Greetings - all right?

It's been used as a greeting down here in Devon since we came here 40 years ago. It baffled me as I'd never heard it before. I don't think it's really a question so I just say hello !

I'm quite pleased its so widespread. I thought it was just an Essex thing.

Oh dear, I'm afraid I'm guilty of asking "All right? " These modern phrases/sayings just tend to attach themselves to my everyday language without my permission. I've no idea what the correct response is, but I think "yeah, you?" is fairly popular (or "yeah fine, you?")
But I doubt it's any more peculiar than the traditional "How do you do?" to which the correct response is "How do you do?" Explain that one if you can

It is widespread Maw I have heard it said all over the place, most say ‘alright?’ Back as an answer.

I always say hello, whatever another person says.

No reply necessary Maw because they don't care or want to know. Its like the ubiquitous 'Have a nice day ' in McDonalds , they don't care . Its just something they say to make you THINK they care.

I find I stun Americans when we are there and they say 'Have a nice Day' and I stop and say' You too. Do you have anything nice planned' !!

Invariably when we are out locally, people will bid you “‘ow do.” My response is “Fine thanks. You?” When we are out walking, you will pass hardly anyone who will not bid you good morning or good afternoon, and on a busy trail, interrupting one’s conversation to respond in a like manner can often mean by the time they have passed, I have forgotten what I was talking about. If you get a big group of walkers all together, observing mass social niceties is a nightmare ! And yes, janea p, I will always bid someone I am introduced to “how do you do?” and shake their hand, to boot!

There is much debate on the correct response to 'How do you do.'

I was taught that it's not a question so you should never reply, 'Very well, thank you' but either say nothing at all (which seems a bit rude) or just say, 'How do you do' back to them.

When I first met DH he had a close friend who came from Staffordshire. They were farmers and had invited me for tea. I was standing in the yard wondering where to go when this man strode across the yard and called out, 'Nah then.'

I jumped out of my skin because I thought I was being accused of trespassing rather than being greeted in a friendly manner.

My FiL's 'Aye oop, lass' was another favourite greeting.

'Ay up me duck' suffices very well in the Midlands


'Or right me luverrr?' in Devon

No no N&G here in the village a response is expected! We’re a friendly bunch you know

When walking in German speaking countries everyone says "Gruss Gott" as you pass - and I mean everyone. On a busy summer's day it is quite a background rumble!

When I lived on the Isle of Wight during the sixties, a young lad would call out, 'Nipperrrrrr!' to a friend he'd just spotted.

The response was always, 'Nipperrrrr!'

I wonder if they still do that?

The correct response is to repeat the 'awright' back to the person.

Many years ago, I had started a new job as an analytical chemist and one of my colleagues, Ian, said 'awright Liz?' every time he passed me in the lab. It really got to me. Of course I was all right. We were the same grade. Why was he constantly asking if I was all right? Eventually I moaned to another guy that if I was asked once more if I was all right I wouldn't be responsible for my actions! He said, 'Liz, it's just a greeting. Just say "awright Ian!"' Problem solved.

granny23 - up here in Buchan the answer would be ‘chavin’ or ‘chavin awa’ ! Good to see the Doric on this thread!

I do not like to ask people how they are because sometimes I get a 10 minute whine of all of their aches and pains. If I am asked I reply with okay, thanks.

I think that shop keepers are becoming too personal. I was asked in a M&S local foodstore one Saturday what my plans were for Sunday. I thought that was too intrusive.

I was thinking about this and the reply, and yes we do say hiya alright ? and the other person replies yeh you,alright?
And that’s said whether you are or you aren’t you might have a broken arm, gammy leg and conjunctivitis but you always answer yeah, alright? Like when you go to the doctors walk in he or she says ‘Good morning how are you’ and you say ‘fine’