English greetings and introductions are among the first things we learn when we start speaking the language. These are phrases we use every day – at school, at work, when dating and even online.
And although almost everyone knows hello, questions like:
What is the difference between hi and hello?
When we use nice to meet you?
How do we present ourselves naturally without sounding textbook?
Basic greetings in English
The most commonly used greetings are:
hello (neutral)
hi (more informal)
good morning
good afternoon – good day
good evening – good evening
👉 Important:
Good night not a greeting, but a way of saying “good night” when parting.
Example:
Good night! See you tomorrow. ✅
Informal greetings
When we talk to friends or people our own age, we often use:
hey – hey
what’s up – what’s going on?
how’s it going? – how is it going?
👉 These are not literal questions. Usually the expected answer is short:
Not much. / Pretty good. / All good.
How to ask “How are you?”
The most common options are:
How are you? – How are you? (neutral)
How are you doing? – How are you? (more conversational)
How have you been? – How have you been lately?
Typical responses:
I’m fine, thanks.
I’m good.
Not bad.
Pretty tired, actually.
👉 Important:
This is often part of the greeting, not a deep conversation about life.
How we present ourselves in English
The simplest model is:
I’m + name
I’m Maria.
I’m Ivan.
More formally:
My name is Maria.
How to ask someone’s name
What’s your name? – What’s your name?
May I have your name? – More official
Useful dating phrases
Nice to meet you. – Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you too. – I like it too.
This is Anna. – This is Anna. (when introducing someone)
Let me introduce you to John. – Allow me to introduce you to John.
A short sample dialogue
Hello! I’m Alex.
Hi, Alex. I’m Maria. Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you too. How are you?
I’m good, thanks. And you?
Short, natural and quite enough for a first date.
What to remember
hello is neutral, hi is friendlier
good night is for saying goodbye, not for greeting
I’m + name is the most natural way to introduce yourself
How are you? it’s often just a politeness, not a real question
do not translate literally from Bulgarian – use ready-made phrases
Tip: Try practicing these phrases in short dialogues out loud. Greetings and introductions are automatic in real conversation—the more you repeat them, the more natural you’ll sound.
More topics for beginners
In the blog of English Motivator you will find other clear explanations of English vocabulary for beginners.