Hello, I'm argentine, Would you please help me with this: what do you mean when you say "How do you do"

Question

I've always supposed you meant Nice to meet you, but now I'm in doubt because someone told me it's How are you as well. Could you help me? Thank you very much.

Answer 1

It's normally used only when meeting someone for the first time, and the correct reply is also "How do you do?" so I would say it basically means "I'm meeting you and not necessarily finding it nice but I can be polite." And yeah, very old-fashioned. I don't think I've ever said it (native English speaker, age 36) but I remember my mom saying it once, because someone said it to her.

Answer 2

Literally it is "How are you". are you in good health?
Cool 1990s like Tony Blair people say "Hi" instead to avoid some old trout reeling off a list of ailments enough to fill three volumes of a medical encyclopedia.

Answer 3

It is very similar to: "Nice to meet you"
But it's very formal.
Remember that it's a greeting when you meet someone in a formal situation.

Answer 4

It means both,they are glad to meet you and want to know how you are.If it's the first time meeting you,it means glad to meet you.

Answer 5

Just another way of saying 'hello'

Answer 6

It means the same as How are you

Answer 7

It's just a generic greeting. Nothing more.

Answer 8

It is another way of saying how are you?

Answer 9

its really english way to say, it it means helloand also wats up!

Answer 10

"How do you do?" is just another way of saying "How are you?"