r/AskBrits • u/Glass-Yam-7375 • 23h ago
Culture "Morning" Vs "Good morning"?
Native Brit here, living in London and I've always wondered why people simply say "morning" rather than "good morning." It's more noticeable at work on Teams chat but I hear people say it in person too.
If you tend to say "morning" why do you shorten it?
In Spanish, especially in Latin America, I've heard "buenas" instead of "buenas tardes" but that feels better because they retain the "good" and drop the "afternoon" whereas we drop the "good" lol
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u/iamdecal 23h ago edited 23h ago
Good Morning!” said Bilbo, and he meant it. The sun was shining, and the grass was very green. But Gandalf @op looked at him from under long bushy eyebrows that stuck out further than the brim of his shady hat. “What do you mean?” he said. “Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?”
“All of them at once,” said Bilbo
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u/shrinkingveggies 16h ago
“Good morning, Eeyore.”
“Good morning, Pooh Bear,” said Eeyore gloomily.
“If it is a good morning,” he said.
“Which I doubt,” said he.
“Why, what’s the matter?”
“Nothing, Pooh Bear, nothing. We can’t all, and some of us don’t. That’s all there is to it.”
I hope that clears it up for you, Pooh.
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u/507endgame 23h ago
I tend to use the classic "Alright" which certainly confuses the non natives who assume I'm asking if they realise they have a problem.
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u/Artistic-Maurine 22h ago
I'm amazed by how many native speakers don't understand that "alright?" isn't a question. I get so many "Yeah, you?"s and then I have to respond "Yeah" as if we're having a conversation how "alright" we're feeling.
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u/Informal_Internet246 23h ago
No such thing as a "good" morning. They are acceptable at best.
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u/No_Communication1557 22h ago
This lol!! Ive had to get up and do this work thing in order to pay my bills so I can eat and sleep... so I can get to work again. There's nothing 'good' about it. Hence why I always just use "Morning".
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u/Calm-Bus7555 22h ago
Same reason I say ‘bye’ instead of ‘goodbye’. Just easier and quicker and more informal
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u/Active_Definition_57 12h ago
For me, 'goodbye' is more final and significant than 'bye'. The former is for the end of a visit to or from a friend or family member you rarely see because they live far away. The latter is for a colleague you'll see again tomorrow or a neighbour you've had a chat with.
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u/-Jallen- 23h ago edited 23h ago
We're British, we're adverse to saying anything is "good".
I'm mostly joking but "good morning" is friendly, upbeat, beaming with energy. "Morning" is an grudging acknowledgement that it is indeed the next day and we had to get up to be here, which can be a struggle in the darker months.
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u/stiggley 23h ago
I use an assortment of replies including "Is it?" "If it was good, why I am here?" "It was"
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u/fatlip82 22h ago
I always doth my cap whenst simply announcing "Morning." This negates the need for the precursor of "good" and leaves me to joyfully peddle away on my Penny farthing to greet the next folk I pass.
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u/MerciaGeek 23h ago
Because it is more informal and therefore friendlier.
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u/HourFondant1646 23h ago
More informal and therefore less sincere and less friendly, in my opinion. 'Morning' is lazy and rude. You can't even be bothered to wish me a 'good morning'? Well screw you too.
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u/Resident-Card-6229 23h ago
I'm simply observing that it is the morning. If I'm at work, there's nothing good about it.
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u/Vicky_Fox 23h ago
Working in health and social care... I'm realistic that not everyday is a good day, and there isn't anything wrong with that, but while not everyone want words of well wishes, but most do like to hear a voice tone which is from a place of sincerity.
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u/Icy_Attention3413 23h ago
Agreed. Im not allowed to wish my wife a good morning. She prefers “hello”.
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u/ChallengingKumquat 22h ago
"Good morning" feels very formal and old-fashioned, like "How do you do" and "God be with ye"
"Morning" is just a shortened version of it, for less formal contexts. Like how we say "y'alright?" instead of "Are you alright?"
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u/MiLLi1994 23h ago
The same reason ‘Goodbye’ used to be ‘God be with ye’
Just a simple abbreviation.
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u/Big-Help419 23h ago
Good morning is more formal. Morning to the any time of day alright are easy and informal especially if you’re going to say it to several people.
It can change over the week too. On Monday you’ve energy. By Friday you may be lucky to give a glance and nod.
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u/Single-Olive-4541 22h ago
I always just say 'morning' at work. But it's not short for 'Good morning', it's short for 'I'm in mourning'. Because I'm at work.
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u/Correct-Sun94 23h ago
I dunno, 'morning' just sounds more normal to me haha. 'Good morning' feels a bit too proper. Never really thought about it before!
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u/UTG1970 23h ago
In Spanish it's very usual to shorten things like " manana" instead of hasta manana
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22h ago
[deleted]
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u/UTG1970 22h ago
It's actually very common in southern Spain
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u/TheShakyHandsMan 21h ago
I love that it’s also the same word for tomorrow. Saying tomorrow morning is always fun.
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u/blewawei 22h ago
Loads of stuff gets abbreviated in Spanish. It just tends to follow different patterns.
E.g. "Este finde estuve en after con mis compis y Edu empezó a tomar anfetas mientras veíamos un reality."
It's a ridiculous example, but abbreviation isn't uncommon at all
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u/rezonansmagnetyczny 23h ago
I've started saying good rising.
Learned it from a rasta in Amsterdam and it feels so much more positive.
Fuck it if it seems weird. So is looking at the ground and mumbling "morning" into your chest when you greet someone
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u/TamedBeard 23h ago
It's quicker, and if I haven't had a coffee yet then that's valuable energy I've saved until I've woken up.
If I just blurted out "good" people would look at me funny. What's good? Do I need assistance, or therapy?
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u/Stock-Yam-7655 23h ago
It's just a greeting. I don't think anyone thinks about why they just say "morning", they just do. Like why say hi instead of hello. It's conversational speech. Some people might think about it and they might hate mornings so they drop the "good"
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u/Raephstel 23h ago
What does the good really add? It’s just pleasantries and either way is basically the same.
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u/Parker4815-2 23h ago
Morning is just a regular "oh its you again"
Good morning is reserved for the queen/king
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u/Super-Tomatillo-425 23h ago
It's a shorter greeting when seeing several people during the day (morning). I also use 'hiya' or 'alright' as some others have mentioned.
'Good morning' is more formal and old fashioned, 'morning' is a lighter, more friendly, quicker greeting.
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u/Significant_Return_2 23h ago
Good moaning. That always pops into my head when anyone says “good morning”. But not with “morning”.
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u/Antix1331 23h ago
"Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?"
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u/TheeFourTruths 23h ago
To me you can make "Morning" sound a lot friendlier without it sounding weirder than "Good morning"
Try it and you'll see what I mean. It's also shorter
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u/Antix1331 23h ago
"Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?"
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u/Bigoli91 23h ago
Morning is a greeting good morning is a statment and /or a wish for a good morning I no my colleagues day isnt going to be good .
Semi in jest semi in serious answer
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u/Lunaspoona 23h ago
We like shortening things.
You can drop the 'good' because the tone you say 'morning' is usually in an upbeat (or semi upbeat if its early!) way so it implies positive intentions.
The term 'goodbye' came from 'God be with you' and then got shortened to Goodbye.
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u/Purp1eMagpie Brit 🇬🇧 23h ago
I don't think I've ever actually said good morning out loud tbh. Just morning is fine and does the job
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u/Tangie_ape 23h ago
Where I live we don't even get "Morning" anymore, its typically just "Morn", or something that kinda sounds "Mn". Its just like everything, phrases get shortened and people still understand the context behind it. When someone comes up to me and says that, I know they're essentially saying good morning, but if they do go for the full "good morning" its also typically a sign someone's in a good mood
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u/haroshhhh 23h ago
Same goes for the afternoon these days, less formal, more pleasant to the ear, "afternoon".
I guess parlance has adapted and it's easier and just more succinct. Just my two pennies worth.
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u/DrivenUser7277 23h ago
I always thought good morning was a question, good morning? Yes, no blah blah. Morning is a general hello without the need for response on how it's going
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u/PrintSad6452 23h ago
I live in the East Midlands where Ayup? is more normal than morning and best translates as ca va? Especially as it can be answered with Ayup? Ayup?/Ayup? meets all your requirements for questions about wellbeing, answers about wellbeing and greetings for any time of day all in one.
Indicating that you hope the earlier part of the other persons day goes well, or that there simply is an earlier part of the day would be redundant if we all adopted this.
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u/QuoolQuiche 22h ago
Everyone does something similar. Italians will often say Giorno rather than Buongiorno.
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u/Actual_Cat4779 22h ago
It's quicker and it sounds less formal. I don't mind either way, but I have been known to use the short version myself.
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u/CatholicFury14 22h ago
I love how we all say morning to each other walking our dogs but then totally ignore each other last 10AM
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u/Gullible_Lynx3678 22h ago
I’ve just wrote a message on Teams starting with Morning then second guessed and added the Good.
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u/Sirlacker 22h ago
Why not?
There's usually no I'll meaning behind saying morning instead of good morning. If they're speaking to you, you already know they're on somewhat friendly or professional terms with you.
Morning and Good Morning aren't really wishing anyone anything anyway, they're statements. So what does it matter? They aren't saying "Hello I hope you're having a good morning!". "Good morning!" - Oh okay is that what you think? You're telling me you're having a good morning? Alright. If you want to look at it in the literal sense that is.
But we don't look at it in the literal sense. So in reality it doesn't matter. Good morning and morning give off the same vibes.
You're over thinking the whole thing. It's been shortened from actually wishing someone a good morning, to just saying good morning to just saying morning.
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u/mysterylegos 22h ago
Look, sometimes the morning aint good. Sometimes, it's just morning. It deserves acknowledgement, but thats it.
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u/Significant_Wind_778 22h ago
We say ‘morning’ as a greeting of acknowledgment of your presence, we are not predicting the weather forecast.
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u/noodlyman 22h ago
It's a centuries long trend to shorten things like greetings. "Good morning"itself is an abbreviation of something longer that's actually a sentence.
Saying good morning in full often seems artificial, formal, or over the top. A quick "morning" as you pass someone you know seems more casual as a quick introduction.
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u/ChiswellSt 22h ago
For me saying ‘morning’ feels more casual and friendlier when chatting or IM on teams. I usually leave Good morning when sending an email to colleagues etc
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u/BuzzAllWin 22h ago
Its 2026 what about most mornings is good? Its enough to acknowledge that we have all made it through the night with a simple “morning”
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u/Intelligent-Link8462 22h ago
Overthinking it. The good really means nothing, and leaving it off means nothing, it’s just a greeting.
Better thing to do is listen for is the tone someone says it in, which you obviously won’t hear in teams, but in person you will.
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u/MidasToad 21h ago
'Morning' has a nice rhythm/sound to it.
'Good' (compared to Buenos) is kind of an ugly word that if you try to extend turns into goo.
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u/brideofgibbs 21h ago
The Japanese for hello 今日は - konnichiwa - literally mean “now it is day”
There’s no suggestion whether this is a good or bad thing. The evening greeting konbanwa - こんばんは ー similarly means “now it is night”
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u/BG3restart 20h ago
Good morning sounds formal, whereas Morning or Mornin' is more relaxed. When I went to school, the teacher would say 'Good Morning Everybody' and we'd chant back 'Good Morning Mrs Smith'.
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u/Devasianos 20h ago
I think, firstly, there’s the fact that it might not actually be a “good” morning and there’s a strong chance nobody wants to be there… logically, that can shift a “good morning” to a “morning”… but apart from that, it’s just one of many contraptions in the English language…
There’s actually an old timers version of “good night” in pockets of the north of England that sounds more German than English… We’re a very variable bunch.
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u/ChangingMonkfish 20h ago
It’s just shortening it and therefore making it a bit less formal sounding, I don’t think there’s any deeper reason for it than that. The “good” is implied.
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u/Luted19 20h ago
morning is the email without the subject line. good morning is a whole performance and some of us aint got the energy. honestly as a brit i treat good like its a rare item i dont wanna waste before noon. so yeah morning wins until the sun is actually up and i have had a coffee.
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u/Glass-Yam-7375 12h ago
Yet we say sorry to everyone about everything even though it was their fault for not looking when they bumped into us?
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u/Silent_Post_8543 20h ago
I say ‘good morning’ only if I’m in a good mood and it does feel like a good morning. I mostly use ‘morning’ as I am not a morning person, so rarely feels like a good morning, but being polite and British I need to greet people so ‘morning’ will do.
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u/LellowYeaf 19h ago
I’d say good morning sounds quite formal, whereas morning is just a standard greeting
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u/CronoMass 18h ago
Because we cant know if the other person is having a good morning or a shit one, what we do know is the time of day. Which is presumably morning.
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u/FunMathematician4638 18h ago
I use good morning, pretty sure I got it from school assembly. “Good morning misses head teacher name , good morning teacher name, good morning everyone!”
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u/HenryMaxman 17h ago
It's called being casual, aka cas (I've never had to write down the shorthand of casual and it looks wrong)
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u/LingLings 15h ago
Good Morning and Morning are exactly the same semantically despite the omission of Good.
The way we say morning when said on it’s on has exactly the same intonation as if we had said good immediately before.
This is ellipsis.
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u/Active_Definition_57 11h ago
At work we type "morning" or "good morning" on Teams. It seems to be more common for people to add an exclamation mark or a smiley face to "morning" than type "good morning".
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u/Radiant_Eagle8122 11h ago
Germans use Guten Morgen or Morgen. Definitely not just a British thing.
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u/Maroon_blu 10h ago
“Good morning” is too much, sounds like forced happiness. Especially on a Monday morning.
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u/ladybyron1982 10h ago
I always say "morrr-nen" in an exaggerated west country accent. Just cos I like the way it sounds. I'm a northerner and have no connection to the south west beyond many delightful childhood holidays.
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u/Catz2019 6h ago
Because it is morning and if I am up and at work, it probably isn't a good one. And I like my job, but it no waking up to breakfast on a Caribbean cruise. Plus you totally convey your feelings that day just by how you say it anyway.
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u/drivelhead 2h ago
It's the same reason people say goodbye instead of god be with ye. It's just easier.
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u/Joosshyyy Brit 🇬🇧 23h ago
I say Morning when I walk past someone,
I say Good Morning if I'm planning on staying for a conversation
Other than that I wouldnt over-think it, anything is better than nothing at all in my experience
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22h ago
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u/Callsign_Crossroads 22h ago
My response to "Good morning" is always to ask if they won the lottery.
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u/JimBlague 21h ago
As someone from the Westcountry, it's because good marnin' doesn't have the same charm as simply Marnin'.
A genuine answer though, if I understand correctly, British English speakers usually enunciate with clarity. Or rather, speak 'less important' words less clearly in order to increase the emphasis on the 'important' words. So good morning is often spoken as g'd morning. It makes sense that if you're gonna shorten the greeting further, that you'd drop the word that's already being skimmed over anyway.
I'm neither a linguist nor a... um... person-what-understands-cultures an anthropologist, but I'd guess languages that shorten the greeting to "good" are doing so because the positivity is the purpose of the greeting. Whereas in English, a greeting's sole purpose is to acknowledge another person's presence, so an unemotional statement about the current state of reality (time of day) is more suitable as it doesn't demand (nor invite) further conversation.
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u/frontroomhog 12h ago
I never say good morning at work, it’s become a bit of a thing. Any morning I have to get up to go to work is not a good morning.
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u/Chesterfieldraven 22h ago
You live in London and you're walking around saying good morning to people? Are you insane? What are you going to do next, make eye contact with someone on the tube?