English
hello
Hello is a variant of hallo, from holla, hollo, ultimately from a variant of Old English ēalā ‘oh, hey’.
- Old Englishc. 450–1150ēalā‘oh; hey’
- English1500–presentholla
- Englishearliest quotation 1891hello
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Englishc. 450–1150ēalā‘oh; hey’
- English1500–presentholla
- Englishearliest quotation 1891hello
Earliest quotation: 1891, Records and Briefs in Cases Decided by t: “She is there guarding and looking after the candy…”
first attested First attested in 1826 (as stated in the etymology)
The story
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. 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’).
Linked words
through Old English ēalā
Today it means
intj A greeting (salutation) said when meeting someone or acknowledging someone’s arrival or presence.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old English ēalā / hello