Most common Business English greetings
Greetings set the tone for workplace interactions, whether in person, over email, or on a call. The right phrase can make you sound polished, approachable, or collaborative—depending on the situation. Below are the most common professional greetings, their differences, and real-life examples.

1. Formal Greetings (Clients, Executives, First-Time Meetings)
When to use: With senior leaders, clients, or people you don’t know well.
- "Good morning/afternoon/evening, [Title + Last Name]."
Why? Shows respect and professionalism. Best for emails and in-person meetings.
- "It’s a pleasure to meet you."
Why? Ideal for networking events or introductions.
- "How do you do?" (Very formal, mostly in British English or high-level corporate settings.)
- "Greetings. " (Formal and “fancy”, a bit old-fashioned. Often used in public speeches or when addressing multiple individuals)
2. Semi-Formal Greetings (Colleagues, Regular Work Interactions)
When to use: With coworkers you know but aren’t extremely close to.
- "Hi [First Name], how are you?"
Why? Friendly but still professional. Common in offices.
- "Good to see you!"
Why? Warmer than "Hi" but still work-appropriate.
- "Hope you’re doing well!" (Email/Teams opener)
3. Casual Greetings (Team Members, Close Coworkers)
When to use: With teammates you interact with daily.
- "Hey [Name]! What’s up?"
Why? Relaxed but still professional enough for most workplaces.
- "Morning! How’s it going?"
Why? Common in startups and creative fields.
- "Yo [Name], quick question—" (Very informal, best for Slack/chat.)
4. Email-Specific Greetings
When to use: Depends on formality and recipient.
Very Formal
"Dear [Title + Last Name],"
"Dear Professor Chen,"
Clients, academia, legal
Standard Professional:
"Hi [First Name],"
"Hi Daniel,"
Most work emails
Friendly Professional
"Hello [Team/Name],"
"Hello Marketing Team,"
Group emails
Casual/Internal
"Hey [Name],"
"Hey Priya,"
Close coworkers
5. Virtual Meeting Greetings (Zoom/Teams Calls)
- "Thanks for joining, everyone!" (Group calls)
- "Hi [Name], can you hear me okay?" (One-on-ones)
- "Sorry I’m late—technical issues!" (If delayed)
*Note that you don't need to say "Hi / Hello / ..." in these cases.
Final Tip:
- When in doubt, match the other person’s tone. If they say "Hey!", you can too. If they say "Good morning, Mr. Lee," keep it formal.
- Culture matters: Some industries (law, finance) prefer formality, while tech and startups are more relaxed.
Match your greeting to the setting—more formal for clients, relaxed for teammates. A warm, professional tone builds rapport!