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.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She stops to talk, or shouts a cheery "Hi, you alright?" to nearly everybody passing on foot or by car.
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
Viv Chen: Hi, Tory, it’s a pleasure to meet.
From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 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
On 12 November, Mandelson received an email with the subject "Paris" which read: "Hi peter, Valdson, Jeffrey's driver, will be picking you up today from the train station... see you this evening!"
From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026
"Hi, Mr. McGuire," the class replied in unison.
From "The Cinderella Ballet Mystery: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #4" by Carolyn Keene
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.
