You alright?
What it really means
The most common British greeting, like "hi, how are you?". It is NOT a real question about your health, so a long answer is not expected. Just reply briefly and ask back.
Context, tips & common mistakes
This greeting catches out almost every newcomer at least once. It is often shortened to just "alright?" or "y'alright?", and in much of England it has largely replaced "hello" between people who know each other. The classic learner mistake is treating it as a genuine health enquiry and answering in detail — the expected exchange takes about two seconds. You can even reply "alright?" with the same word and both people walk on; no information has been exchanged, and none was wanted. Note the mirror-image trap too: if you look genuinely unwell, a British friend will usually ask differently — "are you okay?" with a concerned tone — so listen for tone rather than words. In Scotland you are more likely to hear "how's it going?" or "how are ye?", used exactly the same ritual way.