why do we say "Hello" when we answer phones?

Answer 1

I usually know who it is before I pick-up the phone....I only answer to my family and friends...the phone plays a song...and I like that...so I can be real nice and sweet...the rest of the callers get a cheerful "what"...

Answer 2

I agree with Molly M. you asked a really good question and I'm happy that most everyone is responding seriously.
So we all agree - "hello" is the customary polite greeting in answering the phone. BUT only in your home! At the work place, another set of etiquette applies. And that is whatever the company policy so dictates.
Going back to personal phones, with the prevalence of caller IDs nowadays, I'm more inclined to respond "Whatzzz up, Bugsy? Talk to me, man!"

Answer 3

Because it is a form of greeting. Do you not like to use it you can use several alternatives. Such as good afternoon, good evening, good morning, yes, your dime, or anything else you can think of.
Saying hello is just a polite way of saying hi to whoever calls. Of course that may change since so many places use automated machines to call for them. The use of hello may no longer be needed.

Answer 4

Because answering a phone with "Goodbye" just doesn't make any sense.

Seriously though, "Hello" is what you say when you greet someone. So when the telephone was invented, it was just like we were greeting people except now we couldn't see them.

Answer 5

Goood qestion
I say Hey when i pick up because hello seems proper to me. I hate proper. But hello has always been the traditonal thing. Since forever ago when our parents were kids :-D

Answer 6

I don't. You're calling me, and when you don't hear the ring anymore, why dn't you say something. Example:

Ring, Ring, Ring, -- I pick up and don't say anything. I wait for the other person to initiate the conversation.

Kind of when somebody goes to your front door, do you say hello, before or after you open the door, or wait for them to talk?

Answer 7

SO the person that called you knows when to stay talking.. :D
thats a good question!!

Answer 8

its our traditional initial greeting,,,,, especially to someone we dont know,,,,,,,,, and when we answer the phone we wouldnt know if we know the person or not,,,,,,

so its just become a custom,,,

Answer 9

Really? I have never done that! I usually say 'Receiving inbound telemetric broadcast, please proceed'.

Answer 10

I say yo........hello is soooooooooo old.!!!!!