hello
Language: English
Part of speech: intj
Pronunciation: ipa: /həˈləʊ/
ipa: /hɛˈləʊ/
ipa: /hæˈlaʊ/
enpr: hĕ-lō'
enpr: hə-lō'
ipa: /hɛˈloʊ/
ipa: /həˈloʊ/
ipa: /ˈhɛloʊ/
ipa: /həˈləʉ/
ipa: /hɛˈloː/
ipa: /həˈloː/
ipa: /ˈhɛloː/
ipa: /ˈhɛlo/
note: Indic
ipa: /həˈlo(w)/
rhymes: -ɛləʊ
rhymes: -əʊ
Forms: form: hallo
form: hilloa
form: hullo
Etymology: Hello (first attested in 1826), from holla, hollo (attested 1588). This variant of hallo is often credited to Thomas Edison as a coinage for telephone use, but its appearance in print predates the invention of the telephone by several decades.
Ultimately from a variant of Old English ēalā, such as hēlā, which was used colloquially at the time similarly to how hey and (in some dialects) hi are used nowadays. Thus, equivalent to a compound of hey and lo. Used when drawing attention to yourself.
Possibly influenced by Old Saxon halo!, imperative of halōn (“to call, fetch”), used in hailing a ferryman, akin to Old High German hala, hola!, imperative forms of halōn, holōn (“to fetch”). More at hallo.
OED and Merriam-Webster also suggested that it is a variant of holla, a variant of holloo. Further beyond, the origin remains uncertain. OED and Merriam-Webster suggested that it has a connection between hallow (“to shout, to cry out loud”), which came from Old French holloer, which, according to Altfranzösisches Wörterbuch, is from Old Saxon halōn.
Senses: examples: text: Hello, everyone.
glosses: A greeting (salutation) said when meeting someone or acknowledging someone’s arrival or presence.
examples: text: Hello? How may I help you?
text: Hello. This is Marsha. ― Yes, Marsha.
ref: 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
glosses: A greeting used when answering the telephone.
examples: text: Hello? Is anyone there?
text: I made a speaking trumpet of my hands and commenced to whoop “Ahoy!” and “Hello!” at the top of my lungs. […] The Colonel woke up, and, after asking what in brimstone was the matter, opened his mouth and roared “Hi!” and “Hello!” like the bull of Bashan.
ref: 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
glosses: A call for response if it is not clear if anyone is present or listening, or if a telephone conversation may have been disconnected.
examples: text: You just tried to start your car with your cell phone. Hello?
text: Uh, hello? We're using a CANNON to get to the moon? Isn't that, like, dangerous?
ref: 2004, Intelligent Systems, translated by Nintendo of America, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Nintendo, GameCube, level/area: Rogueport:
glosses: Used sarcastically to imply that the person addressed has done something the speaker considers to be foolish, or missed something that should have been obvious.
examples: text: Hello! What’s going on here?
glosses: An expression of puzzlement or discovery.
Synonyms: word: g'day
word: hey
word: hi
word: hallo
word: hiya
word: ey up
word: you alright
word: alright
word: hallo
word: howdy
word: how's it going
word: howzit
word: wassup
word: what's up
word: yo
word: sup
word: what's good
sense: expression of puzzlement
word: wow
word: ciao
word: good morning
word: good day
word: good evening
word: good morrow
word: greetings
word: heaveno
word: hello
word: hello there
word: heyday
word: hi there
word: hey hey
word: heyo
word: how
word: how are you
word: salaam
word: salaam alaikum
word: salutations
word: shalom
word: shalom aleichem
word: well met
word: what's doing
word: what's going on
word: what's new
word: yello
word: cheerio
word: top of the morning
word: namaste
word: wagwan
word: ayubowan
word: privet
word: alright me babber
word: alright me lover
word: ay up me duck
word: hullo
word: wotcher
word: aloha
word: ayo
Derived terms: golden hello
hello again
hello girl
helloji
hello nurse
hello there
Hello World
hello yourself, and see how you like it
yello