British Greetings: How to Say Hello in England

Navigating English Greetings

English greetings vary by time, familiarity, region, and class. Here's a practical guide.

Time-Based Standards

• Morning (until ~12 PM): "Good morning" / "Morning"
• Afternoon (~12-6 PM): "Good afternoon" / "Afternoon"
• Evening (~6 PM+): "Good evening" / "Evening"

Casual/Universal Options

• "Hello" - Safe anytime, any context
• "Hi" / "Hiya" - Informal, friends/colleagues
• "Alright?" - Very common Northern/working-class greeting (not a literal question)
• "How do you do?" - Formal, first meetings (traditional response: repeat phrase)

Social Nuances

Eye contact + smile expected. Handshake for formal/business first meetings. Kiss on cheek (one or two) among friends—varies by region/generation. Hug for close friends/family.

Regional Flavors

• London/South: "Alright?", "Hi there"
• North: "Eh up", "Now then", "Alright mate"
• West Country: "Alright my lover/beauty"
• Scotland: "Hiya", "How's it gaun?"

What to Avoid

Over-familiarity with strangers. "Hey" can sound American/aggressive. "Good day" is archaic/pretentious.