interjection A1 Beginner

good morning

good MOR-ning

Quiz me More like this

Good morning (interjection) means a polite greeting used on meeting someone before about midday. Example: “Good morning — take a seat, she'll be with you shortly.”

interjection

A polite greeting used on meeting someone before about midday.

"Good morning — take a seat, she'll be with you shortly."

"He said good morning to every neighbour on the walk to the station."

dated, formal A formal farewell said in the morning, now dated and slightly curt.

"'Good morning to you,' he said, and closed the door."

How to use good morning

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWhat you say to greet someone in the morning.

When to use it

Fully polite and safe in any setting. The clipped 'Morning' is the everyday spoken form; the full phrase is standard in writing, in emails and with strangers.

Memory tip

Good morning is a greeting; good night is only ever a farewell. Do not use good night to greet someone arriving.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

good morning vs. good day good morning vs. morning

Common pairings

say good morning good morning, everyone wish someone good morning good morning email

Vocabulary Flow

Build your vocabulary from words like good morning.

Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.

Start vocabulary practice

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “good morning” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ — take a seat, she'll be with you shortly.

Etymology

From Middle English gud mornynge (also as goode morne, gode morne), from Old English *gōdne morgen (“good morning”), an ellipsis for an expression such as "I wish you a good morning", equivalent to good + morning. Compare West Frisian goeie moarn, Dutch goedemorgen, German guten Morgen, Danish god morgen, Swedish god morgon, Icelandic góðan morgunn.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

View more →

morning hello good day top of the morning farewell

Related words

leave morning hey hi wow evening afternoon hello

Rhymes for good morning

morning Corning

See all rhymes for good morning →

Frequently asked questions

Until what time can you say good morning?

Until midday, at which point good afternoon takes over. In practice people stretch it to lunchtime, and the first greeting of your working day often gets a good morning even if it lands slightly late.

What is the difference between good morning and just morning?

They are the same greeting at different levels of formality. 'Morning' is the clipped conversational version used with people you know; 'good morning' is the full form, expected in writing, in emails and with customers, clients or strangers.

What is the meaning of good morning?

"good morning" (interjection) means a polite greeting used on meeting someone before about midday.

What is another word for good morning?

Other words for "good morning" include morning, hello, good day, top of the morning, farewell.

People also searched

leave morning hey hi wow evening afternoon hello