#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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