|
|
#2 (permalink) Wed May 24, 2006 10:02 am How goes it? |
|
|
Hi Torsten,
This is a very commonly used expression. It's a more friendly greeting than How are you? It's similar in flavour to: How are things? I get the impression it's a male to male greeting rather than a female greeting.
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
|
Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13890 Location: UK
|
|
#3 (permalink) Wed May 24, 2006 11:59 am How goes it? |
|
|
Hi Torsten
I agree with Alan. There's nothing new about "How goes it?" It's also not unusual to say "How's it going?" This is also a bit more informal (and friendlier) than the "standard" ("How are you?")
Amy _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
|
Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
|
 |
#4 (permalink) Tue Oct 19, 2010 15:17 pm Is this is a new expression: How goes it? |
|
|
How goes it? is a literal word for word translation of the Dutch "Hoe gaat het?" this in Dutch is as common as "how are you?" is in English. Several words (not that many but some) used in American English in the New York area specifically are taken from the Dutch language, this is just another example.
If you'd ask a Dutchman who doesn't speak English the how goes it question he will understand without realizing it's a foreign language, he'll just assume you're from a Northern province and speak with some kind of dialect.
It's very plausible because other common ways to see how someone is doing don't make sense to literally translate into Dutch, the grammar wouldn't make sense.
I can't prove this but I'm pretty sure. |
|
Arwin Klapwijk New Member
Joined: 19 Oct 2010 Posts: 1
|
 |
#5 (permalink) Wed Oct 20, 2010 7:57 am Is this is a new expression: How goes it? |
|
|
I hear it from time to time but rarely use it. It's definitely informal. I have never seen it in writing before.
I've also heard "What say you?" It's similarly informal and even odder. I make that connection because one of the two people I know who consistently said "How goes it?" also liked "What say you?" |
|
Mordant Language Coach
Joined: 12 May 2010 Posts: 1964 Location: United States
|
 |
#6 (permalink) Tue Nov 02, 2010 19:17 pm Is this is a new expression: How goes it? |
|
|
@Mordant:
"What say you?" Comes from Icelandic "Hvađ segirđu?". It's how you say "How are you" in Icelandic. |
|
Miracles. I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 02 Nov 2010 Posts: 17 Location: United Kingdom
|
 |
|
| Doorbell | give somebody a back-cap |