English
hallo
Hallo comes from Old English hēlā ‘O!, alas!, oh!, lo!’.
- Old Englishc. 450–1150hēlā‘O!, alas!, oh!, lo!’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500halou
- Englishearliest quotation 1842hallo
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history not traced here.
Lineage
- Old Englishc. 450–1150hēlā‘O!, alas!, oh!, lo!’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500halou
- Englishearliest quotation 1842hallo
Earliest quotation: 1842, – 1844 July, Charles Dickens: “Hallo father, here’s Pecksniff!”
Linked words
through Old English hēlā ‘O!, alas!, oh!, lo!’
Today it means
intj A cry of surprise.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old English hēlā / hallo