What are common British English alternatives to asking “How are you?”?

Common options include “You alright?”, “How’s it going?” and “How are things?” In the UK, “You alright?” is often a casual greeting rather than a question requiring a detailed reply.

How do British people casually ask what someone does for work?

A common informal question is “What do you do?” You can also ask, “What do you do for a living?” when the context is appropriate.

How can I politely ask someone about their weekend plans in British English?

You can say, “Have you got anything planned for the weekend?” or “What are you up to this weekend?” The first is slightly more polite and neutral.

Free Course Image Learn British English in 90 Minutes

Free online course Learn British English in 90 Minutes

Duration of the online course: 1 hours and 31 minutes

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Speak British English with confidence in just 90 minutes. Free online course with real UK phrases for greetings, small talk, and everyday conversations.

In this free course, learn about

Core British English basics: key phrases, everyday vocabulary, and simple grammar patterns
Casual British greetings and small talk starters (e.g., common ways to ask 'How are you?')
Natural British responses to 'How are you?' (positive, neutral, and polite short answers)
Informal ways British speakers ask about your job/work (e.g., what you do for a living)
Common British phrases to ask about someone's well-being (including the most typical UK form)
Polite ways to ask about weekend plans and make light conversation about free time

About the free online course

Improve your everyday English fast by focusing on how people actually speak in the UK. This free online course helps you sound more natural in British English by practicing the phrases you hear in real conversations, especially when meeting someone new, checking in politely, or keeping small talk going.

Many learners know grammar but freeze when someone says a casual greeting or asks a friendly question. Here you’ll build confidence with practical, repeatable language for starting conversations, responding smoothly, and showing good manners in common situations. You’ll learn how British speakers commonly ask how you are, how to answer in a way that fits the context, and how to ask about someone’s well-being without sounding too formal or too direct.

The course also supports the kind of professional English you need for networking and workplace chats, including a natural way to ask what someone does for a living and how to respond clearly. You’ll get comfortable with polite questions about plans and weekends, which are frequent conversation starters in the UK and a simple way to build rapport with classmates, colleagues, clients, or neighbors.

Because the focus is on listening and producing useful phrases, this is ideal for learners who want quick progress without getting overwhelmed. By the end, you’ll have a small set of high-impact expressions that make conversations easier, help you avoid awkward silences, and make your English feel more fluent and British in tone.

Whether you’re preparing to travel, study, relocate, or simply want to understand British speakers better, you can use these skills immediately in daily life and online interactions. Set aside 90 minutes, practice aloud, and walk away with language you can use the same day.

Course content

Video class: Learn British English in 90 Minutes - ALL the Basics You Need 1h31m
Exercise: What are some common casual ways to ask and answer the question 'how are you' in British English?
Exercise: Which phrase is commonly used by British English speakers to informally ask about someone's job?
Exercise: Which phrase do British people commonly use to ask about someone's well-being?
Exercise: What is a polite way to ask someone about their weekend plans in English?
Exercise: What are some common ways to answer the question 'How are you?' in British English?
Exercise: What is the most common way of asking someone about their well-being in the United Kingdom?

Learn aboutBritish English

Explore free online British English courses and improve your pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, listening and speaking skills. Learn authentic UK English for work, study, travel and everyday conversations at your own pace. Enrol today, build confidence with expert-led lessons and earn a certificate upon completion.