Learn English – Phrases instead of “How are you?”

phrase-usagephrases

The teachers at school teach us these phrases that we can use instead of "How are you?" which of them are natural English and commonly used and which are uncommon?

I know surely that "How do you do?" is just a very formal "Hello!" but somehow our teachers not know of this!

Also "What's up?" and "What is up?" are synonyms, the latter, I think, is rare and uncommon.

I also think that "Wazap?" and "Wassup?" are too informal and mostly black people use them.

P.s. I'm not in school.

Best Answer

Informal, common

What's new?

What's up?

What's happening?

How are you getting along? (not standard but not uncommon)

How goes it?

How's life?

How are things?

How's it going?

Neither formal nor informal, common

How are you?

How are you doing?

Formal, common

How do you do? (very formal)

I have never heard anyone say in greeting:

What gives?*

Wazap?

What's the rumpus?

How wags the world?

How is the world using you?

How fares it?

How's by you?

  • What gives? - This is a question you ask someone when you want them to explain something. "The microwave is disgusting, what gives?" "This mail you handed me is already open, what gives?"
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