[General] Hey, just take a seat/make yourself at home

[Silverobama]

Last night was the dinner party among members of our English club. At six there were some participants coming but all of them stood there (they felt shy to sit when the whole bunch of people weren't arrive.) But as an organizer, I said to them "Hey, just take a seat". I wonder if it's natural. I wonder if I can also say "Hey, make yourself at home".

 

[Rover_KE]

Aren't you forbidden from meeting in large, mixed groups like that at the moment like we in the Western world are?

 

[Silverobama]

Aren't you forbidden from meeting in large, mixed groups like that at the moment like we in the Western world are?

We don't have virus here because of the lockdown prosecure enacted earlier this year.

 

[teechar]

Last night was the dinner party [STRIKE]among members of[/STRIKE] for our English club members. Some arrived early [STRIKE]At six there were some participants coming[/STRIKE] but [STRIKE]all of them stood there (they felt shy[/STRIKE] didn't want to sit down [STRIKE]when[/STRIKE] before everyone was there. [STRIKE]the whole bunch of people weren't arrive.) But[/STRIKE] As an organizer, I said to them "Hey, just take a seat". I wonder if it's natural. I wonder if I can also say "Hey, make yourself at home".

Those are okay, but I prefer the first. You can also say "You don't need to stand. Grab a seat".

We don't have virus here because of the lockdown prosecure enacted earlier this year.

Note that "prosecure" is not a word in English. I take it you meant "procedure" instead.

 

[Rover_KE]

Note that 'Hey' meaning 'Hello' is more commonly heard in American English.

 

[GoesStation]

Note that 'Hey' meaning 'Hello' is more commonly heard in American English.

It also happens to be the "hello/goodbye" greeting in Finnish, often doubled. This makes Finland feel particularly welcoming to Americans. It did to me, anyway.

 

[emsr2d2]

It also happens to be the "hello/goodbye" greeting in Finnish, often doubled. This makes Finland feel particularly welcoming to Americans. It did to me, anyway.

Slightly off-topic: I had a Finnish penpal when I was 12. She sent me "Finnish For Foreigners" - a self-study guide to the language. Impenetrable is the only word I can think of for it! Anyway, I recall "Hei" being "Hello" and "Hei hei" being an informal way of saying "Goodbye". I've had to resort to Google Translate for the proper term for it - "Hyvästi".