Regards in spoken English

[Tom]

Hi

Could you please tell me if the word 'Regards' can be used in spoken English? Same as thanks.

1-"OK, thanks, bye."
2-"OK, regards, bye."

Tom

[Conchita]

I don't think I've ever heard 'regards' used in this way in spoken English, Tom. You could use it as an indirect greeting in a sentence like: please give my kind regards to your parents, which sounds rather formal, though. A friendlier way of saying this would be: give my love to your parents.

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

'Regards' is never synonymous with 'thanks' as far as I know. One of the meanings for the the word 'regards' is 'good wishes'.

I agree with Conchita. Saying "Give my regards to your parents" sounds a little bit old-fashioned and/or may sound a little too formal nowadays. If there is only a causal relationship with the people involved, many people simply say "Say hello to your parents for me." I'd use Conchita's example (with 'love') mainly with close friends.

This thread reminds me of the song Give my Regards to Broadway:

Verse 1

Did you ever see two Yankees part upon a foreign shore
When the good ship is just about to start for Old New York once more?
With tear-dimmed eye they say goodbye, they're friends without a doubt;
When the man on the pier shouts loud and clear, as the ship strikes out...

Verse 2

Say hello to dear old Coney Isle, if there you chance to be,
When you're at the Waldorf 1 have a "smile" 2 and charge it up to me;
Mention my name ev'ry place you go, as 'round the town you roam;
Wish you'd call on my gal, now remember, old pal, when you get back home...

Chorus

Give my regards to Broadway, remember me to Herald Square,
Tell all the gang at Forty-Second Street, that I will soon be there;
Whisper of how I'm yearning to mingle with the old time throng;
Give my regards to old Broadway and say that I'll be there ere long.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Give_My_Regards_to_Broadway

Amy

[Pond969]

'Regards' is much more used in correspondence than in spoken English....except to say 'give my regards to..."

Usually 'my regards' in such contexts means ' my respect/esteem/good thoughts' ....