Nice to meet you: meeting someone new
Cambridge Dictionary marks How do you do? as formal; the reply is the same question back.
When you meet someone for the first time, English has a few fixed lines. The most common is Nice to meet you. The other person usually answers Nice to meet you too, or simply You too. In a British Council video for beginners, Vanya meets a new colleague and says Nice to meet you, and he answers You too. These short lines are polite in almost every situation, from a class to a business meeting.
Nice, pleased, great
You can change the first word. Pleased to meet you, Good to meet you and Great to meet you are all common. A learner once asked the British Council LearnEnglish team about the difference between pleased to meet you and nice to meet you. The team answered that both are friendly and polite and there is no difference in meaning. When you say goodbye at the end of the first meeting, you can say Nice meeting you, with the -ing form, or It was nice to meet you.
How do you do?
How do you do? is a formal greeting for someone you have not met before. Cambridge Dictionary gives this example: “I’m Jack Stewart.” “How do you do? I’m Angela Black.” It is not a real question about your health. The answer is not Fine, thanks. You reply with the same words, How do you do?, or with Nice to meet you. Today it sounds old-fashioned or very formal to many speakers, so you will hear it less often than nice to meet you.
Introducing other people
To introduce someone, use This is: Emma, this is Minji. Minji, this is Emma. Say each name to each person, and add one small fact to help them start talking: Minji is from Seoul. Emma works in design. In the British Council video, Emir introduces Vanya with Ah, Yuna, this is Vanya, and Yuna says Hi, I’m Yuna. Nice to meet you. Welcome to the team!
Body language matters too. At a first business meeting, people often shake hands. With friends of friends, a smile and a small wave are often enough. If you are not sure, wait a moment and follow what the other person does.
| Situation | You say | They answer |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting | Nice to meet you. | You too. / Nice to meet you too. |
| Formal meeting | How do you do? | How do you do? |
| Introducing | Emma, this is Minji. | Hi, Minji. Nice to meet you. |
| Leaving | Nice meeting you. | You too. See you. |
- Nice to meet you. · said when you meet someone for the first time
- You too. · the same to you
- Pleased to meet you. · the same as nice to meet you
- How do you do? · a formal first greeting
- Emma, this is Minji. · introducing someone
- Welcome to the team! · greeting a new colleague
- It was nice meeting you. · goodbye after a first meeting
| Nice to meet you. | first meeting greeting |
| You too. | the same to you |
| Pleased to meet you. | same meaning as nice to meet you |
| How do you do? | formal greeting; reply with the same words |
| This is Minji. | introducing someone |
| Welcome to the team! | greeting a new colleague |
| Nice meeting you. | said at the end of a first meeting |
| I’m new here. | I just started here |
Hi, my name’s Peter. What’s your name? Hi, Peter. I’m Minji. I’m new here. Welcome to the company, Minji. Thanks. It’s nice to meet you. Nice to meet you too.
- What is a common answer to Nice to meet you?
- You too.
- Fine, thanks.
- Not much.
- How do you answer How do you do?
- How do you do?
- Fine, thanks. And you?
- I do well.
- According to the LearnEnglish team, pleased to meet you and nice to meet you…
- mean the same
- are for different ages
- one is rude
- How do you introduce Minji to Emma?
- Emma, this is Minji.
- Emma, he is Minji.
- Emma, Minji is this.
- What do you say when you leave after a first meeting?
- Nice meeting you.
- Nice to meet you.
- How do you do?
- Cambridge marks How do you do? as…
- formal
- slang
- rude
- What helps two people you introduced start talking?
- Adding one small fact about each
- Saying nothing more
- Leaving at once
- What do you say to a new colleague on their first day?
- Welcome to the team!
- Good night!
- Long time no see!
- Complete: Nice to ___ you.
- If you are not sure about a handshake, what is a good idea?
- Wait a moment and follow the other person
- Hug at once
- Turn away
- Nice to meet you. You too.
- Pleased, good, great to meet you: same meaning.
- How do you do? is formal; reply How do you do?
- Introduce with this is; leave with Nice meeting you.
Sources for this course (3)
- Merriam-Webster, entries hello (first known use 1834, alteration of hollo) and goodbye (first known use 1575, alteration of God be with you) (merriam-webster.com/dictionary/...)
- Cambridge Dictionary, entries how do you do?, good night, cheers, Ms, excuse me (dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/...)
- British Council LearnEnglish, Speaking A1: Meeting new people (learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/free-resources/speaking/a1/meeting-new-people) with the LearnEnglish team reply on nice to meet you and pleased to meet you, and Listening A1: Meeting a new team member (learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/free-resources/listening/a1/meeting-new-team-member).
Checked: 2026-10-17