Greetings

I have never been one to use slang terms of greeting, prefer more formal greetings. Not that I’m against such, it just isn’t ‘me’. But that doesn’t stop the etymologist in me wondering when 'Hi' and other greetings became popular as a greeting, and examining the origins.

Hello, as a greeting, dates from 1848 and began in the US of A; although the term was used much earlier (albeit seen as hallo, holla, hollo) from at least the 14th century when used simply to attract attention. The rise in popularity, from around 1880, corresponds to the spread of the telephone – this cannot be coincidental.

Hi, the earliest record is from 1862 in the written speech of a Native American from Kansas. This is not to say it was anything but English and is almost certainly from Middle English hy. Hiya is simply an extended form, seen since the 1940s.

Good morning is seen from the early 15th century, prior to that it was ‘Good morrow’.

Good afternoon has been recorded since the early 14th century, rather surprising to find it earlier than the morning version.

Good evening is even earlier still and has been around since the Saxon era.

How do you do – is a formal greeting from 1632.

How’s it going – a more casual greeting seen since the early 17th century.

How are you – is first seen in print in 1666, courtesy of William Killigrew’s play Selindra: A Tragy-Comedy

Hey has been around since the early 13th century when, rather than a greeting, was used to indicate anger, derision, or a challenge.

What’s up – has appeared in fictional works since the early 20th century, although it was never really used in general conversation until it became the catchphrase of Bugs Bunny as ‘What’s up, Doc?’

Howdy appears in print from 1720 as ‘howdy’ee.

G’day is the abbreviated version, often associated with Australians, of goodday, seen since the early 12th century.

Long time no see is seen for the first time in print in 1843 in James Campbell’s Excursions, Adventures, and Field-Sports in Ceylon - although it was not used as a greeting for at least another fifty years.

What’s new – popularized by the song composed in 1939, but a form of greeting since the early 19th century.

What’s happening has been used as a greeting from around the 1920s.

Yo is a greeting used by sailors since the early 15th century.

And we should also mention the non-verbal greetings. The nod, the smile, both fairly obvious – but what about the raised eyebrows? Eyebrows as a form of communication are particularly eloquent; surely they would have conveyed messages and moods at least as early language developed – and it is tempting to think they may even have pre-dated same.