hello
/həˈloʊ/interjection★Beginner💡 a friendly greeting
informal
an expression used to greet someone or to answer the telephone
He picked up the phone and said hello.
He answered the phone with a greeting.
The children shouted hello to their teacher.
The children greeted their teacher enthusiastically.
💡
Commonly used in casual and formal settings to acknowledge someone's presence.
Collocations
hello therea friendly way to greet someonehello to you tooa response to a greeting
Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal
Use 'hello' in formal settings, while 'hi' or 'hey' are more casual.
⚡Gold Rule
Telephone Etiquette
Always start a phone call with 'hello' to be polite.
📖Word Origin
From Old English 'hāl' (healthy) + 'lēo' (luck), originally meaning 'be healthy' or 'good luck'.
📝Usage Notes
Can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though 'hi' is more casual.
English Dictionary