How to respond to "How are you?", "What's up?", and other conversation starters 

There are a few questions that English speakers ask at the beginning of a conversation. These questions are simple tools to find out if there are any interesting topics to discuss:

How are you?

How's it going?

What's up?

What's happening?

You've certainly heard these questions, but you might be confused about how to answer. Here's a list of common answers to them:

How are you?

Fine.

This is a simple, straight answer. If you don't say anything else, though, it might be a signal that you don't want to continue the conversation.

Not bad.

This is a more friendly-sounding answer than "fine".

Fine, thanks.

This answer is formal. You might answer this way if someone you don't know, like a waiter at a restaurant, asks how you are.

Very well, thanks.