Greetings & Introductions — I can greet others, introduce...

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Why We Learn Greetings First

Every English conversation starts with a greeting. A greeting is how you say 'I see you' and 'I am friendly.' After a greeting, people often introduce themselves — they say their name and share basic information. Learning these skills first is very important. You will use them every day: at school, at work, at the store, and with neighbors.

In English, the words you choose depend on the situation. You speak differently with a friend than with a teacher. This lesson will show you simple phrases for three situations: casual (with friends), neutral (with new people), and formal (with teachers or at work).

Look at these two examples:

With a friend: "Hey! What's up? I'm Alex."

With a teacher: "Good morning. My name is Alex. It's nice to meet you."

Both are correct! The right choice depends on who you are talking to. This lesson will help you choose the right words with confidence.

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Five Simple Rules for Greetings

Here are five easy rules to remember. These rules work in all English conversations.

Match the Situation

Choose casual, neutral, or formal words based on who you are talking to. Say 'Good morning, Dr. Lee' to a doctor. Say 'Hey, what's up?' to a friend.

Say It Back

When someone says 'Hi,' you say 'Hi' back. When someone says 'How are you?', you answer and then ask them the same question: 'I'm good, thanks. And you?'

Keep It Short and Positive

When someone asks 'How's it going?', they want a short, friendly answer. Say 'Good, thanks!' — not a long story about your day.

Safe Topics First

When you meet someone new, talk about safe topics: your name, where you are from, and your job or school. Do not ask about age, money, or family right away.

Use Body Language

Words are not enough. Smile, make eye contact, and wave or shake hands when you greet someone. This shows you are friendly and open.

✦ KEY TAKEAWAY

Think of choosing a greeting like choosing clothes. You wear different clothes for the gym and for a job interview. In the same way, you use different words for a friend and for a teacher. When you are not sure, choose neutral words — like 'Hi' and 'My name is...' — and you will always be polite.

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Visual Explanation — The Formality Spectrum

It helps to picture greetings on a line. On the left side are casual words you use with friends. On the right side are formal words you use with teachers or at a job interview. In the middle are neutral words that work in most situations. The diagram below shows common phrases on this line.

The diagram shows English greetings from casual (left, green) to neutral (center, amber) to formal (right, violet). Below each group are common questions you can ask when you meet someone new.

The neutral column is the safest place to start. Phrases like 'Hi, how are you?' and 'My name is…' work in almost every situation. They are not too casual and not too formal. After you hear how the other person speaks, you can move left (more casual) or right (more formal) to match them.

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How a Greeting Conversation Works

A greeting conversation has three parts. First, you open the conversation. Then, you share information. Finally, you say goodbye. Each part has simple phrases you can use. The diagram below shows all three parts.

One important rule: when someone asks you a question, answer it and then ask them the same question. For example: 'I'm good, thanks — how about you?' This keeps the conversation going and shows you are interested.

This diagram shows the three parts of a greeting conversation. Speaker A (cyan) and Speaker B (green) take turns speaking. The conversation opens, then people share information, then they say goodbye.

Remember: when someone asks 'How are you?', answer and then ask them back: 'I'm great, thanks — how about you?' When you say your name, add 'And you?' or 'What's your name?' so the other person can speak. This back-and-forth is how a friendly conversation works.

🔊 PRONUNCIATION TIP

In fast speech, 'How are you?' often sounds like 'How-uh-ya?' and 'Nice to meet you' becomes 'Niece-ta-mee-choo.' You do not have to speak this fast. But it helps to recognize these sounds when you listen.

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Phrase Bank — Greetings, Introductions, & Personal Information

The table below shows the most important phrases for this lesson. Study the phrases in each column. Practice saying them out loud. For each phrase, there is also a typical response so you can practice both sides of the conversation.

Core Phrase Bank for Greetings, Introductions, and Personal Information Exchange

Function	Casual	Neutral	Formal
Greeting	Hey! / What's up? / Yo!	Hi! / Hello! / How are you?	Good morning/afternoon/evening.
Greeting Response	Hey! / Not much. / What's going on?	Hi! I'm fine, thanks. And you?	Good morning. How do you do?
Giving Your Name	I'm Alex. / Alex.	My name is Alex. / I'm Alex Chen.	My name is Alexander Chen. / Allow me to introduce myself.
Asking Someone's Name	And you? / What's your name?	What's your name? / And you are…?	May I ask your name? / How should I address you?
Stating Origin	I'm from Tokyo.	I'm from Japan. / I come from Japan.	I'm originally from Tokyo, Japan.
Stating Occupation / Major	I study econ. / I'm in marketing.	I'm a business major. / I work in marketing.	I'm pursuing a degree in economics. / I'm a marketing professional.
Expressing Pleasure	Nice to meet ya! / Great to meet you!	Nice to meet you. / Good to meet you.	It's a pleasure to meet you. / Pleased to make your acquaintance.
Saying Goodbye	See ya! / Later! / Catch you later!	Goodbye. / See you later. / Take care.	It was a pleasure. / I look forward to seeing you again.

🌍 CULTURAL NOTE

In the United States and many English-speaking countries, 'What do you do?' means 'What is your job or what do you study?' It does not mean 'What are you doing right now?' People often ask this question right after they learn your name. A short, clear answer works best: 'I'm a nursing student' or 'I work in IT.'

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Worked Example — First Day of Class

Let's practice with a real situation. You are a new student in a classroom. The student next to you smiles at you. You want to say hello, share your name, learn about them, and then say goodbye when class starts. Follow the steps below.

Scenario: Meeting a Classmate Before Class

Step 1 — Choose Your WordsYou are talking to a classmate — not a teacher, not a close friend. Use neutral words. Good choices: 'Hi,' 'Hello,' or 'Hey.' Do not say 'Yo!' (too casual) or 'Good morning, sir' (too formal for a classmate).

You choose: Neutral

Step 2 — Say Hello and Ask How They AreSay hello and ask a friendly question: 'Hi! How's it going?' The other student says: 'Pretty good, thanks. How about you?' You answer: 'I'm doing well, thanks!'

You said hello. They answered. You answered back. The opening is done!

Step 3 — Share Your NameSay your name and ask theirs: 'I'm Alex, by the way. What's your name?' They say: 'I'm Priya. Nice to meet you.' You say: 'Nice to meet you too!'

You both said your names and said 'Nice to meet you.' The introduction is done!

Step 4 — Share InformationAsk a simple question: 'What's your major?' Priya says: 'Biology. How about you?' You say: 'I'm studying computer science. This is my first semester here.' Priya says: 'Oh cool, welcome! I'm a sophomore.' Notice: each person answers and then asks a question back.

You talked about: major, year in school, and that you are new

Step 5 — Say GoodbyeThe teacher walks in. Say goodbye: 'Looks like class is starting. Nice talking to you!' Priya says: 'You too! See you next class.' You both end the conversation in a friendly way.

All three parts are done: Hello → Share Information → Goodbye

✦ KEY TAKEAWAY

A greeting is like a game of catch. You throw the ball, and the other person throws it back. If someone asks your name, say your name and then ask theirs. If someone tells you something about themselves, say something like 'Oh, cool!' and then share something about yourself. This keeps the conversation going and shows you are interested.

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Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Many English learners make the same mistakes when they greet people. These mistakes are not about grammar — they are about using the right words in the right situation. The table below shows five common mistakes, explains why they happen, and gives you the correct way.

Five Common Greeting Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Common Mistake	Why It Happens	Correct Version
Answering 'How are you?' with a long, honest answer about your problems	In many languages and cultures, this question is a real question. In English, it is usually just a friendly greeting — not a request for details.	'I'm good, thanks! And you?' — Keep your answer short and positive unless you know the person well.
Saying 'I am Alex' instead of 'I'm Alex' in everyday conversation	Learners often say full words because it feels more correct. But in spoken English, short forms ('I'm,' 'What's') sound more natural.	Use short forms when speaking: 'I'm,' 'What's,' 'It's.' Full forms are for formal writing.
Answering a question but not asking it back	Learners focus on finding the right words and forget to ask back. This can make the conversation stop.	Always add 'And you?', 'How about you?', or 'What about you?' after your answer.
Asking 'How old are you?' or 'Are you married?' the first time you meet someone	These are normal first-meeting questions in some cultures. In English-speaking countries, they can feel too personal with a stranger.	Stick to safe topics when you first meet someone: name, where you are from, and job or school.
Using very formal words with a friend, or casual words with a teacher	Using the wrong level of formality — for example, saying 'What's up?' to a professor, or 'Pleased to meet you' to a classmate you know well.	Listen to how the other person speaks and match their style. When you are not sure, use neutral words.

✦ KEY TAKEAWAY

Most greeting mistakes are not grammar mistakes. The words are correct, but they are used in the wrong situation. Think of it like wearing the right clothes: you might wear clean, nice clothes, but if you wear a swimsuit to a job interview, something is wrong. In greetings, choosing the right words for the right situation is just as important as knowing the words themselves.

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What Comes Next — Growing Your English Skills

The phrases you learned today are your starting point. As you learn more English, you will use the same basic structure — say hello, share information, say goodbye — but with more words and in more situations. The table below shows how these skills grow as you improve.

How Your Greeting Skills Will Grow

Skill	Beginner (This Lesson)	Intermediate	Advanced
Greeting	Fixed phrases: 'Hi,' 'Hello,' 'Good morning'	More variety: 'Long time no see!' / 'Fancy running into you!'	Natural and flexible: humor, shared references, adjusting style quickly
Self-Introduction	Name + where you are from + job or school	Short introduction: name + job + a little about your experience	Strong self-presentation for different situations and audiences
Information Exchange	Safe topics: name, origin, job or school	Opinions, experiences, short stories	Complex discussions, debate, persuasion
Choosing the Right Words	Three levels: casual / neutral / formal	More options: professional, academic, social media, etc.	Moving between styles easily within one conversation
Closing	'Bye,' 'See you later,' 'Take care'	Signal before closing: 'Well, I should get going…'	Ending conversations smoothly and politely in any situation

The three parts of a greeting conversation — say hello, share information, say goodbye — always stay the same. As you learn more English, you will just have more ways to do each part. The phrases you practice today are the foundation. Every new word and phrase you learn will build on top of them.

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Practice Problems

Practice these five questions to check what you learned. The questions start easy and get a little harder. Do your best — there is no time limit.

PROBLEM 1 — BASIC

Your classmate says, 'Hey, how's it going?' Which answer is best? (A) 'I am doing very well, thank you. And how are you?' (B) 'Good, thanks! How about you?' (C) 'Not bad. My back has been hurting all week and I didn't sleep last night.'

PROBLEM 2 — BASIC APPLICATION

You are at a school job fair. You walk up to a person who works at a company. Write three sentences to introduce yourself. Include your name, your field of study, and your year in school. Use formal words.

PROBLEM 3 — INTERMEDIATE

Read this dialogue. Find two mistakes. Then write the dialogue correctly. A: 'Good evening, Professor Williams.' B: 'Hello! How are you?' A: 'I'm 22 years old and I'm from Korea.' B: '…'

PROBLEM 4 — APPLIED

You just moved into a new apartment with three roommates you do not know. One is from the United States, one is from the United Kingdom, and one is from Nigeria. Write your plan for the first meeting. Include: (a) what type of words you will use (casual, neutral, or formal) and why, (b) three things you will share about yourself, and (c) two questions you will ask them.

PROBLEM 5 — THINK ABOUT IT

Some teachers say: 'When you are not sure, use more formal words.' Do you think this is always good advice? When can being too formal cause a problem? When is this advice helpful? Write a short paragraph. Use at least two examples from this lesson.

SUMMARY

Lesson Summary

Every English greeting has three parts: say hello, share information, and say goodbye. Always answer a question and then ask it back. Choose casual, neutral, or formal words based on who you are talking to. When you are not sure, start with neutral words like 'Hi' and 'My name is...'

Good topics when you first meet someone: your name, where you are from, and your job or field of study. Do not ask about age or money. Most greeting mistakes happen when you use the right words in the wrong situation. Remember to smile, make eye contact, and use friendly body language — these help as much as the words you say.