Hawaii (state)
Hawaiian Islands
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English hy, perhaps variant of hei hey
Hi is a common greeting, more casual than "hello." When you walk down the street in a small town, it might seem like everyone you pass says "hi." The word hi is a good, nearly all-purpose greeting — it's appropriate in all but the most formal circumstances, so you might want to skip saying, "Hi" to the Queen when you meet her. When you greet someone, you have a lot of words to choose from, including "hey," "hello," "hiya," and "howdy," but hi is probably the most common. The first mention of hi attributes it to a Kansas native American in the 1800s.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Whoever is filming walks towards her, and says: "Hi, I like how you look."
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
The Hi Desert Lo-Fi Lit Fest is hosting free panels, workshops, and readings all weekend along.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026
"Hi, for anyone who saw my set at All Things Go today, I am doing OK now," she wrote on Instagram.
From BBC • Sep. 28, 2025
Presenters Nikita Kanda and Haroon Rashid revealed that Tum Hi Ho, sung by Arijit Singh for the Bollywood film Aashiqui 2, was the nation's favourite.
From BBC • Sep. 12, 2025
Emily: “I don’t believe it. Rumors are spread by jealous people. Hi, Andy. Did you bring enough lunch for everyone?”
From "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
