Hello, Future English Speaker! Your First Steps to Confident Communication!
Learning a new language can feel like a big adventure, and we’re so excited to start this journey with you! This article about English Greetings and Introductions is especially for you if you’re just beginning to learn English. We’ll start with the very basics: how to say hello, introduce yourself, and ask how someone is doing. Don’t worry, we’ll go slowly, with lots of examples, easy charts, and even pictures to help you along! Study more about English Greetings and Introductions.
1. English Greetings and Introductions: Say Hello to the World!
The first step in any conversation is saying “hello!” In English, we have many ways to do this, depending on the time of day or how formal you want to be.
English Greetings and Introductions – Basic Phrases: Your Everyday Greetings!
Let’s start with some simple and super useful phrases!
- Hello (Heh-LOH): This is a very common and friendly way to greet anyone at any time.
- Hi (HYE): This is a shorter, more casual version of “Hello.” You can use it with friends, family, or people your age.
Here’s an example:
- You: Hello!
- Friend: Hi!
English Greetings for Different Times of Day:
We also have special greetings for morning, afternoon, and evening.
- Good morning (Good MOR-ning): Use this from when you wake up until about 12:00 PM (noon).
- Good afternoon (Good AF-ter-noon): Use this from 12:00 PM until about 6:00 PM.
- Good evening (Good EE-vning): Use this from about 6:00 PM until you go to bed.
Important Note: We usually say “Good night” when we are leaving someone late in the evening or when someone is going to bed, not as a greeting when you first meet them.
Let’s see them in action!
Scenario 1: In the Morning
You: Good morning! Colleague: Good morning!
Scenario 2: In the Afternoon
You: Good afternoon, Ms. Smith. Ms. Smith: Good afternoon.
Scenario 3: In the Evening
You: Good evening, everyone. Friends: Good evening!
Saying Goodbye: See You Later!
Just as important as saying hello is knowing how to say goodbye!
- Goodbye (Good-BYE): This is a standard way to end a conversation.
- Bye (BYE): A shorter, more casual version of “Goodbye.”
- See you later (See yoo LAY-ter): This is a friendly way to say goodbye when you expect to see the person again soon.
Let’s look at some examples:
- You: It was nice talking to you. Goodbye!
- Friend: Bye! See you later!
English Greetings and Introductions – Basic Greetings and Farewells
| English Phrase | Pronunciation (approx.) | When to Use It |
| Hello | Heh-LOH | Any time, formal or informal |
| Hi | HYE | Any time, informal (with friends) |
| Good morning | Good MOR-ning | Morning (until ~12 PM) |
| Good afternoon | Good AF-ter-noon | Afternoon (~12 PM to ~6 PM) |
| Good evening | Good EE-vning | Evening (~6 PM until bedtime) |
| Goodbye | Good-BYE | When leaving, formal or informal |
| Bye | BYE | When leaving, informal |
| See you later | See yoo LAY-ter | When leaving, expect to meet again soon |
English Introduction: Sharing Your Name!
Now that you can say hello, let’s learn how to tell people your name and ask for theirs!
- My name is… (My NAYM iz): This is how you tell someone your name.
- What’s your name? (Wuts yor NAYM): This is how you ask someone for their name.
- Nice to meet you. (Nys too MEET yoo): You say this after you learn someone’s name. It means you are happy to meet them.
Here’s a common first conversation:
- Person 1: Hello! My name is Maria.
- Person 2: Hi Maria! My name is Tom. Nice to meet you.
- Person 1: Nice to meet you too, Tom.
Asking About Well-being: How Are You?
After you say hello, it’s very common and polite to ask how someone is doing.
- How are you? (How ar YOO): This is the most common way to ask someone about their well-being.
- I’m fine, thank you. (Im FYN, THANGK yoo): A common and polite response.
- And you? (And YOO): After you answer, you ask this to return the question to the other person.
Let’s put it all together!
- You: Hello! How are you?
- Friend: I’m fine, thank you. And you?
- You: I’m fine too, thanks!
Sometimes people will also say:
- I’m good, thanks! (I’m GOOD, THANKS!) – Very common and friendly.
- Not bad! (Not BAD!) – Means you are doing okay.
Practice Makes Perfect – English Greetings and Introductions
Here is a PDF worksheet you can download to practice English Greetings and Introductions. The answers are on a separate page.
Additional Helpful Links
- Learn about basic English alphabet and pronunciation – English Alphabet and Pronunciation for Beginners
- Study about English numbers – Learn English Numbers: Counting 1-100 Easily
External Authoritative Sources
- British Council LearnEnglish: The British Council is the UK’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. Their website offers a wealth of free resources, including videos, podcasts, games, and grammar exercises for all levels.
- Cambridge English: From the University of Cambridge, this site provides free activities, games, and resources to help you improve your English skills and prepare for exams. It’s a highly respected and well-known source for language learners.
- VOA Learning English: This is a service of the U.S. government that provides news and information in a simplified form. It’s an excellent way to practice your listening and reading skills while learning about current events.
