Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Formally greeting
• Method 2 of 3: An informal greeting
• Method 3 of 3: Use Body Language
• Tips
• Warnings

Whether you're meeting someone for the first time or want to strike up a conversation with someone you know, a greeting can help set the tone. If you are meeting a person or are in a professional setting, be sure to stick to formal greetings to make your words sound more polite and inviting. If you know the person well, you can greet them more naturally. In addition to verbal greeting, demonstrate friendly body language to make the other person feel comfortable.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Formally greeting

1. 1 For a short, quick greeting, say:"Hello" - and tell the name of the interlocutor... If you do not know this person very well or if he is your boss, contact him by name and patronymic. In the case of a closer acquaintance, sometimes it is enough to say only the name. Greet the person in a polite and friendly tone to make them feel welcome.
   • For example, you can say: "Hello, Sergei Yuryevich," or "Hello, Olga."

   Option: To make your greeting sound more formal, always address a stranger by name and patronymic.

   
   
2. 2 Depending on the time of day, say:"Good morning / afternoon / evening"... If the meeting takes place before noon, use "good morning." Between noon and about 6:00 pm, use "good afternoon." If you are talking to the person after 6:00 pm, then it would be more appropriate to say: "Good evening."
   • For example: "Good morning, Lydia Sergeevna", - or: "Good afternoon, Svetlana."
   • In this case, you no longer need to add "hello", as it will sound redundant.
   • Avoid using the “good night” option, as this is how people usually say goodbye.
3. 3 If you are not familiar with the person, introduce yourself after greeting. After using a familiar or appropriate greeting, tell the other person your full name. Speak clearly so that he can hear your name and avoid embarrassment.
   • For example: “Hello, my name is Dmitry Nikolaevich”, - or: “Good evening, Igor Alexandrovich. My name is Irina Olegovna. "
   • If you are meeting with your boss, you can mention your job title. For example: "Hello, I am Denis Vasiliev, one of the sellers."
4. 4 Add:"Nice to meet you" - if you have not met the interlocutor before... After greeting the person and introducing yourself, be kind and tell them that you are happy to meet them. To appear sincere, smile and make eye contact, and maintain a polite and professional tone.
   • For example, you can say: “Good afternoon, Ilya Sergeevich. My name is Igor. It's a pleasure to meet you. "
   • If you want your words to sound more formal or professional, use the phrase: "Nice to meet you."
   • In the case of communication with a familiar person, you can say: "It's nice to see you again."
   • If the person doesn’t give his name, or if someone else doesn’t introduce him, you can say, “Sorry, I didn’t hear your name. Could you repeat it for me? "
5. 5 If you want to continue the conversation, ask:"How are you doing?" If the person seems comfortable with the conversation, check out how their day is going. Perhaps he will answer briefly and move on to another topic, or continue small talk. Be sure to answer all of his questions or comments so that the conversation does not flow in a one-way direction.
   • In a formal conversation, you can also use the phrase "How are you?"
   • If you are greeting someone in a business setting, you might say something like, "How can I help you?"

Method 2 of 3: An informal greeting

1. 1 Use “hello” or “great” as a short greeting. When communicating with a stranger, use "hello", as this is a little more formal. Only use “cool” when greeting a close friend.After the greeting, go straight to your normal conversation so you have more time to chat. If you don't have time for a full conversation, just say hello so you don't sound ill-mannered or so the person doesn't think you are ignoring them.
   • For example: "Hello, Sasha!" - or: "Great, Kolyan."
   • You can also use the expression "Che how?", But it may sound more strange or jargon.
2. 2 Try saying "hey" to close friends as a very informal greeting. You can throw it briefly or stretch the sound to make an impression. Try saying "hey" and then mentioning the person's name to get their attention if you want them to listen to you.
   • For example: “Hey, Dasha! Come here, check it out! "
   • If you are very familiar with the person, you can replace their name with a dude, buddy, or girly address.

   Option: do not say "hey" to parents, teachers or any professional as this may sound disrespectful.

   
   
3. 3 If it has been a long time since the last meeting, say:"Long time no see"... Add this phrase at the end of your greeting to let the person know that you are happy to see them again. Mention how much time has passed since your last meeting so you can catch up on the conversation.
   • For example: “Great, dude, we haven't seen each other for a long time! Several months have passed. "
   • More options: "How much water has flowed under the bridge", "I have not seen you for ages", "Where have you been all this time?"
4. 4 To continue the conversation, ask:"How are you?" - or: "How are you?" If you have time to catch up or talk to this person, ask how they are doing. Perhaps he will answer that everything is the same, or he will share the details. If he wants to continue the conversation, he will most likely ask the same question to you. Listen actively to give a thoughtful answer.
   • For example, a full greeting might sound like this: “Hello Timur! Long time no see. How are you?"
   • You can also use phrases with a similar meaning: "What's new?" or "How are you?"

Method 3 of 3: Use Body Language

1. 1 Make eye contact and smile at the person you are greeting. Try to make eye contact as soon as you meet or get to know the other person to make it easier for you to connect with them. After meeting his gaze, wait a few seconds, and then smile to seem more sincere. Maintain maximum eye contact throughout the conversation to stay engaged and not distracted.
   • In some cultures, eye contact is considered rude. Be sure to study local customs to know the basic rules of courtesy. In most European cultures, maintaining eye contact is not only normal but also the preferred behavior.
2. 2 Shake your hand firmly as you greet. When greeting or meeting a person, extend your right hand so that he can shake it. Grasp his arm tightly, but not so tightly that it hurts or discomforts him. Shake his hand up and down for about 2-3 seconds, and then release.
   • In some cultures, shaking hands may be an unacceptable form of greeting, so check your local rules before using this option.

   Advice: do not reach out with your left hand, as most people have the right hand as their predominant hand and it may be uncomfortable for them to say hello with their left.

   
   
3. 3 Wave the person to greet him from a distance. Raise your palm over your head and wave it from side to side to say hello to someone. You can also quickly clench your wrist into a fist and open your palm again. If you need to grab someone's attention from a distance or show that you are happy to meet, try raising your entire arm high above your head, not just your palm.
   • This option is great for greeting someone if you don't have time to talk or if you are just passing by.
4. 4 Hit your fists in a casual gesture. Make a fist and reach out to the other person. Hit the front of the other person's fist lightly with your fist, and then lower your hand. Be careful not to hit his arm too hard, or you may hurt him.
   • Punching is more hygienic than handshaking because germs are often transmitted through the palms of the hands.
5. 5 Hug the person if you know them well. When approaching him, spread your arms to the sides to check if he does the same. If he also wants to hug you, wrap your arms around him and hug him. After a few seconds, release it and take one or two steps back to start a conversation.
   • Don't hold the person in your hug for too long to avoid embarrassment or discomfort.
   • Don't try to hug the person if you find it embarrassing.

Tips

• At first, greet unfamiliar people in a formal way and switch to informal ones when you get a little familiar with the conversation.

Warnings

• Do not try to forcefully hug or greet someone if they feel uncomfortable.
• Greetings vary by country and culture. What may be acceptable in one place may be frowned upon in another. Always research local customs to learn the basic rules of courtesy in your country of residence.