How do you do?

Question

HiIf somebody asks: How do you do? do I have to answer "How do you do?" Is it OK to say "I'm fine or all right"thanks

Fandorin · Accepted Answer

Hi. No, it's not okay. How do you do is a formal greeting.

Newguest · Answer

FandorinHi. No, it's not okay. How do you do is a formal greeting.

So it's compulsory to reply: How do you do?

Fandorin · Answer

So. Let us put it this way:

A- Hi. [How do you do?]
B- Hi. How were your holidays?
A:.......

Philip · Answer

How do you do? is a way of saying It's nice to meet you. It is best met with a repetition of the phrase.

How are you? asks about your relative health today and can be met with "I'm fine, thanks, and you?

Newguest · Answer

Thanks for the answers guys!

Rtatilia · Answer

dear,I assume How do you do? is FORMAL
a formal greeting for someone that you have not met before:Fore instance,"I'm Jack Stewart." "How do you do? I'm Angela Black."

Yankee · Answer

Yes, "How do you do" would usually be something people say when they are introduced to someone.

When I am introduced to someone, I generally do not say "How do you do". My personal preference is "It's nice to meet you." The response to that might be "It's nice to meet you, too." In other words, a repetition of the same phrase -- as Philip has already mentioned.

Some people and some regions may well tend to use "How do you do" more than others. "How do you do" is generally considered to be very formal, however, I'd say the use of "How do you do" depends to a certain degree simply on personal preference and regional tendencies. I don't hear it too often in my neck of the woods, but I do know some people who use it.

There is is an interesting example of "How do you do?" here:

(Start listening at around 1:15. That's where he meets his father for the first time, and introduces himself.)

How do you do?

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