I am south african and i always get caught out. when someone british says to me 'you awright?' i assume

Question

that they are asking how i am so i say fine and you and they walk away! what am i supposed to say?

Answer 1

That is the correct answer but if you want to make a joke out of it like my bf does you could always say "No, I'm still black" :)

Don't take it to heart that they walk away, it doesn't necessarily mean they want to strike up a conversation, it just mean they are being polite,

Answer 2

I'm not surprised you feel that you're 'missing' something!

Awright is just a slang term. It has a cross-over meaning that varies from "hello" to "how are you?" but it usually means a bit of both!

As someone else pointed out, the English speaking person's use of the term "how are you?" is pretty meaningless. I was instructed as a child that when someone says "how are you?" you are NOT supposed to actually tell them! My mum told me that these people are just 'being polite' by asking that - but I personally think it's particularly rude to PRETEND to be interested in someone's health and well-being!

Anyway, when someone says to you "Awright?" you could say something like "Awright, you awright?" or you could just say "Hi!" - it's just a greeting, so anything like that is acceptable!

Don't be upset when people just walk away afterwards though. Casual greetings like that are often used in passing (as you walk past someone you know, you say "hi" or "awright" or "See ya later mate"!) So it doesn't necessarily mean that you've done anything wrong!

If you WANT these people to talk to you more, start a conversation! They say "Awright?" and you say something like "Awright, how're you doing? Did you see XXXXXX on TV last night?" Something that can start a conversation...! ANYTHING!

Answer 3

The phrase 'awright' meaning 'all right' is, basically, a colloquialism or dialectal expression used as a greeting. The correct response to someone saying 'You awright?' would be 'Yeah. I'm awright. You awright?'

'All right' is an expression meaning 'OK' or 'are you fine?'

Answer 4

That also happened to me when I came to the US. Everyone would say "Hey!!! How are you?!!" and I'd answer "I'm good, how about you?" and they would just say "good!" and then walk away.
My first wondering was why the heck do they ask how I am if they don't care? Well, I still don't know. Anyways, I already got used to that. If that happens to you again just say good and keep walking unless the other person actually seems to be stopping the start a conversation.

Answer 5

They are just being polite. They are acknowledging your presence. So, you are actually giving the correct answer.

We do the same in France. Except usually, the person who asked you the question first would reply to your "question" "I'm alright".

That always struck me as weird in the US, as people (young ones, at least) ask: "Hey, what's up?!", and I didn't know what to say at first. They aren't actually asking you what you've been up to. It's just a way to say "Hi!"

Answer 6

Im a Brit but grew up abroad and this always used to stump me too!
In the south you just answer 'alright?' back, especially if just in passing. I also lived in Sheffield where people said 'y'alright?', and people replied 'yerayew' - also known as 'yeah, are you?' :)
Try getting in there first and see how they reply - 'Alright John?', and see what they say. I'm guessing they'll say 'Alright ___(your name!)'.

Answer 7

There's nothing wrong with your understanding of the question or your reply, maybe they don't like your accent? Whereabouts in ZA you from? I used to live in Germiston.

Answer 8

Just reply " yea im awright, you awright, awright !!!

Answer 9

nah u answerd right oh and by the way u should not assume as it makes an *** of u and me lol

Answer 10

Yes I am allright. Who cares speak in your own way. They are not roaylty, well they used to be.