How Do You Do, Neighbour? Lyrics
Two neighbours greet each other, then ask after Cousin Sue, who is very well and sends her love, as does Cousin Bell.
How Do You Do, Neighbour?
How do you do, neighbour?
Neighbour, how do you do?
Very well, I thank you.
How does Cousin Sue do?
She is very well,
And sends her love unto you,
And so does Cousin Bell.
Ah! how, pray, does she do?
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/how-do-you-do-neighbour/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Spoken as a two-person conversation
- Best for ages
- 3 to 7 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| How do you do, neighbour? | Wave to your partner. |
| Very well, I thank you | Nod and give a small bow. |
| How does Cousin Sue do? | Tilt your head and spread your hands as you ask. |
What Does How Do You Do, Neighbour? Mean?
The rhyme is a model of good manners. Two neighbours meet, ask each other how they are, and give polite answers. Then they ask after two cousins, Sue and Bell, and send good wishes to them. The last line asks one more time how Cousin Bell does, so the greeting can start over.
It is a good rhyme for teaching how to say hello and how to ask after other people. The question and answer form works well with two children, one for each part.
History and Origin
The rhyme appears in National Rhymes of the Nursery, and also in Walter Jerrold's The Big Book of Nursery Rhymes (1903), which prints it under the title "How Do You Do?". The two books give almost the same words. Neither names an author.
The version on this page follows National Rhymes of the Nursery.
Learning Activities
- Greeting pairs: stand face to face and say the questions and answers in turn.
- Telephone call: use toy telephones to say the rhyme.
- Family names: swap in the names of real relatives and friends.
- Many hellos: learn how to say hello in other languages.