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I once had a student ask me, “Teacher, if I say ‘What’s up?’ to a new client, will they think I’m rude?” The honest answer: it depends entirely on context. In my 15 years teaching English, I’ve learned that this one question — deceptively simple — can range from perfectly professional to deeply casual. The difference lies in register, relationship, and moment. You’ll teaches you exactly when to use which phrase.
You’ll find 40+ ways to say “What’s up?” sorted by formality level — from the boardroom to the coffee shop. Each phrase comes with context notes so you know when native speakers actually use it, and when they’d raise an eyebrow if you said it.
Key Takeaways
- Register is everything — “What’s up?” is casual; “How are you?” is neutral; “What’s the latest?” is idiomatic.
- With authority figures — use “How are you?”, “How’s everything?”, or “What’s new?” (never “Sup?” or “Yo, what’s good?”)
- With close friends — use casual slang like “Sup?”, “What’s good?”, “How’s it hanging?”
- North American vs. British — “What’s up?” is universal, but “Innit?” is British slang you’ll rarely hear elsewhere.
- Context shapes everything — The same person might say “How are you?” at 9 am in a meeting but “What’s up?” at 5 pm in the break room.
Formal and Professional Greetings
Use these when greeting clients, authority figures, or people you’ve just met. They show respect and professionalism without sounding stiff:
| Phrase | When to use it | Register |
|---|---|---|
| How are you? | Always safe; the gold standard for professional settings | Neutral–formal |
| How are you doing? | Slightly warmer than “How are you?”; still professional | Neutral |
| How do you do? | First introductions in very formal contexts (now rare) | Very formal |
| How’s everything? | Small talk; polite and open-ended | Neutral |
| How have you been? | Someone you haven’t seen in a while | Neutral–warm |
| What’s new? | Asking about recent updates or changes | Neutral |
| How’s your day been? | Work, casual professional settings | Neutral |
| How’s your day going? | During the workday; checking in | Neutral |
| What’s the latest? | Asking about news or updates | Neutral |
| How are things with you? | Interested, personal but professional | Semi-formal |
Example 1 (Professional email): “Good afternoon, Mr. Lee. How are you doing today? I wanted to follow up on the contract we discussed last week.”
Example 2 (At a networking event): “Hi, I’m Sarah. How’s your day been so far?”
Example 3 (Colleague passing in hallway): “Hey, how’s everything? Did you finish that project?”
Pro tip: In professional settings, pair the greeting with a follow-up question about work or the other person’s day. This shows genuine interest without crossing into personal territory.
Casual and Informal Greetings
These phrases are for friends, close colleagues, family, and anyone you interact with regularly. They’re warm and relaxed — perfect for text messages and casual conversation:
| Phrase | Flavour | Who uses it |
|---|---|---|
| What’s up? | Classic casual; works almost anywhere informal | Friends, young people, casual settings |
| Sup? | Shortened; very informal | Close friends, text messages |
| What’s good? | Playful; implies “What’s good with you?” | Friends, especially in US urban culture |
| How’s it going? | Friendly and open; very common | Friends, colleagues, acquaintances |
| How’s life? | Relaxed; shows interest in overall well-being | Friends, casual conversation |
| How you been? | Grammatically informal; very casual | Close friends, informal speech |
| How you doin’? | Contracted; friendly and warm | Friends, neighbourly chat |
| What’s crackin’? | Slang; suggests “What’s happening?” | Friends, informal contexts |
| What’s the haps? | Slang; short for “happenings” | Young people, text messages |
| What’s shakin’? | Retro slang; friendly and quirky | Older generations, humorous use |
Example 1: “Yo, what’s up? Haven’t seen you in weeks!”
Example 2: “Hey, how’s it going? Did you end up going to that concert?”
Example 3 (Text message): “Sup? You free for lunch today?”
Idiomatic and Playful Expressions
These are set phrases that carry cultural weight. They’re not literal, but native speakers understand them instantly. Some are regional:
- What’s the story?
- What’s the word?
- What’s the buzz?
- How’s it hangin’?
- What’s cookin’?
- How’s life treating you?
- What’s the dealio?
- How’s by you?
- What’s the scoop?
- How you livin’?
- Howdy!
- Heya!
- Yo!
- Hey, what’s new, buttercup?
- How are things progressing?
Example 1 (What’s the story?): “Hey, what’s the story? I heard you got the job!”
Example 2 (What’s cookin’?): “What’s cookin’? You look like you’re up to something.”
Example 3 (How’s life treating you?): “It’s been a while. How’s life treating you these days?”
Example 4 (How’s it hangin’?): “What’s up, buddy? How’s it hangin’?”
Example 5 (What’s buzzin’, cousin?): An older, retro phrase sometimes heard humorously.
British vs. North American Slang
Some expressions are region-specific. Here’s what’s unique to each side of the Atlantic:
| Primarily British / Irish | Primarily North American | Universal |
|---|---|---|
| “All right, mate?” (greeting) | “Yo, what’s good?” | “What’s up?” |
| “How’s tricks?” | “How you doin’?” | “How are you?” |
| “What’s the crack?” (Irish) | “Sup, dude?” | “How’s it going?” |
| “Innit?” (not a greeting, but commentary) | “What’s poppin’?” | “How have you been?” |
| “Alright?” (as a greeting) | Nothing equivalent | “What’s new?” |
Caution: “Innit?” is London slang and not understood everywhere. “Crack” in Irish English means “fun” or “conversation”, so “What’s the crack?” is friendly, not threatening.
Professional Email and Messaging Greetings
These greetings work in written communication — emails, Slack, Teams — where tone is harder to convey:
| Greeting | Appropriate for | Example use |
|---|---|---|
| Good morning/afternoon, [Name] | Formal emails, first contact | “Good afternoon, Dr. Chen. I hope your day is going well.” |
| Hi [Name], | Professional emails, known colleagues | “Hi Sarah, how’s everything been?” |
| Hey [Name], | Casual but professional; friendly teams | “Hey Marcus, just wanted to check in on the project status.” |
| Hope you’re having a great day! | Warm professional opening | “Hope you’re having a great day! I wanted to follow up on our discussion.” |
| What’s new with you? | Reconnecting with someone after a gap | “It’s been a while! What’s new with you?” |
| How’s the week treating you? | Mid-week or collaborative check-in | “How’s the week treating you? We’re on track for the deadline.” |
Greetings by Situation
| Situation | Best greeting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First meeting with a client | “How do you do?” or “How are you?” | Formal and safe |
| Seeing a friend you haven’t met in months | “How have you been?” or “What’s up?” | Shows genuine interest |
| Casual encounter with a co-worker | “How’s it going?” or “What’s new?” | Friendly but professional |
| Text message to a close friend | “Sup?” or “What’s good?” | Informal and quick |
| Greeting a group (team meeting, class) | “How’s everyone doing?” or “How are things?” | Inclusive and warm |
| Someone who looks stressed or tired | “How are you holding up?” or “You okay?” | Shows empathy |
Common Replies to “What’s Up?”
When someone asks “What’s up?” here are the most natural replies by register:
Formal reply: “I’m doing well, thank you for asking. How are you?”
Neutral reply: “Good, thanks. How about you?” or “Not much, just working on some projects.”
Casual reply: “Pretty good. You?” or “Hey! Not much, same old.”
Very casual reply: “Yo, same here!” or “Not much, homie.”
Honest/real reply: “Honestly? It’s been a long day. How are you?”
Quick Quiz
Match each situation to the best greeting:
- Texting your best friend at 9 am → ________
- Opening a video call with a new client → ________
- Seeing your colleague in the hallway → ________
- Emailing a professor for the first time → ________
- Running into an old friend at the shops → ________
Answers: 1. “Sup?” or “What’s up?” · 2. “Good morning, [Name]. How are you today?” · 3. “Hey, how’s it going?” · 4. “Dear Professor [Name], I hope you’re doing well.” · 5. “Hey! How have you been?”
Sample Dialogues
Text exchange between friends
Alex: Sup? You free later?
Jamie: Yo, what’s up! Not really, got work till 6. Tomorrow?
Alex: Cool, let’s do tomorrow. Coffee around 10?
Jamie: Sounds good. See you then!
Professional meeting opening
Manager: Good afternoon, everyone. How’s the team doing? How’s your week been so far?
Team member 1: Pretty good. We finished the client review yesterday.
Team member 2: Busy, but productive. No major blockers.
Manager: Excellent. Let’s dive into the agenda then.
Related Expressions and Greetings
- Ways to Say “Good Afternoon”
- Ways to Say “Good Morning”
- How to Say “How Are You”
- Ways to Say “Excuse Me”
- ↑ Back to pillar: English Expressions (Pillar)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “What’s up?” formal or informal?
“What’s up?” is casual and informal. It’s fine with friends and in relaxed settings, but avoid it with authority figures, new clients, or in formal written communication. Opt for “How are you?” or “How’s everything?” instead.
Can I use “What’s up?” in professional emails?
Not recommended in your first email to someone or in formal communications. Use “Hi [Name],” or “Good morning/afternoon,” instead. Once you’ve built rapport with a colleague, a casual “Hey, what’s up?” in Slack or Teams is fine.
What’s the difference between “What’s up?” and “How are you?”
“What’s up?” is casual shorthand that expects a brief reply (“Nothing much”, “Same old”). “How are you?” is more formal and invites a real conversation about your state of being.
Is “How do you do?” still used?
Rarely. It was the standard formal greeting in older British English, but today it sounds archaic. Most people use “Nice to meet you” or simply “Hello” in first introductions.
What do I say if someone asks “What’s up?” and I’m having a bad day?
You can be honest: “Honestly? Rough day,” or keep it light: “Can’t complain, you?” Most people expect a quick answer, so don’t launch into a long story unless the person invites it by saying “How are you really?”
Which greeting should I use with my boss?
Start with “How are you?”, “How’s your day going?”, or “How’s everything?” Once you’ve worked together for a while and the culture is casual, “Hey, what’s up?” might be fine — but read the room first.
Related
- ↑ Master Pillar: English Speaking
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