hey
/heɪ/interjection★Beginner
informal
An informal way to get someone's attention or greet them
Hey, can you pass me the salt?
Used to politely ask someone to do something
Hey, what's up?
A casual way to ask how someone is doing
💡
Common in spoken English, especially among friends and in casual settings
Collocations
hey therea friendly way to greet someonehey youused to get someone's attention
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
hey youphrase
used to get someone's attention
hey therephrase
a friendly greeting
💡Pro Tip
Tone matters
The same word 'hey' can sound friendly or demanding based on tone and context
⚡Gold Rule
Casual use
'Hey' is informal and best used with friends, family, or in relaxed settings
📖Word Origin
Originated in Middle English as a variant of 'hi', possibly from Old Norse 'hei' meaning 'health'
📝Usage Notes
Often used in informal contexts, can be friendly or demanding depending on tone
English Dictionary