"What's new?" This common greeting in the United States is at times a bit of a problem for some speakers of English as a second language.

"How could that be?" you may be asking yourselves. "What's new?" is easy to say and easy to understand.

Simply, sometimes when an American asks a person, "What's new?" it is simply a big hello or a warm way of saying, "How are you?"

That means you should not take the question literally. The American may not want to know what is new and may be surprised if you start listing all the new things in your life right away when he was just giving you a warm hello.

So, you may wonder, how will you know when the American really wants to know how you are?

Typically, the question will be repeated when details are wanted. Perhaps it won't be the same expression, but it will have the same meaning. Then you can give details.

Take a look at this exchange:

Priscilla: Gee, it's good to see you, Helen!
Helen: It's good to see you, too.
Priscilla: So, what's new?
Helen: Oh, nothing's new. What's new with you?
Priscilla: So, tell me: what have you been up to?
Helen: Well, I just finished my first semester at NYU and got straight A's.

Note in this exchange when Helen is responding to the warm greeting, she says, "Nothing's new." Don't forget to pronounce a strong s. Helen could also have said, "Nothing much."

Also, note that the polite way to respond is to shoot the same warm greeting back. So Helen repeats, "What's new?" This is again just a big hello.

Americans have quite a few ways to express 'What's new?" Here are some common ones:

What have you been up to?
How's life been treating you?
Where have you been hiding yourself?
What's up?

Here is a funny one that you might hear: So what's cooking, good looking?

This one became popular after Hank Williams, a famous country singer, sang his song "Hey, Good Lookin'." Sing along with Hank Williams. The lyrics are below.

Say hey, good lookin', what you got cookin'?
How's about cookin' somethin' up with me?
Hey, sweet baby, don't you think maybe
We could find us a brand new recipe?
I got a hot rod Ford, and a two dollar bill
And I know a spot right over the hill
There's soda pop and the dancing's free
So, if you wanna have fun come along with me
Say hey, good lookin', what you got cookin'?
How's about cookin' somethin' up with me?

I'm free and ready, so we can go steady
How's about savin' all your time for me?
No more lookin', I know I've been tooken
How's about keepin' steady company?
I'm gonna throw my date book over the fence
And find me one for five or ten cents
I'll keep it till it's covered with age
'Cause I'm writin' your name down on every page
Say hey, good lookin', whatcha got cookin'?
How's about cookin' somethin' up with me?

Priscilla Karant specializes in teaching writing to the advanced international professional, academic English to graduate and undergraduate students, and speaking skills to the international professional.