English phrases for meeting someone new
Hi, I'm Alex. Nice to meet you.
“Hello, my name is Alex. I am happy to meet you.”
When: Right after someone introduces you
The moment
At a friend's dinner party in Brooklyn, you are introduced to someone who only speaks English.
A1 · Unit 4 · People
The lines
Introducing yourself
Say "Hi, I'm..." and your name. Then say "Nice to meet you." That is all you need for a first hello.
Hi, I'm Alex. Nice to meet you.
“Hello, my name is Alex. I am happy to meet you.”
When to use it: Right after someone introduces you
What you’ll hear back: Nice to meet you too! I'm Sarah.
Keeping it going
Ask "Where are you from?" or "What do you do?" People like these questions. "What do you do?" asks about your job.
So where are you from?
“Where do you come from?”
When to use it: After you say your names
What you’ll hear back: I'm from Chicago, but I've lived here for years. How about you? (And you?)
Words for this scene
| Word or phrase | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| I'm... | AIM | My name is... |
Hi, I'm Alex. Hello, my name is Alex. Tip: "I'm" is short for "I am". Americans almost always say "I'm". | ||
| Nice to meet you | NAIS-tuh MEE-chuh | I am happy to know you. |
It's really nice to meet you. I am very happy to know you. Tip: Answer with "Nice to meet you too!" | ||
| What do you do? | WUH-duh-yuh DOO | What is your job? |
So what do you do, Sarah? Sarah, what is your job? Tip: A very common question at parties in the US. | ||
Your objective
Introduce yourself with your name and where you’re from, then ask them one question about themselves.
- your name
- where you’re from
- a question about them
Lines that get it done
- Hi, I'm Alex. · Hello, my name is Alex.
- So where are you from?
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. What do you say to tell someone your name is Alex?
- Hi, I'm Alex.
- Hi, me Alex.
- Hi, is Alex.
- Hi, Alex am.
Show the answer
Hi, I'm Alex.
"I'm" plus your name is the easy, natural way.
2. Someone says "Nice to meet you!" What is a good reply?
- Nice to meet you too!
- See you later!
- You're welcome!
- I'm fine, thanks.
Show the answer
Nice to meet you too!
Add "too" to say the same thing back.
3. What does someone mean when they ask "What do you do?"
- What is your job?
- What are you doing now?
- What do you like?
- Where do you live?
Show the answer
What is your job?
"What do you do?" is a question about your work.