A2 Reading: Greetings | English Refresher

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How we say hello

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1Saying hello

Two people smiling and greeting each other with a friendly hello

When you meet someone, you say hello. A greeting is the first thing you say.

We use different greetings at different times of the day. In the morning, we say “Good morning.” In the afternoon, we say “Good afternoon.” In the evening, we say “Good evening.” With friends, we use easy words like “Hi” or “Hey.” The word “Hello” is friendly, and you can use it at any time.

When you meet someone new, you can say your name: “Hi, I’m Anna.” This is how you introduce yourself. The other person often says their name too. A smile makes every greeting warmer.

2“How are you?”

Two friends making small talk and asking how are you

After “hello,” people often ask “How are you?” This is a small, friendly question. It shows that you care about the other person.

You do not need a long answer. You can say “I’m fine, thanks. And you?” or “I’m good, thank you.” Then the other person answers too. This short and easy talk is called small talk, and it helps people feel comfortable.

Some greetings are formal and some are informal. With a teacher or a new adult, we use formal words like “Hello, how are you?” With close friends, we use informal words like “Hey! What’s up?” Both are correct — you only need to choose the right one for the person.

3Greetings around the world

Two people greeting each other with a handshake

People say hello in different ways in different countries. Many people shake hands. They hold the other person’s hand and move it up and down one or two times. A handshake is common at work and when you meet someone new.

In some places, people do other things. In Japan, many people bow — they bend the top of the body forward to say hello. In France and Italy, friends often give a light kiss on the cheek. In Thailand, people put their hands together and give a small bow. And everywhere, a simple wave of the hand works well, especially from far away.

Greetings are different, but the idea is the same: we want to be friendly and polite. A warm greeting is a nice start to every day.

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Your score0 / 7

1What is a greeting?

2What do we usually say in the morning?

3“Hi, I’m Anna” is a way to do what?

4“How are you?” needs a long answer.

5When do we use formal greetings?

6In Japan, how do many people say hello?

7Greetings are different around the world, but the main idea is the same. What is it?

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Key vocabulary

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Meeting and Greeting