Ever wondered how Londoners greet each others? Is there cockney rhyming slang for “hello”? How should you greet Londoners if you are coming to London?

Well, if you find yourself in London and want to say hello, there are a few different options.

If you fancy using some cockney rhyming slang to convey a friendly greeting, you’re going to be out of luck because there is NO direct translation of the word “Hello” in cockney slang.

All is not lost though. Because there are many other ways that Londoners greet each other.

One popular way to say hello is “All right?” which is informal but friendly. This doesn’t really require an answer. You’re not REALLY asking if the other person is all right and you don’t need to give the story of your life in response. It’s equivalent to the French “ça va”. 

A popular London greeting used to be “Wotcher”. Short for “What are you doing?” (I guess) but you don’t hear this much any more.

Another option is to say “Hello” or “Hey” followed by the person’s name.

If you’re feeling more formal, you can say “Morning” (short for “Good morning”) or “Afternoon.” And of course, if you’re feeling cheeky, you can always try a British accent and say “cheerio!”

Whichever way you choose to say hello, Londoners will be sure to appreciate your efforts.