What is the handmaids' standard greeting phrase in Gilead?

The handmaids’ standard greeting phrase in Gilead is “Blessed be the fruit.”

The phrase turns fertility into a compulsory religious and political concern. In Gilead, Handmaids are assigned to elite households because they are considered capable of bearing children, so ordinary conversation is recast around reproduction. “Fruit” functions as a biblical euphemism for offspring and pregnancy.

The customary response is “May the Lord open,” referring to the hope—or demand—that a Handmaid will become pregnant. The exchange sounds devotional, but it also reinforces Gilead’s system of surveillance and control over women’s bodies.

Several other expressions are easy to confuse with the greeting. “Under His eye” is commonly used as a farewell or reminder that Gilead’s authorities are always watching. “Praise be” is an expression of approval or thanks, while “May the Lord open” is the response to “Blessed be the fruit,” not the greeting itself.