Cool MateNice to meet you vs Very nice to meet you
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Nice to meet you
Top 1,000 (very common)A2
Very nice to meet you
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Nice to meet you
| Nice to meet you | Very nice to meet you | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //naɪs tə miːt juː//🇺🇸 //naɪs tə mit ju// | 🇬🇧 //ˈvɛri naɪs tə miːt juː//🇺🇸 //ˈvɛri naɪs tə mit ju// |
| Meaning | A polite way to say hello when you meet someone. | It's great to see you. |
| Example | It's so nice to meet you at this conference. | It was very nice to meet you at the conference yesterday. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Collocations | great to meet you, happy to meet you, pleasure to meet you | very nice greeting, very nice encounter, very nice introduction |
| Antonyms | Nice to leave you, Sorry to miss you, Bad to meet you | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'nice meeting you' which is used after actually meeting., Saying it too late after the introduction is awkward., Using it when you're already familiar with the person. | Using it too casually with close friends., Forgetting to use it when the meeting is formal., Omitting 'very' for less emphasis or excitement. |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal settings. Appropriate during introductions, but avoid in very casual contexts or if the person is not a stranger. | Use this phrase when meeting someone for the first time. It's polite and friendly, appropriate in both formal and informal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Nice to meet you vs Very nice to meet you
What's the difference between Nice to meet you and Very nice to meet you?
Nice to meet you: A polite way to say hello when you meet someone. Very nice to meet you: It's great to see you.
Which is more common: Nice to meet you and Very nice to meet you?
Nice to meet you is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Nice to meet you: It's so nice to meet you at this conference. Very nice to meet you: It was very nice to meet you at the conference yesterday.
Can I use Nice to meet you and Very nice to meet you interchangeably?
Not always. Nice to meet you and Very nice to meet you are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.