Learn English – Asking whether someone has eaten, as a greeting

expressionsgreetings

In our culture we generally ask people to know that whether they have eaten or not. There is no intention to offer food to them it's just as casual as saying hello to begin the conversation. Example we ask "did you have your food? If they had it, they say Yes I had, I just finished my lunch etc. What are the expressions that native speakers use to know that some one has eaten his or her breakfast, lunch or supper?

Best Answer

I expect this kind of greeting is a cultural artifact. In most of the English-speaking world, we ask how you are, not whether you have eaten.

Americans (and, I assume, the British and other English-speaking nationalities) do not casually ask if someone has eaten, as it is normally considered an invitation, and usually includes some offer of food or drink. For example, suppose John has come to visit Alan, who he doesn't know very well. Alan wants to seem hospitable, so he offers John some food:

Alan: Hello John, please come in. It's good of you to drop by. Are you hungry? We can order up a pizza ...?

John: No, no thank you. I just had lunch, but I appreciate the offer.

Alan: Something to drink then? Soda? Beer? Wine?

John: Thanks, I'll take a beer if you're having one.

Side note: In a similar way to the way your culture asks "Have you eaten", in the English-speaking world "How are you?" is rarely an invitation to talk about your actual condition. It's just a polite salutation. The expected response is, "I'm good, how are you?" even if you are not well.