hello

See also: helló

English

English phrasebook
This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness.
For other English entries on this topic, see Greetings.
WOTD – 19 November 2007

Alternative forms

Etymology

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”). For more information, see hallo.

The Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster Dictionary 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.

Pronunciation

Sense UK US
(greeting):
Audio (UK):(file)
Audio (US):(file)
(telephone greeting):
Audio (UK):(file)
Audio (US):(file)
(call for response):
Audio (UK):(file)
Audio (US):(file)
(sarcastic implication):
Audio (UK):(file)
Audio (US):(file)
(expressing puzzlement):
Audio (UK):(file)

Interjection

hello

  1. A greeting (salutation) said when meeting someone or acknowledging someone’s arrival or presence.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:hello
    Coordinate terms: see Thesaurus:goodbye
    Hello, everyone.
  2. A greeting used when answering the telephone.
    Hello? How may I help you?
  3. A call for response if it is not clear if anyone is present or listening, or if a telephone conversation may have been disconnected.
    Hello? Is anyone there?
    • 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
      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.
  4. (colloquial) 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.
    You just tried to start your car with your cell phone. Hello?
  5. (chiefly UK) An expression of puzzlement or discovery.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:wow
    Hello! What’s going on here?

Usage notes

The greeting hello is among the most universal and neutral in use. It may be heard in nearly all social situations and nearly all walks of life and is unlikely to offend.

In the derived senses, the word-final stress may be emphasized to focus attention, but word-initial stress is also heard in certain contexts, such as some uses of hello there, and even in isolation.

Derived terms

Descendants

  • → Arabic:
    • → Iraqi Arabic: هلو (halaw)
  • → Armenian: հէլօ (hēlō)
  • → Amharic: ሀሎ (halo)
  • → Bengali: হ্যালো (hêlō)
  • → French: hello
  • → Chinese: 哈嘍 / 哈喽 (hālou), 哈囉 / 哈啰 (hāluó), 哈佬 (hālǎo), 哈咯 (hālo), ciallo
  • → Hindi: हेलो (helo)
  • → Japanese: ハロー (harō)
  • → Malay: helo
  • → Scottish Gaelic: halò
  • → Welsh: helo

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

Noun

hello (plural hellos or helloes)

  1. "Hello!" or an equivalent greeting.
    Synonym: greeting
    They gave each other a quick hello when they met, and went back on their merry ways.

Verb

hello (third-person singular simple present hellos or helloes, present participle helloing, simple past and past participle helloed)

  1. (transitive) To greet (someone) with "hello".
    • 1891, Records and Briefs in Cases Decided by the Supreme Court of Minnesota, page 227:
      She is there guarding and looking after the candy and the children generally, and she helloes and renders an exclamation that Maidie is crossing the street.
    • 1927, Ohio State Engineer, page 18:
      He helloes to my daughter: […]
    • 2012, Mark Dolan, Do You Mind if I Put My Hand on it?: Journeys into the Worlds of the Weird, HarperCollins, →ISBN:
      ‘Hello Minka! Great to meet you!’ Minka seems nonplussed at what I thought was an uncontroversial opening remark. There’s an awkward pause. She then helloes me back. But that’s all I get.
    • 2013, Ivan Doig, English Creek, page 139:
      I had to traipse around somewhat, helloing people and being helloed, before I spotted my mother and my father, sharing shade and a spread blanket with Pete and Marie Reese and Toussaint Rennie near the back of the park.

See also

Anagrams

French

Etymology

From English hello.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɛ.lo/ ~ /e.lo/, /hɛ.lo/ ~ /he.lo/

Interjection

hello

  1. (anglicism) hello, hi

Further reading

Fula

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.).

Noun

hello ngo (plural hellooji ɗi)

  1. a page
  2. one side of a wall, a wall
  3. a slap in the face

References

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