hellos

as inwelcome
as inaloha
as ininterjection
as insalutation
as ingreeting

Synonyms for hellos

noun greeting

Antonyms for hellos

goodbye

Word Origin & History

1883, alteration of hallo, itself an alteration of holla, hollo, a shout to attract attention, which seems to go back to at least c.1400. Perhaps from holla! "stop, cease." OED cites Old High German hala, hola, emphatic imperative of halon, holon "to fetch," "used especially in hailing a ferryman." Fowler lists halloo, hallo, halloa, halloo, hello, hillo, hilloa, holla, holler, hollo, holloa, hollow, hullo, and writes, "The multiplicity of forms is bewildering ...." Popularity as a greeting coincides with use of the telephone, where it won out over Alexander Graham Bell's suggestion, ahoy. Central telephone exchange operators were known as hello-girls (1889).

Example Sentences for hellos

Hurras and hellos were resounding off on every side and corner of the steamer.

There was a hubbub of hellos for a minute, and then Betty descended upon them.

He senses the situation, smiles quick "hellos," and then makes himself scarce.

June 12th they swung away from the dock and the same evening were at Fernandina, and where amidst a chorus of "hellos!"