Don't say "I'm fine, thank you. And you?"

Category: Speaking

You probably learned “How are you?” and “I’m fine, thank you. And you?” in textbooks before, but native English speakers answer it in a different way. Unfortunately, replying to this question with “I’m fine” can still be found in many English textbooks. It’s not the natural way to greet someone and actually may be rude or negative.

Here are some other phrases that you can use instead of “I’m fine”
How are you?

• Fine. You?
• Very well, thank you.
• (I’m) good, thanks. You?
• (I'm) great, (thanks). And you?
• (I’m) pretty good. What’s new with you?
• Yeah! Good. You?
• Not bad. You?
• (I'm) alright. You?
• (I) can’t complain. You?
• Never better.
• Never been better. What about you?
• I am on top of the world!
• Over the moon!

Now, let’s look at some different ways to ask how someone is. These ways are much more common.

Hey, how’s it going?

• Good. And you?
• (It's going) pretty good.
• Not so good.
• Great.
• Not great.
• Not so well.
• Well, a bit tired/sick/sleepy.
• Things have been better.
• Things have been a bit rough lately, but they’re getting better.

What’s up?

• Not much.
• Nothing much.
• Hey! What’s up?
• Hi!

How do you do? / Howdy? (informal)

• How do you do?
• Hello.
• Nice to meet you.

How are you doing? / How ya doing? (informal)

• I’m doing great (thanks). How about you?

• Doing good. You?
• Doing pretty good. You?
• Doing well. You?
• I’m not doing that great.
• Not (doing) that great.
• Not (doing) so well. 

How have you been? / How’ve you been?

• I’ve been doing great. What about you?
• Never been better. 
• Could be better.
• Couldn't be better.
• Things have been better.
• Not so good lately.
• It’s been tough.
• I’ve been a bit sick.
• A little crazy actually!
• As usual.
• Pretty good. Work’s been busy.
• Busy, busy.
• I’ve been busy working.
• I've been a bit busy but ok.
• I've seen better days.