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nice to meet you
/naɪs tuː miːt juː/
polite greeting on first meeting
Nice to meet you, Sarah. I've heard so much about you!
A polite way to greet someone you're meeting for the first time.
formal
A polite expression used when meeting someone for the first time.
It's nice to meet you in person after all our emails.
A formal way to acknowledge a first meeting.
Nice to meet you, Mr. Johnson. Thank you for inviting me.
Used in professional settings upon introduction.
Often shortened to 'Nice to meet you too' when responding.
informal
An expression of pleasure at making someone's acquaintance.
Nice to meet you! Where are you from originally?
Used in casual conversations to show friendliness.
Hey, nice to meet you! I'm Alex.
Common in social or introductory settings.
Can be used sarcastically in some contexts, though this is rare.
Collocations
nice to meet you tooresponse to the greetingpleased to meet youmore formal alternativeglad to meet youcasual alternative
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
When to use 'nice to meet you'
Use this phrase when you are meeting someone for the first time in both casual and formal settings. It is a polite way to acknowledge the introduction.
Gold Rule
Response to 'nice to meet you'
The standard response is 'Nice to meet you too' or 'Likewise.' Avoid overly casual replies like 'Yeah, you too' in formal contexts.
Word Origin
The phrase combines 'nice' (from Old French 'nice' meaning 'foolish' or 'simple', later evolving to 'pleasant') and 'to meet' (Old English 'mētan', meaning 'to encounter'). The expression emerged in the 18th century as a polite formula for introductions.
Usage Notes
This phrase is standard in both formal and informal contexts when meeting someone for the first time. It is often accompanied by a handshake in professional settings. In some cultures, it may be followed by a brief exchange of pleasantries.
Word Breakdown
nice
pleasant or agreeable
adjectiveto meet
to come into the presence or company of someone
verb phraseyou
the person being addressed
pronounEnglish Dictionary