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]."

Example: "Good morning, Mr. Patel. Thank you for joining us today."
Why? Shows respect and professionalism. Best for emails and in-person meetings.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you."

Example: "It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Lee. I’ve heard great things about your work."
Why? Ideal for networking events or introductions.

"How do you do?" (Very formal, mostly in British English or high-level corporate settings.)

Example: "How do you do, Madam Chairperson?"

"Greetings. " (Formal and “fancy”, a bit old-fashioned. Often used in public speeches or when addressing multiple individuals)

Example: "Greetings to all our shareholders and partners, …"

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?"

Example: "Hi Maria, how are you? Ready for the 3 PM meeting?"
Why? Friendly but still professional. Common in offices.

"Good to see you!"

Example: "Good to see you, James! How was your weekend?"
Why? Warmer than "Hi" but still work-appropriate.

"Hope you’re doing well!" (Email/Teams opener)

Example: "Hi Alex, hope you’re doing well! Just checking in on the project timeline."

3. Casual Greetings (Team Members, Close Coworkers)

When to use: With teammates you interact with daily.

"Hey [Name]! What’s up?"

Example: "Hey Sam! What’s up? Got a sec to review these slides?"
Why? Relaxed but still professional enough for most workplaces.

"Morning! How’s it going?"

Example: "Morning! How’s it going? Need help with the report?"
Why? Common in startups and creative fields.

"Yo [Name], quick question—" (Very informal, best for Slack/chat.)

Example: "Yo Dev, quick question—did the bug fix deploy?"

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!