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What is the difference between hey and hello?

hey | hello | Synonyms |

Hello is a synonym of hey.



As interjections the difference between hey and hello

is that hey is an exclamation to get attention while hello is A greeting (salutation) said when meeting someone or acknowledging someone’s arrival or presence.

As nouns the difference between hey and hello

is that hey is a choreographic figure in which the dancers weave between one another while hello is "Hello!" or an equivalent greeting.

As a verb hello is

to greet with "hello".

hey

English

Alternative forms

* (l) * (l)

Interjection

(en interjection)
  • An exclamation to get attention.
    • Hey , look at this!
  • A protest or reprimand.
    • Hey ! Stop that!
  • An expression of surprise.
    • Hey ! This is new!
  • (US, Australia, UK, Canada) An informal greeting, similar to hi.
    • Hey ! How's it going?
  • A request for repetition or explanation; an expression of confusion (see also eh, huh).
    • Hey ? How's that?
  • A meaningless beat marker or extra, filler syllable in song lyrics.
    • The chorus is "nana na na, nana na na hey hey hey, goodbye".

    Related terms

    * heyday * what the hey * hey up

    See also

    * huh * hay is for horses * (wikipedia "hey")

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (country dancing) A choreographic figure in which the dancers weave between one another.

    • Anagrams

    * ----

    hello

    English

    Alternative forms

    * hallo * hilloa (obsolete) * hullo (UK)

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • * , chapter=7
    • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=I made a speaking trumpet of my hands and commenced to whoop “Ahoy!” and “Hello!'” at the top of my lungs.
  • (colloquial)

    • Usage notes

    * The greeting hello is among the most generic and neutral in use. It may be heard in nearly all social situations and in nearly all walks of life, and is unlikely to cause offense.

    Quotations

    * (English Citations of "hello")

    Synonyms

    * (greeting) ** g'day, hey, hi, ** hallo, hi, hiya, ey up ** hallo, hey, hi, howdy ** how's it going, hey, hi ** howzit ** (slang) wassup, what's up, yo, sup * See also

    Antonyms

    * (greeting) bye, goodbye

    Derived terms

    *

    See also

    * * (wikipedia "hello")

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • "!" or an equivalent greeting.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2007, date=April 29, author=Stephanie Rosenbloom, title=A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, work=New York Times citation
    • , passage=In many new buildings, though, neighbors are venturing beyond tight-lipped hellos at the mailbox.}}

    Synonyms

    * greeting

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To greet with "hello".
  • * 2013 , Ivan Doig, English Creek (page 139)
    • I had to traipse around somewhat, helloing' people and being ' helloed , before I spotted my mother and my father, sharing shade and a spread blanket with Pete and Marie Reese and Toussaint Rennie near the back of the park.
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