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  

/ 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?

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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

He looked out at Otsego Lake while several Hall of Famers stopped to say hello.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

"I felt she was reluctant to re-engage with me, and not even say hello," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Maduro, dressed in a beige prison uniform and wearing glasses, did not speak during his third US court appearance other than to say hello to the court as he entered.

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

They’re slow because he has to say hello to every dog and person along the way — especially babies, who are his absolute favorite.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

“Well, hello there, Miss Hoffman. Glad to have you with us. And don’t you look lovely.”

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

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

We exchanged hellos and the usual banalities about the weather and where we were.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

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

It was in vain that the cabman nearest to her helloed to warn her of the impending danger.

From Bad Hugh by Holmes, Mary Jane

With a precipitous nudge of the memory she dashed to the door and helloed to the fast retreating figure.

From Peace on Earth, Good-will to Dogs by Abbott, Eleanor Hallowell

At the edge of town where the houses became scattered and the road started to drop away into a deep valley some one helloed behind him.

From Windy McPherson's Son by Anderson, Sherwood

Hare reined in at the door and helloed.

From Heritage of the Desert by Grey, Zane

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

From Time Magazine Archive

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

“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

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

From The Valley of the Moon by London, Jack

"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 Flower, Jessie Graham [pseud.]