s a different greeting for good evening time and for good morning, or when you’re writing a letter or sending a text. Learning how to use the right greeting can help you sound more natural and confident while making conversation with others.

When I first started learning English, one of the first greetings I learned was “Good morning” and “How are you?”. These took me a long way until I became fluent enough to mix it up with other words and phrases.

So in today’s blog post, I’ll teach you all the words and phrases you can use as English greetings. I’ll show you what you can use for formal phrases in business meetings and casual encounters with friends. Here’s a list of ways to say “hello” in English, guaranteeing you’ll elevate your language skills and enrich your conversations. 

When is it good evening time — Why Do Greetings Matter?

Choosing the right greeting will establish the tone of the conversation. In English, greetings are more than just a simple courtesy; they convey openness, respect, and communicate the tone you wish to set for the conversation.

Do you want to sound professional, friendly, or casual? The right greeting can help you express yourself easily. When learning greetings in English, you need to consider three aspects.

• Context: Is this a formal or informal situation?
• Relationship: Do you know this person well or is this your first interaction?
• Time of Day: Many greetings vary based on the time of day (morning, afternoon, evening).

Formal Greetings

There will be times when you need to use formal greetings. Maybe you’ll have business meetings, a job interview, you need to talk to your superiors, or chat with clients…there are many scenarios where formal greetings are needed. Which is why it is important that you know these different words and phrases. 

Here are some of the most commonly used formal greetings:

1. How do you do?

“How do you do” is an extremely formal greeting. It may sound old-fashioned, but it is still used in certain settings. This phrase is perfect for a business dinner or a formal event like conferences or dinners. 

The response is neutral or positive like “I’m doing well, thank you” or “Fine, thank you”. These responses help keep some distance and respect towards the surroundings. 

2. Nice to meet you / Pleased to meet you

These phrases are other respectful examples of what to say when you’re greeting someone you’re meeting for the first time. When people meet, it is a common practice to shake hands. 

3. Good Morning / Good Afternoon / Good Evening

These phrases are used at different times of the day. 

• Good Morning: This is generally used from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m
• Good Afternoon: This one is used from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Good Evening: This is used after 6 p.m. or when the sun goes down.

So now you know when it is good evening time! 

Formal Greetings for Letters and Emails

Most people use formal greetings when writing letters or emails. These are usually used for job applications, legal queries, complaints against a company, etc. Here are the best ways to greet someone through an email or letter:

4. Dear Sir or Madam

Whenever you’re sending an email or writing a letter to a person whose name you don’t know, then the most common way to greet is using “Dear Sir” or “Dear Madam”. This greeting is clear, formal, and respectful. 

5. To Whom It May Concern

This is another greeting often used when you don’t know the name of the person receiving the email or letter. It’s a professional way to address a stranger. It may sound a bit old-fashioned, but it is perfect for formal emails.

6. Dear Mr / Mrs / Ms / Miss / Prof / Dr 

If you know the name of the recipient, then you can start your letter or email with one of these greetings. For example:

• Dear Mr. Smith,
• Dear Mrs. Toledo,
• Dear Miss Pell,
• Dear Prof. White,

Informal Greetings

When it comes to informal conversations, there are plenty of greetings you can use. These are mostly used to have a conversation with friends, neighbors, family, or other close people. Here’s a list of the most common informal greetings you can use:

7. Hello / Hi / Hey

Saying “Hello” or the shorter versions “Hi” and “Hey” are the most common ways to start a conversation with someone. It is the most popular greeting in the English language. 

Usually, “Hey” is used for people you know well. However, it’s also okay to start a conversation with a stranger using “Hey” in an informal setting.

8. Morning / Afternoon / Evening

Just like saying “Good Morning, “Good Afternoon”, and “Good evening”…the shorter versions work perfectly. These are friendly and warm ways to greet someone in informal situations. You’ll probably hear it if you’re walking past someone, or if you come across someone but won’t have time for a long chat. For example, greeting your postman, a neighbor, or a cafe assistant. 

9. How are you doing? / How’s it going?

This is a casual way of asking “How are you?” People usually prefer to use these after the main greeting of “Hello” or “Hi”.

10. Nice to see you / It’s great to see you / Good to see you

These phrases are usually used when you have not seen the other person for a while or when you meet somebody unexpectedly. They’re very friendly greetings. You can use them at the beginning of the conversation, or right after the initial “Hello”.

Slang Greetings

Just like any other language, English has its own slang words. There are plenty of slang greetings you can use to sound like a local. They’re fun and friendly, completely informal greetings. 

11. Yo!

This greeting came from hip-hop culture in 1990s America. It is an informal way to greet someone instead of saying “Hello”.

12. What’s up?

This is a common greeting that has become popular globally. This slang greeting is used a lot both in person and over text messages. It’s a more relaxed way of greeting a friend or someone you know very well by asking how they are doing, and what is new in their life. 

13. Sup

This is even more informal than “what’s up?”. It’s actually a shorter version of the previous slang greeting. It became very popular in America in the early 2000s. Now it is mostly only used ironically or in text.

14. Heyyy

When texting or sending direct messages, some people like to add extra “y”s after “hey”. Now, it is mostly used when flirting with other people. I also like using this when talking with my girl friends, as a fun and quirky way to greet them.

15. Howdy!

This is an abbreviation for “How do you do?” that is commonly used in certain regions of Canada and America. Now, it is primarily used by cartoon cowboys.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are many ways you can greet somebody beyond the usual “Hello!”. So next time you want to start a new conversation, don’t hesitate to use these new expressions. 

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