What to Reply to 'Hey': 60 Responses That Start a Real Chat
They sent one word and now the whole conversation is your job. Here is how to reply to hey without sounding dry, plus 60 responses you can copy.
"Hey" is the hardest message to answer because it gives you nothing. No topic, no question, no mood. Send "hey" back and someone still has to do the work, and usually nobody does. Here: one rule, 60 replies sorted by who sent it, and a table of what each version of hey means.
Why 'hey' is so hard to reply to
A normal message has a handle. "How was the concert" has a topic. "I hate Mondays" has a mood. "Hey" is a knock on the door with nobody saying who is there. The person knocking usually wanted to talk and did not know how to start: a new match, a crush, an ex testing the water. Hey is nerves or habit, not laziness. The reply that wins makes their next message easy.
The one rule for replying to hey
Also: one word in, one sentence out, not a paragraph. And never punish the hey. "That's it?" feels clever for a second and kills the chat for good.
Paste the chat, pick a tone, get a reply that gives them something to answer. Free, no signup.
What to reply to hey from a match
On Tinder, Hinge or Bumble, hey means "I liked your pictures and had no plan after that." One detail from their profile turns it into a real opener.
What to reply to hey from your crush
A crush who sends hey wants to talk to you, so do not overthink it. Be warm, a little curious, and give them an easy next step. The long game is in how to text your crush.
What to reply to hey from an ex or someone who ghosted
Decide if you want this chat at all. If no, you owe nothing. If yes, stay calm, skip the silence, and ask what they want. To reopen things on your own terms, how to restart a dead conversation has better openers than hey.
What to reply to heyy (with extra y's)
Extra letters mean extra interest. "Heyy" is friendly, "heyyy" is flirting, past four y's is very into you or a little tipsy. Match it or call it out gently.
What to reply to 'hey stranger'
Half greeting, half "where have you been." Play along, skip the apology, pivot to something real.
What to reply to 'hey wyd'
"Nothing, you?" wastes this one. Say what you are actually doing, with some personality, then ask back.
Funny replies to hey
For new, low-stakes chats. Joke about the hey or about you, never them.
Flirty replies to hey
Say you are glad they texted, with a smile. One line, no emoji stack, only when there is already a spark. More in how to flirt over text.
When you want to keep it short
Busy, or not sure you want a long chat yet? Short does not have to be cold. Leave one small handle.
Before and after: fixing a dead reply to hey
One small change each. The dry text fixer does this if you paste your draft.
“hey”
“hey! how's your week going, anything good or just surviving”
Two empty messages become one easy question.
“hi. what's up”
“hi! I'm making tea and avoiding my to-do list. what are you avoiding”
"What's up" is the question they were about to ask you. Share first, then ask.
“that's it? just hey?”
“hey. I'm going to read that as "I have a lot to say and I'm pacing myself"”
Same joke, no punishment.
“nothing much, you?”
“walking home and arguing with a podcast. you?”
For "hey wyd": the boring thing, with personality.
A hey that turns into a real chat
A hey that dies
What their 'hey' actually means
Spelling and punctuation say a lot about the mood behind a hey. Not a science, but a decent guess. For a deeper read, the text decoder breaks down tone and intent.
| They sent | What it usually means | How to reply |
|---|---|---|
| hey | Neutral. Wants to talk, no plan yet. | Warm and specific. One question or one detail. |
| heyy | Friendly with some interest. The extra y is on purpose. | Match the warmth. A smiley or a tease about the y. |
| heyyy | Flirting, or a playful mood. Often late. | Flirt back a little, then steer to a real topic. |
| hey :) | Soft and friendly. Happy to be texting you. | Smiley back plus a question. |
| hey stranger | You drifted and they noticed. | Play along, skip the apology, ask what is new. |
| hey you | Affectionate. From someone who already likes you. | "Hey you" back, then something warm. |
| hi | A bit more formal or shy than hey. | Friendly and easy. Do not tease the formality. |
| hello | Very polite, awkward, or joking. Context decides. | "Hello! what's up" and see how they follow. |
| yo | Casual, friends-first. Little romantic signal. | "Yo, what's good" and a question. |
| sup | Low effort, not rude. A quick check-in. | Short answer, one question. |
What to reply to hey: FAQ
What should I reply to hey?
A greeting plus one question or one small detail about your day. "Hey! how's your week going, anything good or just surviving" works almost everywhere. Just "hey" back usually ends the chat.
How do I respond to hey from a girl?
Warm, specific, not too eager. Use something you know about her: a photo, a story she told, a plan she mentioned. "Hey! how did the interview go" beats any clever line.
How do I respond to hey from a guy?
Same rule: hand him a handle. Guys who send hey often do not know what to say next, so a question with an easy answer keeps it moving. "Hey! what are you up to tonight" works.
What does heyy with two y's mean?
A friendlier, more interested hey. Two y's is warm, three or more is flirting. Nobody adds letters by accident. Match it or gently point it out.
Is replying just hey back rude?
Not rude, just dead. It puts all the work back on them. Want the chat? Add one question. Do not want it? A short polite reply is fine.
Should I reply to hey from someone who ghosted me?
Only if you want to. If you do, skip the guilt trip: "hey, what's going on" tells you what they want without giving anything away. If they go quiet again, what to do when left on read covers the rest.