cordial
Say it: KOR-dee-ul /ˈkɔːdɪəl/ · adjective
What “cordial” means
Warm and friendly, often while being polite.
More precisely: Warm and friendly, often in a polite or formal way.
When to use it
For a friendly greeting or relationship, especially in professional or formal situations where warmth still comes with good manners.
Memory trick
It comes from Latin cor, meaning heart: picture a greeting with real warmth behind it.
It can also mean
As a noun in Britain, cordial is a sweet drink diluted with water.
Similar words
warm, friendly, genial
Where it comes from
From Latin cor, cord-, 'heart'.
Quick check
Two neighbours who rarely socialise greet each other with warm smiles and politely ask after each other's families. Their exchange is…
cordial or intimate?
Show the answer
cordial
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