Hello
/həˈloʊ/noun
A greeting used to begin a conversation or attract attention.
Did you know?The word 'hello' was popularized in the 19th century, but its use as a greeting can be traced back to the call used by sailors to attract attention or signal a message, linking it to ancient practices of communication with the unseen.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰel-
“to call, cry out, or shout.”
Old English
Old English
hǣl
“to greet or hail.”
Middle English
Middle English
helau
“a call or shout, often used in greetings.”
19th Century
English
hello
“an interjection for greeting, popularized by Thomas Edison as a way to answer the telephone.”