How to Respond to "Hey" — 24+ Best Replies

CONTEXT

"Hey"

Why People Send This

People send "hey" because it's the lowest-effort way to start a conversation. Sometimes they want to talk but don't know how to open. Other times they're testing the waters to see if you'll even respond before they say what they actually want to say.

REPLIES

Best Replies to "Hey"

😂

Funny Replies

1"hey is for horses"
2"oh wow a hey, groundbreaking"
3"that's crazy, I was literally just about to hey you too"
4"you had me at hey"
5"a single hey? in this economy?"
6"bold opener, let's see where this goes"

😏

Flirty Replies

1"well hey yourself"
2"was hoping you'd text me today"
3"hey 😏 took you long enough"
4"oh look who finally decided to slide in"
5"hey you, I was just thinking about you"
6"the hey I've been waiting for all day"

😎

Casual Replies

1"hey! what's good"
2"heyyy what's up"
3"hey! how's your day going"
4"hey what's new with you"
5"oh hey! long time no talk"
6"hey! what are you up to"

💪

Confident Replies

1"I know that hey means you need something, spill"
2"skip the hey, what's on your mind"
3"hey back, now what's really going on"
4"I'll accept your hey, now impress me"
5"hey noted, what's the move"
6"a hey with no follow up? brave"

If You Like Them

If you're into them, don't just hey them back — that's a conversation killer. The best response to hey from someone you like is something that gives them a reason to keep texting. Ask them something, reference an inside joke, or match their energy with a little extra warmth.

If You're Not Interested

If you're not feeling it, a simple "hey what's up" keeps things neutral without being rude. You don't owe anyone an exciting reply. What to reply to hey when you're not interested? Keep it short and don't ask follow-up questions — they'll get the hint.

EXAMPLES

Conversation Examples

hey

heyyy what's good, haven't heard from you in a minute

Delivered

hey

oh look who remembered I exist 😂 what's up

Delivered

hey

hey! perfect timing, I was literally so bored

Delivered

hey

I know that hey, you want something don't you

Delivered

AVOID

Mistakes to Avoid

✕Replying with just "hey" back — congrats, you've created a conversation that goes nowhere

✕Leaving them on read for days then acting confused why they stopped texting

✕Overthinking a single hey like it's a coded message

✕Responding with a full paragraph when they gave you one word

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What to say when someone says hey over text?

Match their energy but add a little something. A "hey what's up" or "hey! how's it going" works way better than just "hey" back. You want to give them something to respond to.

How to reply to hey from a crush?

Don't play it too cool or too eager. Something like "hey you, what's up" or "was hoping you'd text" shows interest without being over the top. The reply to hey text from a crush should feel natural, not rehearsed.

Is hey a flirty text?

On its own, not really. But context matters a lot — a hey at midnight, a hey out of nowhere after weeks of silence, or a hey from someone who never texts you first can all carry flirty undertones. How to reply to hey depends on reading those signals.

Why do people just text hey with nothing else?

Usually because they want to talk but don't have a specific reason. They're opening the door and hoping you'll walk through it. Sometimes people text hey to gauge if you're available or interested before committing to a real conversation.

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