Hello: Meaning, Pronunciation, and Usage

Meaning 1：a greeting (hello)

hello 🔊

/həˈloʊ/

int.

used when meeting or starting a conversation with someone.

Hello greeting: diverse people waving warmly in a park

a greeting 🔊

➕

/ə ˈɡriːtɪŋ/

int.

Used as an exclamation to greet someone or to attract attention when meeting or starting a conversation.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Old High German 'halā' (call) → 'hallo' → 'hello'; Edison's phone greeting.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine 'Heal low' – a greeting lifts low spirits, turning a frown into a smile.

📖 Example

Hello! It's so nice to see you again after all these years. 🔊 Hello! It's so nice to see you again after all these years.

🔗 Collocations

say hello – to greet someone

hello world – a traditional first program in programming, also a greeting to the world

hello there – a friendly greeting to someone

🔄 Synonyms

hi (int.) – an informal greeting

hey (int.) – an exclamation used to attract attention or express greeting

greetings (n.) – a formal expression of good wishes or salutation

🚫 Antonyms

goodbye (int.) – an expression used when parting or ending a conversation

🌱 Derivatives

helloed (v.) – past tense of hello, meaning greeted

📖 Cultural Story

Thomas Edison suggested 'hello' as a telephone greeting in 1877, replacing 'ahoy.' The word traces to Old High German 'halā,' used to attract attention. It became a universal salutation with the spread of telephones.