Buzz
There are times when you're a bit unsure how to respond when a guy sends you just a simple 'Hello!' The best way to reply depends on various factors, like how well you know him, what kind of messages he typically sends, and whether or not you enjoy talking with him. This article will offer some tips for handling this kind of message.
Steps
You can simply reply with 'Hello!' if you'd like to keep things casual and uncomplicated.
Sometimes the simplest response is the best one. A message like 'Hello!' or 'Hey there!' doesn’t take much effort, which can be a bit underwhelming. By replying with the same, you give him a taste of his own medicine and place the responsibility of starting a proper conversation back on him. If he really likes you, he’ll likely come out of his shell and say something more interesting.
- The reply 'Hello!' shows that you’re open to talking with him, but it also subtly suggests that you expect him to make more of an effort to engage in the conversation.
Send a friendly message if you're into him.
“Hello!” is usually a cheerful greeting. If this guy is a friend, someone you like, or someone you’re chatting with on a dating app, there's a good chance he’s flirting with you – or at least trying to be friendly. If you're pretty confident he’s into you and you want to reciprocate his feelings, send a message with a similar tone. For example:
- “Hey, nice to meet you! :)”
- “Hi there, stranger!”
- “Hey you!”
- “Oh hey, what's up?”
Respond with a neutral reply if you’re unsure.
This is a good option if you don’t know the guy. You can also use this approach if you're not too interested or aren’t sure of his intentions. Be polite, but don't mirror his overly casual tone. You can reply with messages like:
- “Hello!”
- “Hi, how are you?”
- “Pardon?”
Casually ask about him if you want to keep things normal.
The guy may send a message like “Hey there” to test if you’re interested. If you respond with a question, he’ll probably think you're giving the green light for the conversation to continue. This is a fairly neutral response, so it works well if you're unsure whether you like him or not. You could say something like:
- “How’s it going lately?”
- “Hi, how’s everything with you?”
- “Hello, how’s everything going?”
- “Any updates on your end?”
Reply with an emoji.
Emojis are another option when you don’t know what to say. Since you can’t communicate through facial expressions or body language in texts, emojis can take their place. They can express feelings of joy and flirtation if you're into him, or even confusion or disappointment if you’re underwhelmed by his lazy message. For instance, you could send:
- Heart emojis, winking faces, or kissing faces if you want to flirt.
- A frown emoji if you want to show you're not impressed.
- A simple smiling face to express friendliness.
- A thinking or confused face to show you're unsure how to respond.
Send him a funny GIF.
A picture is worth a thousand words. This is also a quick and easy way to respond to a message that doesn’t offer much content. Choose a GIF or meme that expresses your feelings and send it his way. It can help break the initial awkwardness and encourage him to say something more interesting!
- For example, if you want to reply with a friendly or flirtatious greeting, pick a GIF of someone waving, winking, or blowing a kiss.
- If you’re annoyed or unimpressed, pick an image that reflects that, such as a “Nope” or “I got nothing” GIF.
Say something sweet or charming.
Be a little more affectionate if he's someone you're secretly fond of. Sometimes, a simple “Hey there!” is just a sweet greeting. If you really like this guy or if you’re dating, don’t be afraid to reply with something warm or playful. For example:
- “Oh, hey, handsome!”
- “What’s up, hot stuff?”
- “I was just thinking about you. ;)”
- “Hey babe! I miss you!”
Wait and see if he says anything else.
If he truly wants to chat, pass the ball back to him. Although you can reply with a short message like “Hey” or “What’s up?”, another option is to just stay quiet for a while and see if he says anything more. If he doesn't, it might just be him testing to see how interested you are. But if he really has something to say, he’ll likely continue the conversation.
Ask him a question to keep the conversation going.
Perhaps he doesn't know what to say. You can easily extend your hand to him by introducing an interesting topic to start the conversation. One great way to push the conversation forward is to ask an open-ended question (a question that requires a detailed answer, not just a simple “yes” or “no”). For example, you could ask:
- “What’s been exciting at work today?”
- “How did you feel about the movie you watched last night?”
- “What did you do over the weekend?”
Continue the conversation over the phone.
Texting can make it hard to say much. If you truly enjoy talking to this guy, try to see if he’s ready to take the next step. Ask if you can give him a call, or suggest the idea of meeting in person.
- Say something like “Honestly, I’m not a fan of texting. Would you be up for a phone call?” Or “It’d be great to see you. How about FaceTiming?”
- You could also say “I’ve really enjoyed texting with you these past weeks. I’d love to meet up! Want to hang out this weekend?”
Be cautious of ‘breadcrumbing’ signs.
Has he often disappeared for several days or even weeks? If so, a random message like “Hey” out of nowhere could be a sign that he’s ‘leading you on’ – especially if this message leads to a real conversation. If it seems like he’s not putting much effort into the relationship (or friendship), you might want to consider cutting ties with him. Other signs of breadcrumbing include:
- Occasionally liking your posts on social media but never initiating a conversation with you.
- Not putting in any effort to meet up with you or develop the relationship.
- Repeatedly making excuses not to see or talk to you.
Speak up if you feel this message is bothering you.
You don't have to tolerate messages like these. If the guy often sends you random or careless texts, especially if he doesn't put any effort into growing your relationship, it's important to let him know how you feel. If you'd like to maintain this friendship or relationship, tell him what you expect from him.
- For instance, you could say “I like you, but I feel like our relationship hasn't progressed. Could we spend more time together?”
Ignore or block him if you don't want to interact.
If he's bothering you, there's no need to respond. Whether you're fed up with his lazy texting or just don't like him, remember that you're not obligated to continue the conversation. Simply stop replying or ask him not to contact you anymore.
- Block his number if he keeps harassing you.
