Every conversation starts with a greeting. In English, you have a few simple options that work in almost any situation. The most common and useful greetings are "Hello" and "Hi."

"Hi" is a little more casual and is the most common greeting between people who are on friendly terms. You'll hear it used constantly in daily life. Another very informal greeting is "Hey." It's best used with friends, family, and people you know well. You can also use "Hey" to get someone's attention.

Besides the all-purpose greetings, some expressions are tied to the time of day. These are generally a bit more formal but are used very frequently, especially in professional settings or with people you don't know.

Let's break these down.

• Good morning is used from when you wake up until about noon (12:00 PM).
• Good afternoon is the greeting for any time after noon until the sun starts to go down, around 5:00 or 6:00 PM.
• Good evening is for any time after sunset. It’s a way to say hello in the evening, not goodbye.

These time-based greetings are polite and friendly. You can use them with anyone. Often, people will shorten "Good morning" to just "Morning!" in casual conversation.

Choosing the right greeting is about context. Who are you talking to? What time of day is it? Here is a simple guide to help you decide.

Remember, the goal is to be friendly and clear. Any of these greetings is a great way to start a conversation.