hello Meaning & Definition
What Does Hello Mean?
Hello is an interjection that means A greeting (salutation) said when meeting someone or acknowledging someone’s arrival or presence. It is also used to mean A greeting used when answering the telephone. As a noun, it means "Hello!" or an equivalent greeting. As a verb, it means To greet (someone) with "hello".
Hello: Key Facts
| Part of speech | interjection, noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /hɛˈloʊ/ |
| Synonyms | hullo, how-do-you-do and hi |
| Antonyms | bye and goodbye |
| Plural | hellos |
| Verb forms | hellos, helloing, helloed |
Hello Definition (Interjection)
- A greeting (salutation) said when meeting someone or acknowledging someone’s arrival or presence.
Hello, everyone.
- A greeting used when answering the telephone.
Hello? How may I help you?
- A call for response if it is not clear if anyone is present or listening, or if a telephone conversation may have been disconnected.
Hello? Is anyone there?
- 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.
You just tried to start your car with your cell phone. Hello?
- An expression of puzzlement or discovery.
Hello! What’s going on here?
Hello as a Noun
- "Hello!" or an equivalent greeting.
They gave each other a quick hello when they met, and went back on their merry ways.
Hello as a Verb
- To greet (someone) with "hello".
Verb
- To greet with "hello".
Interjection
- Used sarcastically to imply that the person addressed or referred to has done something the speaker or writer considers to be foolish.
You just tried to start your car with your cell phone. Hello?
Synonyms of Hello
Hello synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Hello
Hello in a Sentence
Hello, everyone.
Hello? How may I help you?
Hello? Is anyone there?
You just tried to start your car with your cell phone. Hello?
Hello! What’s going on here?
They gave each other a quick hello when they met, and went back on their merry ways.
Word Forms & Grammar
hello
hello (plural hellos or helloes)
hello (third-person singular simple present hellos or helloes, present participle helloing, simple past and past participle helloed)
Words That Rhyme With Hello
Origin of Hello
Origin 1: 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.
Origin 2: 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.
Origin 3: 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”). For more information, see hallo.
Origin 4: The Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster Dictionary also suggested that it is a variant of holla, a variant of holloo. Further beyond, the origin remains uncertain. OED and Merriam-Webster suggested that it has a connection between hallow (“to shout, to cry out loud”), which came from Old French holloer, which, according to Altfranzösisches Wörterbuch, is from Old Saxon halōn.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hello
Is hello an interjection or a noun?
Hello is mainly used as an interjection, but it can also be used as a noun and a verb.
What is another word for hello?
You can replace hello with words such as hullo, how-do-you-do and hi. See the full list of hello synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of hello?
The plural of hello is hellos.
What is the past tense of hello?
The past tense of hello is helloed. The present participle is helloing.