proper reply to American greetings.....?

Question

there r several differnt greetings
like:

How r u
how do u do
how is it going
how ' u doing
whats up (dudeeee!)
and others maybe

r they all the same
if different can u please explain the main(core) difference in its definition each
and proper reply as well

I am new to the States, and sometimes people ask differnt ways.. I kinda get little confused ..

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I ask about this because I dont wanna sound stupid.. sometimes when ppl ask, I just say: I am fine.. , u.? I dont even know if it is the proper reply
I have been living in the States for 8 months and havent get the clear sense of it

Answer 1

"How do you do?" is a more formal greeting than the others although it is still informal. You would use it in a situation where you did not know a person or did not know them very well, but wanted to greet them in a casual manner. In a formal situation, you would ask "How are you doing today?"

An appropriate response would be "I'm doing ___, and yourself?".

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"How is it going?", "How you doing?", "How's it going?" are all informal methods of greeting between friends and acquaintances.

Typical responses would include "not bad", "can't complain", "alright", "best day of my life" and many others. You should follow this with a "you?", "and you?" or "and yourself?"

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"What's up (duuuude)!" is an informal greeting which is typically a sign that the speaker is very happy.

Acceptable responses are the same as the previous examples, except you would not ask how they are doing since it is apparent. An appropriate follow-up would be "What's going on with you?". Just make sure you say it in a positive intonation.

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Bear in mind that intonation is everything when greeting or being greeted by an American. You have probably noticed that Americans tend to be sarcastic. You can usually tell when a person is unhappy so tailor the responses accordingly.

If a person greets you in a way that seems condescending or hostile it's appropriate to just ignore them. If they appear to be unhappy, then it's appropriate to ask them "Is something wrong?"

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On a side note, welcome to the US. Hope you have fun while you are here.

Answer 2

You can continue to say "I am fine". All of those greetings mean the same thing really, some are just a little more or less formal. They all are asking about your present state of being. How you're feeling or what's going on with you. examples:

How r u?
I'm good
Formal/Informal

How do you do?
Just fine, and yourself?
Formal
With this answer, you answer the question and politely asking the person the same.

How's it going?
Not so good I'm a little tired.
Informal
You answer the question by telling the person how you feel.

How u doin?
Fine.
Informal
Doesn't really require much of a response

What's up dude?
Nothing much.
Informal
Doesn't really require much of a response.

Also watch out for tone and body language. The tone of voice a person uses to ask you any of these questions can give away what answer they may be looking for. Body language such as pointing or gesticulating in some way can reveal what they are looking for as well.

Hope this helps!!

Answer 3

if they ask you how do you do? Just reply I am fine thank you and yourself? Implying you are asking how they are doing. Thi sis just a polite phrase used to gret new people most people dont want a real explanation of how you are doing just a general I'm doing fiine is appropiate there. What's up Dudeeee is informal and probably one you would hear amongst friends. Proper reply since you are new to the country would just be a general how are you doing that day or what you are doing. Example reply: (Just relaxing with friends this weekend)

Answer 4

How are you? I am fine, and you?
How do you do? Fine, thank you. And, you?
How is it going? It's going well. How about you?
How you doing? (see How are you?)
What's up dude? I am doing great. Thanks for asking.

Mostly, they are the same. These are just sayings some Americans say to be polite. It's considered the right thing to do -- asking someone how he/she is doing. Just a way to be friendly.

It does get confusing. And, it can vary depending upon which part of the country the greeting comes from. Mostly, the answer is the same- I'm fine. Thank you for asking. Have a nice day!

Answer 5

First off ignore the idiots who use obscene language
Your answer I am fine works for almost any kind of qustion concernig a greeting that asks How
How r u
how do u do
how is it going
how ' u doing
whats up (dudeeee!).....( this one)... nothing much whats up with you
and others maybe


Saying I am doing good or doing fine OR I am great how r u

If as you say you are new to this country Please forgive and forget some of the rude and crude answers you have recivied. I appreciate any LEGAL (I hope you are) immagraint who tries to learn our lanague and cluture.
GOOD LUCK

Answer 6

they're much the same in any language..they are just greetings..how are u doing...means how are you..proper reply would be fine, how about you
how do u do is a little more formal...a more polite reply..I'm fine thank you and you?
how is it going...how you doing...whats up.. about the same as how r u ? just another form of saying hello....
the asker isn't really enquiring too much about you...like when we say 'how are you?' the reponse is normally 'fine. And you'...whether or not you are really doing well is not what the asker means...he/she certainly doesn't want a dissertation on your last wisdom tooth extraction.
these expressions are all 'ice breakers" that get a conversation flowing.

Answer 7

As far as I know, there are no specific rules for this kind of thing- North Americans are pretty relaxed in this respect. I think a polite, "I'm doing well today, thankyou," is perfectly acceptable- and a lot better than most people do. Good for you for being concerned about first impressions!

Answer 8

How are you, how you doing, and how do you do are asking how you are feeeling. you say however you feel, like "i'm good, how are you?" or "fine, thanks, and you?" or "i'm okay.." (you say the last if you arent really doing too well, but it's impolite to say how you actually are. you wouldnt say "i'm bad".

how are you and how do you do are the most formal.

how's it going and whats up are more informal, between people the same age.

to how's it going you would probably say "good, you?" or "it's goood" or "its fine"

for what's up the most common thing to say back is "nothing" or "not much, you?"

most of them mean the same thing though...basically you just answer the question being asked. other than "what's up" they are all literal.

Answer 9

Always answer, "What's up", with "Nothing much". . .even if you're bleeding to death.

Everything else you can just answer with "Fine, thanks".

In fact, unless you REALLY know somebody, those are the ONLY answers that are safe to give.

And I've been a foreigner before, and I know what you're going through, and I'm not leading you wrong.

Answer 10

For the most part they all mean the same. "Hello" and "How are you doing" are more proper. "Whats Up" and and "How's it going" are more casual. They can be considered slang. "How u doing" is a slang version of "How are you doing."

To reply to these statements except "hello" you could say "fine," "good," or "I am doing well." To respond to "Hello" you would just repeat any of the phrases mentioned in the first paragraph.