How are you? Common British English greetings | Learn English with Cambridge

What’s up, Cambridgelings?

Today I’m going to be talking to you about a phrase

that you’ve definitely seen,

and heard,

and said lots and lots of times in your own classrooms.

The classic greeting: how are you?

Yes, of course, this phrase, it is really popular.

However, as I always tell my students,

there are lots of real-life alternatives.

So, I hit the mean streets of Cambridge to find out

what the people use.

Have a butchers at this.

Let’s see what they say.

Now, I’m here today with… Felix.

Felix and…?

Tom.

How would you say, how are you?

You all right?

And how would you say, how are you?

You all right?

Technically, this phrase is are you all right?

However, we drop the are in natural speech.

Also, the all is eaten by the you to form a you’ll sound.

You’ll… You all right?

You all right?

Jay.

Who’s from?

London.

How would you say, how are you?

How you doing?

How are you?

How you doing?

Again, here, poor old are is just left out.

Small pronunciation things to watch out for is the you

being reduced to a ya

and the G on doing almost not being pronounced.

Doing.

You doing.

How you doing?

With a young man whose name is?

Matthew.

How would you naturally say, how are you to a friend?

What’s up, dude.

How are you?

What’s up?

This phrase is particularly popular

amongst the younger generation.

The only real pronunciation issue to watch out for here is

that that T almost disappears and the S jumps to the up.

So, what’s up?

What’s up?

Please remember that

while some phrases are widely used,

some phrases are more popular in certain regions than others.

But these are just a mere three phrases.

I challenge you guys to tell me the phrases

that I haven’t covered.

Of course, it will help me with my teaching,

but more importantly,

help other views of this channel.

Remember, we’re all in this together,

so let’s give a brother a hand

and comment below with your phrases.

And that’s a wrap, Cambridgelings.

Honestly, many thanks for passing by,

I really appreciate it.

Don’t forget to like

and share me on all the social media you can find,

and I’ll see you in a jiffy for more language fun.