Good evening

Simply say it when you first see someone after 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM. You can use it by itself or follow it with a question. For example, Good evening, how are you? is a classic. It works for one person or a whole room. If you walk into a dinner party, just announce it to the group. It makes you sound confident and well-mannered.

Use it when you enter a restaurant for dinner. Use it when meeting a date at a bar. It is perfect for starting a business meeting late in the day. You can also use it when passing a neighbor on a walk. It is great for formal events like weddings or galas. Even at the grocery store, it is a nice way to greet the cashier.

Do not use this to say goodbye. That is the biggest mistake people make! If you are leaving, use Good night instead. Also, do not use it at 10:00 AM unless you want to be funny. It is too formal for your very best friends. With them, a simple Hey or What's up is better. Avoid it if you are in a huge rush and cannot stop.

In English-speaking cultures, greeting people based on the time of day is a sign of politeness. It comes from an era when social etiquette was very strict. Today, it is less about rules and more about being pleasant. In places like the UK or the US, using this phrase makes you seem more professional. It creates a 'soft' start to an evening interaction. It is much warmer than a cold 'Hello'.

If you want to be less formal, just say Evening!. This is very common in casual settings. In some places, you might hear Good eve, but that is rare. You can add names, like Good evening, Sarah. For a group, try Good evening, everyone. If you are feeling fancy, you might hear A very good evening to you. These all serve the same purpose of making people feel welcome.