Good Afternoon Messages: 50 Ways to Say "Good Afternoon" in English • 7ESL (2024)

Conventional greetings aren’t always appropriate for the situation at hand; many times they may come off as too formal for the specific circ*mstances. Consider the phrase “Good Afternoon”, usually only heard between business acquaintances and at the beginning of formal emails. What are some new and creative ways that one can say “Good Afternoon”, either to break monotonous formality or to facilitate a more comfortable and informal environment?

When Is the Afternoon?

In many cultures, “good afternoon” is the standard greeting during the middle of the day. It’s a polite way to let someone know that you acknowledge their presence and respect them. The afternoon typically falls between noon and 6 PM. It’s the time when people are finishing up lunch, getting back to work, and getting ready to go home.

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The overlap between afternoon and evening creates a time of transition between day and night. It is often a time when people are feeling tired and looking forward to the end of their day. Therefore, the afternoon time is a great opportunity to express warm greetings and make someone’s day brighter. You may want to add a bit of personality to your greeting in different settings depending on the culture and relationships.

Formal Ways to Say Good Afternoon

• Good afternoon, it is a pleasure to meet you.
• I hope you’re having a pleasant day.
• It’s lovely to see you this afternoon.
• Have a wonderful afternoon!
• May your day be filled with joy.
• I wish you a peaceful and productive afternoon.
• Have a splendid afternoon!
• Ready for the rest of your day?

Informal Good Afternoon Messages

• Hey there! How’s your afternoon going?
• How’s your day been so far?
• Hey, nice to see you at this time of day.
• Greetings and salutations on this fine afternoon!
• Wishing you a happy and relaxing day.
• Hope you are having a good one.
• What’s up this afternoon?
• Hi there. Enjoying the afternoon?
• Hey, what’s shaking this afternoon?
• What have you been up to this afternoon?
• Hiya! How have you been this afternoon?
• G’day mate!

Idiomatic Good Afternoon Greetings

• Making it through the middle of the day?
• Good tidings this afternoon.
• Halfway there! Have a great afternoon.
• Aloha! Have an enjoyable afternoon.
• How’s the world treating you this afternoon?
• Cheers to a great afternoon!
• Tally ho! Here’s to a wonderful afternoon.

Professional Ways To Say Good Afternoon

During a Business Meeting

• Welcome to our meeting this afternoon.
• Thank you all for attending our afternoon session.
• It’s a pleasure having everyone here this afternoon.
• Good to have you here with us this afternoon.
• We appreciate you taking the time to join us this afternoon.

On A Phone Call

• Good afternoon, I’m glad you called.
• Hello, how are you this afternoon?
• Good afternoon, how may I help you?
• Thank you for calling. How can I help this afternoon?
• It’s a pleasure to talk with you this afternoon.
• Good afternoon, this is (your name). How may I assist you?

In An Email, Letter

• I hope your day is going well this afternoon.
• We look forward to hearing from you this afternoon.
• I hope this email finds you doing well.
• We thank you for your time.
• Wishing you a pleasant afternoon ahead.

Funny Good Afternoon Messages

• Good afternoon, howdy partner!
• Greeting from the middle of the day!
• Top of the afternoon to you!
• What’s new this fine afternoon?
• Ready for a rocking afternoon?
• Time for some afternoon fun!
• Afternoon energy boost, check!
• A pleasant afternoon to you!
• G’day sunshine, how’s the afternoon treating you?

How to Use Different Good Afternoon Greetings

“Greetings”

While this form of salutation isn’t particularly creative, it is a classic substitute for the often overused “Good Afternoon”. Stemming from the Old English term gretan, literally meaning “to come in contact with” or “to salute”, this salutation has been used in the English language for far longer than terms such as “Hi” and “Hello“. This term is tricky, as it can have two drastically different tones when used in different scenarios.

In a formal setting, “Greetings” is a fairly common salutation used to show respect; you may often see it opening serious business-related emails and various other forms of formal communications. However, “Greetings” is not commonly used as a replacement for “Good Afternoon” in everyday conversations. Therefore, using this overly-formal term in a normally informal setting is usually for comedic purposes. The juxtaposition between a relaxed situation and this almost pompous-sounding term is sure to garner a few chuckles from those present.

“Greetings” in a Sentence:

• Greetings, ladies and gentlemen. – A more formal employment of the term.
• Greetings, fellow Earthlings! – An employment geared more towards comedic purposes.

“Salutations”

Much like “Greetings”, this term oftentimes carries an overexaggerated connotation of stuck-up formality. It’s about as dated as you can get in terms of greetings; its origins can be traced all the way back to the 1530s. Even in formal communications, it is very rare to see a person using this term unironically. When used as a replacement for “Good Afternoon”, more often than not, it is for the purpose of comedy. Very few people nowadays employ this term, and its unexpected usage will be sure to pique a reader or listener’s attention.

“Salutations” in a Sentence:

Salutations, my dear comrades. – Employments of this term will most likely be over-the-top and ironic.

“Hi Everyone”

Unlike the previous two terms, this is far more commonly found in semi-formal and informal interactions. However, this term is specifically used in instances where one is addressing a group of people, as opposed to a single individual. The term “Hi” did not appear until the mid-1860s, making it one of the youngest greetings that is commonly used in the English language that is not outright slang.

By using this term in place of “Good Afternoon”, one can create an environment that is far more relaxed and forgiving when considering rules of proper social interaction. Members of a team will feel far more relaxed and comfortable with sharing thoughts and ideas, as the speaker/writer is not enforcing any particular hierarchy of authority, as the previous two salutations may tend to do. Overall, this greeting is one that is particularly helpful in facilitating a comfortable, yet mutually respecting environment.

“Hi everyone” in a Sentence:

Hi everyone, I’m just reaching out to see if we are still good for our meeting on the 14th. – While the greeting itself is not particularly formal, it still maintains the attitude that the speaker/writer has something of importance to address.

“Hi friend(s)”

Much like “Hi everyone”, this greeting serves to break down the unspoken barriers that can deter productive conversation in a formal environment. However, one should carefully consider the target audience when using this as a greeting; after all, your coworkers are your coworkers before they are your friends. Its use should be reserved for individuals that the speaker/writer is closely familiar with, and would be confident in identifying as their “friends”. If it is used in an inappropriate situation, one runs the risk of making the listener/reader uncomfortable if they do not interpret the relationship in the same way.

When used correctly, however, this substitution for “Good Afternoon”, can help to create a comfortable, positive environment. It creates a sense of trusting vulnerability between multiple parties while also maintaining a sense of mutual respect. If someone addressed you with this term, it is most likely because they see you as a party that they can trust and rely on.

“Hi friend(s)” in a Sentence: Hi friend! How are you doing today? – The speaker/writer addresses the listener/reader as a person that they genuinely regard as a friend, regardless of the potential professional basis for the initial relationship. In this case, it is logical that they would then follow the greeting with an inquiry into the other party’s well-being before moving on to other topics.

Good Afternoon Messages | Infographic

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Related Links:

• Good Morning
• Good Evening
• Good Night