What Does "Have a Great Weekend" Mean? Replying In Person & Over Text

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Learn alternatives to “Have a great weekend” and how to respond

Co-authored by Jennifer Butler, MSW and Bailey Cho

Last Updated: November 8, 2023 Fact Checked

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• Meaning
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• Other Ways to Say “Have a Great Weekend”
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• How to Respond

|Show more |Show less

Whether you’re speaking to your boss, coworker, or friend, “Have a great weekend” is a polite phrase to wish someone well. Although you can use this phrase in any situation, there are a few variations that are more appropriate for the workplace (versus over text). In this article, we'll teach you everything you need to know about this common phrase—including its meaning, similar phrases, and example responses.

Things You Should Know

• “Have a great weekend” is a polite way to wish someone an enjoyable Saturday and Sunday—the official days marking the weekend.
• People usually say this phrase on Friday to imply they won’t be seeing you over the weekend.
• Alternatively, you can say “Enjoy your weekend” or “I hope you have a nice weekend.”
• To reply, say “Thanks, you too,” or ask them about their weekend plans to keep the conversation going.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

What does “Have a great weekend” mean?

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1. “Have a great weekend” is used to wish someone an enjoyable weekend. People usually say this phrase on Friday, the day before the weekend starts, especially if they don’t plan to communicate with you until the following Monday.

   • In the workplace, this phrase is another way to say “See you next week.”
   • If you plan to meet up with someone over the weekend, say, “See you this weekend” instead.
   • While most people reserve this phrase for Fridays, you can say it to someone on Wednesday or Thursday if it’s the last time you see them. For example, if your coworker leaves for vacation on Thursday, you can still say, “Have a great weekend.”
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Section 2 of 3:

Other Ways to Say “Have a Great Weekend”

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1. 1
   End the workweek on a positive note with “Enjoy your weekend.” Whether you’re sending a work email to your boss or talking to coworkers in person, use this phrase to sign out of the workweek. This is a polite way to engage with others in the workplace and make small talk.

   • “Thank you sir, enjoy your weekend.”
   • “Enjoy your weekend—you deserve it!”
   • “Enjoy yourself this weekend.”
   • “Well, I hope everyone enjoys their weekend.”
2. 2
   Use a different adjective to express your well wishes. Instead of saying “great,” use another positive adjective to wish someone an enjoyable Saturday and Sunday. This doesn’t change the meaning of the original phrase, and you can say it in casual and formal environments.

   • “Have a wonderful weekend.”
   • “I hope you have an amazing weekend.”
   • “I hope you have a relaxing weekend, especially after this crazy week.”
   • “I’m wishing you the best weekend!”
3. 3
   Say, “Have a good one” to your friends and family. If you’re out of the office, you can use a more casual phrase to express your well wishes. “Have a good one” is an informal but polite way to say goodbye to someone, especially if they’re attending an event over the weekend.

   • “Have a good one, man.”
   • “Have a good trip.”
   • “Have a blast at the wedding this weekend!”
4. 4
   Incorporate slang (or emojis) when you text your friends. Want to wish your besties a great weekend without sounding too formal? Lighten the mood with a few slang words, or follow up your message with some fun emojis.

   • “Have a great weekend love♥️”
   • “Have a great weekend bro, stay safe.”
   • “Yo! Have a great weekend, and don’t do anything too crazy😈”
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Section 3 of 3:

How to Respond

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1. 1
   Say, “Thanks, you too” to be polite. It’s common courtesy to reply with a “Thank you,” no matter what your relationship is to the other person. If you want to return their kind wishes, you can simply say, “I hope you have a great weekend too.”

   • “Thanks, same to you.”
   • “Thank you. I hope you do too!”
   • “Likewise!”
2. 2
   Reply with “Thanks, see you next week” if you work with them. This response is perfect if you’re in a professional setting, and you’re not interested in small talk. Whether you’re speaking to your boss or coworker, use this phrase to politely check out of work over the weekend.

   • “Thank you sir, see you next week.”
   • “Thanks, I’ll see you on Monday.”
   • “Thank you, I’ll see everyone at the meeting on Tuesday.”
3. 3
   Ask them about their weekend plans to keep the conversation going. If you’re interested in their weekend plans (or you want to appear engaged), thank them for wishing you a nice weekend, and then ask them an open-ended question.

   • “Thank you, what are your weekend plans?”
   • “Thanks, I hope you do too. Do you have any plans for this weekend?”
   • “Same to you! Do you have any plans over the weekend?”
   • “Thanks bro. What are your plans for the weekend?”
4. 4
   Reply with a joke to make them laugh. If you’re speaking to a coworker or friend, respond with a joke about working over the weekend. But, be sure to deliver your joke with a laugh or smile so they understand you’re just being silly.

   • “What weekend? I work 24/7.”
   • “I don’t do weekends.”
   • “Thanks, but work never stops for me.”
   • “Weekend? The grind never stops🏋️⏰🏆🤪”
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