hel-lo
UK[həˈləʊ]US[həˈloʊ]
interj
A common greeting used when meeting someone or starting a telephone conversation.
n
An utterance of the word "hello"; a greeting.
Etymology
The word "hello" is a relatively recent innovation in English, emerging in the mid-19th century. It is a variant of the older interjection "hallo" or "hollo," which was used to attract attention or express surprise. These earlier forms are likely related to the Old High German word "halâ," a command to fetch, used for hailing a ferryman. The modern, specific use of "hello" as a standard telephone greeting was championed by Thomas Edison and rapidly solidified in common usage, displacing Alexander Graham Bell's preferred "ahoy."
Analysis
N/A
Examples
She picked up the phone and said, "Hello?"
A simple hello can be the start of a great friendship.
Hello, everyone, and welcome to today's lecture.