It has happened to me a lot that I stop random people in the street for asking a question about direction. I said "Excuse me". In answer to my "excuse me" People usually say "Hey". I am wondering if I should say "Hello" in response to them or not. I don't actually know how to answer their "hey".
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Welcome to ELU. You should probably ask this on Interpersonal Skills instead. This site is about English linguistics and the nuts and bolts of the English Language.– marcellothearcaneCommented Oct 11, 2019 at 11:26
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Nowadays, I'd just read "Hey[!]" as "Hi ...You seem like a nice guy ... How can I help?" It's short, punchy, and eliminates the saccharine nuances of "How may I be of service?" etc. But as you are aware, it's not always clear what the response of the addressee actually means. // 50 years ago in the UK, I'd have interpreted it rather as "What do you think you're doing, taking up my time!" (but it was thankfully quite a rare response then).– Edwin AshworthCommented Oct 11, 2019 at 11:27
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Likely it's not "Hey" but rather a garbled "Yeah".– Hot LicksCommented Oct 11, 2019 at 12:13
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3 Answers
Your "Excuse me?!" is an apology for saying "Excuse me", for interrupting them and claiming their time. (It's not "Sorry", because your interruption was deliberate and you would do it again under the same circumstances.)
The "Hey!" (or "What?", or "Yes?", or even "Hello?") response means "Okay, you've got my attention, what do you want?".
You are now already in conversation mode, so "Hello!" wouldn't be appropriate. Just get on with it and ask your question.
(In geek-talk, it is the equivalent of RTS/CTS, request-to-send/clear-to-send.)
answered Oct 11, 2019 at 13:16
Technically, "excuse me" is a way of saying "hello" if that's how you started the conversation. In response to the "hey", you could just ask the question.
The phrase: Excuse me OED
used as a polite form in addressing a stranger, or in interrupting the speech of another.
As in your question:
In answer to my "excuse me", People usually say "Hey". You can greet them if you like or simply proceed with you question.
