how are you
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how are you
- /haʊ ˈɑː juː/ UK
- /haʊ ˈɑɹ ju/ US
- /hæɔ ˈaː jʉː/ Australia
- /- jə/ Australia
phrase how're you · HRU
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An informal greeting, not requiring a literal response. In form a question, and thus followed by a question mark. Typical responses include
I'm very well, thank you. How are you? (formal)
I'm fine, thank you. /
Fine, thanks. (informal) /
Fine, and you? (informal)
Similar: how do you do?, how are you doing?, how's it going?, how's things?, how's tricks?, what's up?, how's it hanging?, alright me babber, alright me lover, ay up me duck, hiya doin', how are things
- (Following a noun phrase; stress on are) An expression of derision, that the preceding referent is unworthy of the name. In form of an exclamation, and thus often followed by an exclamation mark. 1967 July 20: Questions. Oral Answers. — Free Travel for Old Age Pensioners. Dáil Éireann debates Mr. Dunne: "A small point", says the Minister for Justice. Mr. Ryan: Justice, how are you! He would not recognise it in this world or the next.
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phrase greeting
Talk about this word "how are you." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/how%20are%20you. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. how are you. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/how%20are%20you "how are you." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/how%20are%20you.Cite this
@misc{how_are_you_2026,
title = {how are you},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/how%20are%20you},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
