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Hello

/həˈloʊ/

interjectionnounverbA1

Definition

"Hello" is a word people say when they meet or see someone. It is used to start talking or to say "hi." It can also be used to get someone's attention or answer the phone.

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In your personal learning flow

See It in Action

Greeting someone

  • •Hello! How are you today?
  • •She said hello when she saw her teacher.
  • •We say hello when we meet new people.

Answering the phone

  • •Hello, this is John speaking.
  • •When you answer a call, say hello first.

Getting attention

  • •Hello! Can you hear me?
  • •He said hello to get the waiter’s attention.

Make It Stick

  • ✓Think of "hello" like "hi" (a simple greeting), but a bit more formal and common in many situations.
  • ✓Picture waving your hand and smiling when you say "hello" to a friend.
  • ✓It's the warm feeling when you meet someone and want to be friendly.
  • ✓Sounds like "hell-oh" → imagine opening a door and saying "hello" to welcome someone inside.
  • ✓In stories or movies, characters often say "hello" when they meet or call someone.
  • ✓NOT like "goodbye" (which means leaving), "hello" means starting a talk or meeting.
  • ✓NOT like "shout" (loud call), "hello" can be said softly or loudly depending on the situation.
  • ✓NOT like "call" (telephone action), but "hello" is often the first word said when answering a phone.

Try Other Words

  • •Hi: a short, informal greeting (Use when talking to friends or people you know well)
  • •Hey: a casual greeting to get attention (Use in informal or friendly situations)
  • •Greetings: a formal way to say hello (Use in writing or formal speech)
  • •Good morning/afternoon: time-specific greetings (Use to be polite and clear about time of day)

Unboxing

  • •Word parts: No prefix or suffix; simple base word "hello"
  • •Etymology: Originates from Old English "hǣl" meaning "health" or "good luck," later changed to a greeting word
  • •Historical development: First used in the 1800s as a way to call attention or greet someone
  • •Modern usage: Used worldwide as the most common greeting in English, both in speaking and on the phone

Reflect & Connect

•How do you feel when someone says "hello" to you in different situations?
•Can "hello" be used in a way that is not friendly? When might that happen?

Fill in the blanks

1.When you meet a new person, you usually say hello to ___ a conversation.
2.Saying hello on the phone is the first way to ___ who is calling.
3.Unlike goodbye, hello is used to ___ a meeting or talk.
4.People often say hello to ___ someone’s attention politely.
5.You can say hello ___ to a friend or in a formal meeting.
6.When someone doesn’t answer, you might say hello ___ to check if they are there.
7.Hello and hi are similar, but hello is often ___ and used in more situations.