How to Respond to Heyy: To Flirt or Not to Flirt?

Doublelist Team

November 26, 2022 12 minutes read
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Somebody sends you a message via text or on a dating site saying, “Heyy.” Are you curious about what they mean?  Are they flirting? If you’re interested, is there a protocol for how to respond to “heyy”? If you find their message lame and stale, how do you pull the plug on their unashamedly effortless attempt? “Heyy” can lead to the shortest conversation you’ve ever had or an exciting interaction. The proper response depends on how you want the conversation to progress. Let us dissect this oft-used and worn-out monosyllabic opener to determine the best ways to respond to it in various contexts.

From “Heyy Back!” to “No, Thanks!” How to Set the Right Tone

How do you respond to “Heyy”? Why does it even have two Ys? Is “Heyy” flirty? Within the context of dating, “Heyy” can be considered as a playful and flirty way to say “Hi” or “Hello.” It typically means “Hey, you” — hence, the two Ys. These four letters may be loaded with either a sexual or romantic meaning. It can also be nothing more than a casual and friendly move. You can easily fall into the overthinking rabbit’s hole; or you can simply set the tone of the conversation yourself. This means knowing how to respond to “Heyy” your way.

There’s always a risk of misreading the other person’s intention. But it’s a better option to put yourself out there and find out right away where you stand. You don’t want to aimlessly beat around the bush or play hard to get. You might lose the other’s person’s interest and never know what could have been. 

Of course, if you’re not even interested in the first place, then you can quickly bring the conversation to a swift conclusion. Whatever the meaning behind the “Heyy” may be.    

So how should you respond to “Heyy” to set the right tone if you’re interested? Your own “Heyy” plus an emoji is the simplest way to convey your interest. It also puts the ball back into the other person’s court, so to speak. Or you can be more assertive and get straight to the point. 

The former often works if you’re after something serious or just some casual online flirting. The latter is the way to go if you’re only interested in a hookup or you’re eager to go on a date. Here’s how to respond to “Heyy” in different ways. 

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How to Respond to “Heyy” From a Guy

If you’re wondering how to respond to “Heyy” from a guy, it’s understandable. When it comes from a guy, a simple “Heyy” could mean many things. Guys are used to making the first move. And they often use this first move to play it safe and test the waters before diving in and expressing their true intentions. Here are the most common contexts for a “Heyy” message from a guy and some options for your response.

How to Respond to “Heyy” if It’s From Your Crush

This will, naturally, make you happy, and you’ll want to keep the conversation going. You can try any of these responses to let him know you’re interested. The right response can also open the door to a longer conversation and so much more. Adding an emoji at the end is always a good idea.

  1. “Hi, how’s your day going?”

  2. “Hi, what are you up to?”

  3. “Hi there! How have you been?”

  4. “Hey, nice to hear from you!”

  5. “Hey, you! :)”

How to Respond to Heyy if It’s From a Previous Hookup and You’re Still DTF

You can be as forward as you want if you’ve already done the horizontal dance before. Hooking up is supposed to be fun and easy, and your exchanges should be the same. Sexting could be part of your hot foreplay.

  1. “Hey, stranger. I’ve missed you.”

  2. “Hey, you! Great timing. Been thinking of you.”

  3. “Call me.”

  4. “Heyy… wanna come over later?”

  5. “Heyy. Meet up soon?”

  6. “Hey, are you up for some drinks?

How to Respond to “Heyy” if It’s From a Guy You Might Be Interested In

If you’re still undecided on whether or not you like a guy, test the waters yourself with these casual responses.

  1. “Hello” or “Howdy” and an emoji.

  2. “Hi, what’s up?”

  3. “Hey back!”

How to Respond if You’re Not Interested

You can be polite and make up an excuse or you can give it to them straight. The important thing is to make it clear that you’re not interested.

  1. “Hi. You seem nice, but I’m not interested.”

  2. “Hi, sorry. Not feeling it.”

  3. “Out with friends/Swamped with work. Talk to you some other time, maybe.”

  4. “Dude, take a hint. I’m not interested.”

  5. “Stop messaging me.”

  6. “Too tired, can’t talk right now.”

  7. Don’t respond at all. Remember that not responding also sends the message that you’re not interested. Another option is to send your reply hours or a day later.

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How to Respond to a Girl Who Says Heyy

Knowing how to appropriately respond to a girl who says “Heyy” can be tricky. When a girl initiates the communication with a “Heyy,” she’s practically giving you the green light. You may feel unsure about how to respond to “Heyy” if you actually like the girl. Does her “Heyy” mean she’s into you? The appropriate response mostly depends on the current status of your relationship. Let’s take a look at various scenarios and how to handle each one.

How to Respond to “Heyy” if the Girl Is Your Crush

If you can make her laugh and flatter her at the same time, you’re golden.

  1. “Hi! You just made my day. ;)”

  2. “Hey! It’s been a while. Making me miss you? ;)”

  3. “Good morning. 🙂 What a great way to start my day!”

  4. “Hi there! You just put a big, goofy smile on my face! :D”

  5. “OMG. You made my heart skip a beat.”

  6. “Hi! Been thinking about you. So glad you messaged me.”

  7. “Hi! Your messages are the best part of my day. :)”

How to Respond to “Heyy” if It’s From a Previous Hookup and You’re Still DTF

This is as good an invitation as any for the two of you to hook up again soon. You can cut to the chase, or engage in some small talk first.

  1. “Heyy! Can I call you?”

  2. “Hi there! Are you free tonight?”

  3. “Hey! Want me to come over? Just say when. ;)”

  4. “Hey! Need some company?”

  5. “Hi! Drinks at my place? :)”

  6. “Hi <insert a term of endearment/nickname>, how’ve you been? Call you soon?”

  7. “Hi! What’s up? Meet soon?”

How to Respond if You’re Not Interested

A girl who makes the first move with a simple “Heyy” will appreciate a straightforward but courteous rejection. A blunt refusal may be necessary for persistent advances.

  1. “Stop messaging me. Not interested.”

  2. “Busy right now” or “Can’t talk right now.”

  3. “Hi, sorry but I don’t think we’re a good match.”

  4. “Not up for a chat right now. Maybe next time.”

  5. Again, you can simply ignore the message to drive home the point.

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How to Respond to “Heyy” on Bumble

On Bumble, women make the first move. So how should you respond to “Heyy” on Bumble? Presuming that it’s your first-contact experience, what’s the best response to get a conversation going?

The other person is leaving it up to you to take things further along. Maybe it’s a test to see if you can make things interesting or if the two of you have chemistry. Or, perhaps, they’re not comfortable making small talk or starting a conversation. You can try the following responses to “Hey” and other similar one-word openers to stimulate a natural flow of conversation. 

  1. Ask a light, open-ended question that requires more than a simple “Yes” or “No” answer. Try a stimulating question like, “What are you looking forward to tonight?” Or get them to open up a little with something like, “What do you like best about where you live?”

  2. Bumble recommends making a specific observation about the person’s profile. Try some of these “How to respond to ‘Heyy” options:

    – “I saw you have an adorable pitbull—is he really yours, or did you just borrow him for your Bumble photos?”
    – “I noticed that you have photos in Greece! That’s my dream travel destination. When were you there?”
    – “You seem like a lot of fun. What have you been getting up to this summer?” 

  3. Ask about your shared interests. Take the time to check out their Bumble profile. Maybe you can initiate a conversation about your shared love for sci-fi. Or you can talk about your favorite vegetarian recipes, or your favorite musicians.

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How to Respond to “Heyy” on Tinder

Whether it has one Y or two Ys, “Hey” is probably the most common opener used in online dating chat rooms. You’d be surprised how challenging it can be to respond to such a simple word.  Here are some options for how to respond to “Heyy” on Tinder.

  1. Keep them interested with a question that allows them to guess for fun. “Can you guess my favorite photo of you?” “What do you think my profession is?”

  2. Make them feel more comfortable talking about themselves with questions like, “I see you live in <insert city name>, what are your favorite places to visit?” “You have a beautiful dog! Does he/she get jealous easily?” ““I saw you love traveling! Where will you be this summer?”

  3. Keep things light and simple. A witty one-liner or thought-provoking question is not always necessary to keep someone interested. Simple and tried-and-tested conversation starters may be all you need to open the door to more possibilities. Here’s how to respond to “Heyy” simply and casually:

    – “What made you swipe right in the first place?”
    – “What kind of music do you like?
    – “Favorite place to have a drink?
    – “Where did you grow up?

How to Respond to “Heyy” on a Hookup Site

If you’re on a hookup site, knowing how to respond to “Heyy” is easy enough, as long as you’re sure that you and the other person are on the same page. 

Nearly everyone you’ll meet on a dating site that caters to hookups and other forms of casual encounters shares the same goal. They just want to have sexy fun with no strings. But different people have different desires, preferences, and expectations. So before you respond to a potential mate’s “Heyy,” check their profile to find out what they’re looking for exactly.

If you’re just interested in hookups, it would help to be on a site where members can comfortably get candid about their needs — a site, such as DoubleList. When a potential match on DoubleList messages you with a simple “Heyy,” you can confidently and directly respond to their explicitly described inclinations, wants, or fantasies. You’ll never have to worry about getting your signals mixed or setting the wrong tone for a conversation. 

Signing up for a DoubleList account is quick, free, and secure. You’ll remain anonymous, and you can choose as many sexual preferences as you like. DoubleList is available in most major cities in the U.S. so you have great odds of finding potential hookups in your area whenever you’re in the mood. Sign up for a free account now!

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