hello

American  

[he-loh, huh-, hel-oh] / hɛˈloʊ, hə-, ˈhɛl oʊ /

interjection

1. (used to express a greeting, answer a telephone, or attract attention.)

2. (an exclamation of surprise, wonder, elation, etc.)

3. (used derisively to question the comprehension, intelligence, or common sense of the person being addressed).

   You're gonna go out with him? Hello!

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noun

• hellos
  plural

1. the call “hello” (used as an expression of greeting).

   She gave me a warm hello.

verb (used without object)

helloed, helloing

1. to say “hello”; to cry or shout.

   I helloed, but no one answered.

verb (used with object)

helloed, helloing

1. to say “hello” to (someone).

   We helloed each other as though nothing had happened.

hello British  

/ ˈhɛləʊ, hɛˈləʊ, hə- /

1. an expression of greeting used on meeting a person or at the start of a telephone call

2. a call used to attract attention

3. an expression of surprise

4. an expression used to indicate that the speaker thinks his or her listener is naive or slow to realize something

   Hello? Have you been on Mars for the past two weeks or something?

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noun

1. the act of saying or calling "hello"

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• hellos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of hello

First recorded in 1865–70; variant of hallo

Explanation

Hello! Hi! How are you doing? Hello is a salutation or greeting commonly used to begin conversations or telephone calls. Hello has been used as an English greeting since the 19th century. Most agree that it is related to the older French exclamation “Holà” — which means essentially “Ho there!” — like you might say to a horse to tell it to stop. Nowadays it’s still used to get someone’s attention but instead of stopping you’re starting something — usually a chat. Hallo and Hullo are variations of Hello used by British English speakers.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hello hellos helloed helloing

Lastly, he said a hello to Matthew McConaughey, and quoted his Cuban tía, who told him if he works very hard, he can hang out with “Matthew McCon-i-purse.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026

“Very quickly, I would like to say hello to Harrison Ford,” he said, looking at the actor sitting in the audience, who gave an exasperated look and waved.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026

Then I said hello to my friend’s wife, Linda, who said, “Wow, you sure wanted to talk to Chris.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

While Spanish police in Ceuta appeared to do little to intervene, some jubilant migrants walked through its streets, calling out: "Bye bye Morocco, hello Spain."

From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026

Inside, I walk lightly on the pink marble, say hello to the lions, as silent as stones.

From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari

It’s a lively university town with breweries everywhere, bikes zipping past on nearly every street, and the kind of easy smiles and hellos that make Midwest nice feel real.

From Salon ● Mar. 31, 2026

Reyes said a few elderly people at the home would occasionally sit outside and exchange brief hellos with her from time to time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 2026

The government said it had increased the amount dentists get for NHS work and provided £20,000 golden hellos to get dentists to work in areas with the poorest access.

From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2026

“At 15, it’s all hellos and later on there’s a lot more hard goodbyes,” he said.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 7, 2023

“My hellos to Don Chiche,” he tells MamS.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

NBC performers did their bits from Hollywood, the Secretary of the Navy and the Under Secretary of War spoke from Washington, NBC's newsmen in London, Manhattan and Buenos Aires helloed and jested by short wave.

From Time Magazine Archive

And she helloed at the top of her voice.

From Neighbours by Robert J. C. Stead

Say, was one a lady’s voice, sort of cool, yet kind, soft yet strong, gentle yet——” “No such riddle voice helloed you,” snapped the girl.

From Lonesome Town by Ethel Dorrance

It was in quoting prices on these "pick-ups" that Mitchell helloed for eight hours a day.

From Laughing Bill Hyde and Other Stories by Rex Ellingwood Beach

None of them helloed, and none of them returned my smile, and the colonel did not shake hands with me.

From How Private George W. Peck Put Down The Rebellion or, The Funny Experiences of a Raw Recruit - 1887 by George W. (George Wilbur) Peck

Illinois' Freshman Senator Chuck Percy was busily huddling and helloing.

From Time Magazine Archive

“I’ve no patience for all that helloing and chitchat about diapers! The baby’s on his way and there’s no time to waste. Incorrigibles, come!”

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Then one day, I’m helloing and next thing I know, I’m saying hello to Matt and Lance.

From "The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle" by Leslie Connor

"It's a shame to spoil it," replied David, "but I am afraid your Elf's Horn and Jean's helloing were just a coincidence."

From Grace Harlowe's Junior Year at High School Or, Fast Friends in the Sororities by Jessie Graham [pseud.] Flower

After helloing for her without result, he climbed to the road.

From The Valley of the Moon by Jack London