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!

---

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  

/ hə-, ˈhɛləʊ, hɛˈləʊ /

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?

---

noun

1. the act of saying or calling "hello"

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• 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

Still, “Time and Water” collapses the notion that we are somehow separate from these ancient, essential formations: an encouraging hello to the future from inside a sobering goodbye.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026

And so hello, seventh-grade guidance counselor: I am waving at you from the steps of Harvard University, where they have announced me a doctor of laws.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

"A dydh da for hello, or a meur ras for thank you is an easy place to start. Our language is for everyone, and it is something we can all be proud of."

From BBC • May 1, 2026

Then, soon after midnight on 8 May, Lavryovych sent Pochynok messages saying "hello" and "it's on", before leaving home in Sydenham and travelling to north London.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

As we pass her, she looks right through me without saying hello.

From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish