hello

CEFRA1

/hɛˈloʊ/

exclamation · interjection

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    exclamation

    A word used when meeting or speaking to someone.

  2. 02

    exclamation

    Extra detail

    A call for response if it is not clear if anyone is present or listening, or if a telephone conversation may have been disconnected.

Examples

  • Hello, I have a reservation, my name is Kaori Yoshikawa. Here is the confirmation card.

  • Please say hello to your wife for me.

At a glance

Sits at A1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • /hæˈlaʊ/
  • /həˈləʊ/

Deep Dive

exclamation

Extra meaning

  1. A greeting used when answering the telephone.

interjection

Extra meanings

  1. A greeting (salutation) said when meeting someone or acknowledging someone’s arrival or presence.

  2. Used sarcastically to imply that the person addressed has done something the speaker considers to be foolish, or missed something that should have been obvious.

More examples

In context

  • Hello? Are you still here?

  • Hello. This is Marsha. ― Yes, Marsha.

  • Hello? How may I help you?

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

When you meet someone, you typically say blank to greet them.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

exclamation

Hello (first attested in 1826), from holla, hollo (attested 1588). This variant of hallo is often credited to Thomas Edison as a coinage for telephone use, but its appearance in print predates the invention of the telephone by several decades. Ultimately from a variant of Old English ēalā, such as hēlā, which was used colloquially at the time similarly to how hey and (in some dialects) hi are used nowadays. Thus, equivalent to a compound of hey and lo. Used when drawing attention to yourself. Possibly influenced by Old Saxon halo!, imperative of halōn (“to call, fetch”), used in hailing a ferryman, akin to Old High German hala, hola!, imperative forms of halōn, holōn (“to fetch”). More at h...