20 Friendly Ways to Say “Hello” (With Examples)

“Hello” is probably the first English word most learners master — and the first one they outgrow. The greeting you choose does quiet work: it signals how formal you are being, how well you know the other person, and even which side of the Atlantic you learned your English on. “Yo” to a hiring manager lands very differently from “good morning.”

The right choice depends on three things: formality, medium, and culture. A greeting that charms in a Manchester pub — “Alright, mate?” — can baffle an American client, while the “hey” that opens a friendly text would sink a job application. British and American greetings overlap a great deal, but not completely.

Below are 20 friendly alternatives to “hello”, grouped from formal to slang, plus the greetings that work best in messages and email. Each comes with an example sentence and a note on British versus American usage. (Writers: the verb you attach to a greeting shapes its meaning too — see our 300 words to use instead of “said”.)

Quick Answer

“Hello” has an alternative for every situation: formal (“good morning”, “good day”, “how do you do?”), neutral (“hi”, “hello”, “hey”), and casual (“yo”, “what’s up?”, “alright?”). Match the greeting to the setting — “good morning” for interviews, “hey there” for friends — and to the medium: “dear” opens formal emails, while “hey” suits texts. In British English, “alright?” and a simple “morning” are everyday greetings; “howdy” is almost exclusively American.

20 Friendly Ways to Say “Hello”

Here are twenty alternatives, from boardroom-formal to sofa-casual. Each comes with an example sentence and a note on whether it suits British, American, or international ears.

Formal Greetings

1. “Good morning” — the safest formal greeting before midday, used worldwide. Example: “Good morning, Mrs Patel — lovely to see you again.”

2. “Good afternoon” — the midday equivalent, from around 12pm. Example: “Good afternoon, and welcome to the gallery.”

3. “Good evening” — for later in the day, roughly from 6pm. Example: “Good evening, everyone, and thank you for coming.”

4. “Good day” — formal and a little old-fashioned in modern British English, but still standard in Australian English. Example: “Good day to you, sir.”

5. “How do you do?” — the classic formal British introduction. Example: “Mr Clarke, how do you do?” This is a ritual greeting, not a real question — the correct reply is simply “How do you do?”

Neutral, Everyday Greetings

6. “Hi” — the universal casual-neutral greeting; works almost everywhere. Example: “Hi, I’m Tom — I think we met at the conference.”

7. “Hello” — the neutral default, a touch more formal than “hi”. Example: “Hello, thanks for calling Bright Travel.”

8. “Hey” — friendly and relaxed; American in origin but now firmly established in British English too. Example: “Hey, did you get my message?”

9. “Hi there” — a little warmer and more personal than “hi”. Example: “Hi there! Great to finally meet you in person.”

10. “Hey there” — casual-friendly; very common in American English and increasingly heard in Britain. Example: “Hey there — long time no see!”

11. “Morning!” — short for “good morning” and a staple of British workplaces. Example: “Morning! Fancy a coffee before the meeting?”

Casual and Slang Greetings

12. “Yo” — very informal American slang; keep it for close friends, never for work. Example: “Yo, what’s happening?”

13. “What’s up?” — casual American greeting that usually just means “hello”. Example: “Hey man, what’s up?” Often shortened to “‘sup?” in very informal speech.

14. “Howdy” — friendly American greeting, especially associated with Texas and the South. Example: “Howdy, neighbour!” It sounds deliberately folksy — and out of place in British English.

15. “Alright?” / “You alright?” — the classic informal British greeting. Example: “‘Alright, mate?’ he called across the pub.” It means “hello, how are you?” — reply “Yeah, alright — you?” Nobody expects a genuine health update.

16. “How’s it going?” — relaxed and used worldwide. Example: “How’s it going, Sarah?” Usually answered with “Good, you?” rather than a real report.

Greetings for Messages and Email

Written greetings follow stricter rules than spoken ones — and your closing line matters as much as your opening (see our 25 better ways to say “in conclusion” for stronger endings).

17. “Dear Mr/Ms [surname]” — the formal standard for letters and first-contact emails in British English. Example: “Dear Ms Okafor, I am writing to apply for the marketing role.”

18. “Hello [first name],” — the standard professional email opening. Example: “Hello Priya, Thanks for sending the report over.”

19. “Hi all,” / “Hi everyone,” — for group emails; “hi all” is now standard in British workplaces. Example: “Hi all, Just a quick reminder about Friday’s meeting.”

20. “Hey,” — for texts and instant messages to friends only. Example: “Hey, are you free tonight?” Too casual for any work email.

Common Mistakes

Small greeting mistakes can undo a good first impression. Most come down to one rule: match the greeting to the formality of the situation, not to your own habits. Here are five to avoid:

1. Greeting a hiring manager with “hey” or “yo”
Wrong: “Yo, thanks for seeing me today.”
Right: “Good morning — thank you for seeing me today.”
Interviews are formal by default, so match the setting, not your habits.

2. Answering “How do you do?” literally
Wrong: “How do you do?” — “I’m very well, thank you.”
Right: “How do you do?” — “How do you do?”
In formal British introductions it is a ritual greeting, not a real question.

3. Using “Alright, mate?” with non-British clients
Wrong: greeting a new American client with “Alright, mate?”
Right: “Good morning — how are you?”
Outside Britain it reads as a question about their health, and “mate” is too familiar for business.

4. Opening a formal email with “Hey”
Wrong: “Hey Mrs Thompson, I’m applying for the analyst role.”
Right: “Dear Mrs Thompson, I am writing to apply for the analyst role.”
“Hey” signals a text to a friend, not a job application.

5. Getting the time of day wrong
Wrong: “Good evening” at a 10am meeting.
Right: “Good morning” before midday, “good afternoon” after it, “good evening” from around 6pm.
A mismatched time greeting sounds careless — when unsure, plain “hello” works at any hour.

One more tip for writers: the verb you attach to a spoken greeting shapes its meaning as much as the greeting itself — our 300 words to use instead of “said” organises them by emotion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most polite way to say hello in English?

In formal settings, “good morning”, “good afternoon”, or “good evening” followed by the person’s name is the safest choice. For very formal British introductions, “How do you do?” is traditional. In writing, “Dear Mr/Ms [surname]” remains the formal standard. Adding the person’s name — “Good morning, Dr Ellis” — makes any of these warmer without losing formality.

Is it rude to say “hey” instead of “hello”?

Not among friends, colleagues you know well, or in casual messages — “hey” is friendly rather than rude. It becomes inappropriate in formal settings such as job interviews, first emails to strangers, or when addressing someone significantly senior. When in doubt, “hello” or “hi” is the safer middle ground.

How do British people usually greet each other?

Informally, “alright?”, “morning”, or “hiya” (common in northern England) are everyday greetings between friends, while “morning” or “hi” is standard in workplaces. Among younger people, “hey” and “hi” are now just as common as the traditional greetings. Formally, a handshake with “good morning” — or “how do you do?” at very formal events — is still expected; cheek-kissing is rare in Britain compared with much of Europe.

What should I write instead of “hello” in an email?

For formal emails, use “Dear Mr/Ms [surname]”. For normal professional email, “Hello [first name],” is the modern standard. For group messages, “Hi all,” works well. Reserve “Hey,” for texts to friends — never for work email.