25+ Ways To Say Hello In English: The Ultimate 2025 Guide To Formal, Slang, And Viral Greetings

Learning how to say hello in English is far more complex than a simple "Hello" or "Hi." In the ever-evolving landscape of modern communication, especially as of late 2025, the perfect greeting depends entirely on the context—whether you are drafting a professional email, catching up with a friend, or trying to understand the latest Gen Z slang on social media. Mastering these variations is the key to achieving fluency, showing social etiquette, and building rapport with native speakers across different English-speaking countries.

The right opening phrase sets the tone for the entire conversation. This comprehensive guide breaks down the most current and essential English greetings, ensuring you always make the best first impression, from the boardroom to a casual text message. We cover everything from timeless formal phrases to the newest, most viral ways to start a dialogue.

The Essential Professional and Formal Greetings (2025 Context)

In a professional context, clarity and respect are paramount. Your choice of greeting in a business email or a first-time meeting should reflect a high degree of professionalism. Avoid overly casual phrases like "Hey" or "Wassup" in these settings.

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Formal Email and Written Communications

In 2025, the trend in professional email greetings balances formality with a touch of warmth. The goal is to be respectful without sounding archaic.

• Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name]: The gold standard for initial contact, especially in business introductions or when addressing a superior. This is a classic, universally accepted formal greeting.
• Good morning/afternoon/evening [Name]: A time-sensitive, highly polite alternative to "Dear." It works well for internal communication or when the professional relationship is slightly established.
• Hello [Name]: Increasingly common, this bridges the gap between strictly formal and overly informal. It’s perfect for a professional context where a relaxed tone is acceptable.
• Thank you for getting back to me: This is a sophisticated and professional way to start an email reply, immediately acknowledging the recipient’s quick response and effort.
• Salutations: While less common, this is a very formal and somewhat old-fashioned choice, occasionally used in highly academic or traditional written correspondence.

Formal In-Person and Telephone Greetings

• How do you do? This is a traditional, very formal British English greeting. Crucially, it is not a literal question; the expected response is usually also "How do you do?" or "Very well, thank you."
• Nice to meet you: A simple, polite, and universally appropriate phrase to greet someone you are meeting for the first time.
• It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance: A highly formal phrase reserved for very important occasions or dignitaries, indicating a deep respect for the individual.

The Most Common and Universal Informal Greetings

For friends, family, colleagues, and casual social settings, these informal greetings are the backbone of everyday English conversation starters. They are the most common English phrases you will hear and use.

• Hi: The most universal greeting. It is short, friendly, and appropriate for almost any informal situation, from a text message to walking past a neighbor.
• Hey: Slightly more casual than "Hi," often used among younger people or when addressing someone you know well.
• How are you? / How are you doing?: The classic follow-up question. Note that in many contexts, the speaker doesn't expect a detailed answer, and "Good, thanks, and you?" is the standard reply.
• What’s up? / What’s new?: A very common American English greeting. It’s a casual way to ask "How are things?" The typical response is "Not much," "Nothing," or "Just chilling."
• How have you been?: Used when catching up with someone you haven't seen in a while, implying a desire for a brief update on their life.

Regional Dialect and Unique Slang Greetings

To truly sound like a native speaker and demonstrate topical authority, you must understand regional dialect variations. These phrases are conversational gold, but use them only when you are sure of the context.

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British English (UK)

• Alright? / Alright, mate?: This is the quintessential, all-purpose British greeting. It means "Hello, how are you?" and the expected response is usually "Yeah, alright, thanks," or simply "Alright."
• How do you do?: (See Formal section, but can be used in a slightly less formal context by older generations).
• Morning!: A very common, shortened, and informal version of "Good morning."

Australian and New Zealand English (AUS/NZ)

• G’day (mate): Short for "Good day," this is the iconic Australian greeting. It is informal and friendly.
• How ya goin’?: The common Australian equivalent of "How are you?" or "What's up?" It is generally used as a simple greeting, not a detailed inquiry.
• Kia Ora: While not English, this is the Maori greeting and is widely used in New Zealand, often alongside English, to show respect for the indigenous language.

American English (Regional)

• Howdy: A contraction of "How do you do?" that is still used primarily in the Southern and Southwestern United States. It is a very informal, regional greeting.
• Yo: A very informal greeting, popular in certain urban areas and among younger generations, though its usage has decreased in 2025.

The New Digital and Gen Z Slang Greetings (2025 Update)

The latest information from 2025 suggests that Gen Z (Generation Z) is not inventing many new *direct* greetings to replace "Hi" or "Hey." Instead, their unique language focuses on new LSI keywords, conversation starters, and reaction phrases used in digital communication, especially on social media platforms like TikTok.

Greetings That Aren’t Really Greetings

These phrases are less about saying "Hello" and more about initiating a fun, engaging, or ironic conversation. They are best used in text messages or with people you know extremely well.

• Wassup, my G?: A very informal, friendly greeting, "G" being short for "gangster" or "guy/girl."
• Greetings from the mortal plane: A humorous, often ironic greeting popularized in online communities, perfect for breaking the ice with a joke.
• What is good?: A modern, very casual alternative to "What's up?"

The New Conversation Starters and Reaction Slang

While not direct greetings, these terms are essential for understanding and participating in modern digital conversations after the initial "Hi."

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• It's giving [vibe/energy]: Used to describe the feeling or aesthetic of something. For example, "Hi! Your outfit? It's giving main character energy!"
• You have rizz: "Rizz" is short for charisma. A non-greeting conversation starter could be, "Hey, your opening line on that post had serious rizz."
• Slay: A term of strong approval. While often used as a reaction, it can be a warm, encouraging greeting: "Slay! How are you today?"
• Menty B: Shorthand for "mental breakdown." This is a very casual, often self-deprecating term used in text messages: "Hey, how are you? I'm having a Menty B over this project."

Mastering the Art of the English Greeting

The key to mastering how to say hello in English is understanding the relationship between the speaker and the listener, and the professional context or social setting. Choosing the right greeting is a crucial part of social etiquette and demonstrates your understanding of the language's nuances.

For beginners, stick to the universal greetings: "Hi" for informal situations and "Good morning/afternoon" or "Dear [Name]" for formal ones. As your confidence grows, start experimenting with regional dialect phrases like "Alright?" or "How ya goin'?" and integrate modern conversation starters from Gen Z slang to show you are up-to-date with current language trends. Remember that a simple "Hello" is a universal greeting, but a well-chosen alternative is what elevates your English proficiency.