Where does “hello” come from?
Hello derives from English holler, whose origin is unknown.
hello (English): A greeting said when meeting someone or...
Definitions
- A greeting said when meeting someone or...
Ancestry of “hello”, step by step
hello traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English holla
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | holla | Alternative form of hollo; API; what's up; a... |
| 2 | English | holler | A yell, shout; By extension, any communication to... |
| 3 | English | hollow | A small valley between mountains; A sunken area... |
| 4 | Middle English | holow | Alternative form of holgh; Alternative form of... |
| 5 | Old English | holh | a hollow |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | *hulhwą | — |
via English hollo
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | hollo | Hey, hello; A cry of "hollo"; To cry "hollo" |