hello

Etymology

Hello (first attested in 1826), from holla, hollo (attested 1588). This variant of hallo is often credited to Thomas Edison as a coinage for telephone use, but its appearance in print predates the invention of the telephone by several decades. Ultimately from a variant of Old English ēalā, such as hēlā, which was used colloquially at the time similarly to how hey and (in some dialects) hi are used nowadays. Thus, equivalent to a compound of hey and lo. Used when drawing attention to yourself. Possibly influenced by Old Saxon halo!, imperative of halōn (“to call, fetch”), used in hailing a ferryman, akin to Old High German hala, hola!, imperative forms of halōn, holōn (“to fetch”). More at hallo.

intj

1. A greeting (salutation) said when meeting someone or acknowledging someone’s arrival or presence.
   Hello, everyone.
2. A greeting used when answering the telephone.
   Hello? How may I help you?
   Hello. This is Marsha. ― Yes, Marsha. Audio (US) (file) 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
3. A call for response if it is not clear if anyone is present or listening, or if a telephone conversation may have been disconnected.
   Hello? Is anyone there?
   I made a speaking trumpet of my hands and commenced to whoop “Ahoy!” and “Hello!” at the top of my lungs. […] The Colonel woke up, and, after asking what in brimstone was the matter, opened his mouth and roared “Hi!” and “Hello!” like the bull of Bashan. 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 7, in Mr. Pratt's Patients
4. (colloquial) Used sarcastically to imply that the person addressed has done something the speaker considers to be foolish, or missed something that should have been obvious.
   You just tried to start your car with your cell phone. Hello?
5. (chiefly UK) An expression of puzzlement or discovery.
   Hello! What’s going on here?

noun

1. "Hello!" or an equivalent greeting.
   In many new buildings, though, neighbors are venturing beyond tight-lipped hellos at the mailbox. April 29, 2007, Stephanie Rosenbloom, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”, in New York Times

verb

1. (transitive) To greet with "hello".
   She is there guarding and looking after the candy and the children generally, and she helloes and renders an exclamation that Maidie is crossing the street. 1891, Records and Briefs in Cases Decided by the Supreme Court of Minnesota, page 227
   He helloes to my daughter:[…] 1927, Ohio State Engineer, page 18
   ‘Hello Minka! Great to meet you!’ Minka seems nonplussed at what I thought was an uncontroversial opening remark. There’s an awkward pause. She then helloes me back. But that’s all I get. 2012, Mark Dolan, Do You Mind if I Put My Hand on it?: Journeys into the Worlds of the Weird, HarperCollinsPublishers
   I had to traipse around somewhat, helloing people and being helloed, before I spotted my mother and my father, sharing shade and a spread blanket with Pete and Marie Reese and Toussaint Rennie near the back of the park. 2013, Ivan Doig, English Creek, page 139