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Hey! How are ya, Latonya?

Pretty good! And you?

I’m okeydokey!

That’s one way that we exchange greetings in English. 

How many ways do you think people say “hello” in English?

According to Berlitz – a language learning organization: 107 !

Today let’s talk about some of the common and some of the interesting ways we greet each other in English and how we can respond to those greetings. What do you think?

Let’s start with some of the most common formal ways to greet someone.

These are the totally safe greetings. You can use them with anybody – your boss and your best friend:

“Time of the day” greetings are always very polite.

Good morning/ afternoon/ evening.

Saying  “Hello” of course is always safe and polite too. 

You can respond with the same greeting, and add “to you too”

Good evening!

Good evening to you too! or “Same to you.”

Now let’s talk about some informal ways to greet someone.

You would not usually greet your doctor or your boss with these greetings.

“Hi!”  and “Hey!” are the most common. You can respond with the same greeting, or you can say “What’s new? “ or “What’s up?” 

Sometimes “What’s up?” will sound like “Wussup”

If someone greets you with “What’s up?” or “Wassup?”, you can say “Nothin’ much.  How about you?” 

 “How about you?’ can sound like “How ‘bout you”?

People can also greet each other by saying “How’s it going” or “How’s it goin’?”

Some responses can be “It’s going OK” or  “(I) can’t complain.”

Instead of responding with “OK”, you can say “Okeydokey”

Yes “Okeydokey” can be used informally instead of “OK” any time you want to agree. 

“Let’s go for a walk.”

 “Okeydokey!”

If someone says ‘How’s it goin’? and it isn’t a great day for you, you can say “I’ve had better days.”

An interesting informal greeting is “Howdy!”  

“Howdy” is what you often hear cowboys saying in western movies.

“Howdy pardner! (partner)”

You will hear people greeting each other saying “howdy” even if they aren’t a cowboy – or should we say “cow person”?

Another greeting you will hear that may sound a little strange is “What’s up, buttercup?”

“Buttercup”? 

Well, a buttercup is a little yellow flower. We sometimes us “buttercup” as a term of endearment – like “sweetie” or “dear”. “You’re my little buttercup!”

We can greet someone with ”What’s up, buttercup?” just to be fun or playful.

So, we can greet someone with “What’s up buttercup ?” even if they aren’t your sweetie? 

Correct, but you should be pretty friendly with them.  They can respond with  “Nothin, much.” Or “Doing fine!”

How about “Doing fine, Clementine.” 

Well, that’s fun! Clementine is a sort of old-fashioned woman’s name.

“old fashioned’?

Something that is old-fashioned is something from the past that is no longer popular. 

Listen for some of these greetings in our short conversations as we greet each other.

 Good morning! Same to you!

What’s up, Latonya?  Nothin much. How about you?

What’s goin’ on? Not much. And you?

Howdy! Hey! 

How’s it goin', Latonya?  Okeydokey. How about you?

It’s goin’ OK. Thanks for asking.

 Hey _________, wussup? Nothin’. You?  Can’t complain.

 What’s up buttercup? I’m doing fine, Clementine.

How are you, today, dear listener?  We hope you’re okeydokey!

Tacomaliteracy.org