Ways to greet a third person in a conversation?

Question

For example a situation where you are on the phone with a friend and he is with a person that you know. You would ask him to say hi for you.

The french equivalent would be "Passer le bonjour"

I am looking for formal and informal ways to say that.

Zarmad You should clarify your question. The expression "passer le bonjour" means "convey's one's good wishes through one person to another that is not present." — Elian, May 22 '14 at 11:39
Formal: "Give my regards to X". Informal "Say 'Hi' to X [for me]" or "Say 'Give X my love". — FumbleFingers, May 22 '14 at 11:45

score 11 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 15 '20 at 07:40

11

The most common expression to convey one's good wishes to someone through another is say hello to someone (from me).

Other options (from the least to the most formal one) are:

Say hey to someone (US Regional)

Say howdy to someone (US Regional)

Say hi to someone

Give my best to someone

Give my love to someone

Send/give my greetings to someone

Give my regards to someone (British English)

Remember me to someone

Passer le bonjour a quelqu'un

edited Jun 15 '20 at 07:40

Community

1

answered May 22 '14 at 11:30

Elian

43,007

@medica: I don't see that. OP says he is speaking to one friend. To me, the logical implication is he means on the phone. That's the typical context where the French would say "Passer le bonjour" – FumbleFingers May 22 '14 at 11:35
You're right. I thought it was strange... but I read it literally. – anongoodnurse May 22 '14 at 11:37
In British English: "Give my regards to ". – Paul R May 22 '14 at 11:42

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered May 22 '14 at 11:03

0

Formally , we just say their name politely and that suffices. It is considered to be a very dignified gesture to greet someone.

answered May 22 '14 at 11:03

Veronica Diamond

1,543

1

I think you have misunderstood the (admittedly vague) question. OP means contexts like when you're on the phone to your friend - so your're not physically present, and can't just say the mutual friend's name and expect it to be heard (unless your first friend is on "speakerphone"). – FumbleFingers May 22 '14 at 11:33
Oh , the phone thing wasn't mentioned in the question. You can say hey to the person. That will do. – Veronica Diamond May 22 '14 at 11:42
1

@VeronicaDiamond Could indeed be the phone thing, but it could also mean "a situation where you're talking with a friend at some place. This friend lives (or is living) with someone you know, and so typically you ask him to say hello to that person from you. – Elian May 22 '14 at 12:13

Ways to greet a third person in a conversation?

2 Answers2