20+ Ways to Say Hello and Goodbye in English (Formal & Informal)

Welcome to Hello English! Whether you’re meeting someone for the first time, texting a friend, or ending a work call, knowing how to say hello and goodbye in English is essential.

In this lesson, you’ll learn 20+ natural phrases formal and informal categories. Perfect for students, travelers, and everyday conversations!

Ways to Say Hello in English

Formal Greetings

• Hello. (Neutral and professional)
• Good morning / Good afternoon / Good evening. (Time-specific and polite)
• It’s a pleasure to meet you. (Great for first meetings)
• How do you do? (Very formal—common in the UK)

Informal Greetings

• Hi! (Friendly and universal)
• Hey! (Casual—use with friends)
• What’s up? (Very informal—means “How are you?”)
• How’s it going? (Relaxed and common)
• Yo! (Very casual—mostly among young people)

Ways to Say Goodbye in English

Formal Farewells

• Goodbye. (Classic and polite)
• Have a nice day. (Warm and professional)
• It was a pleasure speaking with you. (Great for calls or meetings)
• I look forward to our next meeting. (Business context)

Informal Goodbyes

• Bye! (Simple and friendly)
• See you later! (Casual and optimistic)
• Take care! (Warm and caring)
• Catch you later! (Very informal)
• Peace! or Later! (Slang—use with close friends)

Example Conversations

Formal:
Person A: Good morning, Ms. Lee.
Person B: Good morning! It’s a pleasure to meet you.
Person A: Likewise. Have a wonderful day.
Person B: Thank you—you too!

Informal:
Person A: Hey! What’s up?
Person B: Not much! How’s it going?
Person A: All good. Catch you later!
Person B: Bye! Take care!

Practice Tip

Try writing two short dialogues: 1. A formal conversation (e.g., job interview) 2. An informal chat (e.g., with a friend) Use at least 3 greetings and 2 goodbyes from this list!

Now you’re ready to start and end conversations in English with confidence! Bookmark this guide—or try our interactive quiz to test your knowledge.

Happy learning! 👋