#180: 20 Ways to Ask ‘How Are You’ in English [Expand Your Vocabulary]
Let’s talk about ‘How are you?”
If you see your neighbor outside watering her garden and she asks, “How are you?” she might not use those words. And, depending on what she says, your answer may change.
The same is true when you chat with colleagues at work.
In this Confident English lesson, you’ll learn 20 different ways Americans ask “how are you.” We’ll talk about what that they’re really asking and how you can best respond.
Plus, you’ll learn the pronunciation you’re likely to hear so you recognize it when you hear it. The truth is, Americans are not likely to say every word clearly.
Then, at the end, I’ll share how you can know when an American REALLY wants to know how you are. When do they want the full story?
12 Ways to Ask ‘How Are You’ in Casual English Conversation
👉 To get in-depth details on what each question is really ask and how to best respond, be sure to watch the video lesson.
- How’s it going?
- What’s up?
- What are you up to?*
- What have you been up to?*
- What’s going on?**
- What’s been going on?**
- How ya been?
- What’s new? / What’s new with you?
- Everything good?
- How’s things?
- How are you holding up?
- How are you feeling?
*These two questions are similar but because the grammar is different, the focus of the question changes. Be sure to watch the lesson on 20 Ways to Say ‘How Are You’ in English to learn how they are different.
**These two questions are similar but because the grammar is different, the focus of the question changes. Be sure to watch the lesson on 20 Ways to Say ‘How Are You’ in English to learn how they are different.
5 Ways to Ask ‘How Are You’ in Professional English Conversation
- How are you doing?
- How is ____ going? (work/studying/your project)
- How are things with ___? (your work/the new house)
- How have you been?
- What have you been working on?
3 Ways to Ask ‘How Are You’ When You Haven’t Seen Someone in a Long Time
- I haven’t seen you for ages! How have you been?
- It’s been way too long! What have you been up to since (I last saw you or we last spoke)?
- I remember/I hear that ______. How’s that going?
After you watch, I’d love to hear from you.
Do you have a favorite way to ask someone how they are doing in English? Is there another common way people ask this question where you live?
As always, you can share your comments and questions with me below.
~Annemarie
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I like the whats up!
Thank you so much for such an incredible video. I felt like I have got the answers to so many questions I didn’t even know and was confused about for so many years.
Wonderful! I’m glad it was helpful.
Hi Annemarie, thank you for your time! Give us useful English Lessons every time.
Thank you for teaching us how to say “how are you “ in authentic English in this class and how to say “how are you “ for a small talk.
I’m so glad to know this was helpful, Liping.
Thanks for your good lesson and useful.
Sorry Teacher, I am so busy that why I can not follow your lessons.
Thanks for your concerned.
God bless.
Hi Annemarie.Very thanks for useful lesson. Yur are good teacher.
Thanks, Nikolay!
Hi Annemarie mam,
Thanks for this lesson 😊
You are explaining very nicely, ” How are you? ” In different ways .
* “How are you feeling?” I can ask this question if someone is not well .
* “How are you holding up ?” I can ask this question if someone is in trouble.
Hi everyone.
Today I complete my two free video lesson and currently finished the last video published in the blog. I really appreciate your time Annemarie and congratulate you on what you did. I hope some time I will acquires your confident and fluency.
Thanks so much for the kind comment, Pablo. I’m glad you’ve been able to enjoy my lessons.
These lessons are very useful..thanks
You’re so welcome, Iva!!
This is another common way people ask how are you doing casually where I live:
Are you alright/okay?
Is everything alright?
How are you keeping?
Oh, thanks for sharing, Dudu! I’m glad to have more examples!
Hi Anne Marie,
Thank you for the English lessons, They are really useful.
You’re very welcome, Glendy. I’m glad it was helpful.
Hello.
Wonderful ways to ask about someone feelings. This has been a great lesson for me. Now I now many different ways to say How are you?. How`s it going ? is a very short question and informal too, it sound for me friendly. I will try to use all of them in my conversations.
Thank you so much.
Have a wonderful week.
Hi Angel, and thank you so much for your lovely comment! We’re thrilled to hear the lesson was helpful to you, and you’ve learned something new. We wish you continued success in your English efforts.
Hi tanya you always write on comment lovely . I ‘ve read your all comments . I appreciate your activity
Hi Angel! Awesome! I’m glad you’ve got some new ways to ask about how others are feeling!
I ‘d been learning a lot with your lessons. Thanks a lot.
PS. I really also enjoy seeing the vides
Thank you for your comment, Lucia! We’re happy to know you’re enjoying Annemarie’s lessons, and they are useful to you.
Great! Thank you so much.
We’re thrilled you enjoyed the lesson!
hi Annmarie mam. l love so much your all this lessons, i really enjoy them your videos , your talking is excellent mam , your expressions and smile is so pretty mam.your way of talking is very good mam. thank u so much mam.
Hi Ratna. Thank you for your comment. We’re so glad to hear that Annemarie’s lessons are helpful to you. We wish you much continued success in your English!
Hi Annemarie, thank you so much for explaining in depth about this kind of greeting culture. When my neighbor greeted me with how’s it going, I was always stuck there and didn’t know how to reply in such a short time. You lesson is really a big help! Now I know I can simply ask back. Thank you!
Hi Kathy, I’m thrilled to hear this was helpful and exactly what you needed! I hope you’ll tell me how your next conversation with your neighbor goes!! 🥰
I love this lesson. It is useful for my conversations at work. Thanks Annermarie.
I’m so glad to hear that, Kieu Oanh!
Hi Annemarie! I love all your lessons. I think they are so easy to understand and I really enjoy them.
Thank you.
Thanks so much, Andrea. I’m glad to hear that!